Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 945
RITZVILLE — With almost all late-arriving ballots already counted, election results show a voter turnout of 31.07% in Adams County. According to Adams County Elections Department figures, 2,522 ballots have been counted in Adams County; 8,117 were mailed to registered voters in 29 precincts. Local voters favored Republicans in statewide races mostly won by Democrats in Western Washington. In the U.S. Senate race, Dr. Raul Garcia, a Republican from Toppenish, was the top vote-getter here, receiving 1,042 votes. Incumbent S...
HATTON — Motorists traveling on state Highway 26 can expect delays due to chip sealing over the next two weeks in Adams and Grant counties. The work is planned for two stretches of the rural highway. One stretch is from Highway 26 Milepost 61 near the U.S. Highway 395-state Highway 26 interchange to Milepost 43 just east of Othello. The other stretch is from Milepost 31 near Royal City to the Interstate 90 junction near Vantage. Work on the Othello-to-Hatton stretch is scheduled for Aug. 12-14. Work on the Vantage-to-Royal s...
OLYMPIA - Given Washington's recent political history, it's no surprise that Democrat Bob Ferguson is leading all candidates in the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee. But former King County deputy-turned-politician Dave Reichert's apparent second-place finish, may be a surprise. Earlier this year, the Republican Party rejected Reichert and instead endorsed Semi Bird of Richland for governor. In the initial count of ballots in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary...
PASCO — Franklin County Fire Protection District No. 3 Proposition No. 1 has been rejected by voters in the primary election held on Tuesday, August 6. The proposition, which sought to authorize a single-year permanent levy lid lift to increase the property tax rate to $1.28 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2024, received 529 votes in favor, or 44.72%, and 654 votes against, or 55.28%. The measure would have used the amount of the levy collected in 2025 as a base for calculating levy limits in subsequent years. T...
SPOKANE — A perennial local politician is leading in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election race for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. At the end of the first day of counting, Spokane Republican Michael Baumgartner had a commanding lead with 29,892 votes. Spokane Democrat Marla Conroy was in second place with 20,938 votes. Baumgartner won most of the counties in the southeast portion of the district, but the lion's share of his support — 21,429 ballots, or 71.69% of his ini...
SUNNYSIDE - The last Republican congressman who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump in 2021 has survived his second primary challenge. But Dan Newhouse of Sunnyside isn't atop the Republican ticket this time in the 4th Congressional District. After the initial count in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, general election, Newhouse - who has been censured by Republican committees districtwide - looks like he'll finish a distant second. NASCAR racer Jerrod Sessler, who is endorsed by th...
TOPPENISH — A local doctor and former gubernatorial candidate appears headed to the Nov. 5 general election in his bid to be the state's newest U.S. Senator. In the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election, unofficial results show Republican Dr. Raul Garcia trailing incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell, 212,439 votes to 578,629, respectively. The two candidates top a field of more than 10 vying for the position. Only the Top 2 advance to the general election. Here are the initial results of the first night of ballot counting: Mel R...
COLFAX - Incumbent 9th District Representative Joe Schmick is leading in the race for a 9th Legislative District House seat in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election. Early results showed he had 15,094 votes statewide. In Whitman County, his home county, Schmick has 3,373 votes out of 5,861 counted as of press time. "I want to thank all the voters in the primary," Schmick said, "I appreciate their support. I think there's still work to be done, and when I'm talking to folks, pe...
OLYMPIA — In addition to gubernatorial and attorney general races, several other statewide executive offices were on the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election ballot. Here are other preliminary results, with ballot counting expected to continue over the next two weeks: Lieutenant Governor Patrick Harman 27,440 David Griffin 90,325 Bob Hagglund 163,861 Dan Matthews 220,912 Denny Heck 477,731 Secretary of State Marquez Tiggs 93,926 Dale Whitaker 364,132 Damon Townsend 45,760 Steve Hobbs 484,861 Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti 5...
PASCO — Despite political efforts to prevent two incumbent Franklin County Commissioners from retaining their seats, both are leading in the initial count of the Tuesday, Aug. 6, priamry election. In the race for the Franklin County Commissioner District No. 1 seat, incumbent Stephen Bauman looks like he's headed to the general election at the top of the ticket. Bauman collected 1,804 votes in the initial primary count Tuesday. Challen ger Caleb Atkins looks to likely finish second with 1,339 early votes. Paul L. Frenzel r...
PASCO - A prominent local attorney and community leader is headed to the November general election for Secretary of State. At the end of ballot counting in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election, Pete Serrano of Pasco led the three-candidate field. "I am incredibly honored by your support tonight," Serrano said after the initial tally. "Your vote has made it clear that public safety is a top priority for Washingtonians. I am deeply grateful to my team, our volunteers, and...
OTHELLO — Despite being censured by 4th Congressional District Republicans, incumbent Dan Newhouse has more money in his campaign accounts than the challengers seeking to unseat him. Newhouse, whose district still includes the western portion of Adams County, is the last Republican who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump remaining in congress. As of Monday, the Sunnyside man running as “prefers Republican,” had collected $1,522,916.36 in his campaign fund. Challenger Tiffany Smiley, a Pasco Republican, reported $719,...
