STUDIO BASIN: Speech and drama, Sila Nanotechnologies and all-star basketball

MOSES LAKE — An update on a new Moses Lake business and Moses Lake High School drama and speech participants coming home with state hardware were among the topics on the March 22 edition of the Studio Basin podcast.

Samaritan payroll faces ‘technical issue’

MOSES LAKE – Samaritan Healthcare staff reported not being paid as they’d expected Friday morning, and the hospital’s administration indicated that a technical issue with one of the companies involved in processing the health care provider’s payroll had been the culprit that caused the issue.

Ephrata celebrates Class of '24

EPHRATA – Tigers roamed marched in line down the central aisle to show off and collect high school diplomas Friday evening at 7 p.m.

New law expands recreational fishing license requirements

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee has signed new legislation requiring Washington fishers to possess a recreational fishing license for freshwater smelt, crawfish, and carp, according to a Tuesday release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

WA Republicans protest court-ordered redistricting plan

(The Center Square) – Washington state Republicans gathered outside of the federal courthouse in downtown Seattle on Tuesday to protest a recent court-ordered redistricting plan.

FIRE REPORT: Pioneer, Cold Creek fires increase

MOSES LAKE — The Pioneer Fire on the shore of Lake Chelan about 30 miles northwest of Wenatchee had almost tripled in size Thursday, swelling from 600 acres to 1,756 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The cause of the fire was still undetermined. The estimated cost of suppressing the fire was $10 million.

Sabin resigns, Lewis named interim MLSD super

MOSES LAKE — Acting Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis has been selected as the interim superintendent for the 2024-25 school year. Lewis was appointed to the position after Moses Lake School Board members accepted the resignation of former superintendent Monty Sabin.

16U Sixers take on RSP

MOSES LAKE – The 16U Central Washington Sixers took on RSP Baseball 16U Friday morning at Big Bend Community College as part of the Central Washington University Summer Series. RSP earned a 4-3 win over the Sixers in extra innings.

Vikings see success at Big Bend Scramble

MOSES LAKE – BBCC hosted the first and final tournament with the Big Bend Scramble. Only having one athlete place the previous weekend, the Vikes hoped to take strides in the right direction at the Devries Activity Center.

Vikings earn first win of the season

PASCO – Entering the weekend with an 0-4 record, the Big Bend Vikings picked up a win in Sunday’s doubleheader against Blue Mountain, defeating the Timberwolves 6-2 after losing to them 9-5 earlier in the day.

Lady Vikes end preseason on high note

MOSES LAKE – Coming off of a short Christmas break, the Lady Vikes go back right into it playing three games in three day in the Skagit Valley Classic.

BBCC virtually hosts paralympian guest speaker

MOSES LAKE – To celebrate Disability Awareness Month, Big Bend Community College’s Associated Student Body and Accommodation and Accessibility Services welcomed Paralympic gold medalist Deja Young-Craddock as a virtual guest speaker Wednesday.

Newsroom fun

MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Herald team had a Halloween celebration of our own on Wednesday. Along with a potluck and dad jokes galore, the paper’s staff had costume and pumpkin decorating contests. With a variety of entries on both fronts, the two photos above show who came home with the blue ribbon in each category.

WA's ban on high-capacity magazines ruled unconstitutional

(The Center Square)/OLYMPIA – A judge in Cowlitz County briefly handed a victory to gun rights supporters in Washington before the state's highest court said not so fast.

Grant PUD sets community meetings on rate policy

Board seeking input on how residents feel rates should be set

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners and staff will be soliciting the opinion of PUD customers on the future of its rate structure in a series of public meetings beginning next week.

Call It Closed International Realty expands to PNW

NAPLES, Fla. — According to a Tuesday announcement, cloud-based brokerage Call It Closed International Realty is now operating in Oregon and Washington, expanding it national footprint to 18 states with the addition of Principal Broker Eric Young in Portland.

Vikings split doulbeheader with Walla Walla

MOSES LAKE – Big Bend split Wednesday’s doubleheader on the road against Walla Walla, winning the first game 11-5 before suffering a 10-6 loss to the Warriors.

One arrested in sexual assault incident at Samaritan

MOSES LAKE – Mitchell Jones, 37, of Cashmere, Washington was arrested Thursday after witnesses said he had assaulted an unconscious 29-year-old female patient at Samaritan Hospital, according to a Moses Lake Police Department press release.

Ephrata National Guard unit to see command change

EPHRATA -- A change of command for G Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion will be held Saturday in Ephrata at 10 a.m. with outgoing commander, Cpt. Charles V. Barnett passing command to Cpt. Georgia F. Lamb.

STUDIO BASIN: REC Silicon closure, Moses Lake city manager and Basin basketball

MOSES LAKE – In this week's episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans "Rob" Miller and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer discuss supports for workers displaced by the REC Silicon closure, and Moses Lake's incoming city manager. Miller talks a bit about multiple 2024 year in review pieces for Ephrata.