Benton County Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Benton County purchases, leases buildings for new recovery center

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour November 14, 2022

Front image of a hospital with an American flag and Washington state flag

Kennewick General Hospital Credit: Washington State Department of Ecology, Flickr Creative Commons Listen (Runtime 1:08) Read Benton County is closer to opening a Behavioral Health Recovery Center after purchasing the… Continue Reading Benton County Read More

Latinos Justices work to expand diversity of Eastern WA’s legal system

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour October 3, 2022

Judge Richard C. Tallman, United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Ninth Circuit swearing in Judge Sal Mendoza. Listen (Runtime 3:27) Read Latino judges in the legal system are… Continue Reading Latinos Justices work to expand Read More

Benton Franklin Health Board Taking Applications For Non-elected Board Members

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour September 28, 2022

BFHD Logo Listen (Runtime :54) Read In May, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill authorizing a change to how health districts are governed starting next year. This change will impact… Continue Reading Benton Franklin Health Read More

The First Bi-County Behavioral Health Advisory Committee Met In The Tri Cities

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour August 1, 2022

Benton-Franklin Behavioral Health Advisory Committee Listen (Runtime 1:54) Read A plan to address the behavioral health needs of Eastern Washington is finally in the works. The first bi-county behavioral health… Continue Read More

Paid Ballot Observers In Benton County

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour July 28, 2022

The Benton County Auditor is testing a new paid ballot observer program this year using members of partisan and nonpartisan organizations. Continue Reading Paid Ballot Observers In Benton CountyRead More

Fire Danger In Benton County Is Very High

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour July 26, 2022

Listen (Runtime 1:21) Read The fire danger forecast for all of Benton County was raised to the level of VERY HIGH this week. This means restrictions for residents and farmers. … Continue Reading Fire Danger In Benton County Is Very HighRead More

How Blue Mountain Heart To Heart Treats Drug Addiction In Eastern Washington

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour July 26, 2022

Everett Maroon Listen (Runtime 3:33) Read Like much of the nation, Benton and Franklin Counties are experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of people dying from overdoses and drug… Continue Reading How Blue Mountain Read More

Ben Franklin Transit Board Will Hold Two Meetings: Will They Refuse $75 Million From The State?

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour July 13, 2022

Jaime Torres Chicano Disabled Activist Listen (Runtime 1:39) Read Residents of Benton and Franklin counties may soon have fewer transportation options.. The Ben Franklin Transit Board, or B-F-T, willl discuss … Read More

Tri Cities Mental Health Detox Facility Hinges On Contentious Benton – Franklin County Commissioner Cooperation

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour July 7, 2022

Franklin County Commission Meeting July 5th, 2022 Listen (Runtime 2:25) Read There was contentious dialogue at the Franklin County Commissioner’s regular business meeting in the Tri Cities this week as… Read More

Tri Cities Called A Behavioral Health Desert And Future Detox Facility Threatened By County In-Fighting

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour July 5, 2022

Benton Franklin Recovery Coalition Board Listen (Runtime 2:25) Read For over four years the Benton Franklin Recovery Coalition has been working to get a detox facility in Eastern Washington. The… Read More

WA Secretary Of State On Cyber Threats And Cyber Security

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour June 30, 2022

Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton Listen (Runtime 2:42) Read Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is calling attention to election… Continue Reading WA Secretary Of Read More

Un paseo con el Distrito de Mosquitos del Condado de Benton

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour June 29, 2022

Fumigación antimosquitos al anochecer. Crédito: Dori Luzzo Gilmour. Read El control de los mosquitos es un asunto serio en el este de Washington. Y la oficina encargada es el Distrito… Continue Reading Un paseo con el Distrito de Mosquitos Read More

Benton County To Purchase Old KGH/Trios Building For Detox And Mental Health Facility

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour June 29, 2022

Benton County Image Listen (Runtime 1:44) Read Benton County Commissioners purchased the old Kennewick General Hospital, l K–G–H building. The Three Rivers Behavioral Health Recovery Center is to become the… Continue Read More

