Celebrate the start of summer at the third annual Dive into Summer event in Richland on Saturday, June 21. This celebration combines all the fun the season offers, like swimming, craft and physical activities, live music, reading challenges, and information on other community-wide activities occurring throughout the summer.

Start the day with an open swim session at the George Proud Pool, 1005 Swift Boulevard for only a dollar entry fee ($1) from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Continue the celebration from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at John Dam Plaza with free family-friendly music live on the HAPO stage, lawn games and activities for kids and kids-at-heart. Theo, the library’s dinosaur mascot will be high-fiving and smiling for photo opportunities and at 7:00 p.m., all will gather around the stage and sing Happy 1st Birthday to Theo.  

Vendors include Vivid Imaginations Face Painting, Miss Tamale, Sweet Squeeze Lemonade, Popcorn Northwest, and Sweet Snack Attack.
Partner organizations, like The Reach Museum, Girl Scouts, Mid-Columbia Children’s Museum and the Children’s Reading Foundation will provide information on upcoming free and low-cost activities that are planned through the summer. Kids who visit all partner tables can pick up a free snow-cone, courtesy of the Friends of the Richland Library.

Bring the whole family down to John Dam Plaza and Dive Into Summer with us!

For more information visit www.Richlandparksandrec.com/DiveIntoSummer.

The first Chick-fil-A® restaurant is ready to serve Kennewick at its newest location opening on Thursday, June 19, creating approximately 130 jobs. Chick-fil-A, Inc. selected Dawn Hodges to be the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Canal and Columbia Center Blvd. 

Located at 7009 W Canal Dr., the new restaurant will serve Guests Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out and Mobile Thru. 

Locally Owned and Operated
“As a longtime member of the Tri-Cities community, it’s an honor to open Kennewick’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant,” said Hodges. “My goal is to create a place where families feel at home, Team Members are supported and valued, and every Guest experiences genuine care and excellent food — all while uplifting our community.” 

• Hodges brings a breadth of civilian and military operational expertise to her role as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Canal and Columbia Center Blvd.  
• A West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran, Hodges has proudly called the Tri-Cities home for the past 12 years. She is especially passionate about fostering growth in young people and providing a caring environment to allow her Team Members to work with a greater purpose. 
  
  

Caring for the Kennewick Community:
Hodges is committed to giving back to the Kennewick community by:  

• Participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits and has helped to create over 35 million meals to date.  
• Celebrating the opening with a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts.
• Recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the Tri-Cities area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year. 

To learn more about careers at Chick-fil-A Canal and Columbia Center Blvd., click here. For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Canal and Columbia Center Blvd., visit the restaurant’s Facebook page and follow along on Instagram.  

Delicious Food; Outstanding Customer Service
Chick-fil-A is known for creating a welcoming, remarkable restaurant experience, starting with friendly service, a warm welcome and quality food, including the original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich.  Restaurants strive to provide a great-tasting meal made with real, whole chicken breast and fresh produce, all grown and sourced with care and prepared throughout the day. For more on Chick-fil-A's high-quality menu options, click here. For more information about the Brand’s food, people and customers across the country, visit chick-fil-a.com. 

About Chick-fil-A, Inc. 
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly-prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by local Owner-Operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.  

Chick-fil-A opened its first restaurant in the UK in early 2025 with the goal of launching five locations across the UK within the next two years. The first Singapore restaurant is set to open in late 2025, marking the brand's entry into Asia. 

Chick-fil-A local Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts to address hunger, education, and making a positive impact. The family-owned and privately held company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at  www.chick-fil-a.com  and @ChickfilANews. 

Yakima Federal Savings and Loan has awarded $167,500 in academic assistance to students and schools in Yakima, Kittitas, Benton, and Franklin counties.

Sixty graduating high school seniors from the four counties each received $2,500 scholarships totaling $150,000. An additional $17,500 in grants was awarded to seven local post-secondary institutions for scholarship programs.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to reward these students who have worked so hard. Its our pleasure to make these awards again this year.” said Dan Gaulke, CEO, in a statement.

A complete list of scholarship recipients is available at https://www.yakimafed.com/scholarship

Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must reside in Yakima, Kittitas, Benton, or Franklin counties, graduate in the top 10% of their class, and demonstrate strong moral character, work ethic, and ambition. Applicants must also submit a one-page essay outlining their future plans, school and life experiences, challenges overcome, and the impact of receiving an award.

About Yakima Federal’s Awards for Academic Excellence
Yakima Federal's Awards for Academic Excellence program has provided over $3.2 million in college scholarships to area high school graduates over the past 48 years. Scholarship funds are disbursed to the recipient's enrolled school upon confirmation of fall semester enrollment. Scholarship recipients were notified in June 2025.
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About Yakima Federal Savings and Loan
Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is a Washington-chartered mutual savings bank with over $2 billion in assets and 130 employees. They serve more than 50,000 customers in Washington and Oregon, offering checking, savings, and home loan products. Yakima Federal is open to everyone residing in Washington and Oregon and is a member of the FDIC. Learn more at https://www.yakimafed.com/.

