WA directs state dollars to food banks as SNAP funding cliff nears

Washington state will give food banks $2.2 million per week as they deal with the potential end of food stamp benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Port of Mattawa to implement new procedures for expenses

MATTAWA — The Port of Mattawa will update its policies for expenditures following recommendations from the Washington State Auditor’s Office. Auditors found that port policies left it vulnerable to possible misuse of its funds.

Bill to electronically track sexually violent predators in WA signed into law

(The Center Square) – A bipartisan bill to keep communities in Washington state safe from sexually violent predators has been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Quincy woman drowns when car goes into canal

QUINCY — A 24-year-old Quincy woman died when she lost control of her car and drove into a large irrigation canal near Quincy, apparently sometime Sunday. Erika Martinez Chavez was driving on a canal maintenance road near Road 7 Northwest when she apparently lost control of the vehicle, according to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle went into the canal and Martinez Chavez was unable to get out of the car, the GCSO release said. “This was one of the larger canals,” said Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer. “It’s about 75 feet wide and the water was about 20 feet deep.”

Local BMX rider heading to world championships in Denmark

MOSES LAKE – Alli Kay Tatum started riding dirt bikes in 2021 when she was 12-years-old. Four years later, she is going the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. “It was just surreal, it finally happened. I never thought it would happen, but I was just really excited,” she said.

Supreme Court fast tracks Trump tariff case

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The Supreme Court granted an unusually quick hearing on President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on Tuesday, putting a policy at the center of his economic agenda squarely before the nation's highest court.

Moses Lake BMX receiving track upgrades

MOSES LAKE – On Wednesday, Moses Lake BMX announced on their Facebook page they were making changes to their track. According to track operator Jeff Niehenke, they are adding a patio cover to the snack shack and ADA sidewalks. “Having this has always been the vision for the facility,” Niehenke said. “All the other tracks in the state have concessions. We're trying to take it a step above and put it in some shade and paved sidewalks and patio. So, it's really going to make the facility look a lot nicer and just add so much more atmosphere to the facility, where people want to come and hang out in the evenings and race and grab some food.”

High-tech model trains stop at GC Fair

MOSES LAKE — This is not your grandfather’s electric train set. “In the old days, you had a dial,” said Steve Riegel, who oversaw the model railroad display in the Youth Building at the Grant County Fair last week. “You turned it one way and (the trains) all went forward. Then you stop it, you put it in reverse, it all goes in reverse. In today’s world, we can have (multiple trains) on the same track, any direction, any speed.”

CBIT continues jail death investigation

EPHRATA – The Central Basin Investigative Team determined that Richard Lambert’s death at the Grant County Jail was due to sepsis caused by an accident prior to his arrest, according to a statement from Ephrata Police Department Captain Troy Froewiss. Froewiss was not available for comment Thursday.

Grant Co. COVID-19 outbreak ends

MOSES LAKE — The COVID-19 outbreak that sickened 47 people and claimed at least two lives at a local long-term care facility is over, according to Grant County Health District Communication Coordinator Lexi Smith. The facility, which was not identified, has gone 14 days without an additional case, Smith wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. A third death was not immediately attributed to COVID-19 but was under investigation. “Long-term care facilities … house at-risk individuals, and that makes them an area where COVID can circulate in dining rooms and community areas,” Smith said in an interview Thursday. This is the eighth outbreak in a long-term care facility since October 2024, Smith wrote. By comparison, the period from October 2023 to October 2024 saw 19 outbreaks in care facilities and one in a school.

LETTER: A statement from MLSD board president Kirryn Jensen

I want to take a minute to talk directly with you about something I know is on a lot of people’s minds –our district’s finances and the calls for a forensic audit. I’ve heard your concerns loud and clear, whether it’s been through conversations, at meetings, or even on social media. I get it. This has been a tough situation, and people want answers. Right now, we’re in the middle of a deep dive with the state’s comprehensive audit. This isn’t just a quick once-over; it’s a full-scale review to figure out what went wrong, how we got here, and what needs to change. I think it’s important to let that process play out before making any big decisions, like committing to a forensic audit. But let me be clear: I’m not ruling it out. If the state audit shows it’s needed, I will absolutely consider it and take it to the rest of the board for discussion.

