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  • Serrano headed to general election for state attorney general

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Aug 16, 2024

    PASCO - A prominent local attorney and community leader is headed to the November general election for Secretary of State. At the end of ballot counting in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election, Pete Serrano of Pasco led the three-candidate field. "I am incredibly honored by your support tonight," Serrano said after the initial tally. "Your vote has made it clear that public safety is a top priority for Washingtonians. I am deeply grateful to my team, our volunteers, and...

  • Treaty can wait until election is over

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 25, 2024

    Dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries contribute greatly to the way of life here in Eastern Washington. So, when the federal government says it has reached an agreement on proposed revisions to the Columbia River Treaty with Canada, rural residents should say not so fast. On the surface, the “in principle” agreement announced last week looks good for Americans. Under the proposed changes, the U.S. will get to keep more of the power generated on our side of the border. The proposed agreement says the U.S. will red...

  • State may downgrade wolf listing

    Roger Harnack, The Journal|Updated Jul 17, 2024

    OLYMPIA – The Fish and Wildlife Commission is expected to downgrade the state listing of wolves from endangered to sensitive when it meets virtually Friday, July 19. The meeting is scheduled to run from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and will be aired on TVW. The wolf discussion is planned for 10:15 a.m. The discussion on downgrading the state listing stems from a state Department of Fish and Wildlife finding that gray wolves no longer meet the criteria to be considered endangered. Down-listing would not mean wolf management rules would c...

  • Don't buy into push for 'free' EV chargers

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 17, 2024

    Truck, truck, truck, Tesla. Truck, truck, truck. Here in rural Eastern Washington, the running joke is that the “T” on a Tesla electric vehicle stands for “tourist.” Indeed, the expensive cars, like their electric Toyota and Rivian counterparts, are an oddity easily picked out among rural residents’ pickups, four-wheel drives and older vehicles. But what some rural residents may not realize is that they are paying to charge many of those expensive EVs. Over the last couple ye...

  • Up go the walls

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 11, 2024

  • Campfires banned at Lake Roosevelt

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 11, 2024

    GRAND COULEE — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is banning all campfires until further notice. The ban on all campfires went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 11. “No open flames are permitted,” a notice on the ban said. “This includes, but is not limited to, all fires in National Park Service-provided fire rings and boxes, shoreline fires, charcoal fires, tiki torches, incense burners, candles, pellet smokers and propane campfires.” Lake Roosevelt officials said self-contained propane and gas stoves and lante...

  • Avista initiates wildfire policy

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 3, 2024

    SPOKANE — Ratepayers who purchase electricity from Avista may have their power turned off on windy, hot summer days when utility officials deem fire danger high. According to company officials, Avista’s so-called “Public Safety Power Shutoff” plan is in response to summer conditions in Eastern Washington. When high winds are forecast, company employees may increase sensitivity on power lines, officials said. The increased sensitivity could lead to more and prolonged power outages. Officials said ratepayers will be notifie...

  • State, tribal fireworks laws should be aligned

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 3, 2024

    When it comes to fireworks, there are two classes of people in Washington state, indeed much of the country. In one class are American Indian tribes and tribal members, which sell mortars, Roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets and other fireworks with abandon. The other class comprises non-tribal residents, who are generally prohibited from possessing and lighting those same fireworks off a reservation. Predictably, tribes and tribal members are racking up sales to...

  • State to end camping at Vernita Bridge recreation area

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jun 26, 2024

    VERNITA - If you like spending a week or more fishing for salmon and camping on the Columbia River adjacent to Vernita Bridge, your days are numbered. On Monday, June 17, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced plans to limit the number of days fishermen can camp at the water-access area just upstream the bridge during fall salmon seasons in 2024 and 2025. During the fall salmon season, fishermen will be allowed to camp a maximum of 14 days each of the next two...

  • Chain-wrapped club attack ends in arrests

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Jun 14, 2024

    SPOKANE VALLEY - Two homeless men were booked into the Spokane County Jail last week after allegedly beating a man with a chain-wrapped club. Armando Guerro-Lopez, 44, and Richard Corrales, 36, were both booked into the jail for first-degree robbery. The men were being held on $500,000 bail, set by Superior Court Commissioner Eugene Cruz. Their arrest stems from a June 1 attack in a parking lot in the 5600 block of East Sprague Avenue. According to the Spokane County...

  • Naked convict arrested

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Jun 14, 2024

    SPOKANE VALLEY — A convicted felon was back in jail in connection with a violent attack only two days after being released from prison. Logan P.L. Ortiz, 29, is being held in the Spokane County Jail on charges of second-degree assault-strangulation with sexual motivation and third-degree assault. Ortiz has previous convictions for first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, criminal trespassing, residential burglary, retail theft, fourth-degree assault, malicious mischief and violation of a p...