PULLMAN - The two candidates vying for the 9th Legislative District Position No. 2 seat met in a League of Women Voters forum Monday, July 15. Incumbent Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, is being challenged by political newcomer Pam Kohlmeier, D-Spokane. A third candidate, Arianna Arends, D-Spokane, did not attend. Voters have until Aug. 6 to return their primary election ballots. The 9th Legislative District includes Eastern Adams and other counties. League of Women Voters Services Coor...
The Journal RITZVILLE — The number of unemployed residents in Adams County is increasing. According to a state unemployment report released earlier this month, unemployment has been rising monthly over last year. “Monthly rates have increased from February through May 2024 and Adam County’s 4.2% reading this May was 1 percentage point above the 3.2% rate in May 2023,” the report by Don Mesick said. The lowest recent unemployment rate for the county was 3.2 percent in May 2023, according to the report. While the number...
RITZVILLE - Two federal agencies are investigating the cause of an emergency aircraft landing Monday, July 15. The incident occurred at 11:45 a.m. when pilot, whose name has not been released, experienced engine problems en route from Spokane to Yakima, records show. The single-engine aircraft made an emergency landing in a field about a mile south of Pru Field. On the pilot was aboard; he was not injured. The incident was referred to the National Transportation Safety Board...
CONNELL - A rural power cooperative has donated funds to several local groups. On Tuesday, July 9, Big Bend Electric Cooperative's Caring Neighbors program announced donations for several local non-profit efforts. The recipient and their awards are as follows: • Adams County Historical Society - $2,000 to help repair broken windows at the museum in Lind. • Basin City Elementary - $600 to help purchase books for a literacy program. • Franklin County Public Hospital Distr...
SPOKANE — A local man convicted in connection with trafficking drugs from the Tri-Cities to Spokane Valley has been sentenced to prison. Jordy Scott DeBoer, 32, was sentenced to 272 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised probation by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice. DeBoer previously pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine and intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. DeBoer’s sentence stems from a March 30, 202...
They come rumbling down the highway, crossing bridges and international borders. They bring life-saving drugs, food for the kitchen table, and that random clothing fad that will be out of fashion mere months later. Trucks are ubiquitous on American roadways. However, they've become increasingly important in trade with its neighbors, Mexico and Canada, as relations with China cool and the United States government encourages "nearshoring," the practice of moving part of a compan...
OTHELLO — Two area airports will be receiving funds from the federal Airport Improvement Program to enhance aviation centers. Othello Municipal Airport will receive $448,000 and Odessa Municipal Airport will receive $100,000. The fund were among $47.1 million in FAA Re-authorization Act dollars allocated to airports in Washington state last month. Nationally, $600 million was allocated. Othello’s airport was allocated the funds to seal the pavement and joins on its apron, runway, taxilane and taxiway. The funds allocated to...
SPOKANE — A Spokane man will be sentenced in connection with cryptocurrency fraud Sept. 25 in U.S. District Court. Michael Joseph McElhiney, 37, pleaded guilty to wire fraud June 26 before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice. In the plea agreement accepted by the court, and in information disclosed during court proceedings, between March 4, 2021, and Sept. 10, 2022, McElhiney defrauded investors by pretending to operate a cryptocurrency investment fund known as MAC Blockchain Solutions. McElhiney promised prospective inv...
HATTON – Westbound travelers on state Highway 26 may want to find an alternative route over the next week as the highway undergoes pavement repairs that will cause delays. Nearly 60 miles are being repaired, according to the state Department of Transportation. A 27-mile stretch from U.S. Highway 395 near Hatton to Othello will be undergoing pavement repairs July 8-9. And a 30-mile stretch of the highway from Royal City to Vantage (mileposts 31 to 1) will undergo repairs July 10 and 11. The work entails chip-sealing and c...
SPOKANE — Ratepayers who purchase electricity from Avista may have their power turned off on windy, hot summer days when utility officials deem fire danger high. According to company officials, Avista’s so-called “Public Safety Power Shutoff” plan is in response to summer conditions in Eastern Washington. When high winds are forecast, company employees may increase sensitivity on power lines, officials said. The increased sensitivity could lead to more and prolonged power outages. Officials said ratepayers will be notifie...
MESA — A Lind woman is facing charges related to an embezzlement case in Franklin County. Charmain Mary Halverson, 50, of Lind, was arrested June 26 on charges of theft, injury to public record, misappropriation by treasurer and official misconduct. She was arrested, booked into the Franklin County Jail and then released on bail. According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Halverson was the clerk-treasurer for the city of Mesa, where she allegedly used the city’s debit...
KENNEWICK — A Pasco man may be facing charges following a June 20 crash that injured two girls on the Kennewick side of the blue bridge. Jesse Moctezuma Chino, 25, of Pasco, was northbound on U.S. Highway 395 on the bridge at about 9:12 p.m. when his 2000 Honda Accord struck a northbound tractor trailer, the Washington State Patrol reported. The tractor-trailer, a 2025 Freightliner towing a 2015 utility trailer, was driven by Nolan G. Williams of Albany, Ore. Neither Williams nor Chino was injured in the crash, the patrol r...
VERNITA - If you like spending a week or more fishing for salmon and camping on the Columbia River adjacent to Vernita Bridge, your days are numbered. On Monday, June 17, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced plans to limit the number of days fishermen can camp at the water-access area just upstream the bridge during fall salmon seasons in 2024 and 2025. During the fall salmon season, fishermen will be allowed to camp a maximum of 14 days each of the next two...
