Primary election night is over in the newsroom. The pizza is eaten and the stories are filed. Now for an episode of Peaky Blinders.
Greg Halling
@ghalling.bsky.social
Forever Nacho’s pal. Executive editor of the Yakima Herald-Republic. Widely considered the J.J. Cale of journalists.
Primary election night in a small American newsroom — in this case, the Yakima Herald-Republic.
This is an incredibly stupid opinion, even for the flagship of the USA Today Co. (formerly Gannett). The idea is to provide for the public good and care for the most vulnerable among us. You know, the things that lifted us out of the Great Depression.
Opinion: Mamdani's idea may sound appealing, but it's NYC taxpayers who will take the hit, subsidizing discounts they may never even use.
The smoke is coming from fires from Central and Eastern Washington, including fires in the Wenatchee and Spokane areas. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
Air quality alert in effect in Yakima Valley because of wildfire smoke
Air quality was unhealthy on Monday afternoon, with officials advising people to reduce outdoor activity.
yakimaherald.com
The Red Sky Fire, also known as the 2908 McCullough Road Fire, started at 5:30 p.m. Saturday about one mile south of Union Gap and burned more than 4,000 acres on Ahtanum Ridge. (A free article from yakimaherald.com)
Firefighters stop fires in West Valley, Ahtanum Ridge; updates on White Swan and Blewett Pass
Firefighters dealt with high winds as they responded to two fires in the Yakima area on Saturday.
yakimaherald.com
Something beautiful for this day: Butterfly weed, Yakima, Washington (July 2026). #wildflowers #milkweed
There have been no confirmed reports of lives lost, "but based on radio traffic, it will be anticipated," said Cody Rohrbach, Spokane County Fire District 3 fire chief. (Elena Perry / Spokesman-Review)
Wildfire in northwest Spokane destroys 640 structures
SPOKANE — The Old Trails wildfire in northwest Spokane destroyed 640 structures Saturday, according to Cody Rohrbach, Spokane County Fire District 3 fire chief.
yakimaherald.com
According to a map posted about 6:45 a.m. on wsdot.com, the fire has burned 5,000 acres and is 0% contained. (A free article by John Taylor for yakimaherald.com)
Highway 97 reopens, evacuation levels ease amid Red Sky Fire in Yakima County
Evacuation warnings have been reduced to Level 2 (be ready) for the Red Sky Fire south of Yakima, and U.S. Highway 97 is now open in both directions.
yakimaherald.com
Cars full of evacuating residents could be seen stretching south along Northwest Boulevard. Smoke was so thick it blotted out the sun on North Driscoll Boulevard and West Francis Avenue. ( Alexandra Duggan & Amanda Sullender / Spokesman-Review)
Thousands evacuate in Spokane as wildfire crosses river into city
A wildfire driven by high winds jumped the Spokane River on Saturday afternoon, burning homes and quickly moving into the Indian Trail neighborhood.
seattletimes.com
Even though we’re miles away, the flames from the Union Gap wildfire look eerie and hellish. #wildfire
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Club El Mundo Elegante. It gives me great personal pride and pleasure in presenting to you — umm, the Moula Banda Rhythm Aces!
RY COODER - Get Rhythm (1988)
YouTube video by Remember The 80s
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The Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders have been expanded in Union Gap, WA. Evan Abell of yakimaherald.com has photos. (Free Article)
More wildfire evacuation orders issued in Union Gap
Update 8:30 p.m.: Fullbright Park and Central Washington State Park are under a level 3 "go now" evacuation.
yakimaherald.com
Something beautiful for this day: Globe amaranths, Yakima, Washington (July 2026). #flowers #amaranth #bloomscrolling #pnw
A statewide burn ban is highly unusual and last occurred in 2021. ( Mike Lindblom / Seattle Times)
WA statewide burn ban declared; wildfire risk ‘extreme,’ unprecedented
Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday declared a statewide state of emergency that bans most outdoor and agricultural burning through the end of September.
seattletimes.com
Friday night Justin Townes Earle. Because he was too damned good to forget. #JTE #americana #folk
Justin Townes Earle - Lone Pine Hill (Live in Sydney) | Moshcam
YouTube video by Moshcam
youtu.be
TRUMP: “I think that Minnesota is behind it. You know who’s behind it? Minnesota. Because they’re grossly incompetent." THE FACTS: Authorities have not yet publicly identified the source of cyberattacks targeting over 30 water systems in Minnesota on Sunday and Monday. (Melissa Goldin / AP)
FACT FOCUS: Trump blames Minnesota governor for cyberattacks against the state. Cites no evidence
President Donald Trump is claiming, without evidence, that recent cyberattacks in Minnesota were the fault of the state, including Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
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Oooh, a dirty Sherktini? I think my late, great friend Joe Sherk would approve. Especially after this week.
A DHS official left open the possibility, though, that the agency’s plans could change based on available intelligence. (Amelia Twyman / States Newsroom)
Trump administration rules out mass ICE enforcement at the polls in midterms • Washington State Standard
WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not planning an aggressive campaign at voting sites during the upcoming midterm elections, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday…
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Friday marks the last day of a contract under which the federal government pays for legal services for children who enter the U.S. without a parent or guardian. The government contracts out those services to a network of nearly 100 legal groups that provide services to roughly 20,000 children. (AP)
Thousands of migrant children in the US could face new deportation risks as legal aid deal expires
Migrant children who came to the U.S. alone could soon face immigration court without legal representation. The Trump administration is allowing a contract with legal service providers for these…
buff.ly
Jeanine Pirro will always find another bar.
Jeanine Pirro should be disbarred. It is absolutely indefensible and gross misconduct to rush through a criminal indictment for political reasons before an investigation has been completed, which resulted in false evidence being presented to a grand jury.
The two fires destroyed 16 occupied homes, the White Swan Independent Shaker Church building, the White Swan Post Office and buildings at Yakama Nation Forest Development. The fires also went through the Klick-Peter Cemetery. (A free article from Tammy Ayer at yakimaherald.com)
Efforts to contain White Swan wildfires continue
Yakama Nation leaders updated which fires destroyed specific structures as firefighters are still battling fire activity in the area of White Swan.
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"Cosmo and Hook, thank you for gracing Delilah and me with the last part of your long lives. Our time together was too short — but the lessons we learned and the joy we experienced will stay with us forever." A column by @gustavoarellano.bsky.social for the Los Angeles Times.
Commentary: The joy and heartbreak of adopting a senior dog
Cosmo and Hook came into my life in the summer of 2020. My wife, Delilah, found them on the website of Frosted Faces Foundation, a nonprofit in the northern San
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Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows the damage was the result of a “flawed installation by the contractor” as well as “the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration." (AP)
Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool
The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
buff.ly
With gusts expected to hit 50 mph in some areas and temperatures in the 80s and 90s, officials at the state’s Department of Natural Resources are calling it “explosive” and “an extremely challenging and hazardous fire weather event.” (A free article from yakimaherald.com)
Weather service warns of dangerous fire conditions in Central Washington
The weather service’s alert, issued Friday, is the first of its kind for Washington state, according to the DNR.
yakimaherald.com