Parades, concerts, family activities and fireworks are planned from The Dalles to Cascade Locks as communities celebrate Independence Day.

Fire officials downgraded evacuation orders for part of Lyle on Monday after firefighters made progress on the Lyle Hill Fire, though Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations remain in effect for much of the fire area.

The Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, a program of the Columbia Gorge Education Service District, has completed the Little Free Library Project, a collaborative initiative designed to increase book access in underserved and rural areas while empowering local students with real-world engineering and trade skills.

A fast-moving wildfire near Lyle, Washington, prompted Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation notices Sunday afternoon as strong winds pushed flames toward the community and fire crews rushed to protect homes and critical infrastructure.

A rapidly growing brush fire climbed the Maryhill Grade Friday morning, prompting a multi-agency response as crews worked to protect structures and contain the blaze.

Cherry harvest is humming across the Columbia Gorge, but growers say busy packing houses and premium retail prices mask a troubling reality: many farms still struggle to cover rising production costs.

Klickitat Valley Health welcomed 89 local kindergarten and first-grade students from Wishram, Klickitat, Centerville and Goldendale elementary schools on Wednesday, June 3.

Hundreds of seniors across the Columbia Gorge will walk across commencement stages this week as schools in The Dalles, Hood River, White Salmon and Goldendale celebrate the Class of 2026 and prepare to close out the academic year for summer break.

Statewide fire restrictions remain in effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Oregon and Washington, and many local regions have additional restrictions in place.

The winner of a Costa Rican adventure was drawn in a nonprofit raffle as the White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club Foundation awarded a five-night stay at the Vista Ballena Hotel in Costa Rica, plus $1,500 toward airfare and transportation to Brian Heimbigner of Vancouver.

Travel Alert Update: State Route 141 is still closed between Alt SR 141 and Bald Mountain Corners, but it re-opens at noon this Friday, May 22, and will stay open through the long holiday weekend.

Authorities closed The Dalles Bridge for about four hours on Monday after a man climbed over the railing and threatened to jump before officers pulled him to safety.

On May 14, 2026, a search warrant was executed at a single-family residence within the city limits of Goldendale, Washington.

Gorge Farmer Collective (GFC), a farmer-owned cooperative connecting Columbia River Gorge residents directly with regional farms, is expanding its service area this spring with new delivery zones and a Mt. Hood pickup location, making fresh, local food more accessible to households across the region.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the remains of Kenneth Martin, Barbara Martin, and Barbie Martin following DNA analysis by Othram, Inc. of remains located in the Columbia River within the wreckage of the Martin family car. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigation, having found no evidence of a crime.

Reducing dependence on public assistance is a primary goal of many of the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority programs. The agency supports low-income Gorge individuals and families in affording reliable, safe housing through federal and state funding, and rental assistance is supplemented by the Bridges to Health Pathways and Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) teams, which help them become independent.

In April, The Dalles crowns King Bing and Queen Ann. Most people understand the king. Bing still fills grocery shelves across America. Deep red. Firm. Sweet. Photogenic. But the queen deserves her celebration too.

A $25 raffle ticket could win a Costa Rica getaway while helping fund a Kenya community center supporting young mothers working toward education, job skills and independence.

From the tractor seat, agriculture often comes down to a very simple equation: costs on one side, returns on the other. For many farmers today, that equation is becoming harder and harder to balance.

High above the Columbia River Gorge, on a remote bluff in southern Washington, stands one of the most improbable museums in the world. The story behind it is even more surprising.