On Thursday, May 29th, the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia (CRFMC) honored the 123 dedicated volunteers who served in the 2024/2025 Team Read program at a volunteer appreciation event held at the KSD Administration Building.

Throughout the school year, these trained volunteers provided an incredible 5,194 tutoring hours to 453 students across 10 elementary schools, supporting kindergarten through 3rd grade students in building critical early reading skills.

The evening featured remarks from Dr. Traci Pierce, KSD Superintendent; Jared Lind, KSD Director of Elementary Education; and Leanne Luehrs-Purcell, Executive Director of CRFMC, who celebrated the volunteers’ impact and commitment to educational equity.

“Team Read volunteer's time, patience, and passion have made a lasting impact on our students. Because of their commitment, students were seen, supported, and empowered to believe in their full potential.  Our tutors build meaningful relationships with their students to give them confidence that they can and will be able to read.  We are so grateful and appreciate their dedication to our Team Read program and to our community.” Says Erin Lee, Educational Programs Director, CRFMC.

Team Read is a one-on-one tutoring program that trains and places volunteers in local classrooms to help young readers develop phonics, reading, comprehension, fluency and confidence—laying the foundation for lifelong learning. The partnership between CRFMC and KSD continues to demonstrate the power of community involvement in accelerating early literacy outcomes.

For more information about Team Read or how to get involved, visit www.read20minutes.com.

Badger Mountain South commuters should expect traffic delays on Dallas Road between Trowbridge Boulevard and Ava Way for one week starting Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20.

The contractor will reduce traffic to one lane between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to safely install underground utilities across Dallas Road. Flaggers will be on-site to manage traffic flow.

Drivers are advised to anticipate delays and consider alternate routes when possible. A reduced speed limit will be in effect and strictly enforced throughout the construction zone to ensure the safety of both workers and motorists.

This work is part of a larger infrastructure project that includes:

• Road widening
• New roundabouts at Trowbridge and Ava Way
• Sidewalks and ADA-compliant crossings
• Installation and extension of utilities and fiber infrastructure

These upgrades support ongoing development in the Badger Mountain South area.

Project completion is expected in Spring 2026.

For more information or to view the full Scope of Work, visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/DallasRoad or call 509-942-7500.

The City of Richland is pleased to recognize the inclusion of a critical nuclear energy carve-out in the federal tax legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22nd. The provision preserves essential production tax credits and ensures transferability for advanced nuclear projects—safeguarding the future of clean energy innovation and supporting communities like Richland that are deeply invested in nuclear technology.

The carve-out, part of the broader reconciliation package, reflects the efforts of Congressman Dan Newhouse, who played a key role in securing this win for the nuclear sector. His leadership was instrumental in maintaining tax credit eligibility for nuclear projects that begin construction by the end of 2028 and in allowing those credits to be transferred—helping to attract investment and lower costs for new technologies.

“Congressman Newhouse’s leadership on this issue could not be more timely or more important,” said Jon Amundson, Richland City Manager. “Richland has long been a hub for nuclear innovation and clean energy progress, and this policy ensures we remain positioned to lead in the years ahead. We appreciate the Congressman’s strong advocacy for our community and our future.”

Richland’s legacy in nuclear energy spans decades—from its pivotal role in Hanford’s history to its contributions to modern-day research, development, and deployment of advanced fission technologies. This legislation directly supports the city’s economic vitality and strengthens its leadership in the nation’s transition to carbon-free energy.

 The City will continue to follow developments as the bill moves to the Senate and encourages federal lawmakers to maintain strong support for nuclear energy, which remains a cornerstone of both local prosperity and national energy security.

Raise a glass and support local breast cancer care at the Benton Franklin Fair’s Drink Pink fundraiser, now a relaxed, flavor-packed brunch at Goose Ridge Estate Winery.

Pink is the vibe Sunday, June 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with great food, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere. It’s also the perfect break from graduation season. Treat yourself for a good cause. 

Come hungry! Your ticket includes featured brunch bites by Castle Event Catering:

• 🍓🍓 Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette and Slivered Almonds
• 🍗🍗 Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bao with Charred Onion Aioli, Castle House Pickles & 
• Daikon Cabbage Slaw
• 🍟🍟 13 Bones Urban BBQ Beer Battered Fries with signature pink fry sauce.

Sip and sample pink drinks from:

• Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards and Winery
• Revelation Wines
• Cascadian Outfitters (with options beyond rosé)
• Drive Row Hard Cider
• Cocktails from Monson Ranch Distillers
  
  

🎶🎶 Live music by Payton Drury and Stephen Donley.

Tickets are $60 or $50 for Goose Ridge Wine Club Members and include your choice of six menu items (food and drink). www.gooseridge.com/product/Drink-Pink
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💗💗 Why It Matters
Proceeds benefit the Benton Franklin Fair’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign. Over 16 years, more than $224,000 has been donated to help provide 2,000+ community members with free breast cancer screenings, mammograms, follow-up 
care, and treatment assistance. Beneficiaries include the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation, Prosser Memorial Hospital Foundation, and Grace Clinic.