Popular community holiday lights display discontinued

A Tri-Cities holiday tradition has come to an end as the company that put it on has embarked on a new chapter. 

Lawn care provider Senske Services announced via its social media that the Senske Holiday Light Show will not take place this year. The light show, which had up to 500,000 lights, was a decades-long annual event at the company’s offices at 400 N. Quay St. in Kennewick. 

Streams of cars often would jockey for a spot to watch the holiday lights and displays that were synced to music on the radio. Senske also encouraged food donations to share with Second Harvest. 

The change comes from Senske’s relocating its corporate headquarters to Dallas, Texas. 

While the company continues to serve the Tri-Cities and has operations based out of the warehouse near its former headquarters, a local company representative told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that it no longer occupies the office building whose grounds once hosted the light show. 

“We’re deeply grateful to our community for the incredible memories, smiles and holiday cheer you’ve shared with us throughout the years,” the company said in its statement. “It’s been our privilege to celebrate the season together and bring a little extra sparkle to the holidays.” 

Senske encourages those looking for a festive holiday show to visit the Winter Wonderland display at Richland’s John Dam Plaza.

Local cookie restaurant plans second location

A local cookie restaurant has plans in the works for a second Tri-Cities location in the Queensgate area of Richland.

A permit to convert a shell space into a cookie restaurant at 3151 Duportail St., Richland, was issued in November. The building’s owner, Gretl Crawford, told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that Our Cookie House plans to open an additional location in the 1,969-square-foot space. The business has not announced an opening date or any details yet.

Our Cookie House is currently located at 8530 W. Gage Blvd., Suite D, near the Costco in Kennewick, and its planned second location is next to Indigo Urgent Care and FiiZ. 

The cookie restaurant reopened in February of this year after closing at the end of 2024.

Homebuilder sued over misleading mortgage quotes

A national homebuilder with development projects in the Tri-Cities is facing a federal lawsuit alleging it intentionally misled homebuyers about the true monthly costs of its homes. 

The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for Middle District of Florida by several homebuyers, claims D.R. Horton uses its preferred mortgage lender, DHI Mortgage, to provide artificially low monthly payment quotes that don’t include the full cost of taxes. 

“Defendants have actual knowledge of the true property tax amounts throughout the entire home sales and financing process, and they know what homebuyers’ monthly payments will actually be; however, they prominently and repeatedly center the suppressed monthly payment in all the paperwork provided to homebuyers,” the lawsuit states. “It is not until well after closing that homebuyers learn the truth, when their monthly payments increase by hundreds of dollars. By this time, DHI Mortgage has transferred the loan, and a new mortgage servicer delivers the bad news.”   

D.R. Horton is selling homes in two housing developments in the Tri-Cities, Crimson Hills in west Kennewick and The Dunes in Pasco’s fast developing Broadmoor area. 

In media reports, D.R. Horton responded to the allegations, saying, “D.R. Horton and DHI Mortgage (DHIM) strongly disagree with the claims made in this lawsuit, and we intend to vigorously defend against them. D.R. Horton and DHIM have been, and will continue to be, unwavering in our commitment towards transparency with our customers.”

Prosser moves into Benton County Courthouse

Prosser City Hall has moved into its new home at the historic Benton County Courthouse.

City and Benton County officials celebrated inked a deal in May for the city leasing the entire first floor as well as the attached annex building.  

The city closed Dec. 1-3 to move and reopened at 620 Market St. on Dec. 4.

Lease terms show the city paying nearly $4,300 per month, or more than $51,000 per year, for the 9,375-square-foot space. The payments will increase 2% annually over the 10-year term of the lease. The city will cover one-third of the building’s utility expenses.

Prosser’s city hall and adjacent police station were destroyed in early May 2021 by a fire that started in a neighboring meat shop.

Prosser is the Benton County seat, and the county has offices there as well as in Kennewick. 

