Walla Walla / Milton-Freewater

Legislature new cell phone law more strict

the washington legislature is sending a message to drivers, focus on the road not your phone. a bill headed to the governor’s desk will make it a primary offense to be holding a cell phone to your ear while your DRIVING, or read, write, or send a text message.

this will replace the secondary offense law already in place. if a driver is cited, the infraction will not appear on their driving record. the cost of the ticket? $124-dollars.

Governor calls for OT in the legislature

governor christine gregoire called for a special rolling session of the washington state legislature last night.

senate majority leader mike hewitt of walla walla says he was visited by the governor on thursday morning about the session and the impacts. the senate and house have both a revenue and budget package to agree on before the vote goes to the entire legislature. each day of the special session cost taxpayers $18,000 dollars

College rodeo rides again for child abuse

for the 28^th-year the walla walla community college rodeo will bring attention and money to the fight against child abuse. dick cook with the rodeo says there is still work to be done.

the riding against child abuse rodeo has raised over $300,000-dollars and will put on 4 performances 7:30 on Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 Saturday, and 1:30 on Sunday. They also hold a cowboy breakfast and kids instructional rodeo on saturday morning. all the activities take place at the Walla walla fairgrounds.

March Madness is heavy snow in the cascades

if your headed to western washington be prepared for delays and heavy snow. avalance warnings have been issued for the cascade mountain range including along i-90 over snoqualmie pass.the most recent storm system dumped over a foot of new snow on thursday and saw snow again overnight and caused multiple spin out and accidents.

UW study says 6% of drivers on the phone

a university of washington study found that one in every 16 drivers in seattle is using a handheld mobile phone and during rush hours it is one in 13. each observed driver had one hand on the wheel and the other hand on their mobile divice.

the study observed over 39,000 motorist during a 16-day period in february.