Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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OLYMPIA –The measles outbreak in the United States has surpassed 800 confirmed cases across 24 states, including a fifth reported case in Washington. The Washington State Department of Health urges parents and caregivers to protect their children from the disease with two doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Adults are also encouraged to verify their measles vaccination status online at MyIRmobile.com or with their provider. “I’m worried that some data show that Washington kindergartners have lower rates of MMR cover...
OLYMPIA — Starting May 7, 2025, Americans will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification to board domestic flights. This requirement also applies to accessing certain federal facilities. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, and states must create IDs requiring applicants to prove their identity and legal U.S. residency and have certain counterfeit-resistant features. The Washington REAL ID is the Enhanced ID or Enhanced Driver’s License. It is not mandatory to change to either; other forms of ID...
OLYMPIA — Washington state employees increased their non-perishable food, books, and money donations for the Well Fed, Well Read campaign during the 2025 Washington State Combined Fund Drive. The Combined Fund Drive is a Washington state workplace giving program for active and retired public employees to give to the charity of their choice through payroll contributions and agency fundraising events. It is an Office of the Secretary of State program. The campaign ran from April 1 – 15, and state employees donated more than 2,908 pounds of food,...
OLYMPIA — Paddle sports, including kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding, are among the most popular activities in Washington State. A Recreation and Conservation Office study showed 52% of survey respondents participate in paddle sports, up 28% from a 2017 study. Rising safety incidents show the importance of education on paddle sport safety. Paddle sports account for 61% of reportable boating fatalities between 2023 and 2024. Out of 22 paddle sport fatalities, 18 occurred when the individual was not wearing a life jacket. In r...
OLYMPIA— The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) announced the publication of the 2024 Target Zero Plan. Target Zero is Washington’s goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on Washington’s roads by 2030. The updated plan reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to traffic safety and outlines a comprehensive approach to addressing the critical factors contributing to fatal and serious collisions. Since its inception in 2000, Target Zero has provided a strategic ro...
OLYMPIA – Nobody likes to see food go to waste, especially during the holiday season. Why not get inspired this holiday season? A few simple tips can help you reduce waste and save money. When food ends up in the trash, it means wasted money – but once that trash ends up in a landfill, it also produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. To help holiday hosts reduce the amount of food they waste, the Washington Department of Ecology is launching a holiday edition of its “Use Food Well” food waste prevention campaign. Washington wastes half a...
OLYMPIA — With the 2024 wildfire season underway, the Washington Department of Ecology is launching an enhanced air quality monitoring map to help Washingtonians track air pollution and take steps to protect their health and the health of their families. Ecology has made the air monitoring map more accessible on smartphones and tablets, and it can be downloaded to a smartphone or desktop computer. The map draws the most accurate and real-time data from the state’s network of more than 80 air quality monitoring stations, providing a col...
OLYMPIA, WA. — According to the USDA, seven days were suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from the previous week. The continuing drought in Western Washington has caused difficult farming conditions. Central Washington dealt with heat and lack of moisture, which impacted wheat and forage crops. Forage crops had little regrowth; in some areas, cattle grazed fields that should have had a second hay-cutting. In Yakima County, daytime highs for the week started in the lower 80s but neared triple digits by the end of the week. The c...
OLYMPIA — As we head into the Fourth of July, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) encourages everyone to take precautions and prepare for outdoor activities to ensure your summertime fun does not end at the emergency room or worse. The National Weather Service predicts moderate to major heat for much of Washington by the end of this week. Track weather conditions at www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/heatrisk/ and plan to monitor people with health conditions, the elderly, and infants to prevent heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or other heat-related...
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) asks anyone planning a Fourth of July celebration at a park or beach to be safe and protect friends, neighbors, public lands, and wildlife. Parks sees high levels of visitation during Independence Day celebrations, particularly on its beaches, which increases the amount of trash left behind. Last year, volunteers collected more than 111,000 pounds of garbage from ocean beaches during the annual July 5 beach cleanup. That’s equivalent to the weight of about seven adult orc...
OLYMPIA — As kids across Washington head back to the classroom, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) encourages everyone to get caught up on their vaccinations to help keep families and communities healthy and safe. Children entering school and child care must meet state immunization requirements. According to 2022-2023 school immunization data, nearly 91% of K-12 students completed their required school vaccinations, which is slightly lower than the past few years. To boost childhood immunization rates, DOH works closely with c...
OLYMPIA—Individuals and families may receive refunds of up to $1,200 through Working Families Tax Credit if they meet eligibility requirements. The program is modeled after the Earned Income Tax Credit program; applications may be submitted through December 31, 2023. The Working Families Tax Credit aims to stimulate the local economy, promote racial equity, and support the financial stability and well-being of low-to-moderate-income Washington residents and their families. The program is managed by the Washington State Department of Revenue (...
