Pasco horse therapy nonprofit closes amid financial hardships   

A Tri-Cities nonprofit offering horse therapy services to veterans, first responders and others with disabilities and private lessons closed after 19 years. 

Strides Therapeutic Horsemanship Center in Pasco announced June 19 that it would be closing after years of financial hardship. With a cost of nearly $10,000 per month to operate at full capacity and support of less than half of that, it’s been difficult for the nonprofit, according to a Facebook post announcing the closure. 

A June 20 Facebook post announced that all of Strides’ horses have found  homes, and the nonprofit’s remaining assets were available for purchase, including horse shelters, tack and equine equipment, and more. 

The funds will go toward settling Strides’ remaining debts and any money left over will go to another nonprofit with a mission that aligns with Strides, according to the post. 

Strides reported $67,000 in revenue and $87,000 in expenses in 2023, its most recent 990 filing with the Internal Revenue Service. It valued net assets at $95,000 and its executive director earned $28,000 a year. 

Over the years Strides helped children and adults with physical, emotional and cognitive challenges gain confidence, strength and independence.

Public invited to weigh in on development of West Richland land

The public is invited to weigh in on a plan to develop a large swath of agricultural land in West Richland.

The Lewis and Clark Ranch, which consists of 7,600 acres within the city of West Richland, is on a peninsula between the Yakima River and Ruppert Road.

The land is south of the Yakima River, south of East McWhorter Lane, north of Ruppert Road, west of North Harrington Road and west of the intersection of Ruppert Road and Highway 224.

Owned by Frank Tiegs LLC, the land will be developed over time, with the first phase happening in a 750-acre area in the southeast corner. Infrastructure improvements, such as new roads, sewer systems, and water lines, and facilities like parks and schools will be needed as the area develops.

To help guide the development of this area, West Richland has proposed the land be designated as a planned action, which would provide “more comprehensive environmental analysis during an areawide planning state, before individual projects are proposed, rather than at the project permit review stage,” according to West Richland’s website.

Designating a planned action would help streamline environmental review for proposed developments and facilitate growth that fits the vision of the area.

A draft environmental impact statement has been published, and the public is invited to submit comments before
 5 p.m. Aug. 4.

Comments should have “Lewis and Clark Ranch Subarea Plan Draft EIS Comments” in the subject line and should be emailed to Eric Mendenhall, community development director, at [email protected].

Tri-City population growth is slowing

The Tri-Cities’ explosive growth slowed in 2025, keeping pace with the state’s trend.

Benton County grew 0.81%, or by 1,775 people, and Franklin County grew 0.93%, or by 950 people, according to recent population data estimates from the state Office of Financial Management.

The state’s population also slowed last year, with an unadjusted growth rate of 1%.

As of April 1, 2025, Washington’s total population grew by an estimated 79,400, for a total population of 8,115,100. That growth is slower than the annual average from the last decade which saw 98,200 more people between 2010-20.

Net migration is the largest driver of population growth in the state, accounting for 78% of growth, or 61,700 people. That’s down 7,500 from last year, making it the lowest level since 2013 except for the pandemic year 2021.

Benton County had a net migration of 893, and Franklin County had a net migration of -14.

At the same time, the statewide birth rate has been declining statewide since 2017 while deaths, both pre- and post-Covid-19 pandemic, have been trending upward.

Housing has continued to grow in the state, with 47,900 housing units added in the past year – 4,300 less than the year before. While Washington’s population growth is still strong, the population pressure driving housing demand is easing as new units are completed.

Vista Field soil samples detect synthetic chemicals

Soil testing on a private lot under construction at Vista Field found levels of synthetic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, above the limit set by state Department of Ecology. 

The Port of Kennewick received the environmental report on June 26 and has hired consultants to conduct soil testing in mid-July around the affected parcel and within Vista Field generally. 

Until soil sample testing by Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting is completed, the port has paused construction of additional parking lots and utilities.

“The port is committed to protecting the health and safety of our community and the port’s environmental team is committed to ensuring the study process is transparent and the public and our investment partners are informed once we better understand the nature and scope of PFAS detection at Vista Field,” the port said in a release.

In 2014, the port conducted an environmental assessment at Vista Field that included extensive evaluation for all pesticides, insecticides, petroleum products and other chemicals listed by the state Department of Ecology as hazardous substances. The assessment identified no conditions of concern, the port said. However, Ecology has since expanded its list of hazardous substances to include PFAS.

PFAS are a type of synthetic chemical used around the world since the 1950s, according to the port’s press release. They have been found in everyday consumer items like nonstick cookware, water- and stain-resistant products, grease-resistant food packaging, and industrial items like firefighting foam and deicing chemicals.

Pasco seeks community input on water fluoridation

The city of Pasco is asking the community to weigh in on the city council’s recent decision to stop fluoridating the city’s water supply. 

