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Happy Friday, Tri Cities. In today’s edition: Highway 395 safety meeting, a Christmas bazaar, Handel’s Messiah sing-along, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Third midterm appointment arrives: Michael Clark became Benton County’s sheriff on Nov. 20 after Tom Croskrey’s sudden retirement, pledging stability and technology upgrades like drones. He will serve through November 2026 — read Clark’s plans and timeline.
Leaders demand accountability now: After two fatal crashes in a week, Franklin County commissioners and lawmakers met on Highway 395 safety as residents pressed for lights, overpasses, roundabouts and WSDOT reported no projects — see what’s being proposed.
Budget crossroads in Pasco: Pasco’s city manager warned that rapid growth could outpace revenues, projecting a $12 to $14 million shortfall next biennium amid inflation, infrastructure needs, staffing pressures, and state leave mandates — see what’s driving the shortfall.
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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🫶 We got your back
Safer streets taking shape: West Richland and WSDOT are overhauling key corridors to handle rapid growth: five roundabouts, wider roads, and a multi-use path (12 feet from Antonori to the racetrack, 10-foot sidewalks downtown). The East Ruppert-Belmont phase has reopened. Parts of Van Giesen will close through winter. Next phase targets June 2026 completion, with the overall project finishing in spring 2027. Get all the details.
Delta ecosystem reset ahead: Removal of Richland’s Bateman Island Causeway is set to start Dec. 22, with public access closing Dec. 21. Excavation begins Jan. 5. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $1.2 million contract to Pipkin Inc. The project aims to restore flow at the Yakima-Columbia confluence, aiding salmon and reducing warm, stagnant water problems. See dates and closures.
Hair that actually cooperates: From lived-in color to seamless extensions, Studio One Salon delivers hair that behaves without losing your vibe. If your highlights have drifted from sun-kissed to “mystery stripe,” their color know-how brings everything back to flattering, effortless, you.
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 for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are 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
🎨 Mr. & Mrs. Claus Couple’s Paint & Sip! @ Art YOUR Way | Friday (12/12) at 6:00pm – Trade the dinner rut for a couples paint and sip at Art YOUR WAY, where you and the better half tackle Mr. and Mrs. Claus on companion canvases. Guided, low-pressure fun, snacks and drinks for purchase, $80 per couple. Festive, flirty, no glitter to vacuum.
🎶 Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along @ Shalom United Church of Christ | Friday (12/12) at 6:30pm – Tri-City Music Teachers are hosting a Messiah sing-along, and yes, we’re all doing the Hallelujah Chorus. Dust off your high school choir chops. Sheila Gephart is at the piano, bring a score or borrow one, and a $20 donation supports student scholarships.
This weekend
🎄 Christmas Bazaar #2 @ The Family Resource Center of the Tri-Cities | Saturday (12/13) at 9:00am – Sip something warm, browse festive booths, and cross a whole lot of names off your gift list in one stop. Expect handmade goodies, local makers, and all the cozy small-town holiday vibes. Bring your reusable bags and your best “I totally planned ahead this year” energy.
🧀 Holiday Charcuterie Workshop @ Wild Olive’s Charcuterie Kingdom | Saturday (12/13) at 6:00pm – Whether you’ve mastered the salami rose or still think cheddar cubes count as art, this holiday charcuterie workshop shows you how to build a festive board, drink included. Eat it there, or wrap it up and look wildly prepared at home. Bring a friend.
🎬 Double Feature: Red / Die Hard @ Richland Public Library | Sunday (12/14) at 12:00pm – If you’ve been craving peak Bruce Willis, the Tri-City Cinephiles are screening Red and Die Hard, back to back. Adults only, 18+, so line up a sitter, bring a pair of shoes for the shoe drive, and settle in for quips, explosions, and nostalgia.
💍 Five Golden Rings: A Greeting Card Channel Holiday Musical @ The Richland Players | Sunday (12/14) at 2:00pm – Lean into your guilty pleasure and catch a holiday rom-com musical that winks at every greeting card channel cliché. Expect the big-city exec, the flannel dad with a kid, the maybe Santa, songs, laughs, and small-town sparkle. Come for tropes, stay for the warm fuzzies.
🏒 Tri-City Americans vs. Seattle Thunderbirds @ Toyota Center | Sunday (12/14) at 4:05pm – Americans are dropping the puck against the Thunderbirds, so expect hard checks, louder fans, and the occasional graceful spill. Toyota Center is cashless and clear bag only, so bring plastic, a transparent tote, and your hockey voice. Kids three and up need tickets.
Next week
☕ Recovery Cafe Grand Opening| Tuesday (12/16) at 10:00am – Celebrate a big win for the local recovery community as the Benton Co. Recovery Cafe officially opens its doors. Kick things off with a ribbon cutting, then stick around for hot coffee, powerful recovery testimonials, and a chance to meet the staff.
🎄 3rd Annual Christmas @ The Hub of Kennewick | Tuesday (12/16) at 5:00pm – If your holiday spirit needs a tune-up, the third annual Christmas at the Hub delivers crafts, live music, games, and a fleet of food trucks. Bring the kids, or your inner kid, because Santa’s doing free photos, and the vibe is pure small-town cheer.
🎄 Christmas Barn – Ages 12+ @ Summer’s Hub of Kennewick | Tuesday (12/16) at 6:00pm – Feel like getting festive without glitter in your carpet? Paint a cozy Christmas barn at Summer’s Hub of Kennewick, with supplies, instruction, and aprons included, then grab food truck bites, taps, and local wines. Ages 12+, kids need a painting adult, arrive early.
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: Barbara Raab (HomeSmart Elite Brokers)
Masterpiece Builders’ own on 2.5 flat Badger Canyon acres. Four beds, 4.5 baths, ceilings to 15 feet, real hardwood. Great room with boxed ceiling, gas fireplace, built-ins. Dining sized for a crowd. Den with glass French doors, panel wall, half bath access. Bosch kitchen, big island, butler’s pantry with prep sink and second dishwasher.
Primary suite features a private slider, light filled flex nook, and a spa bath with arched mirrors and dual closets. Chicago brick details, a 20×22 bonus, extra deep 3 car garage, extra parking, nitrate filtration, and room for a pool or shop.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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