The community of Blue River was devastated by the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. A lot of work has been done to bring back essentials, including a fire station, post office, medical clinic and library. But, five years later, the town’s only store is still not open. KLCC’s Rachael McDonald has more.

It’s estimated that around 34,000 adults in the U-S currently live with A-L-S. That’s according to data from the National A-L-S Registry. Among the many challenges that come with the diagnosis, finding accessible housing can be difficult. That issue is being addressed by a local nonprofit. N-W-P-B’s Phineas Pope reports.

Buddhism is expanding in rural northeastern Washington.

An abbey dedicated to the teaching and sharing of dharma just opened a new Buddha Hall that can host hundreds more people than before.

SPR’s Eliza Billingham takes us to the monastery.

TAG: That was Spokane Public Radio’s Eliza Billingham.

Another moon is discovered in the Solar System, orbiting the seventh planet from the sun.

A new moon has been discovered orbiting Uranus [YOOR-uh-nuss]. N-W-P-B’s Lauren Paterson talked with a Northwest scientist who helped find it.

The Port of Portland’s shipping container terminal has a new head operator.

A key shipping facility that’s been operating at a loss for years has gotten a degree of certainty for the future - reassuring businesses in trade-dependent Oregon. As Kyra [[KYE ruh]] Buckley reports, Harbor Industrial Services will start running the shipping container terminal at the Port of Portland.

The Beachie Creek Fire was just one of the many fires that devastated parts of Oregon on Labor Day 2020.

5 years later, KLCC’s Love Cross headed to the Santiam Canyon to catch up with an old friend in Lyons to hear her experience.

Cathy Griswold’s home was one of the few on her road that survived the fire.

Washington’s school superintendent says the state’s K-12 students have lifted their academic performance to pre-pandemic levels. But Chris Reykdal [RAKE-doll] says the state needs to improve how it teaches math.

[INTRO:]

Tourists visiting King County brought in over 900 dollars in taxes for every person living there last year.

That’s important for local cities like Seattle, which have faced financial shortfalls.

But next year, tourism faces some strong headwinds.

Reporter Joshua McNichols has more.