Articles written by Roger Harnack
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Basin City bucks state's reopening denial
BASIN CITY -- Local cowboys are buckin' the state's rejection of reopening Franklin County as the Fourth of July approaches. Despite the state's rejection of Phase 2 reopening in the wake of the coronavirus, residents are planning... — Updated 7/1/2020
Order: Face masks required statewide beginning Friday
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that residents statewide will be required to wear a face mask effective Friday. “This is something we can get use to,” Inslee said, noting that a willful decision not to wear a face... — Updated 7/1/2020
Is your smartphone being tracked?
Are government agencies and big tech tracking your every move via your smartphone? The answer is maybe. Gov. Jay Inslee has repeatedly said the state is using smartphone data to tra... — Updated 7/1/2020
Preliminary decisions in quarantine lawsuits may be on horizon
WENATCHEE — Supporters and opponents of Gov. Jay Inslee’s quarantine measures will have to wait a little longer to see if the shutdowns will remain intact. Of the at least seven lawsuits seeking to end Inslee’s orders, two... — Updated 5/28/2020
Sturgeon fishery opens June 15
DAVENPORT — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will allow fishermen to catch white sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt beginning Jun 15. The opening remains in effect from Grand Coulee Dam in Grand Coulee upriver to the China Bend... — Updated 5/21/2020
State seeks comment on shooting rules
OLYMPIA — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public to submit written comment on a proposed target shooting rule update by June 10. The proposed rule update defines recreational target shooting, identifies... — Updated 5/21/2020
Mount St. Helens, 40 years later
ODESSA - Eastern Washington residents are wearing medical masks these days due to the coronavirus pandemic. But longtime resi- dents recall that this isn't the first time they've... — Updated 5/19/2020
Test and trace isn't 'voluntary'
Voluntary must have a different meaning inside state government offices. On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee and other partici- pants in his coronavirus press conference said par- ticipatio... — Updated 5/18/2020
State will be tracing infected residents' movements, personal interactions
OLYMPIA — If you test positive for conoravirus, be prepared to be quarantined at home. That’s the message Gov. Jay Inslee shared during a Tuesday afternoon press conference on his plan for “contact tracing” of the virus.... — Updated 5/12/2020
Despite shutdown order, Airway Heights tavern to reopen Wednesday
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The owners of a local tavern plan to be open from 2 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday despite the coronavirus quarantine. Village Tavern co-owner Jean Moore hopes other bars and restaurants will join her in opening in def... — Updated 5/12/2020
Palouse Falls reopens
Palouse Falls State Park has reopened for day-use activities. Location just south of Washtucna of state Highway 261, the park features two waterfalls, one is the 20-foot upper... — Updated 5/8/2020
Gov. Inslee facing four lawsuits over "unconstitutional" quarantine
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee is now facing four lawsuits over his “unconstitutional” overreach in using the coronavirus pandemic as a reason to quarantine healthy Washingtonians. Two new lawsuits were filed Tuesday with attorney... — Updated 5/8/2020
Lincoln County students make honor rolls
SPOKANE — Several Lincoln County students have made the winter quarter honor roll for area community colleges based on their fall quarter grades. To make the list for the quarter, which ended in March, students had to maintain a... — Updated 5/8/2020
'Non-essential' residents sue Gov. Inslee
PASCO – Franklin County cherry orchardist and pilot Dave MacHugh was landing his private airplane at Tri-Cities Airport after a four-hour trip to Tacoma and back Friday... — Updated 5/5/2020
Palouse Falls, Potholes among places to reopen
KAHLOTUS - Washington State Parks has released a list of the parks that will be opening May 5 for outdoor recreation, provided visitors keep their distance. In Eastern Washington,... — Updated 5/5/2020
Gov. Inslee: Outdoor activities may reopen May 5
ODESSA - Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday gave a thumbs up to resuming outdoor recreation close to home, as long as participants keep their distance. During his press conference, he said... — Updated 5/5/2020
Farmers 'spuddering'
RITZVILLE - Eastern Washington potato growers donated 20 tons of spuds to area residents Wednesday rather than throw them away. The potatos were grown primarily for restaurants.... — Updated 4/30/2020
Thank a potato farmer today
If you haven’t thanked a potato farmer today, you should. While the governor may consider farmers essential, his quarantine has destroyed the supply line to move farm products to... — Updated 4/30/2020
Dusty named appropriately
DUSTY — A duststorm caused near-zero visibility and led to at least three crashes in the area Monday, April 27. According to the Washington State Patrol, three people were cited... — Updated 4/30/2020
Tons of Spuds
Jeff Schibel of Odessa volunteers Wednesday at the potato giveaway in Ritzville. The spuds were grown by Eastern Washington farmers for restaurants. Under the coronavirus... — Updated 4/30/2020
Under increasing pressure, Gov. Inslee allows low-risk construction to resume
OLYMPIA – Under increasing pressure from counties, Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday said he would allow low-risk construction to resume immediately. The caveats — each contractor must have personal protective gear for employees,... — Updated 4/25/2020
Wagner a Presidential Scholar semifinalist
ODESSA - A local girl has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Maddy Wagner was named as a semifinalist April 15. She is the daughter of T... — Updated 4/23/2020
Franklin County the first to reopen
PASCO — Gov. Jay Inslee’s time has expired, at least in Franklin County. Five minutes into the county commissioners’ 9 a.m. meeting today, April 21, commissioners voted unanimously to reject provisions under Gov. Jay... — Updated 4/23/2020
It's about choice; make your decision wisely
Gov. Jay Inslee had to know a showdown was coming with Eastern Washington. State law allocated him 30 days in which to operate under emergency authority, unless the Legislature... — Updated 4/23/2020
Lincoln County emergency helipad gets funding
DAVENPORT -- Lincoln County is getting an emergency helipad, thanks to Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6248. Gov. Jay Islee signed the measure April 3; It allocates $75,000 in... — Updated 4/18/2020
