Good morning, Yakima.

Paws in the Pool returns this Sunday, Aug.

23 at Franklin Pool (2101 Tieton Drive) with free dog swimming from 2 to 4 pm. Organizers say dogs must be current on shots and leashed until inside the pool area, with donations supporting the Yakima Humane Society.

Yakima mom Cassie Oravetz is hosting a community event *with games and vendor booths* at Kissel Park on August 22 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to raise $60,000 for making the park accessible for all children.

City crews cleared an area in the northwest corner of Chesterley Park to install a new outdoor exercise gym featuring a French triple push-up bar, low parallel bars, and a bench for abs (designed by Kenguru Pro) that will be ready by early September thanks to a $115,000 donation from Forbes Mercy.

Collectors traded comics, action figures and vintage movies at Fruitvale Grange on Aug.

15 during Yakima’s Geek Swap Meet. The next meet is set for Oct. 31 — attendees are encouraged to dress in costume while exploring nostalgic finds.

Yakima County school districts face tough budget challenges for the upcoming school year as they work to bridge funding gaps caused by rising costs and declining enrollment.

Districts must adopt their budgets by the end of August (officials warn that further cuts may be expected during the legislative session).

Schools in Yakima Valley and Tri-Cities are switching from costly calculators to the free Desmos calculator this back-to-school season.

The tool offers graphing, geometry and scientific math features that make class easier for high school students.

Mabton School Superintendent Elyse Mengarelli said the district is making steady financial progress under binding conditions after the board approved a balanced budget with $13.88M in revenue and near-equal expenses, helping offset a $1.7M deficit.

The district is adjusting staffing and will launch new academic programs to retain students.

On Aug. 20, officials provided a midday update on the Hagenfire, Paradisefire, and Threequeensfire + they outlined the status of fire season2026 in the region and urged residents to follow official channels for safety information.