WA Lawmakers consider rural nursing education

OLYMPIA - Lawmakers determined to address nursing shortages across the state have proposed a new bill to establish a remote nursing education program for rural students. The bill aims to deliver education and training to registered nurses who want to learn, live, and work in their communities.

MLSD Financial Oversight Committee meets for first time

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District hosted its first Financial Oversight Committee meeting Jan. 29. The committee is a volunteer-based group of local professionals from industries including accounting, finance and similar fields. The group was established to hold the district to another level of accountability with its finances.

Basin sports schedule Feb. 5-11

MOSES LAKE – Check out this week’s sports schedule for high school athletics across the Columbia Basin, including, basketball, swim and dive and wrestling events.

BASIN SENIOR EVENTS for Feb. 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — There are plenty of opportunities to stay active in the Basin this month. Here are a few possibilities:

Wahluke capital levy set to improve fiscal planning

MATTAWA – The Wahluke School District is running a levy on the Feb. 11 ballot asking for voters to approve a measure intended to eliminate debt and pay for upgrades to campus security infrastructure, Wahluke Superintendent Andy Harlow said. The levy will be something the district hasn’t requested for six years.

Legals for February, 5 2025

Family seeks help in finding missing Moses Lake teen

MOSES LAKE — The family of a missing Moses Lake teen is asking for help in finding him.

Budget challenges a hurdle for Dent's regional firefighting bill

OLYMPIA – Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is working on a bill to create a pilot project, aimed at boosting wildfire prevention and responses in rural areas. The project intends to improve firefighting through collaboration between public and private entities. Dent has proposed this legislation since 2017, and although confident in its proposal, the budget deficit presents a significant challenge, he said. “I don’t know right now where I will find the money,” said Dent. “There’s a big fiscal note on here and it's inflated. We have to cut that down. It’s not right.”

Jacks take fifth hosting Bring Home da Beef tournament

QUINCY – Girls wrestling teams from the Columbia Basin and beyond gathered in Quincy for the Bring Home da Beef tournament on Saturday, with five local teams closing out the final Saturday of the regular season with top 10 finishes at the 30-plus team tournament.

Ephrata super wants to ensure voters informed on EP&O levy

EPHRATA – As February 11 draws closer, Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray says he wants to make sure voters in the district have what they need to make an informed decision regarding the school district’s education programs and operations levy. The levy is set to replace the current levy that expires this year.

Vikings secure fifth straight victory

MOSES LAKE -- Riding a four-game winning streak, the Vikings aimed to make it five as they traveled to Walla Walla on Saturday to face off against the Warriors. BBCC got off to a strong start, holding the Warriors to single-digit points in both of the first two quarters and building a substantial lead, heading into halftime up 31-15.

Celebrated French horn quartet Genghis Barbie to perform at CWU

ELLENSBURG — The renowned French horn quartet Genghis Barbie will be returning to Central Washington University on Thursday for a 7 p.m. performance in McIntyre Hall. Heralded as “the leading post post-feminist feminist all-female horn experience, the most innovative and energizing chamber ensemble of its generation and beyond,” the all-female horn ensemble delivers a visceral and unadulterated musical adventure. The group last performed at CWU in November 2012, presenting arrangements of pop music from the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, and today. They are regarded as one of the most versatile and expansive groups on New York’s classical/pop/rock/jazz/indie/alternative/punk/electro-acoustic scene.

Legals for February, 4 2025

Eastern Washington site of de facto EV school bus experiment

(The Center Square) – With cold weather and long distances, eastern Washington state would seem an unlikely region to find school district officials excited about electric buses. Mike McCain, transportation director for the Reardan-Edwall School District, is looking forward to the experiment.

GCFD 3 pays off two fire stations

QUINCY — A facilities committee will be evaluating Grant County Fire District 3 stations to determine priorities for upgrades following the final payment on the bond that built the main fire station in Quincy. Fire district officials announced last week the bond was paid off at the end of 2024.

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.

Big Bend Community College Viking Food Pantry fills a need

MOSES LAKE — For Big Bend Community College students, the Viking Food Pantry can help them bridge a crucial gap. Food Pantry Director Tara McCoy said there aren’t a lot of options out by the campus for students who don’t have transportation to the grocery store – or who might lack the resources for food.

CBIT continues investigation on Grant Co. Jail death

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Police Department Captain Troy Froewiss released a statement regarding Central Basin Investigations Team regarding the death of Richard Lambert in the Grant County Jail. Lamber was found deceased in his bunk at the Grant County Jail Dec. 31.

Three Quincy residents booked for fuel theft, possessing stolen goods

QUINCY – On Thursday morning, three Quincy residents were arrested after their vehicle ran out of fuel with a bed full of suspected stolen property, according to a statement from Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

ACH avenges lone loss, defeats Wellpinit 68-41

COULEE CITY – A fast start surged the Warriors in their 68-41 win over Wellpinit on Thursday night, holding a double-digit lead in the first quarter before winning the game by nearly 30 points.