A Ride With The Benton County Mosquito District

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour June 25, 2022

Mosquito Spray at dusk Listen (Runtime 1:56) Read Mosquito control is serious business in Eastern Washington. And the office in charge is the Benton County Mosquito District. Steve Ingalls has… Continue Reading A Ride With The Benton County Mosquito Read More

Controversial Tax In Benton County Raises More Than Expected; Helps Students And Families

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour May 27, 2022

Courtesy of Community In Schools Listen (Runtime 3:20) Read A controversial tax in Benton County has raised more money than expected. Now commissioners are hearing proposals from community organizations requesting… Read More

Local Law Enforcement Aims To Help Ukrainian Police Officers

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour March 8, 2022

Benton County Sheriff Tom Croskrey (left) and Justice Department contractor Rudy Almeida (right) Listen Read Ukrainian law enforcement officers are being called into active duty as reserve officers with the… Continue Reading Local Law Read More

Longest Serving County Prosecutor in WA retiring

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour March 1, 2022

More than 100 people showed up to hear Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller announce his planned retirement

Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller announces he will not run for re-election. Listen Read Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller announced his retirement today in a press conference at the Justice… Continue Reading Longest Serving County Prosecutor in Read More

Lawsuit Filed Against Richland School District And Board Alleging OPMA Violations

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour February 25, 2022

A lawsuit was filed in Benton County Superior court this week against the Richland WA school district, school board and three individual members of the school board, alleging violations of the Open Public Meetings Act. Continue Read More

Covid Rates Are Exploding In Eastern WA

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour February 8, 2022

Education District 123 covers Benton and Franklin county and has the highest Covid case rates in Washington state. Mitigation efforts at local schools from masking and distancing continue, but some school board members are pushing back against those measures Continue Read More

COVID Outbreak in Benton County Jail

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour January 24, 2022

A Covid outbreak in the Benton County jail is affecting forty-five percent of inmates along with 24 staff members and is the first major outbreak in 18 months. Continue Reading COVID Outbreak in Benton County JailRead More

Acknowledging COVID Information Fatigue As Variant Omicron Appears

By NWPB News December 1, 2021

COVID fatigue is a real problem. As with any public health measure that continues for a long time people begin to tire of new information or staying vigilant. Continue Reading Acknowledging COVID Information Fatigue As Variant Omicron Read More

Benton County Approves Tax For Mental Health Services

By NWPB News November 18, 2021

Benton County Commissioners approved to move forward with a new sales and use tax. Continue Reading Benton County Approves Tax For Mental Health ServicesRead More

Chemical Dependency & Mental Health Treatment Tax

By NWPB News November 9, 2021

Funds from a proposed sales and use tax in Benton County would create a facility to provide chemical dependency and mental health services. The Benton County Commissioners are holding a public hearing next week to authorize the tax. If the tax is adopted, it would collect a point 1 percent sales and use tax. Read More

Contracted School Resource Officers Must Comply With State Vaccine Mandates But There’s A Loophole

By NWPB News November 4, 2021

School Resource Officers should be following the state’s vaccination mandate. But that isn’t the case for some officers who serve schools in Benton County. Continue Reading Contracted School Resource Officers Read More

Unvaccinated State Representative Klippert Could Face Trouble In Day Job

By NWPB News October 29, 2021

In several areas of the state, school resource officers are contracted employees from sheriff’s departments. Pierce and Benton county both supply sheriff deputies to local school districts as school resource officers. In the Kiona Benton school district, the school resource officer is sheriff deputy Brad Klippert, who is also a state representative. Read More

Helping Afghan Refugees In The Tri Cities

By NWPB News October 14, 2021

Picture of the American and Afghanistan flags

The Tri Cities area will see 40 Afgham refugees resettled there. What are organziations are doing to assist them? Continue Reading Helping Afghan Refugees In The Tri CitiesRead More

Mass Vaccination Sites Open In Washington, Retired Gen. Mattis Among Those In Line In Tri-Cities

