KNDO-TV (Yakima, WA)

YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. — Yakima County leaders opened a public discussion on landfill fee increases as the Terrace Heights Landfill moves closer to its planned closure in 2030. Commissioners held a public hearing on Tuesday to go over the proposed changes. County officials said closure liability in 2030 was expected to reach $37 million, which is more than double the cost if the landfill were to have closed in 2025.

YAKIMA, Wash. — A new inpatient medical detox facility in Yakima will begin accepting patients this month as September marks National Recovery Month. Comprehensive Healthcare is expanding its facility in Yakima, offering both social and medical detox services. “This is really a huge win for Yakima County,” Executive Director of Safe Yakima Valley Alicia Tobin said. In Yakima County, 90 people died from opioid overdoses in 2025, underscoring the need for more treatment options.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Vendors in Yakima will pay more in fees starting next year after the Yakima County Board of Health adopted a new fee schedule last week. The change marked the first update to these vendor fees since 2009. The board moved ahead because of factors such as inflation and rising fuel costs, saying that these mandated programs could not receive full funding without an increase.. Shawn Magee with the Yakima Health District said the agency reviewed the changes with a focus on responsibility.

YAKIMA, Wash. — A video from Yakima Community Aid raised new questions in Yakima after it showed a person detained by immigration enforcement agents right after release from Yakima police on Monday. The video circulated online and drew attention to whether local police violated the Keep Washington Working Act. The bipartisan law was discussed at a town hall on Wednesday as it restricts local law enforcement from assisting with federal immigration laws.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakima Police used community survey results to shape a town hall that centered on department priorities and questions about camera technology. The department published surveys in late June asking people which division they wanted discussed and which law enforcement topic they wanted to hear more about. One town hall was held at the Yakima Tennis Club Tuesday and another on Wednesday at the Henry Beauchamp Center. More than 300 votes were cast in the survey about police divisions.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Poder Latinx is set to bring its annual Poderosas Summit to Yakima, making the Valley the third and final stop for this year’s event, that has since switched to regional summits. The summit is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday at the Kaminski Center at Yakima Valley College. It had previously been held in Washington, D.C. but shifted to regional events this year with stops in Phoenix, Atlanta and Yakima.

WASHINGTON STATE — As students across the region prepared to head back to school, health officials in Yakima County reminded families to check on vaccinations and talk with medical providers about any questions. Dave Carlson, a pediatrician in Yakima, says he had seen vaccine programs work very well over 17 years in practice. "Our bodies are pretty amazing, and our immune systems are fantastic and they respond very well," Carlson said.

YAKIMA, Wash. — A three-acre fire near the Yakima Greenway burned overnight Tuesday along westbound U.S. Highway 12 and investigators said the case was suspicious. The Yakima Fire Department reported on Facebook that crews had put the fire out. The department also said it was actively investigating and asked anyone with information to contact the Yakima Police Department. The burned area sat next to a public path near the Greenway, showing how flames there could put walkers and bicyclists at risk.

Yakima, Wash. — A boxing gym in Yakima says its focused-on building confidence and discipline for kids both inside and outside the ring. 509 Boxing recently moved into a new Yakima location, giving the gym more room for its youth and adult programs. Co-founder and coach Emmerscyn Grigsby explained that coaches challenged students on purpose as they learn the skill they need both for boxing and real life adversity. Grigsby said the goal is to help kids learn they can handle hard situations.

Yakima, Wash. — Yakima School District says its new staggered school schedule is meant to do more than change when students start class. District leaders say the plan also aims to change how students get to and from school by making bus rides shorter and more efficient. Elementary schools are set to follow two schedules.