Good morning, Yakima.

Today, the 28th Annual Gem and Mineral Show is open in Kennewick with free entry for children under 14 + $5 admission for adults and will run through Sunday.

Earth Day Yakima offers free environmental activities at Sarg Hubbard Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. + an Arbor Day celebration was held Friday at Volunteer Park in Pasco.

A lawsuit filed Friday by the mother of Hien Trung Hua, who died in 2023 after jail guards restrained him with pepper spray, tackling, and other excessive force during a mental health crisis, accuses Yakima County, its jail director, 11 guards, and Wellpath of negligence & civil rights violations while covering up the incident.

The Yamate Japanese Exchange Program brought 75 students, teachers and staff from Yamate Gakuin in Yokahama to Yakima from April 11 to 25, where they stayed with host families, attended classes and joined local cultural events.

The program will send 31 Yakima students to Yokahama from July 18 to Aug.2 — four more students can join if they submit their paperwork by May 22.

Command Sgt. Maj. Anton Ruffin took charge as Yakima Training Center’s Command Sergeant Major on April 24, replacing Command Sgt. Maj.

Dustin Bell who retired after 26 years. Ruffin—who has worked in Germany, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait—said he is ready to support his soldiers and lead the team through future challenges.

Yakima City Council and county commissioners met Tuesday to review homelessness issues as human services director Esther Magasis shared data showing that 5,768 rental assistance recipients moved to permanent housing from 2020 to March while officials focused on 15 visible cases on Naches Avenue—highlighting the challenge of chronic homelessness downtown and along the Greenway. Leaders discussed the strain on local resources, noting police spent about $506,000 in 2024 on homeless-related calls and calling for better mental health and substance abuse services rather than jail solutions.

Yakima City Manager Vicki Baker said the city faces a $9 million budget gap for 2026 and may cut services or raise taxes — a move under review after nearly 2,000 residents submitted survey feedback — as officials work to balance the budget.

She said the city council will review the details at a May 6 meeting with no decisions made immediately.

On April 25, a Kaiser Permanente colon cancer screening program doubled rates by reminding patients to take overdue tests and offering at-home options—this led to a one third drop in cases and a 50% reduction in deaths while nearly erasing racial gaps.

Researchers studied records from over 1.1 million people between 2000 and 2019 and will present the findings on May 3 at Digestive Disease Week—evidence that flexible outreach methods can benefit other health systems.

Researchers found that factors that raise the risk of dementia can lower memory and test scores in adults in their 20s and 30s—those with higher CAIDE scores also showed early markers of Alzheimer’s.

The study from April 25th suggests that blood tests might help doctors spot dementia risks well before symptoms appear.

Yakima Valley wineries are hosting the Spring Barrel Tasting event from April 25 through April 27 where visitors can taste wine straight from the barrel—remember to bring your own wine glass and a designated driver as some wineries may charge tasting fees.

The Old Steel Car Show will take place tomorrow at the Central Washington Ag Museum in Union Gap and will display over 175 vintage cars along with food and family activities.

Yakima Enological Society's Annual Platinum Dinner and Auction

5:30-10 p.m. — Yakima Country Club — $175 — Experience a night of exquisite wines featuring new and returning wineries from the Pacific Northwest.

Alpine Bloom Painting Event

6-8 p.m. — Mickey's Pub — Ticket required — Unleash your creativity while enjoying food and drinks at this guided painting session.

Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Yakima

3 PM – 12 AM — Uptown Yakima — Ticket purchase required — Explore historic landmarks and engage in fun challenges with friends during a thrilling scavenger hunt.

Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Yakima

3 PM – 12 AM — 27 N Front St, Yakima, WA — Ticket purchase required — Explore Yakima's historic sites in a fun-filled self-guided scavenger hunt.