This month, Whitman College’s first two Šináata Scholars will graduate.
The full-ride scholarship is part of the college’s effort to acknowledge its history and improve its relationship with local Native American tribes.
For the inaugural scholars — Aiden Wolf and Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky — the Šináata meant they didn’t have to worry about debt and could focus on their studies. It also meant they could help build bridges between the college and their culture.
Wolf is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Pasena-Littlesky is a community member of the CTUIR and an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.
The scholarship has continued to grow: The 2025-2026 academic year saw six new scholars.
Story by Erick Bengel
Read the full story at the link in our bio.
#whitmancollege #graduation #indigenous #wallawalla #nwpb
For years, the Yakama Nation has fought to protect a sacred area in southcentral Washington from further development. They say a proposed energy storage project will destroy this area, known as Pushpum, or “mother of all roots.” Pushpum is home to a seed bank for traditional medicines and roots. It's also an incredibly sacred area for the tribe.
People gathered at Pushpum, near the site of the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage Project. Lawmakers and some energy advocates say the project is needed now more than ever, as the Northwest transitions to more carbon-free energy sources.
The Yakama Nation says: Just don't build it here.
Story & photos: Courtney Flatt
#pushpum #yakamanation #renewableenergy #pumpstorage #nwpb
NWPB and Daniel Tiger welcomed more than 500 people to America's Great Big 250th Birthday Party at the WSU Tri-Cities campus May 2!
Together, we enjoyed fun STEAM activities, games and face painting! Thanks to our volunteers, partners and special guests who helped make the day extra special @pasco_wsoccer@read20minutes@teamesd123@vividimaginationsfacepainting@midcolumbialibraries
#nwpb #pbskids #danieltigersneighborhood #america250
Pioneer Park in Walla Walla has had a goose problem for the last few years.
The waterfowl have increased in numbers and become a nuisance — grazing on the turf, leaving droppings that contaminate the park's grounds and waters, and frightening young children.
Enter Ruthie, a 2-year-old Border collie whose job is to chase away the geese without hurting them. The city bought the service dog and, in late March, put her to work.
Ruthie lives with her volunteer handler, Colby Kuschatka, and his family. Kuschatka and his family learned how to give Ruthie commands and clear the geese from the park. The city covers the dog’s food and veterinary care.
Since Ruthie became a park regular, the city has seen the goose population plummet.
Story and photos by Erick Bengel
Read the full story at the link in our bio.
#wallawalla #dogs #pioneerpark #geese #nwpb
For years, McCoy Oatman kept a pair of pants in his closet that he never wore. Oatman had yo-yo dieted for years, he said. He developed prediabetes, and at his heaviest, his size started to make daily life difficult.
“I have three daughters, so being active there in dance and karate, and being able to be part of that with them — even like, tying their shoes,” he said. “At my biggest, just trying to tie my shoes, (I would) get outta breath.”
But last year, Oatman became one of the first participants in a diabetes management pilot program at the Nez Perce Tribe’s Nimiipuu Health clinic.
The program offered comprehensive support: cooking classes, medication management and exercise classes — plus access to behavioral health support and wellness education. Months later, when Lapwai hosted a 5K, he was there — about 80 pounds lighter.
Read the full story at the link in bio. This story is part of NWPB's efforts to report not just on problems, but on how our communities are seeking solutions.
#nezperce #diabetes #healthcare #solutionsjournalism #Nimiipuuhealth
On top of McBee Grade — rising up outside of the Tri-Cities — clumps of wildflowers sprinkle the landscape.
It’s like the sun’s been playing kissy-face with the ridges. Recently, Northwest Public Broadcasting’s Senior Correspondent Anna King rolled up that steep gravel road with a regional wildflower expert.
Story by Anna King
Read and listen to the full story at the link in our bio.
#tricities #nature #wildflowers #spring
In the past, there have been questions about where Northwest monarch butterflies go during their migration journey.
But now, a new, solar-powered tracking device — affixed to butterflies’ bodies with eyelash glue — is helping record their travels. A project, called Adopt a Monarch, is trying to track Northwest butterflies with these electronic tags.
“Now, because we can check them daily, or hourly in some instances, we know what they're doing all the time,” said David James, a Prosser-based entomologist with the Adopt a Monarch project. He’s tagged monarchs across Australia and the United States since 1976. “You know it’s opened up a whole new window into their migratory behavior from point A to point B.”
