Good morning, Pasco.

The treatment court pairs veterans facing addiction and DUI-charges with mentor veterans who attend hearings and guide recovery, while the Columbia Basin Veterans Center will host a coffee and Christmas music event Tuesday, Dec.

23, from 6 to 8 p.m. for veterans and families.

Guy (a high-energy pup who loves tricks) is available for adoption at the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter and will need an active home with plenty of exercise.

Prospective adopters should schedule a meet-and-greet to ensure he gets along with other dogs.

Doug Tallman, owner of Amethyst Creamery in Richland, is recovering from kidney cancer surgery and will postpone reopening until January.

Local supporters increased his GoFundMe target to $20,000 — a sign of the community's care during his recovery.

Tri-Cities Animal Shelter now offers Guy, an energetic pup who loves performing tricks and running with his favorite toy.

He needs an active home that supports meet-and-greets for households with other dogs.

Doug Tallman, owner of Amethyst Creamery in Richland, is recovering from kidney cancer surgery — he was too weak to reopen on Dec.

18. He raised his fundraising goal to $20,000 to cover an extra month of basic expenses and plans to resume operations in January.

Washington movie theaters must begin offering open-caption screenings from 2026 under the John Waldo Act (named in honor of the late hearing-access advocate) to improve movie access for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, with larger venues required to provide peak-hour captions during films' first two weeks.

Tri-Cities Airport is set to resume nonstop flights to Portland in June 2026.

Alaska Airlines will offer two daily services from Pasco, with a 5:22 a.m. departure (arriving at 6:20 a.m.) and a 3:55 p.m. option (landing at 4:49 p.m.).

Regional fire departments, including Kennewick and Pasco teams, held quarterly training using a new propane-fueled simulation system that mimics second-story fires — the exercise aimed to improve coordination and speed.

Training officers will meet monthly to refine techniques for better emergency response.

Mental health experts caution that veterans and first responders may face intensified loneliness this holiday season — retired police officer Chris Littrell shares his struggles in his new book, and centers in Kennewick offer community support for those in need.

Local agencies have launched temporary warming centers for daytime refuge and overnight shelters with added services to help residents stay warm this winter.

Benton Franklin Health District said on Dec. 19 that Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, Benton and Franklin Counties, Ben Franklin Transit, and 211 have partnered to offer these shelters (call ahead as hours may change due to the holidays).

Annika Samra, a Richland native at the University of Washington, is working with Narcare to provide free naloxone and harm reduction education to address the opioid crisis.

She plans to bring her experience back to the Tri-Cities and invites local involvement via social media (at Southridge High School).

A plane crash in North Carolina claimed the lives of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their two children, and three longtime NASCAR community members (yesterday); Tri-City Raceway may soon hold a memorial race to honor his legacy.

Prosser native Kirby Moore was named head football coach at Washington State after serving as Missouri's offensive coordinator, and local fans are already planning trips to the Cougars' first game next season.