Before joining the Yakima Herald-Republic, Banks completed two internships with the Baker City Herald, through the University of Oregon’s Snowden internship, and the Statesman Journal, in partnership with the Asian American Journalists Association. During those internships, he covered education, economic development, breaking news and feature stories. He holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Oregon State University and is currently studying for his master’s in strategic communications from Washington State University. His passion for journalism started while working for OSU’s student newspaper, The Daily Barometer, where he wrote his first feature story on the dean of the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. Banks enjoys screenwriting, photography, videography and learning Spanish in his free time. A fun fact about him is that his mother used to be a columnist for The Oregonian.
Beat: Education gaps in the Yakima Valley with a focus on solutions
Graduation rates in Yakima County, Washington, have lagged behind the national and state level. Enrollment is down in many school districts, leading to cuts in teachers and staff. School districts and colleges are trying to regain their footing after the pandemic. This position will cover education in our community, focusing on solutions and what’s working, with an emphasis on K-12 education, colleges and vocational education.