Story: Anna King
Photos: Nic Coury / AP, Anna King and David James
Read and listen to the full story at the link in our bio.
#adoptamonarch #nwpb #northwestnews #monarchbutterfly
Join Daniel Tiger and your friends from Northwest Public Broadcasting as we celebrate America's 250th great big birthday! Together children and families can participate in fun STEAM activities designed especially for children ages 2 to 8.
Meet and take your picture with Daniel Tiger! Take home a free book and Explore Together as we celebrate our shared American story.
Saturday, May 2, 2026
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
WSU Tri-Cities Campus
Floyd Building Atrium
2710 Crimson Way, Richland, WA
FREE
RSVP's encouraged. Visit the link in our bio.
Special thanks to our volunteers, partners and special guests: The Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, @pasco_wsoccer , ESD123 and @midcolumbialibraries . Enjoy face painting and balloon animals by @vividimaginationsfacepainting ! Treats by Viera's Bakery, while supplies last. ---
¡Únase a Daniel Tiger y a sus amigos de Northwest Public Broadcasting para celebrar el gran cumpleaños número 250 de Estados Unidos! Los niños y sus familias podrán participar juntos en divertidas actividades STEAM diseñadas especialmente para niños de 2 a 8 años.
Vengan a conocer a Daniel Tiger y tómese una foto con él! Llévese a casa un libro gratis y exploren con nosotros mientras celebramos nuestra historia estadounidense compartida.
Sábado, 2 de mayo de 2026
De 9:00 a. m. a 1:00 p. m.
Campus de WSU Tri-Cities Atrio del edificio Floyd
2710 Crimson Way, Richland, WA 99354
GRATIS
Te invitamos a confirmar tu asistencia en el enlace de nuestra biografía.
Un agradecimiento especial a nuestros voluntarios, socios e invitados especiales: The Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, el programa de fútbol de la Pasco High, el ESD123 y Mid-Columbia Libraries. ¡Disfruta de la pintura facial y los globos con forma de animales de Vivid Imaginations! Habrá galletas de Viera's Bakery hasta agotar existencias.
#PBSKids #nwpb #DanielTigersNeighborhood
Tacoma is seeking to improve connections across the city with repairs to sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and other improvements to arterials. City leaders are asking voters to support this with their tax dollars.
Kurtis Kingsolver is the city’s interim public works director. The city hopes to raise $320 million over 10 years for the projects. About $200 million of that would come from the levy. Kingsolver said $90 million will come from grants and $30 million from partnerships.
The city council approved a ballot measure that will ask Tacoma residents to vote on the tax. Voters will decide on the measure in August. This would include a 1.5% gross earnings tax on utilities, and a property tax of 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The proposed tax would expire after a decade.
Story by Lauren Gallup
Read and listen to the full story at the link in our bio.
#localnews #tacoma #transportation #localgov
@anacabreranews is an award-winning journalist and alumna of the @murrowcollege at WSU. She visited campus recently to receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Murrow Symposium’s 50th anniversary celebration.
NWPB's Rachel Sun sat down with her for an interview covering Cabrera's journey from the Murrow College to the national anchor chair at both CNN and MS NOW.
They spoke about her career in journalism, perspective on changes in the industry, and the stories that have meant the most to her.
Visit our YouTube page or click the link in bio to see the full interview.
#nwpb #murrowcollege #murrowsymposium50
NWPB is proud to be part of the WSU community! This #CougsGive Day, donors can give to this station as part of a one-day event dedicated to expanding, sharing and celebrating the impact of donor support at WSU.
As a service of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, NWPB is here to inform, enlighten and engage our community.
Gifts to any NWPB fund will count today, and we're spotlighting:
📻 Public Radio Membership Fund: Support public radio at WSU
📺 Public Television Membership Fund: Support public television at WSU
🌱 Joseph Ezra Roop Fund for Rural Journalism: Support local and regional news gathering from, and dissemination to, rural communities served by NWPB
🎵 Donald and Marianna Merritt Matteson Public Radio Music Fund: Support the production, broadcast and distribution of music programming, with preference given to classical music and maintaining the station's music library
You can donate at the link in our bio, by visiting nwpb.org/donate or by calling 509-335-6686. Thank you, and go Cougs!
#CougsGive #nwpb #ILovePublicMedia