State law requires a public process for community engagement whenever a municipality starts or discontinues water fluoridation. Pasco officials are gathering input through a survey and public feedback sessions, according to a release. 

The public feedback sessions will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 and Sept. 17 at city hall, with the option to attend in-person or remotely. Feedback will be shared with council members before a final decision is made. 

Pasco is the only Tri-City community that fluoridates its water supply, which is currently at a level of 0.7 parts per million.  

Most drinking water has some natural fluoridation, which in Pasco is less than 0.2 parts per million. The Mid-Columbia region as a whole tends to have a higher natural fluoridation level than elsewhere in the state, according to the Washington Department of Health.

Ellensburg brewery brings back d’s Wicked Cider

A recently closed Kennewick ciderhouse will see its ciders live on thanks to a long-running Ellensburg brewery. 

The first batch of d’s Wicked Cider began production at Iron Horse Brewery’s facility on June 9, according to a release, with those cans hitting shelves at retailers that had run out or were close to running out in mid-June. 

The brand’s revival is through a partnership between Iron Horse owner Greg Parker and d’s founder Daniel Washam. Both have worked in parallel in the region’s beverage industry and bring similar approaches to the business. 

“Part of what excites me about this is the solid complements,” Parker said in a statement. “The d’s brand has much love in the market and a perspective that challenges regular thinking. Iron Horse brings a production capacity and sales and marketing platform that will allow the d’s brand to take as much flight as it’s capable of.  

“d’s production constraints are now removed. It also helps that we occupy the same geography, hell, we’re neighbors as far as I’m concerned. Neighbors helping neighbors is a bit what this feels like.” 

Washam closed d’s tasting room and production facility in west Kennewick on April 26, telling the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that there were multiple factors that led to the closure. The ciderhouse was founded in 2013, and its products were sold in multiple states.

Columbia Generating Station back online after outage

Energy Northwest’s nuclear power plant is once again contributing power to the grid after going offline to address vibration levels on its turbines after being worked on earlier this spring.  

Columbia Generating Station was brought back online on June 29 after a weeklong outage to install balance weights in its turbine system, according to a release. With a combined rotating mass of 1.2 million pounds, precise alignment and balance are necessary to maintain optimal and reliable operation.  

The plant was recently offline for two months as workers refueled, upgraded and performed maintenance at the facility, which is the third-largest power supplier in the region. When the turbine reached 80% power following that work, vibrations reached a pre-determined set point that required workers to install balance weights to adjust them.  

Prior rebalances have been needed following maintenance outages, which occur every two years to allow the plant to refuel as well as repair and upgrade the plant. The last rebalance occurred in December 2021. 

WSU students receive research funding awards 

Two Washington State University Tri-Cities undergraduate students were among 36 across the WSU system who received a cumulative $56,000 in fellowships to support their research in the next school year.  

Miguel Palomino and Diego Rangel Monroy, who are both studying computer science, mathematics and engineering, each received an Office of Undergraduate Research Fellowship, according to a release. Each will receive about $1,500 to support their work with a mentor researcher during the 2025-26 academic school year.

“Our ability to present these awards endorses each student’s interest in exploring projects and topics in their field and also helps each student to meet their financial obligations and still devote time to their research,” said Jeremy Lessmann, director of the WSU Office of Undergraduate Research, in a statement.  

The Office of Undergraduate Research awards six types of fellowships. Established by individuals, foundations and private companies, they support student research across academic disciplines from renewable energy and other STEM fields to the arts and humanities.

School district buys land for new elementary school

Pasco School District has purchased 12.5 acres of land off of Road 72, set to be home to an elementary school in the future. 

The Pasco School District Board of Directors green lighted the $2.4 million purchase during an April 22 board meeting, and the sale went through on May 30. The land at 1605 Road 72 was owned by Billie J. Ross, and a 2,318-square-foot single-family home is on the property.

Raul Sital, assistant superintendent of operations and support, confirmed the site is intended for a future elementary school, with a construction timeline depending on student population growth. 

According to the school board agenda item, a purchase and sale agreement between the parties was first made Oct. 17, 2023.

Goodwill moves forward on plans for new Pasco store

Goodwill Industries of the Columbia has submitted a special permit application to operate a thrift store and employment/support services center, along with offices, at 7511 Wrigley Drive in Pasco. 

Goodwill bought the undeveloped 5 acres for $1.17 million five years ago. The property is between the Pasco Walmart off Road 68 and Mid-Columbia Libraries West Pasco branch. 

The nonprofit told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business in 2020, at the time of the property purchase, that its long-range plan was for the future Pasco store to mirror the $3.1 million Goodwill store and warehouse that opened in Kennewick in mid-2019. 

A public hearing with the Pasco Hearing Examiner on Goodwill’s request was held July 9. A decision is expected within 10 days of the hearing.