Studio Basin

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Ephrata Ridge Elementary School's Ridge Robotics team members Mille Scheelke and Lindsay Leenhouts sit down with reporter Nance Beston to discuss their season, robot and their upcoming FIRST LEGO League.  The team won a trophy for Engineering Excellence at state which qualified them for a "lottery." The team, one of ten, was then randomly...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Ephrata Mayor Steve Oliver sits down with reporter Nance Beston to discuss how is first months in office - the transition from the campaign trail to the day-to-day realities of governing, the surprises, the learning curves and the opportunities ahead for Ephrata. We begin with Oliver's adjustment into the mayor's seat: what the shift from camp...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Columbia Basin Foundation Executive Director Corinne Isaak stopped by to chat with Managing Editor R. Hans “Rob” Miller about a fundraiser for one of CBF’s community partners, His Helping Hands. The nonprofit recently took over a portion of the former Grant County Journal office and is providing services to those in need at the site. Some of the remodel...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter and Producer Nance Beston sat down with Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray to discuss the Feb. 2026 bond proposal. The $75 million bond measure would replace Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate and begin renovations on Ephrata High School. Murray shared the work that went into the proposal and the reasons why the bond was b...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter and Producer Nance Beston sat down with Moses Lake School Board President Kirryn Jensen, Vice-President Paul Hill, and MLSD Director of Communications Ryan Shannon. The group discussed how a school board operates, common misconceptions in the community, and the challenges and successes they’ve experienced while serving. They also shared advice...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer sits down with Moses Lake Mayor Dustin Swartz to discuss ongoing city projects, current goals, and local water rights issues. Swartz begins by outlining the structure of Moses Lake’s city government and clarifying the responsibilities of the mayor’s position. He then provides a brief update on the Hansen Road Overpass cl...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans Miller, along with reporters Nance Beston, Mike Maynard and Caleb Perez discussed New Year's plans and traditions. Miller is taking it easy with plans to fish and spend time with his wife. Maynard shares a story about scaring the demons away into the new year. Beston talks about passing grapes under the table. Perez plans to...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston and Editor R. Hans Miller discussed the conflicts at the Moses Lake School District, including the budget shortfall, recent teacher contract and financial plans for the future.  The two discussed what led up to the teachers strike, the strike itself and the new three-year teacher contract. Sports reporter Mike Maynard gave updates...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston invited Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis onto the podcast to discuss promises the district has made to the community in regards to finances and levy spending. This is a follow-up to the Columbia Basin Herald article titled: "MLSD's Lewis addresses levy promises, elementary start time," which can...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer opens the episode talking about Sila's new facility in Moses Lake.  Then reporter Nance Beston talks about the ongoing lawsuit with Fowler Construction and Moses Lake School District, along with how repairs at Groff Elementary are coming along.  To conclude the news section, Schweizer talked about the new roundabout...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer talks about the construction updates at the new Samaritan Hospital. The hospital is on schedule and on budget.  Then reporter Nance Beston talked about the conversations that have happened between Moses Lake Educators Association and the district at the last board meeting. Educators brought up concerns around reduced edu...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer runs through the results of the primary election. General election season is coming soon, with ballots due Nov. 4.  Then reporter Nance Beston talked about allegations made by a former Grant County Jail inmate about the quality of medical care at the facility and claiming several deaths had occurred within the jail durin...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Editor R. Hans Miller discusses the upcoming Columbia Basin Hospital bond for the primary election in Ephrata. Miller talks about history of upgrades the hospital has had, planned upgrades with the bond package and what that will cost voters. Then reporter Caleb Perez talks about how Grant County hired a new prosecuting attorney last week. Miller than t...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer discusses the potential of the Columbia Basin Railroad being sold. The railroad runs from Connell to Ephrata, going through Warden and Moses Lake. Then Schweizer talked about REC Silicon and what the company may be doing with the Moses Lake building. Next, Reporter Nance Beston talked about Moses Lake School District pre...

On this special episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Editor R. Hans Miller asks both Ephrata mayoral candidates policy based questions. Incumbent Bruce Reim and candidate Steve Oliver received the questions about ten minutes prior to filming. The candidates answered six questions with a special final question from Nance Beston, producer of the Studio Basin.  This issue of the Studio Basin was also...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston and Caleb Perez discuss the various wildfires that occurred over Fourth of July weekend. Grant County is in an active burn ban. Then, Beston talked about Senate Bill 5583 which raises the cost of hunting and fishing licenses by nearly 38% to help raise funds for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  For the sports segmen...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Cheryl Schweizer discussed Moses Lake's plan to address homelessness post Open Doors Sleep Center closure. Reporter and producer Nance Beston, added on talking about the resource fair that happened in front of the Open Doors Sleep Center Monday last week, including information for all of the resources and contact information.  The news seg...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston, alongside senior reporters Cheryl Schweizer and Joel Martin discussed canal safety with the two recent drowning in Grant County and how the Moses Lake Library is as asset for drug prevention in youth, according to the Moses Lake Community Coalition. Then to close out the news segment, the group talked about the double duck rescue...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston discussed the Chief for a Day event and the "No Kings" protest Saturday. Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer spoke about the current updates regarding homelessness in the Basin with the Open Doors Sleep Center set to close at the end of the month. The Moses Lake City Council will be meeting next Tuesday to further the discus...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston discussed the recent fires in the Columbia Basin, along with the Grant County Burn Ban. Cheryl Schweizer discussed the recent city meeting to talk about homelessness in Grant County, including the closure of the Open Doors Sleep Center. The two also talked about graduation. Senior Reporter Joel Martin popped in for a preview up som...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston discussed some of the recent bills that Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law and one bill that died in the legislature. The two bills both regard animal rights and safety. House Bill 1046 which allows people to break into vehicles with pets or vulnerable person's locked in them without civil liability. House Bill 1149 which incre...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer, and reporter Nance Beston discussed the closure of Moses Lakes Open Doors Sleep Center, two criminal incidents that occurred this week and three of Rep. Tom Dent's bills that made it through the legislature. For the sports segment, Caleb Perez, CBH's sports reporter, talks about Basin spring sports including s...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans "Rob" Miller and reporter Nance Beston discussed the crimes that occurred in the month of March. Miller explained both drive-by shootings in Moses Lake, including the Loop Drive drive-by shooting which had one fatality and four injured and the Olympic Drive drive-by shooting which resulted in no injuries. Beston talked...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Cub Reporter Nance Beston and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer talk about Senate Bill 5098, a piece of proposed legislation that would ban weapons in public areas where children may be present. The bill has passed the senate and is going through the house process now. The bill's sponsor, Javier Valdez, is originally from Moses Lake and stated the s...

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans "Rob" Miller sits down with representatives of the Moses Lake Community Coalition to examine ways to discuss drug abuse prevention with children. In the long run, setting expectations is the key, they said.  In the sports segment, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer and Cub Reporter Nance Beston discuss state basketball wi...