By NWPB News January 25, 2021

Hundreds of cars lined up for the opening day of a mass vaccination event in Washington's Tri-Cities on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Courtesy City of Richland

About 500 people made it into line at the COVID-19 mass vaccination event in the Tri-Cities. This is part of a larger set of mass events across the state kicking off this week — including clinics in Spokane, Wenatchee and Ridgefield, in Clark County. Read More

Washington Plans Mass Vaccination Sites, But Says Please Register…And Don’t Show Up Yet

By Anna King January 21, 2021

Eager seniors filled up all of the first come, first serve slots at a drive-thru COVID vaccination clinic before the first shots were even given on Thursday in Sequim, Washington. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Washington state plans to roll out mass doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at regional hubs starting Monday, Jan. 25. But some local officials say they received little notice and that they’re far from ready. Continue Reading Read More

Governor Inslee Moves Remaining Washington Counties To Phase 2; Whitman County Adds Deaths

By Scott Leadingham October 13, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, that the remaining Washington counties, all in central Washington, could advance to Phase 2 of the state's four-phase plan. CREDIT: TVW

No more Washington counties will be in Phase 1 of the state’s four-phase reopening plan. Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that Chelan, Douglas, Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties could advance to Phase 2. Continue Reading Read More

Once Most Impacted Washington Counties, Yakima And Tri-Cities Look Toward Schools Reopening

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa September 29, 2020

Pre-K students at Boise’s Garfield Elementary School work on writing their names. CREDIT: Sami Edge/Idaho Education News

Some Washington counties hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic are now looking toward the possibility of reopening schools for in-person classes. It’s thanks to metrics like hospital bed capacity and the virus incidence rate that continue to improve in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties. Read More

NWPB Vote 2020 Debate Series: Benton & Franklin Counties

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 28, 2020

Stream Benton and Franklin Counties debate

Hear from candidates that are looking to represent the Benton and Franklin Counties. Four nights of debates, we cover 11 different races that matter to our community. Continue Reading NWPB Vote 2020 Debate Series: Benton & Franklin CountiesRead More

ICYMI: Washington State Treasurer’s Debate

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 17, 2020

ICYMI: Stream the Washington state Treasurer's debate. Join the conversation using #NWPBVote2020 Continue Reading ICYMI: Washington State Treasurer’s DebateRead More

Washington Counties In Modified Phase 1 Get Updated Reopening Guidance, With Full ‘Pause’ Still On

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa August 26, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at a news conference at Columbia Basin College in Pasco June 30, 2020. Hecklers yelling at him, some with signs and flags for Trump 2020 and Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp, caused the event to be moved inside. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

Effective Thursday, churches and restaurants in Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Chelan and Douglas counties can open their doors to let guests inside — though just to 25% capacity. Outdoors, groups of up to five people from different households can meet up or attend fitness classes. Read More

Tri-Cities And Yakima County Get Additional Business And Recreational Openings Within Their Phase 1

By Scott Leadingham July 29, 2020

File photo. Customers flocked to the River Mile 38 brewpub in Cathlamet after it reopened its tasting room and patio in mid-May. Wahkiakum County is in the vanguard of Washington counties advancing through Safe Start reopening phases. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties have been approved for more business and recreational activities beginning this Saturday. The approval means additional operations within the counties’ current modified Phase 1 – not moving to a full Phase 2. Read More

ICYMI: Benton & Franklin Counties Candidate Forum Night 2

By NWPB Vote 2020 July 18, 2020

ICYMI Benton and Franklin County candidate forum night 2

ICYMI: Stream night number two of NWPB's Benton and Franklin Counties candidate forum. Races include: 4th Congressional District, WA State Senate, 16th District and Superior Court Judge, Position 1. Continue Reading ICYMI: Benton & Franklin Read More

Breweries, Wineries In Tri-Cities And Yakima May Need To Close Under Clarified Reopening Guidance

