Good morning, Yakima.

A Tampico man — Jason John Seabrook Moss, 48 — pleaded guilty in Yakima County Superior Court on April 24 to charges for home-invasion robberies and burglary and was sentenced by Judge Jeffery Swan to 17 years in prison with concurrent sentences that credit jail time served since his arrest in October 2022.

Selah police investigated the remains of a 4-year-old boy found on Cowiche Mill Road on April 18 and identified him as Alaric AJ Funderburgh while autopsy tests continue and his father, Preston Funderburgh, now faces federal theft plus wire fraud charges as investigators follow additional leads including a kidnapping suspect.

Authorities warn that the Publishers Clearing House scam is targeting Yakima residents by asking them to pay a fee to claim a prize when genuine winners receive checks by certified mail—this follows a 2017 case in which a local man lost over $10,000 to the scam.

Bellair’s Central Washington Airporter launched its new Grape Line Connector bus route on March 23 between Yakima and Pasco with four Yakima Valley stops including Zillah — Sunnyside — Prosser.

The service runs Tuesdays through Fridays and connects riders to Tri-Cities, Amtrak and Greyhound as federal funding and state support help plan future improvements.

The Washington State Department of Transportation study recommends a new bus route that will connect Ellensburg and the Tri-Cities with three daily round trips, stopping in Yakima, Selah, and other key communities—filling a gap in transport for residents who need better ways to reach jobs, health care, and schools. The study used community input and cellphone data to show that more service is needed in the Yakima Valley.

A study found that gabapentinoids used for epilepsy, nerve pain, and anxiety did not directly cause self-harm, as patients showed high risk before treatment and a rise after stopping the medication — researchers recommend doctors monitor patients closely.

Concierge veterinary care is a service that gives pet owners extra help with longer appointments, home visits and 24-hour phone support—much like a hotel concierge meets guests’ needs.

Some veterinarians are considering tiered memberships to offer more personal care and improve pet health.

MultiCare Yakima Memorial treated nearly 87,000 patients last year and officials said that wait times eased as flu, RSV and COVID cases subsided; the hospital will open a new neighborhood emergency department in November and begin a staged renovation to add more treatment rooms and on-site services—staffing has also increased with three new family physicians.

A clinical trial found that semaglutide—sold as Ozempic/Wegovy—helped treat fatty liver disease by reducing inflammation and scarring.

The trial showed that 63% of patients using semaglutide stopped further liver damage compared to 34% on a placebo.

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.