The courthouse, built in 1926, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Silverwood to be acquired by Atlanta company

Silverwood Theme Park will be sold to Atlanta-based Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. for an undisclosed amount, the companies announced Nov. 12.

Silverwood Inc. and Herschend have signed an exclusive term sheet and begun the due diligence process as the two parties work toward finalizing the transaction, the Spokane Journal of Business reported.

The agreed upon acquisition comes several years after Silverwood founder and owner Gary Norton turned down an offer from Herschend to buy the park.

Norton, whose family has operated Silverwood since it opened in 1988, contemplated Herschend’s bid at the time, he told the Spokane Journal, but decided the offer wasn’t a good enough reason to leave the North Idaho theme and water park behind.

Herschend operates over 40 family entertainment brands across North America, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Silver Dollar City Parks & Resorts, the Harlem Globetrotters, and more.

Silverwood is located on over 400 acres in Athol at 27843 U.S. 95. The park is home to more than 70 rides and attractions, including Boulder Beach water park.

Verizon to cut 165 WA jobs, including in Kennewick

Three Verizon employees from the Kennewick store at 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. were among the 165 laid off across the state. 

Verizon said the layoffs are the result of consolidating and restructuring its operations in a letter to the state’s Employment Security Department, a requirement of the Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act. 

The layoffs are expected to be permanent and will take effect Jan. 23. 

Other Eastern Washington layoffs occurred in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Yakima and Wenatchee, as well as in several locations on the west side of the state. In addition, 54 remote workers in the state also will be let go. 

Affected employees have the opportunity to secure alternative employment with Verizon, provided they meet eligibility requirements. “This action is not the result of, nor reasonably expected to result in, any overall relocation or contracting out of Verizon’s Washington operations/employee positions,” Verizon said in its letter. 

A variety of positions are affected including managers, assistant managers, senior managers, engineers, analysts, maintenance and many in retail.

Airline starting new route from Pasco to California

Those looking to travel to Southern California soon will have yet another route to choose from, thanks to one of the Tri-Cities Airport’s current airlines.

Allegiant Travel Co. announced Nov. 18 that it would add a nonstop route between the Pasco airport and John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Orange County, California, with service beginning in February 2026. 

The new route is one of 30 new ones from Allegiant connecting 35 cities across the country. 

“We’re thrilled to continue Allegiant’s growth by adding these new routes,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s chief commercial officer, in a statement. “Our mission has always been to connect travelers to world-class destinations at an affordable price. These additions provide convenient options for leisure travelers and reflect our commitment to expanding service where demand is strong.” 

The new route is the third new one to a California destination from the Tri-Cities announced this year. Alaska Airlines started a new route to Hollywood-Burbank Airport this fall and market newcomer Breeze Airways also will provide that route beginning in 2026.   

“We know the Tri-Cities community loves having multiple options to fly to Southern California to visit family, take vacations and for work trips,” said Buck Taft, Tri-Cities Airport director. “That’s why (Santa Ana) has been one of our main target destinations for years, and we’ve had ongoing conversations with Allegiant about making it happen. It’s great to finally see this become a reality for our community as we further strengthen the connection between PSC and Southern California.” 

Allegiant is offering one-way fares as low as $59 to celebrate the announcement of the new route. Go to: allegiant.com.

Meier names a new president

Meier Architecture | Engineering has named a new president as its current president steps down in preparation for retirement.

Bobbi Keen

Bobbi Keen, a licensed certified public accountant and certified management accountant who currently serves as Meier’s vice president, will be the company’s new president as Paul M. Giever steps down. Keen has held positions throughout Meier during more than 10 years with the company, including work in accounting, project management and training, and serving as the chief financial officer.

“Bobbi’s background in accounting and resource management will serve us all well as we move forward,” said Thomas Kastner, architectural group manager, in a statement. “… I look forward to working many more years under her steady guidance.”

Giever has been the president of Meier for the last nine years, and he will remain with the company in a technical role until at least mid-2026 as he begins to “slowly retire.”

