Walla Walla County News

Capt. Bill Waters of Walla Walla County Fire District 5 talks with a Walla Walla County Sheriff’s deputy and an unidentified man at the scene of Wednesday morning’s helicopter crash near Burbank.

Emergency personnel respond to a helicopter crash near Burbank. The pilot, who was spraying an apple orchard, escaped injury.

Firefighters were called Monday to battle flames at the Loyalty Inn 1801 W. Lewis St.

Firefighters from each of the Tri-Cities, Benton County and Walla Walla County are battling fire and smoke at the Loyalty Inn in Pasco.

A $1 million gift to Western Washington University has kicked off a fundraising drive to build a new al-weather turf soccer field on campus.

A man who was convicted of molesting a child in Walla Walla County in 1995 and who has been held nearly two years at the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island will be released Friday.

Family and friends of the late Ceasar Chavira, who was killed during a burglary at the New York Store May 4, gathered for a second protest march against the actions of store owner John Saul, who shot Chavira.

A man who molested a child in Walla Walla County in 1995 and who has been civilly detained for nearly two years as a suspected sexually violent predator will be released Friday from the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island.

A historically deadly stretch of Highway 12 through Burbank will become safer today when the new Humorist Road overpass opens and the final traffic signal is removed.

A Thurston County sheriff's deputy arrested a 30-year-old Lacey man on suspicion of driving under the influence and eluding a police vehicle on state Route 507 in McKenna after a chase that reached speeds of up to 86 mph, court papers state.

Officers outnumber supporters 5-4 at Saturday’s demonstration against gangs, which was originally supposed to be a show of support for New York Store owner John Saul.

Emotions are running high in an otherwise quiet town. A botched robbery at the New York Store on May 4 has pitted neighbor against neighbor.

Some people in Walla Walla say the city is divided about a shooting that left a burglar dead.

Washington State University will be testing a mesh barrier in Walla Walla County this June in hopes of reducing the number of valuable bees being killed by highway traffic.

A jury in Tacoma, Wash., is expected to begin deliberating Tuesday after closing arguments in the voyeurism trial of Steve Powell, the father-in-law of Susan Powell who disappeared nearly three years ago in Utah.

A Washington State University researcher will be testing a bee fence as a way to protect the pollinators when they make a beeline for alfalfa fields in Walla Walla County.

Brass knuckles and a loaded semi-automatic gun were found in the trunk of a car searched by Walla Walla police gang detectives, authorities said.

Dispatchers at the 911 emergency dispatch center had a front row seat early Wednesday morning when they were able to witness a burglary taking place across the street at Singer's Chevron, 7 E. Rose.

A makeshift memorial is growing across the street from the New York Store where a suspected burglar was shot to the death by the store owner.

Walla Walla County commissioners Monday agreed to freeze their own pay through 2016, but said they will look at other elected official's salaries next year with an eye towards raising them if the economy improves.