OLYMPIA—Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill on Monday, initially sponsored by Representatives Klicker, Leavitt, Barkis, Jacobsen, Waters, Chapman, Reed, and Graham, increasing affordable housing options in the state. House Bill 1293 streamlines the permitting process and regulations for developing houses in urban growth areas. The bill requires cities and counties to plan under the Growth Management Act to ensure their design review process is clear and objective. “I’m pleased to see this bill pass because it addresses one of our state’s biggest...
OLYMPIA—The costs associated with flooding exceed all other natural hazards in Washington state. Each year, there is a better than 80% chance that ten or more flood events will occur, and the frequency of floods will increase as the climate changes. The Washington Legislature established the state Flood Control Assistance Account Program (FCAAP) in 1984 to help local and Tribal governments plan for and reduce their flood risks. “We know preparing for and avoiding flood damages is particularly important because storms are increasing in str...
OLYMPIA — Washington Sno-Park permits go on sale starting November 1, 2022. The State Parks Winter Recreation Program manages over 120 recreation sites, or Sno-Parks, across the state, which recreators can enjoy during the winter season. Parking at these sites requires special permits. Seasonal or one-day Sno-Park permits can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/twek7brb or through a licensed vendors. Snowmobilers must register their snowmobiles through the Washington Department of Licensing. In addition to the seasonal Sno-Park permit, a s...
OLYMPIA—Since 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of September to recognize generations of sports people for their contributions to the conservation of our nation’s rich sporting heritage and natural resources. One of the core goals of NHFD is to recruit new hunters and anglers by increasing awareness of the connections between conservation and fishing/hunting. This year, WDFW will host an online celebration using Instagram at https://tinyurl.com/4bsx77z4, YouTube at https://tin...
OLYMPIA—Nearly 30% (45,000–55,000) of Washington’s high school students are employed. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal announced a plan to allow students ages 16 and up to earn elective credits toward graduation through verified paid work experience. “Through work experience, students learn employability and leadership skills––skills like interpersonal communication, personal finance, time management, taking direction, receiving critical feedback, and following through on commitments––that support their long-term success in the workforce a...
OLYMPIA —Thanks to federal COVID-19 relief funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), many families in Washington state will have another round of food assistance available to them while children are home during the summer break. Called Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, these food benefits are available to families with young children who are eligible for Basic Food benefits as well as school-aged children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meal programs. P-EBT benefits can be used to shop at any grocery store, farmers market,...
OLYMPIA— 988 is the new, nationwide, three-digit dialing code for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 dialing code connects people via call, text, or chat to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), where compassionate, accessible care and support are available for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. 988 is the newest addition to the state’s network of crisis center providers and will not replace any crisis call centers in Washington. The current NSPL number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), will remain active alo...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites visitors to enjoy a state park on Saturday, June 11 in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, Sunday, June 12 in recognition of Free Fishing Day, and Sunday, June 19 in honor of Juneteenth. Visitors are not required to display a Discover Pass for day-use visits to a Washington state park or on lands managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on these dates. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation o...
OLYMPIA—Washington’s tuberculosis (TB) cases are rising, putting state and local public health officials on heightened alert. Widespread disruptions in public health and healthcare services and missed TB diagnoses due to similarities in symptoms between COVID-19 and TB are thought to have contributed to TB cases rising both locally and globally. TB reporting decreased in 2020 during the first year of the pandemic. Though efforts to prevent COVID-19 may also reduce the spread of TB, the decrease could also have been due to delayed or missed TB...
OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State received multiple reports of third-party canvassers presenting themselves as elections officials and going door-to-door across Washington asking residents about their voter information and other election-related questions. These canvassers are not affiliated with and do not represent the Office of the Secretary of State, its Elections division, or any of Washington’s 39 county elections offices. “I want to assure Washington voters that you are under no obligation to answer any questions from,...
OLYMPIA – On April 13, the Washington State Board of Health (SBOH) voted not to include COVID-19 in the state’s immunization requirements for school entry at this time. As stated in today’s SBOH meeting, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) supports the recommendation of the SBOH’s technical advisory group (TAG) and thanks the TAG for its thorough and methodical and transparent review of this matter over several months. During the SBOH discussion, it was made clear that both DOH and SBOH continue to support COVID-19 vaccines as bein...
OLYMPIA–Thousands of doses of a potentially life-saving COVID-19 drug are available in the state of Washington, potentially benefitting those at highest risk for hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab) is a monoclonal antibody treatment that can provide protection against COVID-19. An injectable, it can be given to adults and children 12 years and older before infection with COVID-19. At present, those eligible to receive Evusheld include people who are moderately to severely i...
OLYMPIA—Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs encourages Washingtonians to do their due diligence and conduct research on the charities or nonprofits to which they donate to support relief efforts in Ukraine. “Americans are a generous people. Whenever a tragedy or crisis occurs around the world, we express our compassion by donating to any number of honest, legitimate charities,” said Secretary Hobbs. “These charities have the resources and infrastructure to ensure the money we contribute directly supports their designated causes....
