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The National Safety Council, which contends that the use of even hands-free electronics is distracting to drivers, is sponsoring a video contest as part of its observance of Distracted Driving Awareness Month during April. Contest winners could win monetary prizes of up to $2,000. The theme of the campaign is…

The Toppenish School District will be paying $6.9 million to the family of a child who was severely and permanently injured when she fell through bleachers in 2007. The record settlement was reached in October after a 10-hour mediation session and was approved by the Yakima County Superior Court in…

Just as the movement to legalize marijuana appears to have gained ground, a new study shows that fatal car crashes involving the use of marijuana have tripled. Researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health gathered data over a 10-year period, from 1999 to 2010, from six states —…

As the population grows older, issues surrounding care of the elderly have become more prevalent. Many experts worry, for example, about the extent to which nursing home patients are prescribed antipsychotic drugs. Recent studies show that as many as one in four nursing home patients are prescribed an antipsychotic drug….

Concerns about nursing home abuse and the safety of residents in nursing homes have led some states to allow cameras to be placed in nursing home rooms. Oklahoma recently became the third state to explicitly allow video surveillance in nursing home patients’ rooms. Although a relative has always had the…

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently warned consumers about the dangers of portable generators, particularly in enclosed spaces. According to the commission, portable generators caused 800 carbon monoxide deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2012, with most occurring since 2005. Although most of us have heard that carbon…

Law enforcement officials say that increased patrols over the past year have led to fewer accidents in Yakima County, KIMA-TV reports. Yakima County had almost 80 fewer collisions in 2013 than in 2012. Even more important, the number of fatal accidents also decreased during 2013, according to law enforcement officials….

With Christmas and the New Year right around the corner, millions of Americans are planning visits with friends and family. The vast majority of holiday travelers go by passenger vehicle or bus. Last year more than 90 million people hit the roadways during the holiday season, and most traveled 50…

Local televisions station KCTS recently aired “Latinos: The Changing Face of Washington,” an in-depth documentary chronicling the history of Latinos in the State of Washington. SeattlePI.com columnist Joel Connelly wrote about the documentary, which was produced and narrated by Enrique Cerna, a descendant of the first wave of Hispanics to…

If you live in or visit Yakima, Washington, you are undoubtedly aware of the proliferation of billboards and digital signs around the city. Yakima itself welcomes visitors with a sign visible from Interstate 82 declaring the city as the “Palm Springs of Washington.” Many cities impose restrictions on billboards and…