Watch: Tri-Cities commissioners join Inslee for 3 p.m. news conference

After hearing pleas from Tri-City leaders to allow more gathering and businesses to reopen, Gov. Jay Inslee will be joined today at a news conference with other area leaders.

The governor will be meeting at 3 p.m. with Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck, Benton County Commissioner Jerome Delvin, secretary with the Department of Health John Wiesman and Yakima’s mayor, Patricia Byers.

Watch the livestream below via TVW:

Inslee met with Tri-Cities leaders earlier this week, where they asked him to consider allowing at least some small businesses to reopen.

The same day, Tri-City area mayors asked that he mandate businesses in Benton and Franklin counties serve only customers who are wearing masks.

Later the same day, the health officer for the two counties issued the order.

Dr. Amy Person she made the order for businesses to refuse service to customers who do not wear masks after area leaders made the request to lower COVID-19 rates.

This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 1:59 PM.