YAKIMA COUNTY -- No texting... no talking... no exceptions. It could soon be a primary offense to use a cell phone while driving, but some people still don't think a new law will be effective.

They're everywhere. And many are breaking city rules. Sandwich billboards, hocking everything from food and wine to big time sales. Now a crackdown. And it all started with the DreamGirls Espresso Stand on Yak Ave.

The clock is ticking and Lawmakers still haven't agreed on how to balance the state budget. They've been at it for 60 days. And now it looks like there's no way to avoid an overtime session. And that will cost you, the taxpayer, close to $20,000 a day.

YAKIMA COUNTY -- Tracking sex offenders is priority number one for the sheriff's office.

YAKIMA -- Congestion, cars, and clogged sidewalks. A simple stroll near the Convention Center could put pedestrians at risk. Now, city officials are stepping-up to help.

Every time someone is murdered we expect police to solve it and solve it quickly. So far this year, four people have been killed in Yakima and police have arrested every person blamed for those murders thanks to help from the public. But is the culture of silence really changing in Yakima? If so, it could help to change our deadly reputation in a hurry.

Police arrest weekend homicide suspect after an afternoon standoff.

It's worse than a loaded gun: drunk driving is a killer, and it's one Yakima County can't seem to escape. Hundreds of drivers are ticketed every year. Many have been there before, not just once or twice, but sometimes six or eight times. And many of them are still on the road.

You may be more likely to survive a heart attack in Yakima than in Seattle. It's a strange reality, but victims here in the Valley are confirming it in larger and larger numbers. And as Action News discovered, it's all about timing.

Yakima is one of the top places in the state for finding a foreclosed home. If you're in the market to buy, someone else's lost investment could be your gain. But you need to do your homework to avoid ending up with a money pit.