Tri-City Herald week in review

Tri-Cities first tribal casino plan moves forward

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has released a 323-page roadmap to guide an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation’s proposed 12 Tribes Casino near Pasco’s King City Truck Stop. The Colville, who purchased 160 acres there in 2019 for a casino, hotel, and event complex, say they are pleased the process is moving forward. The Yakama Nation and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation oppose the plan, arguing it violates their 1855 treaty rights. Several Washington state lawmakers also urged the Colville to build within their own territory. Tribal gambling accounted for $2.85 billion of $4 billion in net gambling receipts in Washington in 2024.

Reported by Wendy Culverwell, published May 11

Kennewick man nabbed in Tren de Aragua drug crackdown

A Kennewick resident, Jose Luis Baza-Rodriguez, also known as “Yonce,” was arrested April 29 and charged with drug trafficking conspiracy involving more than 500 grams of cocaine as part of a nationwide crackdown targeting Tren de Aragua, which the Department of Justice describes as a violent foreign terrorist organization. He was among 25 individuals charged under Joint Task Force Vulcan, a Homeland Security Task Force operation. Baza-Rodriguez, born in Venezuela and a Colombian citizen, allegedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2023. Authorities say he served as a drug supplier, with undercover ATF agents purchasing cocaine from him at a Richland address in December and in subsequent transactions. The operation seized more than 80 guns and nearly 40 pounds of illegal drugs across multiple states.

Reported by Annette Cary, published May 12

GOP seeks to reverse Eastern WA redistricting map

Republican intervenors in a federal redistricting case are asking a court to quickly discard the map redrawn for Eastern Washington’s Yakima Valley and restore prior boundaries before the 2026 elections. The request follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that weakened Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The original map was invalidated in 2023 after a judge found it illegally split Latino communities. Intervenors Jose Trevino and state Rep. Alex Ybarra argue the current court-ordered map now lacks legal basis. Opponents warn the last-minute change would cause significant disruption to candidates already filing and campaigning.

Reported by Eric Rosane, published May 10

Pasco schools eye new start times amid driver shortage

Pasco School District is proposing significant changes to school start times, bus pick-up times, and drop-off schedules in response to a persistent driver shortage and the opening of two new high schools. The restructure would eliminate roughly 30 bus routes, reduce duplicate runs, lower fuel costs, and cut overtime demands. Currently, the district has about 115 drivers but needs around 160; the new plan would require only 130. Assistant Superintendent Mira Gobel says the current system is no longer sustainable, noting that more than 20 daily routes regularly run late. The changes would also unify elementary school start and end times and standardize early release schedules across all K-12 schools. Gobel emphasized that instructional minutes would be maintained. The proposal still requires negotiation with unionized transportation staff before receiving final approval. Nationally, roughly four in five school administrators report driver shortages as an ongoing problem, according to a 2025 survey.

Reported by Eric Rosane, published May 11

Democrat withdraws from WA 8th District Senate race

Tri-City attorney and Democrat Doug McKinley filed to run in the open 8th Legislative District Senate race just before the deadline, only to withdraw days later. McKinley cited pressure from fellow Democrats as the reason for his exit, writing on Facebook that he was asked to withdraw by party members he respects. With McKinley out, the race now features only Republicans Nikki Torres of Pasco and Gabe Galbraith of Kennewick. Torres is a current state senator who moved districts after redistricting drew her out of her seat, while Galbraith is the Kennewick School Board president and Hanford security specialist. The 8th District is considered the Tri-Cities’ most conservative, with Donald Trump winning it by 24 points in 2024. The seat is being vacated by Sen. Matt Boehnke, who is running for Congress.

Reported by Eric Rosane, published May 12

Pasco named one of the top affordable places to retire

Forbes has released its 2026 list of the best places to retire in the United States, highlighting 25 locations offering a high quality of life at an affordable price. Two Washington state cities made the cut: Pasco and Spokane. Pasco, situated along the Columbia River, features a comfortable climate, good air quality, and a serious crime rate below the national average, according to Forbes. Its median home price is around $418,000, with a cost of living 3% below the national average and no state income tax. Spokane, described as a picturesque river city, offers good bikeability, walkability, and air quality, plus a favorable ratio of primary care physicians, Forbes says. However, Spokane’s cost of living runs 3% above the national average, and its serious crime rate exceeds the national average, according to Forbes.

Reported by Julia Hawkins, published May 12

This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Tri-City Herald week in review."