  • Sixth in the state

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Jun 5, 2024

  • Combine Derby set for Lind

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jun 5, 2024

    LIND — The town will roar to life this weekend as the annual Lind Grand Parade and Combine Derby return to town. The action begins Friday with car and pickup truck racing. Locals and visitors alike with “run what they brung” to Lion’s Club Arena on state Highway 21. Racing is set to begin at 6 p.m. As of press time, racers were still able to get registered for the event by calling Eric Lund at 509-677-3432. Expect racers from across Whitman, Franklin, Adams, Lincoln, Spokane and other counties to be among the field. Saturda...

  • Someone paid for your freedoms

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 23, 2024

    Disappointingly, many Americans are worried about silly first-world problems like where to go boating or what to barbecue over the upcoming weekend. Too many view this up coming three-day break as an excuse to eat, drink and party, never giving a thought as to why Memorial Day is observed. So while you’re anxiously awaiting the long weekend, take time to remember, understand and plan to observe Memorial Day. Memorial Day is dedicated to the men and women killed while serving i...

  • Liberty girls in state fastpitch tournament

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 23, 2024

    YAKIMA — The Liberty (Spangle) girls fastpitch team finished the season with a single loss. This week, the Lancers (22-1) will have an opportunity to show they deserve a shot at the state Class 2B title. The No. 5-ranked Lancers charge into the Gateway Sports Complex for the state fastpitch softball tournament Friday, May 24. They open tournament play at 10 a.m. on Field No. 3 against the No. 12-ranked Lake Roosevelt Raiders (18-5) from Coulee Dam. The Lancers are the top team out of the Northeast 2B League; the Raiders f...

  • Colorful aurora borealis

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 16, 2024

    A G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storm resulted in one of the most brilliant displays of northern lights, scientifically known as aurora borealis, on Friday night, May 10. The colorful aerial display was visible across Eastern Washington. Pictured, the colorful sky silhouettes farm buildings....

  • Trestle Sunset

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free PRess|Updated May 13, 2024

  • Strong arm in Rosalia

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 2, 2024

    Timberwolf Briley Smith of Rosalia competed for Tekoa-Rosalia at the Undeberg Invitational on Saturday in Rosalia. Smith qualified for the finals in girls shot put, where she ninth overall with a personal record toss of 27-05....

  • Stolen honeybun leads to arrest

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Apr 26, 2024

    SPOKANE VALLEY — A local man shoplifting a honeybun is being held in the Spokane County Jail on multiple cahrges. Mayger D. Jones, 23, is being held on $2,500 bond on charges of possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and third-degree theft. His arrest came at about 7:35 p.m. April 22 after deputies responded to a call of a man walking round the WinCo Foods grocery store, 9718 E. Sprague Ave., with a gun on his hip, records show. The caller, a store employee, reported the man, later i...

  • Governor declares statewide drought

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Apr 26, 2024

    OLYMPIA — The state Department of Ecology has declared a statewide drought emergency for everywhere except cities with large storage basins. The drought update was issued Friday, April 19, with the agency predicting a warm, dry spring. According to the agency, the weather forecast will leave many watershed statewide with low water. The declaration allows state agencies to provide drought-related assistance in a more timely manner. Gov. Jay Inslee calked up this year’s forecast drought to global warming. “As our climate conti...

  • Glimpse of an eclipse

    Roger Harnack|Updated Apr 11, 2024

    With a little patience and a high-density filter, Eastern Washington residents were able to catch a glimpse of the Monday, April 8, solar eclipse. In our region, at about 11:35 a.m., the moon covered from 26.1-28.5% of the sun. That glimpse was available between clouds. The partial eclipse here lasted 1 hour 52 minutes; it began here at 10:39 a.m. and ended at 12:31 p.m. While we observed only a glimpse of the eclipse, the moon totally blocked the sun across a 115-mile swath...

  • End of the rainbow

    Roger Harnack|Updated Apr 4, 2024

    A rainbow appears to end at a barn on Spangle-Waverly Road last week, east of Liberty High School. The rainbow and sunset combined to cast a golden hue over the farm....

  • NCAA Haystack

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 28, 2024

    A farmer along Spangle-Waverly Road has erected a hay tribute to the Washington State University Cougars men's basketball team for reaching the national championship "March Madness" tournament. The Cougars, however, have subsequently been eliminated....

  • It's Cookie Time

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 28, 2024

    Cheney Brownie Lianna Wuesthoff, 8, markets her Girl Scout cookes along West First Street last week. Wuesthoff, was joined by brother Elijah, 7, and mother, Eryn, not pictured....

  • State budget includes funds for 6th District projects

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Mar 15, 2024

    SPOKANE — The state’s 2024-25 supplemental capital budget includes money to for several 6th Legislative District projects. “The additional money for transportation projects in this supplemental budget will positively impact the transportation system in our communities,” Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, said. “For example, the project for Snowdon will improve safety for kids, which is always a priority.” The funds were part of the funding package introduced as Senate Bill 5949, which appropriated $1.33 billion for projects st...

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