Bledsoe Family Winery to open new tasting room

The winery of NFL quarterback and Walla Walla native Drew Bledsoe is growing its footprint.

Bledsoe Family Winery has broken ground on a new tasting room on the south side of the Walla Walla Valley, according to the winery’s social media. The winery told Northwest Wine Report that the current tasting room in downtown Walla Walla had become too small. The new tasting room is expected to open sometime in 2026.

Bledsoe Family Winery, part of the broader Bledsoe Wine Estates, also operates a tasting room in Bend, Oregon, and offers what the winery considers accessible varietals.  

The other Bledsoe wine brands are Doubleback, known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bledsoe | Daniels, which was founded to focus on developing Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Syrah.

WSU to raise tuition rates for 2026-27

Members of the Washington State University Board of Regents recently voted to raise tuition for undergraduate and graduate students by 3.3% for the 2026-27 academic year.

For an in-state undergraduate student, the change will result in a $385 increase in annual tuition, while graduate students from Washington will pay an additional $445.

Prosser wine company acquires Wahluke Slope winery

A Prosser-based wine company is rounding out its family of labels by adding another from the Wahluke Slope to its portfolio.

Evergreen Family Wines, owned by Brandon Rice and Jerry Milbrandt, has acquired LUKE Family Wines, according to a release. The acquisition was brokered by Metis, a firm focused on wine industry mergers. Price details were not disclosed.

LUKE owners Kristin and Thomas Vogele will continue on with the winery for the next three years to ensure its vision is preserved, according to a statement.   

Both winemaking teams called the deal a natural evolution as both have worked closely together for more than a decade.

Evergreen is the state’s largest family-owned grape-to-bottle wine producer, with 3,000 acres of estate vineyards in the Columbia Valley sub-AVAs of the Wahluke Slope and Ancient Lakes. Its production facilities are in Mattawa and Quincy, and it produces wine from the budget-minded Simply to its award-winning premium label Milbrandt.

LUKE’s wines have also earned high ratings and awards, including Top 100 mentions. All have been produced at Evergreen’s Mattawa facility from grapes sourced from vineyards that share the Vogele’s commitment to sustainable viticulture.

Local Bounti sees sales growth in third quarter

Pasco greenhouses contributed to an indoor agriculture company’s revenue growth this year.

Montana-based Local Bounti’s sales increased 19% to $12.2 million in the third quarter of 2025, according to the company’s financial summary for the quarter. That compared to $10.2 million the prior year.  

The company attributed the growth to increased production and sales from facilities in Washington, Georgia and Texas. Local Bounti opened its Pasco facility in May 2024, adding more than 40 new jobs.

Local Bounti continues to expand capacity, improve yield and reduce costs across its facilities, according to the summary. The company has also expanded distribution of its salad kit line across additional regional retailers in the Pacific Northwest, including a newly-launched Romano Caesar salad kit, which came to Pacific Northwest retailers in October.  

IRS raises retirement contribution limits for 2026

The IRS has announced increased retirement savings limits for 2026, with higher contributions allowed across 401(k)s, IRAs, SIMPLE plans and related programs. The updates reflect annual cost-of-living adjustments.

For employees participating in 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan, the annual contribution limit will rise to $24,500, up from $23,500 in 2025. The standard catch-up contribution for workers age 50 and older increases to $8,000, up from $7,500. This means eligible participants can contribute up to $32,500 in 2026.

IRA contribution limits also will increase. The annual limit rises to $7,500, up from $7,000, while the catch-up contribution for individuals 50 and older increases to $1,100, up from $1,000.

Despite these retirement contribution increases, many Americans aren’t on track for retirement, according to Vanguard, an asset management firm. Its research shows that about 4 in 10 Americans are on pace to maintain their current lifestyles in retirement.

Go to: IRS.gov.

WA lawmakers propose new and increased taxes on businesses

Several of the latest bills pre-filed for the coming 2026 legislative session have the potential to expand or increase business and occupation, or B&O, taxes, according to fiscal think tank Washington Research Council.

