VanVleet scores career-best 36, Raptors top Heat 107-103

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Fred VanVleet made another case for a big payday later this year

Tips to stretch your back-to-school dollars this fall

(ARA) - Going back to school usually means new books, supplies and computer software as well as meals, coffee and tuition - all of which can really add up.

Cynthia DeVictoria wants strong career tech program, preschools

Cynthia DeVictoria

MATTAWA — Cynthia DeVictoria does not see a need for changes in the Wahluke School District. All it needs, she said during a candidate interview, is a strengthening of programs.

Ossoff holds strong lead in Georgia US Senate primary

ATLANTA (AP) — A media executive backed by civil rights icon John Lewis held a strong lead in Georgia’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Wednesday, but with vote tabulation still underway in several large counties, it was still too early to call the race.

Royal golf team has challenges, opportunities

ROYAL CITY — The Royal High School golf team has an uphill climb ahead of it this year, said Coach Pete Christensen. “We had high hopes until a couple of our boys went back to playing soccer,” Christensen said. “They played soccer their freshman year and came to golf last year and they did really well in golf and they went back to soccer this year. We thought we'd have a run at the league and district title but now it's going to be really tough.”

Ephrata appoints officers, talks water rights and billing

EPHRATA – The Ephrata City Council appointed new officers including a new mayor pro tempore during the board’s regular Jan. 17 meeting. They also received an update on the city’s new water utility billing processes and approved stopping service cancellations while residents and city staff adjust to the new system.

A note from 2023 Ag Parade Grand Marshal Cheryl Driggs Elkins

MOSES LAKE – I go to all the Moses Lake parades with the Ag Parade being a favorite because it features the gard working men and women who farm now and those in our history who helped Moses Lake become the town that it is. It was totally unexpected when I was asked to be the Grand Marshal this year, but pride in my family’s past allowed me to accept as a way to honor and respect them.

Seahawks QBs Lock, Smith hope for edge in preseason opener

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The biggest question surrounding the Seattle Seahawks enters a new phase this weekend, one where the variables are out of their control.

Mavs’ comeback falls short, lose to Richland 11-9

MOSES LAKE – The final score of Wednesday’s fastpitch softball matchup between Moses Lake and Richland doesn’t tell the full story of the game, as the Mavs nearly pulled off a come-from-behind victory after being down 11-0 at the bottom of the third inning. Richland defeated the Mavs 11-9, remaining undefeated on the year. Moses Lake fell to 8-2.

Hungry Huskies

Othello softball team looking to capture state title

OTHELLO — Last year’s 24-2 state runner-up Othello softball team is returning to the field with the goal of ending the season with a state championship. “Everybody feels like we’re going to do as well as we did last year,” Head Coach Rudy Ochoa said. “But it is high school, and you never know. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but still, we’ve got some good hitters and pretty much the same team from last year.” ...

George Bluegrass Festival turns 16

GEORGE — The annual George Bluegrass Festival is now in its 16th year, according to organizer Debby Kooy. It started Monday, with people coming in from all over to camp and set up, and continues through Sunday morning...

Cougars suffer first loss of season to River View

WARDEN — Despite a close final three sets, the Warden Cougars suffered their first loss of the season on Tuesday night, falling 3-1 to River View in a battle of the undefeated atop the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference (East). Warden entered the game 10-0, while the Panthers came into the game 9-0. “Every team wants to be undefeated, but it’s a lot of pressure too to have that,” Warden Head Coach Shanna Golladay said. “I feel like that (loss) can take a load off, and now we can focus on each game. We’re not going to be that 12-0, 13-0, and then we can just go in and play some volleyball.”

Local economic innovation key to success says Dept. of Commerce director

MOSES LAKE — Mike Fong, director of the Washington Department of Commerce, said economic innovation starts locally. “We want to strengthen communities and help communities build their own capacity and potential,” Fong said while he was in Moses Lake Monday. “And we don’t want to dictate that. We really want to help that vision become reality. And that’s a local vision.”

Wenatchee approves $142 million 2023 budget

WENATCHEE — The city of Wenatchee approved a $142 million budget for 2023 at a special council meeting. Council members on Nov. 17 had a public hearing before approving the general fund, the city's main operating fund — which includes $35.3 million of recurring expenses and $31.7 million in recurring revenues. Officials said they weren't concerned about the $3.6 million gap. "Our recurring expenses are barely more than our recurring revenues, but the budget is a conservative planning document, said Brad Posenjak, city finance director, in an interview. "We actually expect that our revenues to come in above budget and expect our expenses to come in under budget." ...

Mavs perform well in swim prelims

Moses Lake athletes to swim in Saturday finals

FEDERAL WAY - The Moses Lake Girls Swim Team completed the preliminaries Friday for the WIAA 4A State Swimming and Diving Competition. “I think we had a good prelims,” said head coach Jason Hart. “I think tomorrow is going to be pretty awesome.” In each event of the state preliminaries, the top 16 swimmers move on to finals on Saturday. “We swam faster than we did in prelims at districts,” said Hart. “We had two best times today which was pretty awesome.” ...

‘Ups and downs’

Lions fall to Entiat 3-1, look to rebound

MOSES LAKE – Entering a match against Entiat on Monday, the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions had posted a 10-1 record, with their lone loss coming to the Tigers earlier this season. The match had a similar result for the Lions on Monday, falling to Entiat 3-1 after the Tigers took the first two sets...

MLI donation will pay for new GCSO K-9

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office brought some of its coolest vehicles and all but one of its K-9s to Moses Lake Industries Thursday at lunchtime to thank the company for its donation. Chief Operating Officer Brent Hansen said MLI officials looked on the donation as a way to contribute to public safety and to thank law enforcement and first responders in general for what they do for Grant County...

His father’s son

Ned LeDoux follows proudly in his dad’s musical footsteps

MOSES LAKE — Some children of legendary performers struggle to get out from under their famous parent’s shadow when they make a name for themselves. Ned LeDoux is not one of those. “He's Dad to me,” LeDoux said of his father, singer-songwriter Chris LeDoux, who passed away from cancer in 2005. “That's it. And I know what everybody else sees and it just makes me a proud son.” ...

Louisiana's new GOP legislative leaders talk of compromise

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — While they stressed their legislative independence, Louisiana's new Republican House speaker and Senate president said Tuesday that they want to work with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, choosing to strike a compromising tone rather than a confrontational one.

US whiskey exports decline as trade dispute with EU persists

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s trade war dampened the overseas market for American-made whiskey last year, diminishing exports even as the domestic market continues to thrive.