Good morning, Yakima.

Yakima Neighborhood Health Services will soon distribute nearly 40 welcome home kits to unhoused individuals using a $25,000 grant from U.S. Bank Foundation.

The kits include household items such as garbage cans, dish racks and towels to help recipients start afresh + case managers will guide clients toward self-sufficiency.

Stein’s Ace Hardware in Yakima is joining NonStopLocal’s annual Coats for Kids drive to help keep children warm as winter nears—staff donate a coat per employee and gave over 200 coats last year.

The store also features a Giving Tree for local holiday gifts and accepts new or gently used coats until December 12.

Hanford Mission Integration Solutions donated $313,500 to help students pay for college and trade programs since starting its contract.

National Scholarship Month supports these efforts and encourages students to explore financial aid opportunities.

Yakima School District received a $200,000 preliminary planning grant from Ballmer Summer Discovery initiative to design a free, full-day summer program for rising 1st through 9th grade students—aimed at reducing summer learning loss.

The Association of Educational Service Districts will partner with the district to manage the grant, and officials say the funding is a key step in boosting student opportunities.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will remove the Bateman Island causeway in December to let water flow naturally and help salmon in the Yakima Delta.

The work will end land access to the island and include plans to move nearly 100 years of sediment buildup—an effort led by several state and local partners.

Renee Navarrete, after seven years as a volunteer, is now the new coordinator of Yakima County Search and Rescue and will oversee operations run by the Yakima County Sheriff's Office across areas from State Route 410 to White Pass—she will lead specialized teams that search for lost or injured people in rugged terrain.

Today, the Red Cross of Central and Southeastern Washington launched its Sound the Alarm campaign with the Kennewick Fire Department to install free smoke alarms and lower the risk of fatal home fires during the colder months—families without working alarms can request an appointment online or by calling 1-800-Red-Cross, where trained volunteers will also share fire safety tips and help create a fire escape plan.

A national survey found that 72% of adults said sleepiness affected daily life, hurting mood, increasing stress and lowering work productivity—many used caffeine or naps to stay alert.

Experts warn that such signs may point to poor sleep habits that need attention.

Researchers warned today that eating too many ultra-processed foods can harm health and urged governments to add warning labels, restrict ads to children, and tax products from big food companies—linking these foods to obesity, diabetes, heart problems, and early death.

The team reviewed many studies and said that action is needed even though experts still debate how these foods should be defined.

Beef Counts Mobile Market - Yakima

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — State Fair Park — Registration required — Drive-thru beef distribution serving pre-registered families in Yakima.

Dancing Sky Painting Event

6-8 p.m. — Hoops — Tickets required — Enjoy food and drinks while painting to your favorite 80’s & 90’s tunes.