🕯 Don‘t be that neighbor

Meet Katie Banks

Katie Banks

“I teach classes at WSU Tri-Cities and support my friends and community.”

📧 Email

⭐️ Zachary Harper on Katie Banks:

“Katie is understanding, welcoming, thoughtful, and challenges the status quo to better the Tri-Cities community.”

🔥 What drives Katie

“I'm a political scientist, so it's probably no surprise, but what excites me is seeing people practice civic engagement — whether that's volunteering, voting, building programs or initiatives, or doing some other thing to support and to build our communities.”

🌈 Katie‘s vision for the Tri-Cities

“My vision for the Tri-Cities is an inclusive community, bonded by our mutual love of place and people. This vision includes a thriving social and economic ecosystem that fosters startups, retains graduates, bridges ideological and religious divides, supports local art and performance, and prioritizes equity. A big vision, but not an impossible one!”

Katie’s recommendations

🍖 Food

“The carne asada from El Porton in Richland is beyond delicious and reminds me of home.”

🤸‍♂️ Activity

“Go make some glass with Earl and Cameron at the Glass Punty!”

🌳 Location

“A walk or picnic in Howard Amon Park on a cool, spring or fall day — it's synonymous with bliss.”

👥 Group

“Jay and the Tri-Cities Pride team do a great job curating a spectacular annual event series in support of our LGBTQ+ community.”

👩🏽‍🎤 Artist

“I'm a fan of the Nostal-Gents (http://nostalgents.com/).”

😄 People

Justin Raffa and the Tri-Cities Civility Caucus, an ideologically-diverse group of community leaders committed to seeking common ground and fostering civility.

Sara and Brendan Quinn and the inclusion-oriented work they do via Tumbleweird and Tri-City Area Gaming.

Jordan Chaney, a rockstar poet, educator, and friend who continues to bring meaningful programs and events to our community

💪 Projects

“WSU Tri-Cities advances knowledge through creative research, scholarship, mentorship, and community engagement. I teach courses in politics, history, and leadership, and I co-organize our annual OUTober and Social Justice Institute programs.”

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✨ Fresh links

Cedar's restaurant Cedars restaurant sold. New management reopens tomorrow at 4 pm Lights strung up in John Dam Plaza in Richland Richland‘s month-long Festival of Lights begins Friday Benton City's annual Winterfest celebration begins Dec. 14, 9 am at The Lions Club Luminaria Annual luminaria and ‘fill the bus’ food drive return to Pasco Dec. 14 Franklin PUD and HAPO to provide emergency assistance paying electric bills Dog with ball in its mouth Pasco Police mourn Officer K-9 Lemon

👇 This week‘s links

screenshot of salary document Recent city council candidate, Randy Slovic, criticizes Richland council pay increase while council members receive ‘benefits (that) equal salary’ Uncle Sam's Saloon from the outside Uncle Sam‘s Saloon introduces “The Chip Away” sandwich to pay off student lunch debt in Kennewick Portrait of Wendy Culverwell Journal of Business accelerates growth with new hires, adding Wendy Culverwell, former Herald government and business reporter Traffic Tri-Cities projects to increase road safety paused as state contests car tab cuts

👇 More from this week

Slime emoji Richland girl's custom Nike design auctioned for $11,000 Pat Bowser holding a guitar Richland singer and chart-topping Nashville producer make new music Kennewick Lions logo Lions defeated in WIAA State Semifinal Young women playing lacrosse Tri-Cities sports tourism could boom with new facilities proposed by feasability study In-demand jobs vary largely between Benton and Franklin

👈 Links from last week

Benton public services building opens in Kennewick, housing planning, building and public works departments Two women sitting on a couch Memory care home in Pasco prepares to open additional wing after filling up just weeks after open People eating thanksgiving meals at long tables Homeless people in Pasco share what they're thankful for Photo of man in sheriff dept. uniform Limited commissions for corrections officers ends Sat. without long term plan between sheriff and county Pasco Fire Dept. adds resource navigator position to reduce repeat 911 calls with education and assistance Nurses‘ new contract keeps paid time off and offers raise Esports venue ‘Order of the Games’ opening in Pasco Dec 3

👈 More from last week

Portrait of Kahleah Corona Richland girl designs Nike Freestyle collection after traumatic brain injury Port of Benton hires Diahann Howard as executive director in the face of staff complaint investigation Illustration with cats and presents Mid Columbia Libraries ending overdue fines on Jan. 1 Flu spreads throughout Tri-Cities, increasing school absences and clinic visits Franklin Commissioner, Clint Didier, Files Lawsuit to halt attempts to overturn $30 car tab initiative Pasco School District could be divided into single-member districts to ensure minority voices are heard Dust Devils player running the bases Dust Devils future uncertain while Pasco spends $2 million renovating Gesa Stadium Green2Go launching CBD store for grandma and delivery service to bring it to her

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👩🏽‍🎤👨🏻‍🔧👩🏻‍🦰👩🏻‍💻👨🏾‍🔬 People » Let’s get to know some people in the Tri-Cities: what they like about the area, how they’re involved, and their vision for our community.