Good morning, Yakima.

Yakima residents have a busy weekend with the Tieton half marathon starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, East Valley High’s production of Grease offering shows on Friday, Saturday and matinee performances on May 9-10, and Kentucky Derby Bingo Night on Friday at Valley Mall to benefit Girls Initiative. Additional events include Yakima Taco Fest downtown from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, the Mayday Mayhem music festival at The Chainsaw Cat supporting Northwest Harvest, and a Sounds of the Valley concert series at Yakima Valley Libraries starting Friday at 6 p.m.—providing diverse options for the community.

Rep. Dufault said he was banned from the House floor on April 24 after he shouted over changes to parental rights in House Bill 1296—he accepted the penalty while noting wins such as keeping Yakima Valley School in the budget and stopping a bill that would have raised property taxes. He also criticized what he called a double standard and announced plans to run for a state Senate seat in 2026.

Food truck owner Sergio Cerdio Gomez, who has spent nearly three years trying to secure a Green Card, was detained by ICE at a Yakima immigration appointment—his wife Gabby said he attended the interview to avoid a denial, and officials have not explained the warrant.

Attempts to reach ICE and USCIS for comment have not received a response—this is an ongoing situation.

On Monday, Pacific Power met with community members at the Yakima Valley Vollege to share updated protocols for managing electricity during wildfire threats.

County Commissioner LaDon Linde said changes reduced outages from 15,000 to about 600 customers last year—more upgrades are planned to further address concerns.

Washington lawmakers approved two bills yesterday—one to limit rent hikes and protect tenants, and one to give striking workers six weeks of benefits—that now await Gov. Ferguson’s signature.

A new study finds that telemedicine in 2023 helped cut air pollution by reducing car trips for in-person doctor visits.

Researchers analyzed nearly 1.5 million telehealth visits from April to June and estimated that these appointments replaced up to 1.3 million in-person visits — a reduction equivalent to the emissions from 61,000 to 130,000 cars.

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.