Good morning, Yakima.

A two-car collision occurred on SR 97 near mile post 232 about 18 miles north of Orondo—Washington State Patrol said injuries were reported and traffic is slow in the area.

A former Yakima Police Sergeant, Travis Wayne Shephard, was charged with assault after he punched Arturo Contreras-Diaz during a traffic stop last year and was fired from the YPD—dashboard camera footage from a Pasco investigation showed his knee struck the man, causing him to pass out.

A Yakima man was charged with choking and shooting his pregnant girlfriend during a domestic dispute on May 10th on the 400 block of North Third Street + police said she suffered a gunshot wound to her right leg, was taken to MultiCare Hospital, and the suspect was booked into Yakima County Jail.

Yakima County prosecutors charged 24 year old Ka-Sean A Smalley with two counts of second degree murder and one count of first degree assault after he shot his mother's fiancé during a May 10 fight in an apartment on North Fourth Street—he turned himself in today at 6:30 p.m. and is held in jail with a $200,000 bond.

Ahtanum View Reentry Center in Yakima—originally a prison and later a work release facility offering classes and support—is set to close soon after lawmakers cut its $4.3 million budget, leaving staff and former residents worried about fewer reentry options.

The Yakima County Fire Marshal, in partnership with the Yakima County Fire Chiefs Association, will enforce a county-wide ban on residential outdoor burning in unincorporated Yakima County from June 1 to September 1 due to expected high temperatures and dry conditions—only outdoor fireplaces, cooking appliances, and patio warmers are exempt while agricultural burning may be permitted through the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency.

Beginning June 1, Yakima Training Center will suspend most recreational activities, keeping only the archery range and juvenile fishing pond open due to increased military training and reduced police staffing—this decision aims to prioritize safety.

The change does not affect treaty rights or access to the park trail—officials and community partners plan to restore more use as soon as conditions allow.

At Tuesday’s Yakima City Council study session, officials reviewed vacant city-owned parcels and identified 12 options for potential sale, with four marketable properties facing restrictions—such as parcels in the Cowiche Creek area that would require replacement park space if sold. City Attorney Sara Watkins said staff must complete reviews, determine fair market value and clear surplus steps before any sale can move forward.

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.