STAFF REPORT

Senate Republican leaders support ruling against Inslee vetoes

OLYMPIA — Washington Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler and Sen. Curtis King, Republican leader on the Senate Transportation Committee, issued statements Friday after Thurston County Superior Court Judge Carol Murphy ruled Gov. Jay Inslee’s line-item vetoes of the transportation budget adopted last year were illegal, according to a press release.

Grant PUD may extend study of bank at dam

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will consider extending a study of seismic conditions of the left bank at Wanapum Dam and an increase in the contract cost. If approved, the contract with Jack R. Benjamin Associates would be extended through December 2021 and raised from $990,000 to $1.5 million.

Othello School District renews superintendent contract

OTHELLO — The contract of Othello School District Superintendent Chris Hurst has been extended through 2023.

Grant, Adams counties put off application for Phase 3

MOSES LAKE/RITZVILLE — Officials in Grant and Adams counties decided not to apply for Phase 3 of the state’s four-phase reopening plan over the weekend, when the recommended three weeks in Phase 2 were completed.

Ephrata grad commits to CWU baseball

WALLA WALLA — Ephrata graduate Zac Berryman will have an opportunity to return to the baseball field after the COVID-19 outbreak shortened his sophomore season with Walla Walla Community College.

Department of Health highlights importance of face coverings

OLYMPIA — State officials on Monday again asked Washingtonians to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Impromptu protests appear in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Upward of 30 people gathered at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Stratford Road on Tuesday evening to protest police brutality and show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

State Parks open for free three days in June

OLYMPIA — State park visitors won’t need a Discover Pass for day-use excursions three days in June, according to a press release from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Webinar will address how health care affects retirement

MOSES LAKE — Will I be OK for retirement?

Free potatoes feed residents of Grant, Adams counties and beyond

GRANT AND ADAMS COUNTIES — As if 2020 didn’t have plenty of names already, it will also go down in history as the Year of the Great Potato Giveaways.

Local libraries extend closure date

KENNEWICK — To help citizens stay in compliance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s recently extended stay-home order, the Mid-Columbia Libraries has extended its closure date to Monday, May 4. While the Othello library is closed, patrons have access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and streaming videos available on midcolumbialibraries.org. The library network is also hosting a spring reading challenge in which participants can win digital Amazon gift cards. Live story times can be accessed on the library’s facebook page, facebook.com/MidColumbiaLibraries.

Preserving routines: Tips for Alzheimer’s caregivers during pandemic

Tips for Alzheimer’s caregivers during pandemic

NEW YORK — The ongoing coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak is disrupting many parts of daily life for everyone, but those challenges are magnified for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease. Changes in daily routines can lead to anxiety, confusion, agitation or discomfort, which is why the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering tips to family caregivers about ways to adapt.

Adams County prepares for COVID-19

OTHELLO — Adams County’s first confirmed coronavirus case was reported on Saturday, March 21.

Adams County prepares for COVID-19

OTHELLO — Adams County’s first confirmed coronavirus case was reported on Saturday, March 21.

COVID-19 case found in Adams County

OTHELLO — Adams County has its first confirmed coronavirus case, according to a press release issued Saturday by the Adams County Health Department.

COVID-19 case found in Adams County

OTHELLO — Adams County has its first confirmed coronavirus case, according to a press release issued Saturday by the Adams County Health Department.

How and where to pay utility bills

MOSES LAKE — During this time of closures related to the coronavirus, residents of Columbia Basin communities who want to pay utility bills by phone or drop box can contact city officials at the following phone numbers or drop payments off at the following locations.

Spectator at Yakima’s state basketball tournament tests positive for COVID-19

RENTON — The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) announced Tuesday that a spectator at the 1A, 2A Hardwood Classic in Yakima has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a press release.

Coffee With a Cop event coming up in Mattawa

MATTAWA — The public is invited to join the Mattawa Police Department for coffee and conversation during the Coffee with a Cop event on Saturday, March 17.

Armed robber steals cash, safe from store

SCHWANA — A masked man reportedly robbed a Schwana store at gunpoint Monday morning and got away with cash and a safe.

Connell murder suspect last seen in Othello

Missing 15-year-old girl found

WILSON CREEK - A 15-year-old girl missing since Sept. 7 has been found.

MLBA to hold Basin BBQ Bash

MOSES LAKE - Now in its second year, the Moses Lake Business Association is holding the Basin BBQ Bash in LakeTown Landing, also known as the city's downtown shopping district.

Sheriff announces smartphone app

EPHRATA - Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones announces that his office has launched a smartphone application that allows the office to communicate more effectively with the community.

