Good morning, Yakima.

SNAP benefits will end on November 1, leaving many without easy access to food assistance—local food banks in Yakima, Tri-Cities, and surrounding areas are ready to help residents get essential food.

Today, Yakima Valley College hosted its second annual Halloween fest to give students a break from academics (offering free food, drinks, and games such as darts, ring toss, and a photo booth).

The college plans to hold more holiday events (improving on last year's turnout) to help students relax.

SNAP and healthcare benefits will not be distributed starting tomorrow, Nov.

1, and about 28 percent of Yakima County residents who depend on these programs face a risk of food insecurity — local businesses that rely on SNAP revenue may feel a significant impact. Officials warned that without a swift congressional fix, many EBT cards may soon run dry, putting additional pressure on community resources.

An article from Oct. 30 explained puberty as a normal process when hormones trigger body changes, including growth spurts and the development of features like breast tissue and deeper voices (with girls starting around age 8 and boys around age 9).

The piece advised parents to consult a pediatrician if signs of early or delayed puberty appear (which may indicate potential health issues).

MultiCare Yakima Memorial is expanding access to emergency care with a new Neighborhood Emergency Department opening in Union Gap to ease long wait times.

The $25 million facility with 12 medical rooms will host a grand opening Saturday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and officially open Monday, November 3—offering full lab, imaging, and translation services 24/7.

Doctors developed a scorecard that uses changes in the optic disc to predict vision loss from idiopathic intracranial hypertension based on a study of 154 patients (mostly young women) treated between January 2018 and September 2022.

They found that 69% of patients developed blind spots and 26% lost some sharpness of vision (findings published Oct. 29), which could help guide treatment to prevent further damage.

A study found that home exercises eased knee pain from arthritis and cartilage tears over one year by following a 25-minute video program, with nearly 900 patients averaging 59 years old seeing similar improvement whether or not they had extra physical therapy — indicating that self-guided routines may help many manage their pain.

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.