What were Tri-City Herald’s most-read stories of 2025? ICE, Hanford, abuse, more
In 2025, staff at the Tri-City Herald covered many major topics.
From notable crimes including a local state trooper’s accused of a fatal drunk driving case and numerous poachers disciplined by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to business updates such as the opening of Chick-fil-A’s first Tri-Cities location and large development projects, Herald staff left no stone unturned.
The Herald also covered national events with impacts on Tri-Cities, including layoffs and cut funding at the Hanford site and a retired U.S. secretary of defense from Richland encouraging Congress to investigate President Donald Trump’s “reckless actions.”
Based on analytics, the Herald garnered 10.5 million pageviews across all coverage between Jan. 1 and Dec. 22 in 2025.
These were the top 15 stories in terms of pageviews:
What were most read Tri-City Herald stories in 2025?
No. 15: 4 Tri-Citians lose hunting privileges after illegal Montana elk, deer kills by Annette Cary
A group of hunters from Tri-Cities were banned from hunting for up to eight years after poaching bull elk and mule deer. Several of the animals were killed by the hunters without required licenses or permits in Montana’s Bull Mountains, site of some of the best elk hunting in the nation.
Wildlife officials seized eight mounts of the elk and deer when search warrants were served in Tri-Cities over the summer. The men, along with two Montana hunters, pleaded guilty to 34 charges related to the case.
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No. 14: Washington is the first place in the world to remove and ban this fish farming practice by Karlee Van De Venter
Washington state made history in January when it banned the use of floating cages known as net pens, used to raise fish for commercial purposes.
The Puget Sound suffered lasting impacts after a net pen collapsed in 2017, which resulted in the accidental release of more than 250,000 non-native salmon. The ban received support from tribes within the state and various conservation groups.
No. 13: Can I get a ticket for eating while driving in WA? Here’s what state law says by Karlee Van De Venter
Breakdowns of Washington state’s traffic laws were popular among Herald readers in 2025. Technically, Washington state law doesn’t prevent drivers from eating or taking a drink of a non-alcoholic beverage while on the road. If eating impacts your ability to drive, however, you could be cited for “dangerously distracted driving” and face a significant fine.
No. 12: Country star with local roots nominated for 3 Grammys. See him in concert soon by Karlee Van De Venter
Country star Zach Top returned to Eastern Washington in November for two concerts at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The singer behind hit songs “Good Times & Tan Lines” and “I Never Lie” grew up in Sunnyside and Pasco before making it big.
In 2025, Top was named New Male Artist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music and received three Grammy Award nominations, including Best Country Song.
No. 11: Can you get pulled over for driving with expired tabs in Washington state? Here’s the law by Karlee Van De Venter
When it comes to Washington state law, readers want to know which actions can result in traffic stops or worse. If you don’t keep your car in drivable condition in accordance with the law, you may be fined. This includes the annual task of renewing your vehicle’s tabs.
Top 10 Tri-City Herald stories of the year cover crime, wildlife and Hanford
No. 10: Fishy tale ends with criminal citations for 3 Eastern WA anglers by Tri-City Herald staff
State wildlife officials cited three anglers for unlawful fishing in the Tucannon River after catching them with 50 fish. The river just downstream from Rainbow Lake in Columbia County has a limit on most trout, barring anglers from taking more than two fish per day per person.
No. 9: Did Tri-Cities scientist eat uranium to show radiation was safe? Snopes investigated by Annette Cary
The Herald previously reported on the career of nuclear chemist Galen Winsor, who worked with plutonium at the Hanford Nuclear Site starting in the 1950s.
In 2024, popular fact-checking website Snopes.com featured a video showing Winsor holding a bottle labeled radioactive uranium oxide, pouring some into his hand and swallowing it. Snopes confirmed the video is authentic and that Winsor had unconventional views on radiation safety, but could not verify what he consumed. The Herald’s 2024 coverage of the fact check gained attention in 2025 amid viral curiosity about radioactive material consumption.
