Abby Acone

Local & Regional Alternative schools: test scores reveal a mixed trend (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 23, 2013 at 6:22 PM PDT Last Updated: May 23, 2013 at 6:26 PM PDT

KEPR is digging deeper into the test scores of local alternative high schools. We learned the results really show a mixed trend.

Local & Regional Kennewick accidents snarl morning commute (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 23, 2013 at 6:07 PM PDT Last Updated: May 23, 2013 at 6:07 PM PDT

A pair of accidents in Kennewick sent two people to the hospital and left commuters at a standstill Thursday morning.

Local & Regional State clarifies child abuse for Richland daycare (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 23, 2013 at 6:04 PM PDT Last Updated: May 23, 2013 at 6:04 PM PDT

KEPR is following up on the Richland daycare shut down by the state last week. Since we aired that story, we learned the state has clarified the claims against the spot on Thayer.

Local & Regional Thousands check out monster trucks at Kidz Dig Rigz (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 18, 2013 at 7:57 PM PDT Last Updated: May 18, 2013 at 7:57 PM PDT

Hundreds of families gathered at Columbia Park today for the third annual Kidz Dig Rigz event. Kids could check out "rigs" of all kinds: police, fire and military vehicles.

Local & Regional GAS PRICES: what to know this traveling season (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 18, 2013 at 7:51 PM PDT Last Updated: May 19, 2013 at 11:18 AM PDT

Costs have surged by a dime in the last week alone. All while many of you are planning to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend.

Local & Regional To hire a licensed or unlicensed nanny? (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 17, 2013 at 6:26 PM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 6:27 PM PDT

News stories about childcare facilities and nannies always stress parents out. Especially on the heels of a manslaughter trial for a former Richland nanny.

Local & Regional Possible child abuse at Richland child care (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 17, 2013 at 6:18 PM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 6:18 PM PDT

KEPR is looking into a Richland daycare that was closed by the state. The Department of Early Learning says it’s the first step into an investigation of abuse allegations.

Local & Regional WSU Bioscience Lab with PNNL: creating renewable resources

By Abby Acone Published: May 16, 2013 at 6:47 PM PDT Last Updated: May 16, 2013 at 6:47 PM PDT

Creating renewable resources in our own backyard. It's the goal of the partnership with PNNL and WSU Tri-Cities. KEPR is following up on its work with the university's Bioscience Lab.

Local & Regional City lobbyists: are they worth the investment?

By Abby Acone Published: May 16, 2013 at 6:43 PM PDT Last Updated: May 16, 2013 at 6:43 PM PDT

KEPR is always staying on top of your taxpayer dollars. We looked into how your money is spent to bring more money to our cities. Is it a worthy return on the investment?

Local & Regional Taco Bell makes surprise reveal to an Othello man (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 11, 2013 at 7:48 PM PDT Last Updated: May 11, 2013 at 10:35 PM PDT

An Othello man sees his fast-food dreams become reality with a big surprise from Taco Bell.

Local & Regional A glimpse inside a Prosser prom (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 11, 2013 at 7:37 PM PDT Last Updated: May 11, 2013 at 7:56 PM PDT

Action News is staying on top of issues affecting our teens. We're taking a look at a very unique event for our young people.

Local & Regional Frosts take a hit on local cherry crops (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 10, 2013 at 5:51 PM PDT Last Updated: May 10, 2013 at 5:51 PM PDT

It's the tail-end of a rough season for some local crops. Area farmers tell us frost took down a huge portion of our cherries.

Local & Regional WSU Tri-Cities spurs local economy (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 10, 2013 at 5:43 PM PDT Last Updated: May 11, 2013 at 10:24 AM PDT

Hundreds of new college graduates turned their tassels today -- getting a degree from Wazzu Tri-Cities. KEPR learned about three quarters of these local grads will stay here and look for jobs.

Local & Regional Pasco Farmer's Market opens for the season (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 5, 2013 at 10:32 PM PDT Last Updated: May 5, 2013 at 10:32 PM PDT

Another indication that we're inching closer to summer? Dozens of venders gathered Saturday and Sunday to kick off the season.

Local & Regional Police say house fire is likely an act of arson (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 4, 2013 at 9:41 PM PDT Last Updated: May 4, 2013 at 9:41 PM PDT

It was a smoky sight in the middle of the day. Pasco Police say a house fire was likely an act of arson.

Local & Regional Local graduation rates a mixed trend (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 4, 2013 at 9:33 PM PDT Last Updated: May 4, 2013 at 9:34 PM PDT

If the endless college applications and acceptance letters are any indication, graduation season is almost here. KEPR learned it really is a mixed bag when it comes to local graduation rates.

Local & Regional DEFENSE DAY TWO: Kelli Jacobsen's manslaughter case (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 3, 2013 at 6:09 PM PDT Last Updated: May 3, 2013 at 6:09 PM PDT

A mother who lost her little boy found herself called as a witness for the defense. It's part of the manslaughter trial of former nanny Kelli Jacobsen.

Local & Regional Homeschooling takes off in Pasco (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: May 2, 2013 at 6:34 PM PDT Last Updated: May 3, 2013 at 8:46 AM PDT

Taking your child’s education to the home. KEPR learned more parents in Pasco are choosing to homeschool their children.

Local & Regional Art group helps at-risk teens (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: Apr 27, 2013 at 9:41 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 27, 2013 at 9:41 PM PDT

Fighting for our troubled youth. Here's some good news for you: some workers from Kennewick's Teen Shelter have formed an art group to help at-risk teens.

Local & Regional Fire tears through Kennewick Vision Care (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: Apr 27, 2013 at 9:20 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 27, 2013 at 9:20 PM PDT

An overnight fire also kept Kennewick rescuers busy.
Flames raced through Kennewick Vision Care early this morning.

Local & Regional SPRING BARREL: fuel for Prosser's economy

By Abby Acone Published: Apr 27, 2013 at 9:04 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 27, 2013 at 9:04 PM PDT

Wine season is officially here thanks to Spring Barrel weekend. It's an event that's survived through tough economic times. Yet, it still brings home the profits.

Local & Regional TAXPAYER DOLLARS: Bad debts total almost $800,000 (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: Apr 26, 2013 at 7:27 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 7:27 PM PDT

Unpaid utility bills and ambulance fees have racked up nearly a million dollars owed. The cities take on hundreds of thousands in debts.

Local & Regional Thousands of local drivers without auto insurance (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: Apr 26, 2013 at 7:16 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 7:16 PM PDT

It's a hefty cost upfront, but can pay off when you need it most -- car insurance. Action News learned thousands of local drivers are still driving without it.

Local & Regional How effective is neighborhood watch? (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: Apr 26, 2013 at 7:08 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 7:08 PM PDT

KEPR learned more local communities are starting block watches. We compared crime numbers to see how much a difference the program makes.

Local & Regional Heroes for Hope boosts support for autism (Video)

By Abby Acone Published: Apr 20, 2013 at 8:56 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 20, 2013 at 8:56 PM PDT

The fight against autism got a major boost today--- care of a the first-ever Heroes for Hope golf tournament.