Good morning, Yakima.

The Yakima Community Christmas Tree is being installed at Millennium Plaza on Tuesday—its lights will be turned on December 7 as residents prepare for the holiday season.

Families in Yakima Valley will enjoy a long holiday weekend with festive events as Roslyn hosts its Old Town Christmas parade starting at 6:05 p.m. Friday — featuring a mayor’s greeting and musical acts, while Ellensburg holds its Moments to Remember tree lighting and Toppenish presents its 22nd annual Christmas Lighted Parade along with a Toy Train Christmas exhibit.

On November 25th at 11:30 a.m., Yakima Sheriff’s Office & Yakima County Fire District 5 rescued a 25-year-old Parker man clinging to an overturned canoe in a pond after a passerby spotted him, and he was taken for medical treatment due to cold water exposure.

On Tuesday afternoon, Yakima officials responded to an ammonia leak at a fruit packing warehouse on North First Avenue—evacuating workers at Roche Fruit plant and closing the road from West D to West I while fire, police, Emergency Management and Ecology controlled the incident with no injuries reported.

Business changes are underway in Yakima and Zillah—Muchas Gracias Mexican Food will soon open at 2111 S.

First St. in Yakima while Cece Brows, NVO Tax & Financial, and a relocated Mak Daddy Coffee Roasters have launched in the area. Two new ventures, Bella Brew coffee stand and Anytime Fitness, have opened in a Zillah plaza and Jammin Java has closed.

RealPage Inc. reached a settlement with federal prosecutors that stops its rent pricing software from using recent confidential data, officials said Monday as part of an antitrust case.

The new rule requires the software to use only data older than one year—awaiting judge approval.

BP found the source of a leak in a major Pacific Northwest pipeline and restarted jet fuel delivery to SeaTac airport on Tuesday to keep Thanksgiving travel running smoothly.

Washington regulators fined BP $3.8 million for a 2023 spill while the company works on fixing the gasoline pipeline—raising concerns about safety checks.

A new weight-loss pill trial showed good results for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes as patients on the highest 36 mg dose lost 10.5% of their weight and saw better blood sugar over 72 weeks.

Researchers said the pill, which does not need injections and might be approved in 2026, offers a simpler option — a cheaper alternative to current treatments.

People with Medicare questions can get help at a health insurance event on Tuesday, Dec.

2 at the Washington Fruit Community Center from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Catholic Charities + the Office of the Insurance Commissioner will answer questions and explain changes before the Dec. 7 enrollment deadline.

Last Thursday, inspectors from Yakima Health District and city code enforcement inspected taco stands on Fair Avenue and South First Street and closed them for lacking permits and proper food safety measures (including incorrect food temperatures and missing food service cards).

Officials warned the vendors they would return the next night and plan to enforce stricter penalties as Yakima prepares to host a FIFA 2026 fan zone.

A study of 11 million U.S. veterans showed that untreated sleep apnea nearly doubled the odds of developing Parkinson’s disease—researchers said that using CPAP therapy might lower the risk.

The findings were published on Nov. 24 in JAMA Neurology and suggest that avoiding long spells of low oxygen may help protect brain health.

This Thanksgiving weekend, the Yakima Valley will host five events for adults, including a dinner train ride on November 30, wine pairings at local wineries from November 28 to 30, music bingo at 5th Line Brewing, and a lighted parade in Toppenish (the parade begins at 6 p.m.).

A fundraiser dinner at VFW Post 379 on November 29 supports a Toys for Tots drive and many stores and restaurants will remain open on Thanksgiving Day.

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.