No. 8: Update: DOGE to close Hanford, PNNL claims office, 5 other federal leases in Eastern WA by Annette Cary
The federal Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk before he parted ways with President Donald Trump, targeted six federal offices in Eastern Washington. The department aimed to close the Hanford Resource Center in Richland, which administers claims for ill Hanford and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, but left open the nearby Hanford Workforce Engagement Center, which helps workers and their survivors with information and help to file claims. Other planned closures impacted the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Yakama Agency, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s Yakima office, the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Dayton Service Center, the U.S. Forest Service’s ranger station in Pomeroy and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Washington Water Science Center in Spokane Valley.
No. 7: Student with guns, manifesto and Tri-Cities school map charged with attempted murder by Annette Cary
A 14-year-old Kamiakin High School freshman was arrested on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder in September. The student was accused of having a school map color-coded to show target areas, a manifesto and access to guns, according to police.
The school shooting plot was revealed on TikTok and reported to the FBI, who then contacted the Kennewick Police Department. Law enforcement obtained videos of the teenager handling guns and discussing shooting while at the school, according to court documents. The teen pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and handgun possession charges.
No. 6: Angler is paid record $164,000+ for fishing the Columbia and Snake rivers in 2024 by Annette Cary
The Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program pays anglers for catching northern pikeminnow in the Columbia and Snake rivers. In 2025, one angler received a record-winning sum of just over $164,000 for catching more than 16,000 pikeminnow from May to September 2024. The previous record was $119,000 in 2016.
Top Herald stories cover ICE, custom license plates and garbage at Richland home
No. 5: Eastern WA town ‘heartbroken, outraged and disgusted’ by discovery at apartment by Tri-City Herald staff
Two men were arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after police found animal carcasses, dried feces and excessive garbage in a Walla Walla County apartment. The animal abuse investigation began in May after a neighbor reported a foul smell coming from the College Place apartment.
Police discovered two frantic dogs as well as several dead birds in cages and three that were still alive. However, there was no food or water for the animals inside the apartment, according to police reports.
No. 4: Washington turned down 170 custom license plates in 2025. See the rejects by Karlee Van De Venter
From January through September, the Washington State Department of Licensing denied more than 170 requests for personalized license plates. The department issued more 3,000 custom plates in that time. Authorities denied requests for custom plates that featured profanity, sexual innuendo and references to drinking, drugs or crime, as well as the “Hawk Tuah” meme.
No. 3: WA residents using new apps to track ICE agent activity. Are the sightings credible? by Larissa Babiak
Following an increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests across the country, many turned to crowdsourcing sites including People Over Papers and Juntos Seguros to anonymously report ICE activity — including Washington state residents.
People Over Papers cautioned users to “take this information with caution and account for human error.” Some believe the sites’ spreading of unconfirmed information can create unnecessary fear as local immigrant communities prepare for the worst.
No. 2: Mountain of debris engulfs home. Richland calls it an ‘immediate threat’ by Wendy Culverwell
Coverage of a Richland home covered in garbage and debris shot to the top of the Herald’s most popular stories in 2025.
City officials began clearing junker cars, discarded appliances and other debris from the street and sidewalk surrounding the home on Pullen Street in December after a yearlong legal battle with the property owners. They may face criminal charges.
Herald’s most popular story of 2025? Kadlec lawsuits
No. 1: Tri-Cities hospital sued for allegedly ignoring complaints of doctor sexual abuse by Annette Cary
Richland’s Kadlec Regional Medical Center faced two lawsuits in July for not taking reasonable steps to protect patients amid sexual abuse allegations against physician Dr. Mark Mulholland.
The Washington Medical Commission charged the physician with unprofessional conduct after reports of inappropriate behavior and comments toward women at Kadlec’s obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Both lawsuits involved allegations of sexual abuse by Mulholland, who’s not currently practicing at the clinic.
By the end of August, a dozen civil lawsuits had been filed against Kadlec or Mulholland.