Good morning, Yakima.

This weekend features the 37th Great Prosser Balloon Rally (with petal drop and night glow) at the Prosser Airport, the Harvest Festival and street painting downtown, plus a Yakima River Canyon cleanup Saturday.

Royal Bliss performs at Perham Hall in Zillah, and MusicBox is set for Oct. 2 in Wenatchee.

On Sept. 21, a Shell station in West Yakima charged over $5.50 per gallon for regular gas and about $6.50 for diesel, and residents say rising fuel costs add strain to household budgets + may affect timely deliveries during fluctuating price changes.

Yakima School District has joined the University of Washington's TRIO Educational Talent Search program to boost academic support, college planning, and career exploration for students (middle and high school).

The federally funded program targets disadvantaged youth and builds on current efforts to increase postsecondary access.

Ridgeview Elementary celebrated the opening of two mini soccer pitches on Sept.

16 after a school-wide assembly (with about 150 attendees) and community festivities including shaved ice and tacos. The RAVE Foundation will bring 100 students to a Sounders game on Saturday.

Fire District 5 has upgraded its Zillah station with new overnight housing for faster response (funded by a 2023 bond measure) and held an open house on Sept.

15. The district also will promote Deputy Chief Joel Byam to chief in October as longtime leaders retire.