NEW: Don't forget to mail in your primary ballot today - 
YAKIMA -- If you haven't mailed in your ballot yet, you still have time. Today is the last day to mail ballots for this year's primary election. Election coverage and results...

Yakama tribe holds confab over trust issues - 
TOPPENISH -- Yakama tribal members will have a chance to voice any concerns over trust issues such as federally managed Indian money and lands during a two-day listening conference beginning Wednesday. The Intertribal Monitoring Association on Indian Trus...

Wapato picks two to fill council vacancies - 
WAPATO -- After being short two members for more than three months, the Wapato City Council finally chose a local high school graduate and a medical clinical worker to fill those posts. Three months had passed since both Francis Lame Bull and Lloyd Bensco...

Yakima's 181st says goodbye - 
The 181st Brigade Support Battalion's Dave Ammann hugs fellow guard member Cameron Welniak during a troop send off for the Washington National Guard at Wixson Park in Selah on Tuesday....

UPDATE: Ybarra, Johnson advance in 14th District House race - 
Democrat Vickie Ybarra and Republican Norm Johnson emerged Tuesday from a crowded field of candidates for the state House seat soon to be vacated by veteran Republican lawmaker Mary Skinner. They will advance to the Nov. 4 general election. Yakima School District approves budget - 
The Yakima School District's board of directors unanimously approved a $157 million budget Tuesday night. The budget reflects an anticipated deficit of about $1.7 million and more than 20 fewer teaching positions. The reduction in teachers is being absorb...

State audit: Mt. Adams schools missing funds - 
WHITE SWAN -- A state audit found more than $3,800 in public funds have been mishandled in the Mt. Adams School District over a five-year period. The discovery comes after the district's business manager, Mike Wells, noticed a significant drop in revenue ...

08/20/08 Around the Valley - 
Wapato fills spots on City Council WAPATO -- After being short two members for more than three months, the Wapato City Council has chosen a local high school graduate and a medical clinical worker to fill those posts. Three months had passed since both Fr...

Robbery suspect sought in Toppenish - 
TOPPENISH -- Police are seeking the identity of a man suspected in connection with a robbery last month at the city cemetery on Elmwood Road. The suspect took a vehicle from the victim on the evening of July 17, according to Toppenish police. The vehicle ...

Granger lawmaker honored for work - 
An open government champion from our area is being recognized for his work. State Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, will receive an award from the Washington Coalition for Open Government next month. The ranking minority member of the House State Government...

Yakamas can share concerns at listening conference - 
TOPPENISH -- Yakama tribal members will have a chance to voice any concerns over trust issues such as federally managed Indian money and lands during a two-day listening conference beginning today. The Intertribal Monitoring Association on Indian Trust F...

Beer, wine returning to Toppenish Safeway shelves - 
Safeway in Toppenish is currently getting a facelift that includes a Starbucks, a sandwich bar, Artesian desserts and something else that not everyone is happy about -- a beer and wine section. Nearly eight years ago, the Safeway store at 711 W. First Ave...

Federal judge signs off on Mattawa day-care settlement - 
A $2 million settlement for Mattawa day-care operators who alleged they were mistreated by state investigators has been approved by a federal judge, the plaintiffs' lawyers announced Tuesday. But the day-care workers expect to proceed with a separate tria...

Selah's Bravo Company prepares for second tour in Iraq - 
SELAH -- Fourteen-year-old Tyler Ireton has been through this before. He knows what to do. "With Dad gone, I'm going to be doing a lot of work around the house," the East Valley High School freshman said. The oldest of four -- with siblings ages 13, 10 an...

EMS vote set for February - 
Yakima voters will have their say on a proposed levy that would raise money for more firefighters and paramedic training. The City Council voted Tuesday to put the Emergency Medical Services levy up for a vote on Feb. 3. The council's vote was unanimous b...

Council talks endorsements, public hearings - 
Remember that spat the Yakima City Council had earlier this year over endorsements and public hearings? Well, it came up for air again. The Council took two confusing votes on the subject Tuesday, voting 4-3 against a hearing on Initiative 985 if sponsor...

Gamache ousted in commissioner's race - 
Yakima County Commissioner Ron Gamache has lost a bid for a third term after being bested by two challengers in a crowded race. Having garnered 40 percent of the votes counted Tuesday night, 48-year-old Kevin Bouchey, a third-generation Toppenish farmer,...

Ybarra, Johnson come out as top two in 14th District - 
Democrat Vickie Ybarra and Republican Norm Johnson emerged Tuesday from a crowded field of candidates vying for the state House seat soon to be vacated by veteran Republican lawmaker Mary Skinner. They will advance to the Nov. 4 general election, setting...

Move-the-seat advocate winning in Benton County - 
PROSSER -- A longtime advocate of moving the county seat to Kennewick, Fred Staples collected more votes than incumbent Benton County commissioner Leo Bowman, according to late unofficial results Tuesday evening. A third candidate for the commission seat,...

Elofson wins seat on Superior Court - 
In a contested judicial race that never got personal, Yakima attorney David Elofson defeated fellow litigator Rob Lawrence-Berrey Tuesday for a seat on the Yakima County Superior Court bench. With 28 percent of the possible ballots counted, Elofson had 12...

Central unanimous pick to win GNAC - 
ELLENSBURG -- To the surprise of no one, Central Washington has been picked to win the GNAC football championship by a unanimous preseason vote of the conference's coaches. The Wildcats, 10-3 and a Division II playoff quarterfinalist last year, include pr...

Yakima Bears update - 
Next game Opponent: Tri-City Dust Devils. When, where: 7:05 p.m. tonight, Yakima County Stadium. Radio: KUTI (1460). Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Houston Summers (4-5, 5.88) vs. Tri-City RHP Ken Durst (4-3, 3.29). Notes YAKIMA-BASED TEAM TO BE HONORED...

Bears falter again - 
YAKIMA -- En route to their 21-40 record, worst in the Northwest League, the Bears had of late shown their home fans a more proficient side. They had, in fact, won five of their last six at Yakima County Stadium, including three straight last week. Tuesda...

Phelps surpasses his goal:Raising swimming's profile - 
If Hollywood ever makes a movie about Michael Phelps, don't look for the latest Tinseltown heart throb to play the lead role. He just wouldn't fit the profile. Phelps is an unassuming, average-looking guy with a long body and arms, short legs and big feet...