By Courtney Flatt July 17, 2020

Old Schoolhouse Brewery owner Jacob Young serves food to his customers. He says when there's little smoke and fires are far away, he sees more patrons.CREDIT: COURTNEY FLATT

Wineries and breweries in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties must keep their doors closed for now, unless they serve food out of their own kitchens. That’s the updated guidance for the three counties, which are seeing some of the highest numbers of coronavirus cases in Washington. Read More

ICYMI: Benton & Franklin Counties Candidate Forum Night 1

By NWPB Vote 2020 July 10, 2020

in case you missed the BF counties candidate forum

Full Episode Benton County Commissioner, District 1 Benton County Commissioner, District 3 Franklin County Commissioner, District 1 Franklin County Commissioner, District 2 Franklin County PUD CommissionerRead More

Yakima, Tri-Cities Eye Modified Phase 1, But ‘We Have To Remain Vigilant’ With Mask Use, Officials Say

By NWPB News July 2, 2020

Farmworkers in Yakima’s fruit-packing industry walked off production lines in May and went on strike, demanding more protections against the coronavirus pandemic. Above, Emmanuel Anguiano-Mendoza (left) and Agustin López hold posters featuring David Cruz, a worker who died on May 30. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

County officials in eastern Washington rushed applications to the state Thursday evening to reopen their economies. It came the same day Gov. Jay Inslee announced the state would approve their plans to reopen and put others on pause for two weeks. Read More

Governor Says Tri-Cities Has Seen ‘Astronomical’ Rise In COVID; Protesters Say ‘Inslee Is Non-Essential’

By Courtney Flatt June 30, 2020

Over the past two weeks, Inslee said infection rates have increased six-fold in Franklin County and nearly five-fold in Benton County. The main thing that could help, he said: masks. “Yes, there’s controversy, as there is in any great, noble endeavor, but the vast majority of people in (the Tri-Cities region) want to beat this pandemic,” Inslee said. Read More

‘Individuals Need To Take Responsibility’ For Wearing Masks, Says Tri-Cities Region Health Officer

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa June 22, 2020

Perla Torres, a fruit packer at Jack Frost Fruit, poses for a photograph wearing a mask she says she bought from a supervisor. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

Cases of COVID-19 are rising dramatically in Washington’s Yakima County and the Tri-Cities region of Benton and Franklin counties. That’s driving local health officials to urge residents to wear masks in public. Read More

Jay Inslee Visits Yakima As County Continues To Grow As State’s Coronavirus Hotspot

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa June 16, 2020

File photo. Gov. Jay Inslee visited Yakima, shown here on June 16, 2020, as the county's coronavirus numbers continued to grow at a rate that suggested it would be hard for it to move beyond Phase 1 of reopening. The Health District then issued a masking directive to encourage more use of face coverings. Courtesy of Governor's Office

A survey by the Yakima Health District found that just 35 percent of residents wear masks in public. That spurred the health district to issue a masking directive, hoping to get 80% of residents to use face coverings. Continue Read More

Jay Inslee Introduces Road To Recovery Plan, As Some In Washington Push Back Against Closures

By Austin Jenkins April 21, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee spoke Tuesday, April 21 to update on the state's coronavirus measures and recovery plan. CREDIT: TVW

While most people and public officials may be complying with Washington's "stay home, stay healthy" orders, not all are. In fact, there’s evidence of growing restlessness with the shutdown of the economy, the skyrocketing job losses and the infringement on normal, daily activities. And in some places there are examples of outright opposition. Read More

Trapped Cars Face New Year’s Eve Travel Menace In #tumblegeddon Near Hanford

By NPR News January 1, 2020

The Washington State Department of Transportation used snow plows Tuesday evening to remove a pile of tumbleweeds along State Route 240 near Richland. CREDIT: WSP/Chris Thorson

"In the 20 years that I have worked here, I have never seen it as bad as this," says Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Thorson. "I've never seen six to eight cars, including a semi-truck, actually stopped and trapped on a highway because of tumbleweeds." Read More