This column will run every week or so in the Courier-Herald to summarize news events, update the status of previously-reported news items, correct the occasional typo, and ask readers affected by local news to contact reporters.
MARCH 9
RAIN’S BACK: Stormy spring weather lashed the region last week, briefly triggering flood watches and warnings across the Plateau. The weather had calmed by March 2. Are you affected by the seasonal flooding, or do you know someone who is? We’d like to hear from you for a story we’re working on about flooding problems on the Plateau. Reach out to reporter Alex Bruell at alex.bruell@courierherald.com, or call him at 360-876-3567.
MANDATE ENDING EARLY: Inslee will lift Washington’s COVID-19 mask mandate in most places on March 12, ahead of his original March 21 date. That’s due to revised federal health guidance. King County officials said their mask mandate will expire at the same time as the state. The county already ended its vaccine mandate last week.
LEGISLATURE WRAPPING UP: March 10 is the last scheduled day for this year’s session of the state legislature. We’ll be reporting on what local legislators managed to accomplish this year in an upcoming article. Let us know if there’s a particular bill you want us to dig into.
TRIALS DELAYED: A number of upcoming trials followed by the Courier-Herald have been delayed from the original starting date we’ve reported. That’s nothing unusual in the court system. As of March 4, the Allan and Joann Thomas trial is scheduled to start April 25. The trial against Brendan Palmer is scheduled for June 6. The trial against Allen Bittner is scheduled for June 28.
MARCH 16
5K RUN CORRECTION: The photo caption for the article, “Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Chamber’s 5K”, (published March 9) indicated the race was on the weekend of March 12. This was incorrect — the run is this weekend, March 19.
WRHS STATE HOOPS CORRECTION: Whoops — the Courier-Herald mixed up schools for WRHS athletes Vivian Kingston and Lexie Banks, who competed in state basketball earlier this month (“White River hoop season ends after tough bouts at the SunDome”, published March 9).
REP. SCHRIER TESTS POSITIVE, DOING FINE: Washington’s 8th Congressional District Representative Kim Schrier (D), who represents the Plateau area and beyond, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday after waking up with mild cold symptoms, the legislator said over her social media. She will be working from home this week but added she has “great peace of mind” knowing she is fully vaccinated and boosted against the disease and encouraged others to do the same.
