Hello Walla Walla! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Whitman’s tuition cap, Jeki Yoo magic, and a local Pokémon tournament + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
College affordability shift: Walla Walla’s Whitman College announced it will cap tuition at 10 percent of family income, with full tuition for families earning $100,000 or less, based on family adjusted gross income -- get the full details.
Community support on display: Blue Mountain Girls Softball hosted games this season in Waitsburg, Dayton, Prescott, and Dixie as participation grew in the Touchet Valley. Forty-three girls formed two 1st/2nd and two 3rd/4th teams -- check the softball season.
Boosting emergency access: Walla Walla’s fire department received a $21,156 Wildhorse Foundation grant to buy a technical response UTV, improving access in rough areas and speeding emergency support across the service area -- see the rescue UTV grant.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Need a chirp break: Slip over to Pioneer Park Aviary, the city-run, community-built bird haven tucked into your daily walking loop, and trade screen time for slow laps past waterfowl, pheasants, and honking geese... a low-key reset that reliably calms kids, neighbors, and whatever weekday mood you’re in.
Local lanes, big vibes: Stardust Lanes mixes classic bowling with an arcade, axe throwing, and a full service pro shop run by owner and teaching pro Russell, so you can roll, play, and even tune up your gear without leaving town. Grab a slice, a cold one, and call it the easiest weeknight win.
DIY bouquet bliss: Whether you want a just-because bunch or something fancy, Wild Willow Flower House has a stem bar where you can build your own and a menu if you’d rather point and smile. They also do floral subscriptions and same-day delivery, so your place can look surprisingly put-together today.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
📚 Annual Book Swap & Resource Fair @ Calvary Chapel | Thursday (6/25) at 9:00 AM – Clear some shelf space, Walla Walla. The annual homeschool book swap just teamed up with a resource fair, so trade those once-loved readers and barely-opened algebra texts, chat with local co-ops, tutors, and vendors, and pretend this counts as decluttering, community, and frugality.
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons @ Die Brucke Building | Friday (6/26) at 4:00 PM – While the library gets its facelift, the Friday D&D game has moved to the Die Brucke atrium next to Book & Game. You’re invited. Volunteer-led, drop-in fun for ages 10 and up, all experience levels welcome, and it absolutely counts as quality time.
🎤 Jeki Yoo @ Gesa Power House Theatre | Friday (6/26) at 7:00 PM – Jeki Yoo brings award-winning, close-up wizardry to Gesa Power House Theatre, the good kind that makes adults giggle despite themselves. Expect nimble hands, impossible reveals, and that moment you realize your skepticism, and maybe your watch, just disappeared.
🎮 Local Pokemon Tournament @ Digital Heroes | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Remember when you swore those cards would never leave the binder? This local Pokémon TCG tournament brings out Walla Walla’s collectors, kids, and quietly competitive parents, with friendly battles, easy trading, a family-friendly vibe, and enough nostalgia, strategy, and bragging rights to last till Monday.
⚾ Walla Walla Sweets vs. Wenatchee Applesox @ Borleske Stadium | Saturday (6/27) – The Walla Walla Sweets host the Wenatchee AppleSox at Borleske Stadium, a classic small-town showdown where the scoreboard competes with sunset views and the smell of onions. Expect tight plays, neighborly heckling, and the kind of seventh-inning stretch your back, and your patience, actually appreciate.
🧩 Puzzle craft @ Level Up | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – Afternoon pop-in, make-your-own puzzle craft that’s easy for all ages, $5 per puzzle, while supplies last. Kid approved, adult soothing, and mercifully low on mess, it pairs well with coffee, conversation, and the smug glow of finishing what you start.
🍻 Blood of Gods 2026 Annual Merrymaking @ Marcus Whitman Hotel | Saturday (7/18) at 12:00 PM – Not your tasting-room shuffle, this is a summoning, a Walla Walla collision of heavy metal, feral wines, and art that won’t behave. Taste with the winemakers, swap stories with the artists, then let the afterparty rattle your fillings, and wristband proceeds go to Planned Parenthood.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Walla Walla report Weather forecastToday — High: 96°F — Low: 61°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Southwest wind 2 to 7 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 90°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 1%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Later: Rain showers likely after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%. This house is wildThis pristine single-story home shines in a friendly, established neighborhood with roomy lots and just enough yard to enjoy without the upkeep overload. Inside, a wide entry, sunny front office, and flexible central gathering space set the stage for entertaining. The dream kitchen features Sub-Zero and Dacor appliances, while the primary suite adds heated tile floors, a luxe bath, and an oversized closet.
Take a peek inside → |
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