What rescheduling marijuana means for WA cannabis industry

(The Center Square) – The Biden administration’s move to reclassify marijuana as a lower-risk substance has broad implications for the cannabis industry at large, including in Washington state, a pioneer in the legal cannabis industry. On Dec. 6, 2012, Washington became the first state in the nation to legalize recreational use of marijuana and the first to allow recreational marijuana sales, alongside Colorado. Washington had previously legalized medical marijuana in 1998.

Two arrested in shooting at illegal marijuana grow

EPHRATA — Two men are in Grant County Jail following a shooting at an illegal marijuana grow east of Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Juan Sammuel Cabrera Calderon, 49, of Hillsboro, Oregon, and Martin Chacon Martinez, 38, of Yelm were both arrested Monday on charges of second-degree assault and first-degree robbery, according to the statement. They are both currently being held on $1,000,000 bail...

Grant Co. extends marijuana production moratorium

EPHRATA — The Grant County Commissioners have extended the moratorium on establishing new marijuana production or processing operations in unincorporated areas of the county for another six months.

Legals for August, 2 2023

GCSO will up water safety enforcement

EPHRATA — Operation Dry Water, a national boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign, begins Saturday, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...

CWU student media takes home regional awards

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University’s student journalists rose to the top of Region 10 again this year in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence contest. PULSE magazine won two categories—Best Student Magazine and Best Feature Writing—and The Observer student newspaper won for Best Affiliated Website. Both publications also earned two finalist selections each in Region 10, which includes schools from Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana...

News Bites for Jan. 15, 2024

News Bites for Jan. 15, 2024

Othello drug dealer sentenced

SPOKANE – Jaime Alberta Garza, 52, of Othello has been sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distributed fentanyl. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 78 months – about six and a half years – in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, according to a press release from the office of Vanessa Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Othello drug dealer sentenced to more than six years

SPOKANE – Jaime Alberta Garza, 52, of Othello has been sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distributed fentanyl. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 78 months – about six and a half years – in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, according to a press release from the office of Vanessa Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Legals for August, 7 2023

Health fair, summer movie Friday in Mattawa

MATTAWA — Mattawa-area residents can watch a movie Friday night and get information on all things health-related at the same time. The city of Mattawa is sponsoring a combination and movie night and health fair beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at Hund Memorial Park, 101 Government Road. It's the second of three movie nights this summer. “We decided to do themes this year, (to) be able to provide more for the community,” said Mattawa Mayor Maria Celaya...

Fun for health

Games, dances, healthy living tips at Mattawa health fair, movie night

MATTAWA — Maybe that dart game was a little harder than it looked. The guys tried it, and tried again, and kept missing. “If a little kid can do it, you can do it,” one of the guys told the others, but he was wrong...

News bites for Aug. 14, 2023

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Patrol has released more information regarding the fatal collision on I-90 east of Moses Lake Aug. 9. Derek Jay Duplichan, 30, of Warden, was driving a 2001 Acura MDX eastbound in the left lane on I-90 near the Road U/Warden exit when he drove into the median in an attempt to pass a 2014 Chevrolet Captiva driven by Brent T. Palmen, 34, of Moses Lake, according to the WSP. Duplichan then reentered the lane and struck Palmen’s vehicle, causing both drivers to lose control. Palmen’s vehicle crossed the median into the westbound lanes, where it struck a 2022 Toyota Highlander driven by Kellie A. Taylor, 54, of Snohomish, causing Taylor’s vehicle to run into a fence. Palmen’s and Taylor’s vehicles came to rest on the westbound shoulder, while Duplichan’s vehicle rolled multiple times and came to rest on the cable barriers in the median. Duplichan, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

Behavioral health, drug use among biggest Grant health concerns

MOSES LAKE — About 88% of participants said mental and behavioral health services as one of the biggest health challenges in Grant County. Another was drug use and alcohol abuse. Those were among the results reported in the 2023-24 Community Health Assessment conducted by the Grant County Health District and released April 5.

Police logs for Aug. 25, 2023

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law...

Law enforcement logs for Feb. 23, 2024

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Law enforcement logs for Jan. 12, 2024

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Legals for January, 17 2024

Fentanyl crisis in WA needs a turning point, so what is being done?

SEATTLE —Washington came to understand the scope and severity of the state's fentanyl crisis in 2023 more than any other year. Statistics have gone from bad to worse: Fentanyl set a record of fatal overdoses in 2023, with 1,082 — a 51% increase over record-setting 2022.