KOLW-FM (Pasco, WA)

I really don't know how many times I've driven past the sign above, Welcome to Richland. I've read about it for some time and I saw road signs about lane closures to install the new sign for days. Although, I didn't actually notice the new sign till today! As part of the South George Washington Way Intersection Improvement Project, the new sign is near the intersection of George Washington Way and Columbia Point Drive. What a sight! I love seeing this for my city.

Don't be alarmed. This is ONLY a TEST. The Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Field Office will be activating sirens on the Hanford Site for an emergency drill on Thursday, August 20. DOE periodically conducts emergency drills and siren tests at Hanford facilities as part of an ongoing program to test emergency equipment and train Site employees on emergency response procedures.

Prosser Police Officers arrested a suspect wanted in connection to a recent hit-and-run collision. However, the suspect would not give up all that easily. Acting on a citizen tip, officers spotted 34-year-old Dean Burger near Les Schwab just before 5 pm on Tuesday. As Police attempted to pull Burger over, he decided to keep going and fled westbound on North River Road. He continued westbound on Buena Vista Road.

Washington State Patrol via Facebook Washington State Patrol via Facebook The Benton County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to find a missing person. Irene is 76-years-old with Alzheimer's. She was last seen near 182302 South Plymouth Road. Irene was last seen on Tuesday, August 18th, however, the exact time she went missing is unknown. Irene is known to walk toward Patterson. She has not been seen along any of her ususal routes.

A 35-year-old man has been missing out of Kent for several days. Washington State Patrol activated a statewide Endangered Missing Person Advisory on Tuesday for Raughshee Nelson. WSP says Nelson's disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety. Raughshee was last seen off of Central Ave South around 2 pm on Saturday, August 8th. It's unknown where he was headed. Investigators say he may appear confused and unable to find his way home without assistance.

A Tri-Cities man was found guilty of drug trafficking. On August 13, a jury found David Mendoza Ayala guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The 30-year-old drug dealer is facing a prison sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison followed by no less than 5 years in supervised release. Mendoza Ayala was long suspected of being involved in large-scale drug trafficking for years.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is proud to share that as of July, they recorded the 10,000th successful wildlife crossing on the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass overcrossing. According to WSDOT, they built the structures for wildlife to safely cross over/under the highway safely. Fewer wildlife in the middle of the roadway keeps motorists safer, too. Read More: A Goat Strolls Through Yoke's Fresh Market & Steals the Show Wildlife crossings also carry an economic benefit.

I always wonder why criminals attempt to run from Police officers. Specifically, K9 officers, they can run much faster than. On Sunday, a man in Moses Lake attempted to run from Police, and K9 Rex got the man. According to Moses Lake Police, on Sunday evening, officers were sent out to Lauzier Park after receiving reports of a man threatening another man with a sword.

Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife troopers removed an alligator that was being kept as a pet from a home in Gresham. The alligator was found to be living in an aquarium inside an apartment. OSP said troopers were made aware of the illegal pet and worked with veterinarians to safely secure the reptile. With assistance from veterinarians with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the alligator was safely secured and transported to an approved reptile sanctuary.

The Benton-Franklin Health District is warning residents after of toxic algae was detected in water samples taken from the Columbia River at Howard Amon Park in Richland. The level was 0.569 ug/L which is relatively high BUT still below the statewide recreation threshold (1.0 ug/L). All other sites tested had very low or no detectable levels of toxin.