We wrote, you clicked. The most-read articles published in the Tri-City Herald from 2023
In 2023, a lot happened in the Tri-Cities area. The region made national news multiple times, for various reasons. From local protests to politicians, from local education to entertainment, Tri-Citians spoke their minds this year, required accountability and demanded action.
Some of this year’s biggest moments included the Easter drag show at The Emerald of Siam and the involvement of local politicians in protests, a controversy at Desert Hills Middle School, the recall of three Richland School Board members, and Afroman headlining an inaugural music festival at the Uptown Shopping Center.
With 2023 coming to a close, we looked at readers’ favorite articles the Tri-City Herald published this year. Here is a synopsis of the 15 articles with the most clicks from this year.
Herald’s top articles in 2023
▪ Dream vacation lands Washington veteran in an overseas hospital with bills mounting - Annette Cary - 15
A 75-year-old Pasco man suffering from life-threatening pneumonia while on his dream vacation exhausted his insurance benefits, leaving him fighting for his life while racking up medical debt. Between his citizenship and veterans statuses, plus the travelers insurance, payment matters became complicated quickly. His family, with him in the United Kingdom for the trip, has raised more than $42,000 for the man on GoFundMe. He was able to return several weeks after he was scheduled to come back home, in early November.
▪ Eastern WA firm calls $850K fine ‘outrageous.’ Federal judge says community was at risk - Annette Cary - 14
A small, family-owned company in Othello received a $850K fine for noncompliance with the Clean Air Act requirements regarding its trimethylamine storage. Little toxicological information is available for the chemical, but it is highly flammable and corrosive to eyes, skin and the respiratory tract. The company appealed the fine, and planned to ask for a smaller fine if unsuccessful.
▪ Tri-Cities landscaping company hid ‘staggering’ sales of fentanyl and meth hauled from Arizona - Annette Cary - 13
A 38-year-old man in Richland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute substantial quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, landing him more than 12 years in federal prison. The man, among others, used a local landscaping company to hide the organized crime – and store weapons.
▪ Nearly 250K people moved to WA state last year. Which states did new residents come from? - Karlee Van De Venter - 12
Census Bureau data shows how many people moved between states in 2022, and where they came from. Nearly 50,000 people moved to Washington from California alone, and nearly 58,000 came from foreign countries. Florida saw the most growth from out of the state, with nearly 740K new residents.
▪ These are the wealthiest – and poorest – counties in WA. See where your county ranks - Karlee Van De Venter - 11
Census Bureau data shows the average income of any given county. When comparing the average income, poverty rate, investment income and median home value, a ranking of the wealthiest and poorest counties in the state was determined. The two poorest counties in the state have median incomes under $55,000, and both sit on the state’s southeast corner. Conversely, the media income for the entire state is $82,400, and King County’s is $106,326.
▪ Restaurant closed for cockroaches. Tri-Cities area restaurants fail food safety inspections - Annette Cary - 10
Senior staff writer Annette Cary covers health, including inspections out of the Benton Franklin Health District, regularly reporting which restaurants pass and which fail. The first of 2023 has remained the most-read for the year, with five failures. The most shocking failure belonged to a Prosser restaurant who was found to have breeding cockroaches in the building, but the restaurant passed its follow-up inspection.
▪ Rare animal dashes across road, then returns with precious cargo, Texas photos show - Mitchell Willetts - 9
The only non-local story to rank as a most-read story in the Herald during 2023 was about an ocelot recorded on a road in the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Experts believe there are between 50 and 80 ocelots left in the country. A couple was visiting the wildlife refuge when they noticed the ocelot – then watched it return for its kitten, hiding in the greenery, to aid it across the street.
▪ Can I legally park in front of someone else’s house in Washington? What the law says - Karlee Van De Venter - 8
While it may be a nuisance, in most cases, people can park in front of your property. Parking on private property is a different story, but in a standard residential area, city streets are free game for public parking (within reason). Washington does have a handful of restrictions on where you’re allowed to park, so be sure you’re far enough from the end of a driveway or crosswalk.
▪ This tiny WA town has an annual town-wide flea market. It’s right next to a scenic lookout - Karlee Van De Venter - 7
If you’re getting a bit bored of your hometown thrift scene, make sure to visit the next Packwood Flea Market, one of the largest flea markets in the western U.S. The unincorporated community is a census-designated area along US 12, with small mountain town vibes and common elk sightings. It’s near a scenic viewpoint, showing the rock formations suddenly cut off as a result of volcanic formations.
▪ 4-year-old girl dies after choking on food at Costco in Tri-Cities - Wendy Culverwell - 6
A 4-year-old girl died in the food court at the Tri-Cities Costco, just shy of her fifth birthday. By the time medics were on scene, they were able to dislodge the food piece, but couldn’t revive the child. The tragedy led to a short closing of the area’s only Costco.
▪ Marijuana strain types. Experts weigh in on the differences between indica and sativa - Karlee Van De Venter - 5
What is the actual difference between indica, sativa and hybrid strains of cannabis? The common rhetoric of differences between the plants themselves and their effects on those who smoke them are highly disputed between different branches of science. Studies on these differences have yielded varied results. While some studies show less obvious molecular patterns than expected, other studies have looked into possible explanations for discrepancies.
▪ Washington town crowned the ‘coziest winter destination’ in America. Here’s why it’s magic - Karlee Van De Venter - 4
Named the top winter destination in the country, Leavenworth has been a staple for Washingtonians for some time. The Bavarian-inspired tourist town looks straight out of a Christmas movie, with an authentic aesthetic and food options. Fans of winter recreation can hit the town’s scenic background for skiing and other winter fun. You can also buy unique trinkets or take part in the Christmastown festival.
▪ This small WA city’s unexplained phenomenon, Gravity Hill, has stumped experts for decades - Karlee Van De Venter - 3
If you know just where to go in Prosser, you can find Gravity Hill, a phenomenon found in other places around the world with unconfirmed explanations. When at the bottom of the hill, put your car into neutral and watch as your car inexplicably rolls up the hill, all on its own. Many theories have been posited, but none have been proven as definitive reasoning as to why this occurs.
▪ This WA state highway is one of the most feared routes in the U.S., according to new study - Karlee Van De Venter - 2
A survey of thousands of road-trippers across the country labeled the most-feared routes across the nation. The North Cascades Highway, or State Route 20, made it to the list. While a beautiful drive, the highway includes Washington Pass, which comes with a large avalanche risk. It is closed over winter most years.
▪ Highly radioactive spill near Columbia River in E. Washington worse than expected - Annette Cary - 1
The Herald’s most read story of the year was also by Annette Cary, a senior staff writer who has covered the Hanford site for decades, along with other environment, energy and health stories. The Department of Energy updated that a new cleanup plan is in the works for a spill discovered 13 years ago, after it was found to be more severe than originally believed. The soil beneath one of the building’s on the Hanford site needs to be removed for radioactivity, as direct contact would prove lethal within minutes.
