We know how much U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings enjoys serving on the House Ethics Committee, the no-win assignment he accepted back in 2005 from then-Speaker Dennis Hastert, the House Republican leader.

He playfully pointed out to this reporter more than a year ago that the assignment ends with this year. Hastings has often remarked that there’s no more difficult job than serving in judgment of one’s colleagues.

But not so fast.

According to Friday’s National Journal Online, it’s looking like the Pa

Ahtanum Pioneer Church is hosting a special Thanksgiving Eve Service Wednesday night.

The worship service takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Child-care will be available for infants to 3-year-olds.

A family-friendly time of fellowship will follow the service at the church, 8500 Ahtanum Road in Yakima. For more information, call the church at 965-0444.

Three legislators from Central Washington today were elected to leadership positions in the state House and Senate Republican caucuses.

In the House, 15th District Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, will serve as whip and 13th District Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, will serve as assistant floor leader for Republicans.

In the Senate, 15th District Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, will serve as deputy floor leader.

  As House Republican whip, Hinkle will serve as sergeant at arms, maintain decoru

Here's a nice intro to the upcoming Thanksgiving wine tasting in our area put together by Loretto J. Hulse, a staff writer with the Tri-City Herald. We thought it would be nice to share this with you:

Don’t fight the shopping crowds the day after Thanksgiving. It’s called Black Friday for a reason. Instead pack up some turkey sandwiches, a couple of wine glasses and a few other goodies and hit the road for a wine tour.

Yakima Valley

Next weekend, Nov. 28-30, wineries in one of Washington’s

WAPATO — Despite rumors of coming violence, a slain teenager’s funeral and burial went off without incident today.

Police from the city of Yakima’s gang enforcement division joined Wapato police and Yakima County sheriff’s deputies in patrolling the area outside St. Peter Claver Catholic Church and later outside the Reservation Community Memorial Park where 16-year-old Ricardo Cabrera was interred.

Cabrera was shot and killed last Wednesday in a drive-by outside his home at 4501 N. Track Road i

Text of Republican John McCain's concession speech Tuesday in Phoenix.
___

MCCAIN: Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.

My friends, we have — we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.

A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him.

Please.

To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.

In a

Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama
Election Night
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
Chicago, Illinois
 
 
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
 
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, m

Speaking of voting, Moxee’s Toby Bradley has made it through the first round of Country Music Television’s “Music City Madness,” a national online talent search now in its third year.

Bradley’s video for his song “Bill Mack Won’t Play My Track” is now among the 32 hopefulls battling it out in a bracketed-style competition. Bradley made it to the top four in last year’s competition.

This second round of voiting is open through Monday, Nov. 10. Go HERE to vote.

-- Posted by Kim Nowacki

Local Republican volunteers got a visit from a couple of heavy hitters this afternoon.

State party Chairman Luke Esser, wearing boxing gloves and entering to the “Rocky” theme, joined U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings at a GOP campaign office in west Yakima for a pugilism-themed pep rally of sorts.

Nearly two dozen campaign volunteers — including 14th District state House candidate Norm Johnson and Yakima County Commission candidate Kevin Bouchey — took a break from working the phones to listen to the vis

Update: We've just heard from David Ammons again, and Starbucks has decided to give all patrons a free tall coffee on Election Day. Ammons' e-mail included this statement from Starbucks' spokeswoman Tara Darrow: "To ensure we are in compliance with election law, we are extending our offer to all customers who request a tall brewed coffee. We're pleased to honor our commitment to communities on this important election day. We hope there is a record turnout on Tuesday and lookforward to celebr