Good morning Yakima! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Foodies + New Friends: Yakima | 2026 Dinner Club and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Encanto Arts residency at CWU to feature internationally acclaimed musicians (cwu.edu) — Yakima families can look forward to a free, youth-friendly night of opera, mariachi, bolero, and symphonic music when Una Noche de Encanto comes to the Capitol Theatre on January 23. The Encanto Arts–CWU residency will bring international singers, the CWU Symphony and Choir, and strong Yakima Valley representation, with each paid adult ticket covering admission for up to four K–12 students.
2. Yakima robbery suspect jailed in connection to homicide in apartment (yaktrinews.com) — Yakima residents are being told a weekend shooting death in a West King Street apartment is now tied to a suspect already jailed after a separate robbery call on South 19th Avenue. Police say the 28-year-old man faces murder, firearms, robbery, and trespass charges, and they're still seeking tips from anyone who may have information about the homicide.
3. Yakima homicide suspect told police he shot victim, held on $1 million bail (nbcrightnow.com) — A Yakima man is being held on $1 million bail after police say he admitted shooting and killing another resident inside a local apartment last weekend. Court documents describe a crowded unit, an argument, and a single gunshot, with the judge citing the suspect's violent criminal history in keeping him jailed. He's due back in Yakima County court for arraignment next Wednesday.
4. Yakima River Basin offers a model of resilience in an unprecedented drought (knkx.org) — Water managers across the Yakima River Basin, including the City of Yakima, are scrambling to adapt after four straight summers of drought pushed reservoirs to record lows and briefly curtailed even city water rights. From Ellensburg farms to Yakama Nation fisheries, local partners are expanding reservoirs, testing underground storage, and urging conservation to keep taps flowing, crops alive, and salmon habitat viable in a warming climate.
5. Washington National Guard soldiers used Bumblebee and Black Widow drones to spot for 81mm and 120mm mortars in live fire at Yakima Training Center (newsbreak.com) — Washington National Guard soldiers recently spent three days at Yakima Training Center testing how small Bumblebee and Black Widow drones can guide 81mm and 120mm mortar fire more accurately. The large central Washington range let multiple units practice linking drone-spotted coordinates to live rounds, building confidence ahead of a future National Training Center rotation and showcasing Yakima's role in modern Guard training.
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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 waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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