Local News
Need more information regarding today's local news? Here, we'll keep you up to date on everything happening in the Columbia Basin today.
US Supreme Court orders another look at how WA political maps are drawn
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday set the stage for another redrawing of Washington state’s political maps. On t…
L-I-E-S: Closing arguments drag on to second day in Sosa murder case
EPHRATA — Closing arguments were made Tuesday in the trial of Gustavo Tapia Rodriguez and Fernando Marcos Gutierrez, who stand accused of the Dec. 2016 kidnapping and murder of Othello-resident Arturo Sosa.
Wife of surviving victim testifies
EPHRATA — The wife of the sole surviving victim from the 2016 state Route 26 murder testified Tuesday in Grant County Superior Court.
Murder victim's estranged lover says she asked defendants to 'scare him'
EPHRATA — The ex of a man killed on state Route 26 in 2016 testified Tuesday that she had only wanted the men accused of murdering her husband to “scare him,” …
Murmurings of mistrial after soft-spoken witness
EPHRATA — As jurors walked back into the courtroom late Tuesday afternoon after a short break, one of the alternate jurors — who observe the trial in the chance a juror needs to be removed — raised her hand.
Flipped witness implicates Sosa murder defendants
EPHRATA — Yawning frequently, Julio Ceasar Albarran Varona testified in Grant County Superior Court Tuesday that he, along with that case’s two co-defendants, …
'I thought I was already dead' Surviving victim testifies in Sosa murder trial
EPHRATA — The surviving victim of a December 2016 kidnapping and murder testified in open court Monday in front of the two men he said shot him and killed his …
Trial begins in Sosa murder
EPHRATA — Smiling, Gustavo Tapia Rodriguez walked unescorted into the courtroom Wednesday afternoon, sat down between his attorney and that of his co-defendant…
Soap Lake man sentenced to federal prison
SOAP LAKE — A Soap Lake man was sentenced to seven years (84 months) in federal prison Thursday after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamines and intending to distribute them.
Fire damages equipment at Priest Rapids Dam
PRIEST RAPIDS DAM — Employees at Priest Rapids Dam were evacuated, but no one was injured, Thursday afternoon when a fire damaged equipment attached to one of the dam’s turbine-generator units.
No injuries in Ephrata drive-by
EPHRATA — A drive-by shooting in Ephrata with no injuries reportedly occurred just after midnight Thursday, according to city officials. Police are asking for assistance in locating the suspect in the case, accordi…
1907 bank robbery rattled Ephrata
EPHRATA, DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wash. — A loud explosion from the Bank of Ephrata roused two women from their beds around midnight on Saturday, April 6, 1907.
Quincy man arrested after lengthy pursuit, DUI suspected
SOAP LAKE — A Quincy man was arrested Sunday afternoon after allegedly leading authorities on a 19-mile pursuit that ended in a crash involving a power pole.
Wenatchee man accused of recording sexual assaults in Chelan, Grant counties
WENATCHEE — A Wenatchee man accused of videotaping sexual assaults on an unconscious victim eight times in Grant and Chelan counties over the course of five mo…
Deceased former SL council member's car recovered
SOAP LAKE — A vehicle that belonged to a deceased former Soap Lake City Council member and was stolen shortly after her passing was recovered by quick police w…
Officers assaulted near Soap Lake on Saturday
SOAP LAKE — Three officers were assaulted in an incident near Soap Lake over the weekend in connection with a bicycle theft case.