Good morning, Yakima.

Yakima Valley residents can safely destroy old documents and expired medications on Saturday, October 25th at free events in Yakima and Grandview.

The Greater Yakima Chamber event runs from 9 am to 1 pm at 10 N 9th Street, while Fiesta Foods and Pumpkin Palooza in Grandview start at 10 am with donations supporting the Yakima County DOC K-9 program — a local community safety effort.

The new McDonald’s opened Monday in Wapato off U.S. Highway 97 at 105 Frontage Road, featuring the latest technology+modern design.

Franchise owners J.D. and Megan Bewley said the location will create 60 jobs as the community celebrated the ribbon cutting with mascots and treats.

The Seize the Deal Fall Auction is underway in Yakima and Tri-Cities, offering big discounts on services and goods like beauty treatments and car care from Monday, October 20 until Friday, October 24 at 7 p.m. — Participants can bid on items or buy them instantly, though certificates and gift cards hold no cash value.

The Yakima Valley Library will hold Manga Day at Yakima Central Library located at 102 N 3rd Street on Monday, November 3rd from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.—this event will feature craft stations, cosplay contests, and manga storytelling for fans.

The library will also launch a Manga Club for teens on Monday, November 10th which will meet monthly.

A new episode of Roots of the Valley is now on YouTube—John Franklin looks at the ghost town of Casland, where loggers once used local waterways to move timber from Teanaway Valley.

The episode shares insights from historian Fred Krueger on how the town thrived before it was abandoned.

Average gasoline prices in Yakima fell 8.7 cents per gallon from October 13 to October 20 and now average $4.05 at 91 stations according to GasBuddy—prices dropped 33.9 cents lower than a month ago but remain 32.7 cents higher than a year ago.

Mabton School District Superintendent Elyse Mengarelli said that middle and high school students will return to their own buildings on December 1 as HVAC upgrades finish at their regular schools — the students have been housed at Artz-Fox Elementary since early September due to ventilation and noise issues. Adjusted arrival times and make-up days have been scheduled to ensure continued learning.

At the Stand Down Veterans benefit event on October 18 at the Yakima Sundome, two tables reserved for Senators Cantwell and Murray remained unmanned while over 700 veterans accessed services from 100 exhibitors—one veteran noted the contrast with Congressman Newhouse’s busy table.

The 26th annual event raised concerns over the senators’ absence despite their assigned booths.

With winter nearing, the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office urges Yakima residents to install carbon monoxide detectors on every home level and test them monthly to avoid poisoning.

The office advises replacing batteries yearly and detectors every five to seven years—two state deaths and over 500 reported incidents last year highlight the risk.

A study presented at IDWeek found that C. difficile infections caused 84% of deaths among white patients and mostly affected urban residents in hospitals and care facilities+researchers tracked over 216,000 deaths from 1999 to 2023 and stressed responsible antibiotic use.

National Food Day will be observed on Oct.

24 to encourage Americans to choose nutritious, affordable meals and rethink their food habits. The event highlights efforts by farmers' markets and community gardens to improve access to fresh produce — a step aimed at reducing diet-related health risks.

A new eye implant—measuring just 30 micrometers—helped elderly patients with dry AMD learn to read again in a clinical trial that involved patients from several countries.

The study found that 84% of participants were able to recognize letters and numbers, and experts expect the device to offer a promising treatment for vision loss.

Yakima Halloween Trolley

3-6 p.m. and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Yakima Valley Trolleys — $5/person — Enjoy a spooky ride with games, treats, and free pumpkins for the first kids aboard.

Dreams and Fairy Dust Painting Event

2-4 p.m. — 5th Line Brewing — Ticketed event — Unleash your creativity with a guided painting session while enjoying the brewery's offerings.