Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 20th of March.
Good morning, Yakima.
Aidan is a 10-year-old from Yakima Valley who has made great progress after receiving occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy at Children's Village.
His story shows how local support services help children overcome challenges and inspires families to use community resources.
Rod's House announced its Sunnyside shelter will close March 31 due to budget constraints while it continues serving homeless youth through the Hope Center in Yakima and outreach programs.
Sunnyside School District received a $245K state safety grant and will use it to upgrade security at its nine school buildings.
The planned improvements include perimeter fencing, new cameras (for mapping and controlled entry) and a partnership with local law enforcement for drone imaging.
Perry Technical broke ground on a 42,000 sqft building to expand its two-year electrical technology program.
The facility will have seven classrooms, seven labs (with a rooftop solar lab), a multipurpose room, a six-vehicle garage, parking, and EV charging ports and is set to open in June 2027.
The Bureau of Land Management is offering seasonal volunteer host positions at recreation sites in Yakima County and across the state starting late spring and running through early fall.
Volunteers must have a self-contained RV and pass a background check to help keep campgrounds clean and safe.
Roza Canal is receiving over $4 million from the state's Capital Investment budget to repair its aging floor and ceiling as drought conditions persist.
Work will begin in October to fix 10 miles of canal floor and seal cracks along more than 95 miles of the canal.
Yakima County is advancing a top priority plan to improve flood control and water quality across West Valley by reducing recurring flooding in Shaw Creek and Wide Hollow Creek; the project—part of the Ahtanum and Wide Hollow Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan—will introduce native species to restore creek habitats.
Officials in Yakima County have urged residents to prepare for flooding this weekend from rising water levels caused by warmer weather and snowmelt.
Sandbags are available at several hardware stores (verify local times), and updates will air on KIMA’s 5PM newscast.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and local doctors report that younger residents should be alert to signs like blood in stool, weight loss, and bloat (linked to modern diets and infrequent screenings).
They advise consulting a primary care doctor to determine if a colonoscopy is needed.
A travel plaza featuring a gas station, store, restaurant, truck maintenance building, and room for 200 trucks is planned on Donald Wapato Road near I-82.
It received conditional-use permit approval on March 10 and construction is expected to begin this year with future phases adding more restaurants and a hotel.
Jordan World Circus
5:00 – 6:30 PM — Yakima SunDome — Tickets start at $10 — Experience thrilling circus performances with family-friendly fun.
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