Street party

Ephrata Sage-N-Sun coming June 13-14

EPHRATA — There are a few new things at the Ephrata Sage-N-Sun Festival this year. “We’re bringing back our 3-on-3 basketball tournament,” said Brittney MacLeod, director of the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce. “We’re adding a Kid Zone, which will include a dunk tank. There’s a petting zoo and a couple of different things for kids to do.” The basketball tournament, which will run both Friday and Saturday, has been on hiatus for a number of years, MacLeod said. “We’re excited to bring it back and add a youth aspect to draw families downtown and keep them downtown for the weekend,” she said.

Port of Moses Lake acquires 3 miles of rail

MOSES LAKE — After about two decades of work and three years of negotiation, the Port of Moses Lake took ownership of about three miles of railroad track between State Route 17 and Port property Monday. The rail line had been the property of the Columbia Basin Railroad.

Basin high school sports schedule May 28-June 3

COLUMBIA BASIN — The spring sports season concludes this weekend as two local baseball teams make their push for a state title. Columbia Basin track teams will also compete at their state meets this week starting Thursday.

EWU announces stadium renovations

CHENEY — Eastern Washington University Athletics announced they are beginning a series of projects to renovate Roos Field. The first step in this process begins with replacing the track, and EWU athletics held a ceremony for that project on Oct. 10. “The track facility will give our student athletes the space and resources they deserve to train, compete, and pursue excellence,” EWU Athletic Director Tim Collins said. “But make no mistake, the project is about much more than a track. It’s about setting the foundation for the renovation of Roos Field and ultimately, the next chapter of Eagle Athletics.” The envisioned improvements will expand event opportunities, enhance fan experiences, strengthen recruiting efforts, and allow student athletes to compete at the highest levels, the statement said.

Othello youth soccer looking for volunteer coaches

OTHELLO – On Monday, the City of Othello announced it needs more volunteer coaches for Othello MLS GO, a local youth soccer group. According to Parks and Recreation Coordinator Valerie Hernandez, this is not an unusual need to have. Prior coaching experience is not required, she said.

Wildcats Ntekpere selected as GNAC female athlete of the year

PORTLAND, Ore. — Emy Ntekpere’s 2025 track and field season at Central Washington University was nothing short of spectacular, according to a statement by Central Washington Athletics. She broke records seemingly every time she competed, won three NCAA Division II national titles and on Thursday was announced as the 2024-25 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Athlete of the Year, according to the statement. She is the second woman and fourth student-athlete in school history to earn the top individual award from the conference and is the 12th women’s track and field athlete to receive the honor. Other CWU winners were LeAnne McGahuey (volleyball) in 2005-06, Mike Reilly (football) in 2008-09 and Johnny Spevak (football) in 2009-10

Officials are tracking an earthquake swarm at Mount Rainier but say there is no cause for concern

SEATTLE (AP) — Officials are tracking the largest swarm of earthquakes in more than 15 years on Washington's Mount Rainier but say there is no indication that the cluster of quakes is cause for concern.

BASIN BOX SCORE: MLHS National Track, sports training camps, summer baseball concludes

COLUMBIA BASIN – Sports reporters Mike Maynard and Caleb Perez look through a week of sports in the Columbia Basin including a soccer player announcing his commitment to the University of Washington, MLHS track athletes traveling to Georgia for a National competition, a girls soccer training camp at Eastern Washington University, the Moses Lake Mavericks Youth Football Camp, and the conclusion of the Summer baseball season for Basin teams. Check out this week’s episode here: https://bit.ly/BBSEP7

Suárez homers and Woo exits after 5 innings as Mariners beat Astros 4-0 to take over 1st in AL West

HOUSTON (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit his 47th homer, three other Mariners went deep and Bryan Woo pitched five effective innings before leaving unexpectedly as Seattle beat the Houston Astros 4-0 on Friday night to take over first place in the AL West.