Area districts respond to OSPI immigration guidelines

OLYMPIA —The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released guidelines in January outlining practices it said are to ensure the protection of immigrant students' rights in K-12 public schools. The OSPI report comes after President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14148 rescinded a policy that limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ability to operate in schools, hospitals and places of worship.

Bill would expand covenant home ownership, forgive outstanding loans

OLYMPIA — The move toward rectifying Washington’s history of racial segregation in housing could expand, under a bill filed in this year’s legislative session by Rep. Jamilla Taylor, D-Federal Way. HB 1696, sponsored by Taylor and 41 other representatives, would increase the income cap specified in the Covenant Homeownership Program.

Bill to raise lid on local WA school district levies moves forward

(The Center Square) – A bill that would increase the amount of local property tax collections allowed by school districts in Washington state passed the House Finance Committee on Tuesday.

LETTER: Martin Luther King Jr., Charlie Jones and Black History Month

Recently, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in Moses Lake. Charlie Jones (one of the primary sponsors of past events who passed last year) was honored along with Martin Luther King Jr. I watched a YouTube program last week ( “Plymouth vs Jamestown Kings and Priests”) that provided a positive and balanced historical view of America's founding, the influence of Christianity and the contributions of many Black Americans like Harry Hosier and others not as well known as Frederick Douglass, Josiah Henson, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and Martin Luther King Jr..

Legals for February, 27 2025

MLSD board determines no civil rights infringement

Lack of access to PE impacts campuses with minority populations more than others

MOSES LAKE – In the Feb. 20 meeting of the Moses Lake School Board, the issue of equity in physical education resurfaced, spurred by a civil rights complaint submitted by Larry Dagnon, a teacher at North Elementary which he presented at the previous Feb. 6 meeting.

Wahluke, MLSD, Ephrata levy requests approved by voters

EPHRATA — Voters in the Moses Lake and Ephrata school districts approved maintenance and operations levies and Wahluke School District voters approved a capital projects levy. The results of the Feb. 11 special election were certified Friday. Moses Lake School District patrons approved a four-year levy request with 6,690 yes votes to 4,533 no votes, 59.61% approving. The passage came after levy voters twice rejected a levy request in 2024. At the same time district officials discovered that accounting errors and inaccurate enrollment counts had drained MLSD reserves.

Student performance fuels school funding debate

OLYMPIA – Holly Koon of Mount Baker School District struggles every day in her freshman biology classes to help students achieve, but sometimes it seems like a losing battle. Chronic absenteeism, growing class sizes and fewer classroom helpers all get in the way of student learning, she said. “All students can absolutely learn, and they can learn to standard,” she said. “I have a biology class right now with 36 students in it; I have one instructional aid. How do you – in 60 minutes a day – individualize and support all 36 students?”

Plastic bags are a good way to sow before the spring weather comes

MOSES LAKE — Winter may be wheezing out its last gasps, but we’re still a ways off from time to put most spring plants outdoors. Seeds can be planted ahead of time in milk jugs or ice cube trays, but there’s a third medium that’s had some success: plastic resealable bags. “You can start sweet peas in bags,” said Valerie Parrott, president of the Columbia Basin Garden Club. “You can start a lot of winter sowing things putting them in the (plastic) bags. Just line them up outside.” The bags should be filled with some sort of absorbent material. Parrott uses potting soil, but moss, coffee filters or towels are also options, according to the website Gardening Tips and Tools.

Legals for February, 21 2025

Legals for February, 20 2025

Joann Fabric and Crafts Moses Lake location to close

MOSES LAKE — The Joann Fabric and Crafts location in Moses Lake is one of 21 stores that will be closing as the company continues bankruptcy proceedings. Locations in East Wenatchee, Walla Walla and Clarkston also will be closing, along with one of two locations in Spokane and one location in Spokane Valley.

Legals for February, 14 2025

Moses Lake man pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

OTHELLO — A Moses Lake man will be sentenced April 8 after pleading guilty to three counts of possessing sexually explicit images of children Tuesday. Dustin Blaske, 40, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to three counts of first-degree possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was caught following an investigation in 2021, according to a release from the Othello Police Department.

Grant Co. working to update plan to address homelessness

EPHRATA – Grant County has announced its intention to hire a strategic planning consultant to help develop its updated Homeless Housing Five-Year Strategic Plan. The deadline for proposals is 3 p.m. March 12 with a completion target for the updated plan in December 2025.

Fake kids, real charges: Lawmakers push additional oversight for net nanny stings

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Patrol has leveraged “net nanny” operations since 2015 to arrest hundreds of alleged child predators, but state lawmakers have concerns that could redirect its efforts. Senate lawmakers moved legislation out of committee on Thursday that would reestablish the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, or MECTF, advisory board. While the task force still exists, the Legislature terminated its oversight board nearly a decade ago.

WA Lawmakers revisit bill that would prohibit police deception in interrogations

OLYMPIA — Lawmakers in Olympia are revisiting a bill that would block law enforcement from lying during interrogations after a similar measure failed to advance to the Senate last session.

Superintendents discuss reading, math skills locally, statewide

OLYMPIA – The National Center for Education Statistics released the 2024 results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Thursday, revealing that Washington’s fourth grade students continue to outperform many peers nationally in reading and math, while eighth graders experienced a decline, particularly in math.

Ephrata School Board focuses on attendance, funding in regular meeting

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District board met for a regular meeting Jan. 27 and swore in a new board member, received an update on district attendance, approved grants and purchases and discussed the district’s budget – including the upcoming Educational Programs and Operations levy which is on the Feb. 11 ballot.

WA gun control bills spark debate

OLYMPIA – Proposals before the Washington Legislature that would change laws around purchasing and carrying firearms have prompted scrutiny and debate.