Tri-City Herald week in review

Kennewick school board passes flag display policy

The Kennewick School Board voted 3-2 to pass a new policy restricting how teachers and staff display non-U.S. flags on campuses. The policy bans long-term display of political and civic flags, including large gay pride flags, though teachers may display them temporarily for educational purposes. Board President Gabe Galbraith says the policy creates apolitical, neutral classrooms, while opponents, including board member Mike Connors, called it “political theater” and a waste of time. Board member Brittany Gledhill, who toured 150 classrooms, said the existing policy was already working effectively. Public commenters were divided, with some praising the move as patriotic and others calling it a thinly veiled anti-LGBTQ measure. The policy passed on first and second reading and will not return to the board for further consideration.

Reported by Eric Rosane, published April 23

Columbia Center mall gains new shops and eatery

Columbia Center mall in Kennewick is welcoming several new tenants. Discount retailer Five Below will occupy the former Old Country Buffet space between Home Goods and Designer Shoe Warehouse, with building permits submitted for the 10,172-square-foot renovation valued at around $200,000. Five Below first arrived in the Tri-Cities in October at Richland’s Vintner Square. Global sneaker and sportswear chain JD Sports has also held its grand opening at the mall. Additionally, Kennewick city officials confirmed that Dave & Buster’s will move into the former Sears space, previously briefly occupied by Joann. The entertainment dining chain, known for its “Eat. Drink. Play. Watch.” motto, operates 200 locations nationwide combining a full-service restaurant with a high-tech gaming arcade.

Reported by Wendy Culverwell, published April 24

Kennewick lawmaker gains praise for tax debate role

State Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick, has earned recognition from Republican colleagues after leading her party’s strategy during a grueling 25-hour debate over Washington’s so-called “millionaires tax.” Elected House Republicans’ floor leader in November 2024, Connors helped orchestrate a marathon floor fight that included over 80 proposed amendments. The Washington State Standard named her among the few Republican “winners” of the 2026 session. Despite the effort, Democrats ultimately passed the 9.9% tax on household income exceeding $1 million. Even Democratic floor leader Rep. Monica Stonier praised Connors as a strong partner during the overnight debate. A lawsuit and a referendum effort to repeal the law are both underway, with the state Supreme Court set to hear arguments on the referendum appeal.

Reported by Eric Rosane, published April 23

PNNL explores AI data center on Tri-Cities campus

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is considering building a small AI data center on its Richland campus or nearby Hanford DOE land, potentially operational as early as 2028. Battelle, which operates PNNL for the Department of Energy, issued a request for information outlining an initial power requirement of 2 megawatts, expandable to 40 megawatts. The proposed facility would support advanced AI computing for scientific and national security missions. PNNL is also exploring sustainable energy options and whether waste heat could be repurposed. This would be the fourth data center project proposed for the Tri-Cities region, joining Amazon Web Services, Atlas Agro, and Trammell Crow Company developments. PNNL’s AI ambitions align with the Trump administration’s Genesis Mission, a DOE-led initiative uniting all 17 national laboratories to accelerate scientific discovery using AI, supercomputers, and quantum technologies.

Reported by Annette Cary, Wendy Culverwell, published April 24

Bellingham man fatally shot during Maple Falls arrest

A 36-year-old Bellingham man, Luis Fernandez, was fatally shot by a law enforcement officer while being taken into custody in Maple Falls. Fernandez and Kayla James, 38, were identified as suspects in a shooting on the 3500 block of N. Red River Road in Ferndale around 4:20 a.m. April 25 that left a 34-year-old man in critical condition, authorities say. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Unit located the pair at a property on Kendall Road in Maple Falls, where shots were fired during the arrest. Fernandez died at the scene. James was booked into Whatcom County Jail on Lummi Nation Police charges of two counts of attempted homicide, robbery, and residential burglary. The Law Enforcement Multi-Agency Team is conducting an independent investigation, led by Bellingham Police Department. It remains unclear which agency employs the officer who fired the shot.

Reported by Hannah Edelman, published April 27

Autopsy: Homeless Kennewick mom died from CO poisoning

An autopsy has ruled the death of Courtney V. Brown, a 35-year-old homeless mother of three, an accident after she was overcome by carbon monoxide while cooking food over wood chips inside a parked car in Kennewick on March 31. Brown, a former computer technician originally from Bonney Lake, was in the vehicle with a man and a dog when all three were overcome by the colorless, odorless gas. A resident at 1118 W. Bruneau Place found Brown unresponsive around 1 p.m. and called 911, performed CPR, and pulled the victims from the car. The man and dog recovered, but Brown was declared dead at the scene. Her children did not live with her. A GoFundMe was launched by her mother to cover cremation costs and return her remains to Western Washington.

Reported by Cameron Probert, published April 27

This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 11:59 AM with the headline "Tri-City Herald week in review."