City of Moses Lake resists tribal gas station

MOSES LAKE - A proposed tribal gas station and convenience store has continued to see resistance from city council members.

Man hurt in wreck

MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake man was seriously injured Sunday during a motorcycle-pickup truck collision near Moses Lake on June 10.

Outage affects Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - A power outage in Moses Lake affected more than 650 Grant County PUD accounts for several minutes Wednesday afternoon.

Downtown Moses Lake bank robbed

Suspect flees on foot

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake police are investigating a bank robbery that occurred Tuesday at the Bank of America on East Third Avenue downtown.

$900 art piece to be auctioned to raise funds

MOSES LAKE - The Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington High School Equivalency Program will raffle a piece of farmworker art valued at $900 to raise funds for the program.

Bonaudi retirement party Thursday

BBCC president retires after 17 years

MOSES LAKE - Longtime Big Bend Community College president Bill Bonaudi will be the guest of honor at an open house celebrating his retirement Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Masto Conference Center, 7662 Chanute Street NW.

Shine Kids return to Royal City for Bible School

ROYAL CITY - The Shine Kids from Kent, a youth group making its third mission trip to Royal City, will be participating in a joint church service in the Royal City Park on Sunday, June 24.

Honors advisor surprised with award

MOSES LAKE - Members of the Phi Theta Kappa, the Honor Society at Big Bend Community College, surprised their advisor Barbara Whitney with an award thanking her for her support of the program.

Patrol cars added by sheriff

EPHRATA - Citizens will soon see new sheriff's patrol cars on Grant County roads. The sheriff's Office recently unveiled one of its new 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles.

Reception for Pastor Bill Altenhein

ROYAL CITY - The Royal City United Methodist Church will hold a reception to honor long-time Pastor Bill Altenhein on Father's Day.

USPS holds mailings workshop

MOSES LAKE - The United States Postal Service (USPS) invites small businesses to attend a "grow your business day" workshop in Moses Lake.

Be a part of Victory Wrestling camp

Hall of Fame wrestling coach Marc Sprague is conducting the Cobra Wrestling Victory Camp at Quincy High School June 18 to 21.

DA Fly-in and Breakfast this Saturday

DESERT AIRE - The 18th annual Desert Aire Fly-In and Breakfast on the Flight Line will be celebrated this Saturday, June 16, at the Desert Aire Airport.

Gas leak shuts down West Broadway

Fumes fill Moses Lake building

MOSES LAKE - Emergency crews diverted traffic after a gas leak filled a building with flammable fumes in downtown Moses Lake Tuesday afternoon.

Moses Lake man injured in motorcycle crash

Reportedly hits truck

MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake man was seriously injured when his motorcycle reportedly hit a pickup truck near Moses Lake.

Warrant issued for former attorney

Was disbarred in 2010

EPHRATA - A $10,000 bench warrant was issued for a former Moses Lake attorney.

Collision near Quincy sends four to hospital

QUINCY - A three-car collision sent four people from Wenatchee and Malaga to the hospital over the weekend.

Winds blamed for collision near George

GEORGE - An awning with a metal bar allegedly hit a parked vehicle Saturday near George, resulting in a Woodinville woman and a North Bend man being taken to the hospital.

Malott man killed in crash near Soap Lake

Reportedly failed to yield

SOAP LAKE - A Malott man is dead after he reportedly failed to yield at a stop sign at state Route 17 and state Route 28, just south of the Soap Lake city limits.

Two from Moses Lake injured in crash

COULEE CITY - Two Moses Lake residents were injured in a crash on state Route 17, about 2 miles west of Coulee City.

Truck driver airlifted after crash

Blocks highway

MOSES LAKE - A Coeur d' Alene man was airlifted with injuries from a crash on state Route 262, about 20 miles south of Moses Lake.

WSP trooper's wife helps stop apparent metal theft

Two arrested near Royal City

ROYAL CITY - Sheriff's deputies credit the wife a Washington State Patrol Trooper for reporting suspicious activity leading to the arrest of two alleged scrap metal thieves.

Moses Lake police seek robbery suspects

Bike taken

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake police are looking for two men who allegedly threatened a man if he didn't hand over his bike.

Golf tournament supports Warden

First annual

WARDEN - A golf tournament is being held at Sage Hills Golf Course to raise money for the Warden Development Council.

Robbery a big problem for Schawana landlady

SCHAWANA - A property owner in Mattawa has lost renters three times because of robberies at one of her properties, the latest on May 15, and she claims she gets no help from law enforcement.

Clarification, more details on pedestrian death

Different first name released

MOSES LAKE - Initial reports of a pedestrian fatality on state Route 17 Wednesday included a different first name of the deceased man.