Hermiston Daily Brief for February 8, 2026

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Hermiston, OR — February 8, 2026 — Council weighs food vendor rules, bridge funding talks advance, schools prep for meetings as rain moves in.


Hermiston Daily Brief

Good morning, Hermiston. Here’s a quick look at what’s shaping the week ahead around town.

City targets unlicensed food vendors

City leaders are working on new rules to deal with food vendors who set up tents or trucks without proper licenses or health inspections, an issue that grew through last summer and fall.

At a recent council meeting, staff outlined gaps in existing regulations that make it hard to ensure fair competition and safe food handling. Ideas on the table range from more education for vendors to clearer enforcement tools in the nuisance code.

Draft changes to city code are expected to come back to the council later this month, with residents invited to weigh in at a meeting planned for February 23 at City Hall.

Bridge proposal over the Umatilla River advances

The city is also preparing for a key vote on an agreement with Umatilla and Umatilla County to pursue federal funding for a new bridge over the Umatilla River.

A lengthy regional traffic study compared several crossing options and pointed to an extension of Punkin Center Road as the preferred location, aimed at easing congestion and supporting long-term growth.

The agreement up for consideration would move design work and grant applications forward but would not lock local governments into construction costs yet, keeping the project in the planning stage while funding options are tested.

Schools: board meets Monday, graduation rates climb

The Hermiston School District board is scheduled to hold a regular meeting Monday evening at the district office on Southwest 11th Street, with agendas posted for public review.

The meeting comes on the heels of new graduation data showing the district’s on-time rate rising to about 85 percent for the class of 2025, a gain of nearly five percentage points over the prior year and well above the state average.

Recent school newsletters also highlight upcoming board sessions later in February and a slate of winter activities across the high school and elementary campuses.

Weather: gray skies and increasing rain

After a cool, mostly cloudy Saturday, forecasters call for a wetter pattern today as a Pacific system spreads steadier rain across Eastern Oregon, with highs in the 40s and low 50s.

Showers should taper to lighter, on-and-off rain by Monday, so today is shaping up as the soggiest part of the weekend for errands, travel and outdoor plans.

Sources

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