Good morning, Yakima.

Prosser’s Chukar Cherries set a record by turning over 700,000 pounds of Northwest cherries into chocolate-covered treats after investing in new processing equipment—helping them work faster.

The 37-year-old family business will add more dehydrators to meet growing demand in the Pacific Northwest.

Yakima police investigated the fatal shooting on August 9 in which Guadalupe Leyva was killed and suspect Roberto Leyva-Sanchez died while 14 officers and the chief were on leave—acting Chief Chad Janice said substitute officers were assigned to patrol the streets, leading to the cancellation of the Cruise the Ave event.

Yakima County prosecutors charged Ismael Sanchez-Morales with second-degree assault, eluding, harming a police dog, resisting arrest, drunken driving and rendering criminal assistance after he helped his brother avoid arrest in a homicide during a downtown cruise night and resisted police efforts by putting a dog in a chokehold—he is held on $500,000 bail in Yakima County jail.

Toppenish police arrested a suspect on a murder charge after investigating a homicide reported at a home on G Street on August 14 & confirmed one person was killed.

Police report that a 22-year-old man in Toppenish died from multiple gunshot and stab wounds when a 48-year-old man from Granger was caught after a brief vehicle chase by local authorities and the FBI and is booked for first-degree murder in connection with dual homicides—one in Toppenish and one in Granger—with no gang involvement.

At Yakima County Juvenile Justice Center, veteran welder Steve Menard leads a program where teens try a VR welding simulator to learn a safe trade.

The Aug. 6 session explained a union apprenticeship path that starts at $27.50 per hour — offering a route to skills and future jobs.

Better Future Finders will host a back-to-school giveaway at the Yakima Convention Center from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.—the event will provide supplies and seminars to help students and parents prepare for the school year.

A federal judge temporarily blocked DHS from using Medicaid data from Washington — 19 other states for immigration enforcement, and the order also stopped HHS from sharing that information.

Attorney General Nick Brown confirmed the ruling as the lawsuit progressed in court.

State Fair Park in Yakima is hosting a sprint boat racing event this weekend where 25 boats will race at speeds of about 80 miles per hour.

Organizers said drivers and navigators receive the course layout a day ahead and most boats complete the mile-long course in about 45 seconds while planning for a possible 2027 championship race.

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