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..

LETTER: Sustaining Columbia Basin agriculture through USAID

Dear Editor, In the expansive fields of the Columbia Basin, our farmers’ dedication yields abundant harvests that have long extended beyond our region, reaching those in dire need across the globe.

Legals for February, 27 2025

Grant Co. road construction season starts March 10

EPHRATA — A section of Westshore Drive is scheduled for a complete rebuild in 2025, and upgrades are planned for a section of Stratford Road. Westshore Drive construction begins March 10. A pedestrian trail and traffic circles will be added in Desert Aire, and a third section of Drumheller Road will be graded. Those are among the road improvement projects scheduled for Grant County in 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.

ICE arrests Othello woman, teen son left to run family food truck

OTHELLO —Eighteen-year-old Raul Gomez-Eudave woke up on a Saturday morning earlier this month to a flood of missed calls and text messages. When he unlocked his phone, his heart dropped.

Bridge and two Adams Co. roads scheduled for work in 2025

RITZVILLE — Sections of two Adams County roads were closed on an emergency basis following wet and windy weather. Others are subject to closure as spring approaches.

Committee proposed to redesign state flag

OLYMPIA – Is Washington’s State flag a relic of days gone by and should it be redesigned? A bill in this year’s Legislature says the question is worth considering and proposes establishing a committee to explore the idea.

Changes coming to Mattawa development application process

MATTAWA — With residential and commercial building activity coming to Mattawa, city officials are working on ways to streamline the development application process. Rachelle Bradley of SCJ Alliance, the city’s planners, told Mattawa City Council members that a checklist is being prepared to give people thinking about development some basic guidelines.

Band formed out of loss comes home to Ephrata

EPHRATA — The boys – and girl – are back in town. The band Millergold, four of whose members graduated from Ephrata High School, will perform two shows in their hometown this weekend. The first show will be Friday evening at Ephrata High School’s Performing Arts Center, and the second will be Saturday at 12 Hawks Sports Bar & Grill. “We did Cabaret at (EHS) and really loved music,” said Nate Elliott, the band’s bass player and a 2015 EHS graduate. “We did choir, and then kind of went our separate ways for about 10 years.”

Sphinx Virtuosi to bring little-known music to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Some of the best classical music talent in the country will visit Moses Lake when Sphinx Virtuosi plays the Wallenstien Theater Saturday. “We are so pleased and honored to have them come to our small town stage,” said Shawn Cardwell, executive director of Columbia Basin Allied Arts, which is presenting the concert. “These guys are touring the nation right now, showcasing the artists that are part of the group, as well as the artists who wrote the music that they play.” The Sphinx Virtuosi is made up of 18 of the nation’s top Black and Hispanic artists selected to showcase classical music by historically ignored minority composers, according to the website of the Sphinx Organization. The Sphinx Virtuosi have performed with the New York Philharmonic, with symphony orchestras from all over the United States, and are a regular highlight at Carnegie Hall.

Legals for February, 26 2025

FIRST RESPONDER FOCUS: Josh Bronn

Royal SRO brings a safe presence to school

ROYAL CITY — One thing most people can agree on is that schools shouldn’t be dangerous places, especially in a small town. But they can be, especially with undesirable elements in schools. “In typical school fights, you’d have a couple of kids fighting, and then everyone’s gathered around and they’re cheering them on,” said Royal City Police Officer Josh Bronn, who’s the school resource officer for the Royal School District. “But in these fights, the kids were wearing their gang attire. They dropped their backpacks and everyone else would leave. They scattered like ‘We don’t want to be involved in this.’”

Ferguson orders assessment of data center impacts

OLYMPIA— Earlier this month, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order to create a workgroup aimed at assessing the impacts of data centers on energy use, state tax revenue, and the environment. The order stemmed from concerns about the sustainability of data centers – large warehouses filled with stacked computers that power the modern internet – which consume significant amounts of energy putting a strain on Washington’s power grid. “We must ensure Washington remains a leader in technology and sustainability – these experts will help us do that,” Ferguson said in a public statement. “This group will help us balance industry growth, tax revenue needs, energy constraints, and sustainability.”

Lincoln Day Dinner draws big crowd

MOSES LAKE — Members and guests of the Grant County Republican Party gathered Saturday night to discuss the issues, network and fundraise at the annual Lincoln Day dinner. Andrew Koeppen, county chair, said the dinner was sold out. “Our preliminary numbers show this was another record year,” Koeppen said. The Lincoln Day Dinner is a longtime annual event for Republicans, and the 2025 dinner featured talks from William Kirk with Washington Gun Law and Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy), who represents the Ninth District in the Washington House of Representatives.

Bill to make school bond approval easier in Washington state gains momentum

(The Center Square) – Several people showed up at a Monday public hearing before the Senate Ways & Means Committee to offer their support for a bill that would amend the state constitution to allow for simple majorities to pass school bonds in Washington state. Senate Bill 5186 is a substitute bill to the original Senate Joint Resolution 8200, which would have allowed 55% of voters to authorize school district bonds. Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor, introduced the substitute bill modeled after House Bill 4201, which would require only that more than half of the votes cast be in favor of the bond request. The substitute bill was given a do-pass recommendation out of executive session on Feb. 13 by the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. Because SB 5186 would amend the state constitution, it requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. Afterward, voters would have the final say this November.

Port adopts updated strategic plan

MOSES LAKE — Within five years Port of Moses Lake officials have set the goal of completing a rail line to the port and will be working to provide additional electricity to its tenants – or will already be providing it. The port will be operating its own water system and will have additional businesses in the property on its western edge. Those are among the goals in the five-year strategic plan, approved by port commissioners Monday. Commissioner Kent Jones said it’s a work in progress, building off the previous plan. And since it’s a plan, it’s subject to change. “Our thought process is that this is a plan of what we expect to do over the next five years,” Jones said. “It doesn’t tell us who’s going to do it or how it’s going to get done – and some of these are aspirational goals anyway.” Kim Detrolio, the port’s director of finance and administration, said port officials already are working on some of the projects, but more are planned. “it’s an expa

Proposed law could allow state agencies to decertify elected sheriffs

(The Center Square) – Voters typically expect higher standards from law enforcement, but one proposal to align expectations across different levels would also allow Washington state to decertify an elected sheriff and more. House Bill 1399 aims to standardize state laws regarding the eligibility and duties of sheriffs, police chiefs, marshals, and volunteers. While it seeks to align the expectations of each position, it also cuts any mention of the U.S. Constitution amid conflicts over federal immigration enforcement. If approved, sheriffs must enforce all state laws, be at least 25 years old, have two years of law enforcement experience, obtain certification within 12 months of assuming office, and pass the Criminal Justice Training Commission and Washington State Patrol background checks.

Legals for February, 25 2025