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2 plane crashes, Tri-City junkyard house fire and fatal wrecks. Top June stories

From a new restaurant opening near the HAPO Center to a fatal plane crash in the Columbia River, June brought a mix of business news, fires and tragedy to the Tri-Cities.

Here’s a look at the stories readers followed most closely last month.

Click the links to read the full articles.

Angel and Carmen Peña opened Angel’s Family Restaurant near the HAPO Center, a larger spin-off of their popular Pasco cafe.

Alan’s Eggs Benedict features poached eggs, bacon, avocado over crispy country fried steak topped with Hollandaise at Angel’s Cafe.
Alan’s Eggs Benedict features poached eggs, bacon, avocado over crispy country fried steak topped with Hollandaise at Angel’s Cafe.

A two-alarm fire erupted Thursday afternoon at a notorious Richland ‘junkyard’ house on Pullen Street that has been the subject of an ongoing legal battle with the city.

A two-alarm fire broke out at a notorious “junkyard” house at 2100 Pullen St. in Richland.
A two-alarm fire broke out at a notorious “junkyard” house at 2100 Pullen St. in Richland. Bob Brawdy bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

Pilot Randy J. Peterson, 64, and passenger Eric Wayne Houston, 50, died when their 1949 Cessna struck a power line and crashed into the Columbia River, knocking out power to thousands.

A flotilla of rescue boats surround the submerged floatplane that crashed into the Columbia River as a crane prepares to lift the crumpled aircraft from the water just downstream of the cable bridge.
A flotilla of rescue boats surround the submerged floatplane that crashed into the Columbia River as a crane prepares to lift the crumpled aircraft from the water just downstream of the cable bridge. Bob Brawdy bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

Salvador Camacho Campos, cut from his murdered mother’s womb in 2008, graduated from Chiawana High School after overcoming a learning disability and years of doubt.

Salvador Camacho Campos cradles his diploma walking off the stage at Edgar Brown Stadium. He says he graduated high school for himself, for his family and for his late mother, who he knew was watching over him.
Salvador Camacho Campos cradles his diploma walking off the stage at Edgar Brown Stadium. He says he graduated high school for himself, for his family and for his late mother, who he knew was watching over him. Eric Rosane erosane@tricityherald.com

Two Tri-Cities area doctors have lost their medical licenses, including one accused of misdiagnosing thyroid disease and overprescribing medication, according to the Washington Medical Commission.

The Washington Poison Center had already received 11 rattlesnake bite calls by the beginning of June, with the Tri-Cities area among the state’s highest-risk regions.

A rattlesnake.
A rattlesnake. Courtesy Benton County Sheriff Office

Mocha Express is closing its Kennewick drive-thru at 1400 W. 27th Ave. after eight years at the busy intersection, though two other locations will remain open.

The Mocha Express, located at 1400 W 27th Ave., has closed.
The Mocha Express, located at 1400 W 27th Ave., has closed. Emma Zawacki emma.zawacki@tricityherald.com

Kiona-Benton City High School student Harlan Kelso, 16, was killed on the last day of school when a pickup he was riding in flipped down a hillside south of Benton City.

Harlan Kelso is pictured here riding on an ATV with his sister. The teen loved riding on trails, his parents said.
Harlan Kelso is pictured here riding on an ATV with his sister. The teen loved riding on trails, his parents said. Courtesy Keith and Nickie Kelso

Joseph “Joe” McNeil, 23, of Kennewick died after his motorcycle crashed on Hildebrand Boulevard, hitting a curb near a fire hydrant.

A memorial has been placed to honor motorcycle driver Joeseph “Joe” McNeil, 23, who died in a single-vehicle crash on West Hildebrand Boulevard near South Penn Street in south Kennewick. It includes flowers, a small box of broken motorcycle pieces and two empty beverage cans.
A memorial has been placed to honor motorcycle driver Joeseph “Joe” McNeil, 23, who died in a single-vehicle crash on West Hildebrand Boulevard near South Penn Street in south Kennewick. It includes flowers, a small box of broken motorcycle pieces and two empty beverage cans. Bob Brawdy bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

A Cessna 140 flipped on its roof and skidded down the runway at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, though the pilot and passenger escaped safely.

Pasco Fire Department vehicles respond to a plane emergency on a runway at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco
Pasco Fire Department vehicles respond to a plane emergency on a runway at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco Special to the Herald

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.

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