HB 2097 would allow counties to impose B&O taxes beginning Jan. 1, 2027, at a maximum rate of 0.002 with the possibility for it to be raised by voters. It could also be applied to natural gas and would allow a credit against it for any city B&O taxes paid.

HB 2089 would expand B&O collections on loan interest for residential properties regardless of the loan originator. Those revenues would then be dedicated to the state account used for wildfire response, forest restoration and community resilience.

HB 2098 would remove the B&O workforce education investment surcharge cap for advanced computing businesses. The rate and cap for that surcharge is already set to balloon to 7.5% and $75 million on Jan. 1. The bill also would increase income limits for the Washington College Grant and reduce tuition for resident undergraduates by 10% per year from the 2027-28 school year through 2029-30.

The legislative session begins Jan. 12.

Kennewick unveils region’s first facility for BMX enthusiasts

Tri-City BMX bikers wanting to test their mettle on banked turns and rolled mounds now have a place to go close to home.

The city of Kennewick held a ribbon cutting for the new pump track on Dec. 11.

“Over the past several years, numerous community members and local business owners have expressed a desire for a pump track facility in Kennewick,” the city said in a news release. “This project addresses that need and represents a milestone for the region, as it is the first pump track in the Tri-Cities region.”

A pump track offers what the city describes as a roller coaster-like bicycling experience, with physical features enabling a cyclist to roll through the circuit by using their body weight, rather than pedaling, to propel themselves.

The city used nearly $500,000 in community development block grant funds to install the track at Vancouver Park, a small neighborhood green space at Vancouver Street and Seventh Avenue near the northern terminus of Zintel Canyon.

Cycling has become increasingly popular in the Tri-Cities and municipalities have added bike lanes to some roads to complement the network of bike paths and trails. Horn Rapids Sports Complex in Richland has hosted USA BMX Lumberjack Nationals in recent years.

WSU nearly doubles royalty revenues in 2025

When it comes to research, Washington State University is getting dividends on the fruits of its labor.

Innovations ranging from the university’s popular Cosmic Crisp apple cultivar and several varieties of wheat to a vaccine administration manual for pharmacies and a microwave-assisted sterilization system for pre-packaged food generated a record $19.4 million in royalty revenues in 2025, according to a release.

According to data from the Association of University Technology Managers, WSU outperformed many other universities with similarly-sized research portfolios. Among institutions with between $250 million and $499 million in research expenditures, the university had more innovation disclosures, new patent applications and gross licensing income than the median.

“The bottom line is that WSU is absolutely killing it in terms of its commercialization efforts,” said Jeremy Tamsen, director of the WSU Office of Commercialization, in a statement.

The university’s Office of Commercialization aims to conduct further outreach among the university’s researchers in the coming year to help bring even more of their ideas and innovations to market.

Richland furniture gallery closing down in 2026

A Spokane-based furniture retailer is planning to leave the Tri-Cities market early in 2026.  

Complete Suite Furniture at 1911 Fowler St. in Richland is expected to close in three months, a store representative confirmed.  

A closing sale is currently in progress and any merchandise not sold by the store’s closing reportedly will be taken to the company’s remaining stores in the Spokane area.   

Complete Suite has been in the Tri-Cities for decades, and in its current location on Fowler Street since 2011. Its leased 29,500-square-foot store was listed for sale in August for $4.5 million. The listing indicates that Complete Suite still has two years remaining on its lease.  

Offering a selection of furniture for any budget, the company’s first store opened in Spokane Valley in 1998. Currently it maintains Washington stores there and in north Spokane as well as two stores in Idaho in Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston.  

The furniture industry has grown in recent years, and is expected to generate $175 billion in revenue by the end of 2025, according to IBISworld, a global industry research firm. However, online sales have increasingly driven the market, especially among younger consumers, with 49% of sales taking place online in 2022.