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Happy Friday, Tri Cities. In today’s edition: Cheaper gas across the Northwest, a Christmas market, Handel’s Messiah, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Cheaper fill-ups across Northwest: AAA data shows gas prices down. Washington averages $4.15, Spokane around $3.75, Tri-Cities near $3.70, Idaho at $3.21, and Coeur d’Alene below $3, matching the $2.99 national average — get the regional breakdown.
Philanthropy powers rescue readiness: The Dickey Foundation awarded an $8,200 grant to Richland Fire Department for high-power saws and Priya diamond blades, enhancing rescue, extrication, and structural emergency response across the Tri-Cities — see what the grant funded.
Rural highway risks escalate: Washington State Patrol urges caution on Highway 395 north of Pasco, where 10 deaths in five years and four dangerous intersections have spurred calls for patrols and safety upgrades — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.
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Drink good, do good this December
In partnership with Solar Spirits
Your happy hour just became a lot more meaningful.
Solar Spirits is teaming up with Mikey’s Chance Canine Rescue for a special fundraiser on December 11th and 12th. Stop by their Richland tasting room any time from 3pm to close, and 20% of everything you order goes directly to helping rescue dogs find their forever homes.
It’s the perfect excuse to take a break during the busy holiday season while doing something that truly matters. Whether you’re there for the award-winning spirits, the craft cocktails and delicious apps, or just a chance to support a great cause, you’re making a difference.
Mark your calendar, round up a friend, and stop in to help local pups get a second chance.
P.S. Their coffee vodka makes an excellent holiday gift if you’re looking to check someone off your list while you’re there.
Check out their menu and plan your visit now.
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🫶 We got your back
Quality meets quantity: Westside Pizza is now open in Richland at 1759 George Washington Way, serving generous-topping pies like the Westside, Buckin’ Buffalo, and Death By Pizza, plus calzones, pastas, and wings. Locally owned by Sherrie and Alex Zollinger, it offers dine-in, takeout, delivery, and online ordering. Come hungry. Get all the details.
Traffic shifts in West Richland: Good news, bad news for West Richland drivers. The Ruppert Rd/Belmont Blvd and SR 224 intersection reopens Dec. 8 with fresh paving, striping, and roundabout sidewalks. The same day, the Paradise Blvd intersection closes. SR 224 will be closed to thru traffic between Keene Road and Belmont Blvd, with local access and detours via Belmont. See closures and detours.
Weeknight beer made easy: All-ages, dog-friendly Kennewick taproom pouring 13 taps of beer, hard seltzer, and a guest cider or wine. At Moonshot Brewing, grab a pint, let the kids explore the corner, and pick up eats from rotating food trucks or bring your own. Crowlers and barrel-aged bottles are ready for the ride home.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.
Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🛍️ Christmas Market @ Gallery at the Park | Friday (12/5) at 6:00pm – Swing by the Gallery’s annual Christmas market, where the hot chocolate is free, the carols come with actual musicians, and the kids get crafts that won’t glitter-bomb your house. Wander the holiday gift show for handmade decor, thoughtful gifts, and cheer.
🎼 Handel’s Messiah @ The Uptown Theatre | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – Holiday season calls for the real Hallelujah, not the mall speakers, so head to historic Uptown Theatre for Handel’s Messiah. Mid-Columbia Opera opens its inaugural season with chamber orchestra, elegant staging, and a 14-voice chorus. Dress up, sit back, and earn Tri-Cities bragging rights.
This weekend
❄️ Grace Hollow Winter Market 2025| Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Whether you actually need gifts or just want to wander with a cider, this winter market rounds up favorite local vendors, plus some new finds. Knock out the list without mall madness, support small, and leave feeling suspiciously cheerful, pockets lighter, spirits higher.
🕊️ Pasco Annual Tree of Remembrance Ceremony @ Einan’s at Hillcrest | Saturday (12/6) at 2:00pm – Swing by the Tree of Remembrance, a thoughtful pause in the holiday sprint. Make a seed-filled ornament to keep or hang, share a quiet moment with neighbors, and honor your person, whichever Tri-Cities location feels right.
🍀 Everdream Presents “A Celtic Christmas” @ Kennewick First Presbyterian Church | Saturday (12/6) at 7:00pm – Skip the tinny Jingle Bells and treat yourself to a Celtic Christmas of storytelling, lush arrangements, and unmistakable Irish charm. New songs, breathtaking instrumentals, and stunning images of Ireland set the mood, while the trio’s playful banter keeps it intimate, joyful, and family friendly.
🐱 Barnes and Nobel & Mighty Meow Adoption Event @ Barnes & Noble Booksellers | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – If your book stack needs a supervisor with whiskers, swing by Barnes & Noble in Kennewick for a kitten adoption with Mighty Meow. Meet purring pros, learn about fostering, then finish your holiday shopping with coffee, paperbacks, and cat hair for authenticity.
🍬 Sugar & Spice Holiday Market @ Frost Me Sweet Bakery & Bistro | Sunday (12/7) at 1:00pm – Holiday shopping at Frost Me Sweet means treating yourself while you pretend it is for others. Their annual Sugar & Spice Market is loaded with local artisans, crafty gifts, and tasty bites, plus cocktails or hot cocoa. Skip the big-box chaos, find something actually thoughtful.
🎨 Sip and Paint ‘Christmas Highland’ @ Azucar at Out and About | Sunday (12/7) at 5:30pm – If your holiday spirit needs a tune-up, swap the cookie exchange for a sip and paint where you’ll craft a Christmas Highland cow, sip something festive, and laugh more than you should. It’s relaxed, sassy, and tickets vanish quicker than parking at the mall.
Next week
🐦 LCBAS Lecture: Historical Changes in Bird Populations in the Lower Columbia Basin @ Richland Public Library | Tuesday (12/9) at 6:00pm – Trade the yardwork for Bill and Nancy LaFramboise decoding decades of bird gossip in the Lower Columbia Basin. With receipts from field notes and eBird, they reveal how farms, fires, and river tinkering reshaped skies, from nuthatches and chickadees to pelicans, and what comes next.
🥃 Living Curiously: Holiday Spirits Unwrapped @ Kennewick Branch – Mid-Columbia Libraries | Tuesday (12/9) at 6:00pm – Holiday Spirits Unwrapped is shaking things up with a lecture-style dive into spirit types, mixology, and flavor chemistry, led by WSU Tri-Cities enology prof Tom Collins, Ph.D. Think less boozy free-for-all, more smart sips, note-taking, and pleasantly nerdy cheer.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
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🏠️ Price is right – Tri Cities edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Jordan Barnhill (Century 21-Tri-Cities)
Single-level 2022 build framing Columbia River views with 3,119 square feet, 5 beds, 3 baths, and an open living hub. Soft-close oak cabinets, quartz, full tile splash, and an oversized pantry keep the kitchen dialed. A stacked stone fireplace warms things up, while the dining area slides out to landscaped tiers for fun.
An integrated ADU adds a kitchenette, laundry, bed, bath, and its own HVAC for quiet privacy. A 2,126 square foot insulated, multi-bay garage offers room for rigs, a workshop, or a gym. Spa-style primary suite, block-wall fencing, and a flexible yard, all with Columbia River panoramas.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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