Good morning, Yakima.

Triumph Treatment Services and Yakima Recovery Events are hosting the 10th annual Community Remembrance Event in Yakima on Monday, Aug.

31 at 3 p.m. at Sarge Hubbard Park (111 S 18th St) to honor lives lost to overdose and offer support to community members.

Local groups are offering back-to-school events with free backpacks, supplies and activities for students this month; the series begins today at the Yakama Nation Cultural Center and continues through Aug.

23 in locations across Yakima and Selah + events include fun runs, free haircuts and pop-up photo shoots.

Officials announced that evacuations for the Liberty/Swauk Creek Fire near town were downgraded to Level 1 as the blaze now covers 29 acres and is 81% contained — US-97 has reopened in both directions.

Sen. Maria Cantwell said wildfire readiness is key as more than a dozen large fires burn in central and eastern Washington today (her remarks came during a Senate extreme weather roundtable).

She cited federal proposals like the Weather Act reauthorization and the Fire Ready Nation bill to improve fire response.

FEMA funds have been approved for disaster relief after wildfires near White Swan were declared emergencies on July 26; the declaration covers six counties, including Yakima County, and three tribal nations, including the Yakama Nation (outdoor burn ban remains active until Sept.

30).

The Columbia and Snake River Irrigators Association urged state leaders to speed up a groundwater project at Mercer Ranches after permitting delays stalled farm worker housing in Horse Heaven Hills.

State officials say Mercer must submit a work plan before issuing a temporary water right permit & progress resumes.