Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
The Hermiston Herald · Hermiston, OR
Nearby: Hermiston, ORHERMISTON — The Greater Hermiston Community Foundation has awarded $20,000 in grants through the Wilcox Family Fund to four local nonprofit organizations that support youth and families in the Greater Hermiston area. The grants will provide essential supplies for families in need, expand access to youth sports and activities, and support mentoring programs that build confidence and life skills. The 2026 Wilcox Family Fund grant recipients include: • Hermiston Campus Life: Implementing the Safe Spaces, Strong Mentors, Brighter Futures program, which provides at-risk middle and high school students with a safe environment, positive adult mentors, academic support, meals and leadership training. • Sweet Potato’s Closet: Purchasing everyday essentials including clothing, diapers, and toiletries for children and families in need, with a focus on foster families and at-risk youth.
The Hermiston Herald · Hermiston, OR
Nearby: Hermiston, ORHERMISTON — Hermiston is about to get a new transportation system plan The city council at its meeting Monday, Nov. 9, unanimously approved the plan. The new TSP will take effect 30 days after passage. The city adopted the plan in 1997 and has updated it four since. “Because of the growth in Hermiston since 1997, which is close to 30 years now, we’ve deemed that the existing TSP is no longer relevant to our growth projections,” City Planner Clint Spencer said. Accommodating 20 years of growth Spencer said the new 74-page TSP is designed to handle the next 20 years of growth in Hermiston. The city worked with consulting firm Kittelson & Associates to develop the new plan. Nick Foster, principal planner for the firm, went over the types of projects within the new TSP. Foster said the largest section of the plan deals with road and intersection projects. The goal of the projects is to prioritize activity centers and regional impacts.
Capital Press · Umatilla, OR
Nearby: Umatilla, OREAGLE, Idaho — Potato processor Lamb Weston said in a regulatory filing that it entered a settlement agreement with plaintiffs in a 2024 case involving groundwater quality in Eastern Oregon’s Lower Umatilla River Basin. Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. in the Nov. 12 Form 8-K filing said it will pay $25 million into a settlement fund. The settlement “does not include any admission of liability or wrongdoing, and Lamb Weston continues to dispute the claims in this matter,” according to the filing. Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. subsidiary Lamb Weston Inc. and several other defendants were named in class action private plaintiffs filed in Oregon U.S. District Court. Plaintiffs alleged defendants’ business operations contributed to excessive nitrate levels in Lower Umatilla River Basin groundwater. The Nov. 11 settlement “does not include any admission of liability or wrongdoing, and Lamb Weston continues to dispute the claims in this matter,” according to the 8-K.
The Hermiston Herald · Umatilla, OR
Nearby: Umatilla, ORUMATILLA — The city of Umatilla will hold three open houses between November and February to get public input on two community projects. The open house meetings will focus on the renaming of McNary Tennis Court Park and a future recreation and wellness facility. The meetings are Nov. 18, Dec. 16 and Jan. 13 at the Umatilla Business Center, 820 Sixth St. Each meeting is 6-7 p.m. During the discussion of the recreation and wellness facility, attendees will have the opportunity to share ideas for indoor recreational activities, fitness and wellness programs, youth and senior activities and other amenities that would benefit the community. The city also will seek residents’ input on ideas for renaming McNary Tennis Court Park. In October, the city announced it had received a $30,000 grant from the Wildhorse Foundation to convert the aging tennis courts into pickleball courts.
