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🌱 Why Yakima band students packed this week’s school board meeting

Yakima, Washington Patch AM: a 5 min read

Good morning Yakima! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Yakima band students packed this week’s school board meeting
  • How a WIAA rule change could shake up Yakima Valley sports
  • How to snag tickets to Selah’s Hoedown for Housing fundraiser.

Also on today's calendar: Washington State Nonprofit Conference.

Today's riddle: What is the difference between a nicely dressed man on a tricycle and a poorly dressed man on a bicycle? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 63 and low of 34 degrees.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 64, low: 39.
  • Monday: A blend of sun and clouds, with a high of 69 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Yakima district is not cutting Franklin Middle School music programs, school administrators say (yakimaherald.com) — Families worried about Franklin Middle School’s band program can breathe easier: Yakima school leaders say the music offerings and staffing will remain intact next year, though some class sections may be reconfigured. Students and parents packed this week’s Yakima school board meeting to defend band programs at Franklin and Lewis and Clark, emphasizing how music supports mental health, belonging, and future opportunities.
   

2. Yakima Valley schools expect to utilize appeals process after WIAA vote to eliminate socioeconomic factor when calculating enrollment (yakimaherald.com) — High school sports across the Yakima Valley could see major ripple effects after the WIAA voted to drop its automatic socioeconomic enrollment adjustment starting with the 2028–32 cycle. Local schools like Wapato, Granger, Highland and Goldendale expect to lean heavily on the appeals process to stay in lower classifications, raising questions about fairness, competitiveness, and how well the state will communicate new requirements.
   

3. Where to Find Tickets to the 'Hoedown for Housing' Party in Selah (newstalkkit.com) — A big “Hoedown for Housing” fundraiser is coming to Forenpohar Ranch in Selah on Saturday, May 30, supporting Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity’s work across Yakima Valley. Your $125 ticket (or $1,000 table) includes gourmet dinner, live country music, dancing, and an upcycled auction that helps fund local affordable housing and construction-skills programs.
   

4. Yakima Habitat for Humanity meets with local officials to discuss home repairs (kimatv.com) — Local housing leaders and officials just met in Yakima County to tackle the rising cost of home repairs and the shortage of safe, ready-to-buy homes. Habitat for Humanity and county leaders are exploring new funding, including a possible HUD urban designation that could free up $2.8 million for repairs and neighborhood stabilization.
   

5. Gang member faces decades in prison for Benton City shooting, Yakima murder (spokesman.com) — A Yakima-linked gang case is moving toward a lengthy prison sentence after 25-year-old Ruben Marin admitted to a Benton City graduation party shooting and a separate fatal shooting outside a Yakima apartment complex. Prosecutors from Yakima and Benton counties coordinated a plea deal, and both sides plan to recommend a 28-year sentence when Marin is sentenced.
   

📸 Around Yakima

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • The Yakima Rock and Mineral Show begins this Friday, highlighting Crafted in Stone as its theme.
    Fair grounds modern living building do to road construction use gate 15 to get in still park in lot by gate 5. (Nextdoor Perry)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Luna , a cat who went missing in Yakima, WA, has been safely reunited with their family after 1 days, 2 hours. Message from Owner: "Please help me… (Nextdoor West Mead)
  • JTH Tax LLC posted a job opening for Costume Waver in Yakima. Apply here.
  • GameStop, Inc. posted a job opening for Full Time Assistant Store Manager (Store 2332) in Yakima. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Yakima here.

Ok Yakima! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A tire. (Thank you Joan B. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Yakima

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Yakima

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.