WSU unveils AI-focused career certificate programs

Washington State University’s Carson College of Business now has opportunities for those looking to bolster their skills or break into new roles in the realms of artificial intelligence, automation, analytics and project management.

Carson Pro, the business school’s online education platform, recently added certificate programs in artificial intelligence, or AI, and supply chain management, according to a release. The AI certificates are offered through a partnership with Ziplines Education, a company that works with nearly 40 higher education institutions across the country to provide digital upskilling training.

Through the Ziplines partnership, the college is offering seven online certificates. The upskilling certificates span two tracks, the first building core professional skills through project management, digital marketing and business analytics certificates. The second track builds applied AI capability at every level, including AI essentials, AI automation, AI for marketing and AI for HR professionals. Additional programs in AI for data analysis and AI for sales will launch in August.

Go to: online.business.wsu.edu.

Spirit Halloween readies for spooky season

It’s three months until Halloween and one of the holiday’s primary retailers has announced which vacant Tri-Cities storefronts it will bring back from the dead for the season.

Spirit Halloween’s store locator map identifies three planned locations for its seasonal stores.

This year’s locations will be:

• 1901 N. Steptoe St. in Kennewick, a former Rite Aid location.
• 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 455A, in Kennewick, a former Sears location.
• 1717 George Washington Way in Richland, a former Office Depot location.

The company has not announced opening dates for the Tri-City stores but signs are already up. It is actively hiring for seasonal positions, according to its website.

Nationally, Spirit Halloween typically begins opening its stores in early August. In the past, the retailer’s itinerant stores have employed 50,000 people nationwide to operate them.   

Go to: spirithalloween.com.

‘The Oregon Trail, but for fish’

You may not be able to die of dysentery in a new video game recently developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, but its aquatic setting is no less perilous.

“In Fish Trails: Marine Adventure,” players navigate as either a young salmon, char or sturgeon through the waterways of a fictional world, encountering predators and hydropower infrastructure. Each obstacle requires the player to make choices that determine their survival.  

At every obstacle, players make choices, whether it’s deciding whether to rest or find food or choosing to cross over or through a hydropower dam.  

These obstacles mimic what real fish might experience as they migrate to and from the ocean, said Brian Bellgraph, a fisheries biologist at PNNL who consulted on the science of the game. The game reflects what PNNL researchers have learned about fish migration.

“We want people to have fun playing the game, but also to learn something new about the many fish that live in these waterways,” Bellgraph said.

The game, aimed at sharing DOE’s hydropower work, is the brainchild of PNNL’s hydropower research and communications staff.  

“So many of us grew up playing ‘The Oregon Trail,’ myself included, and the idea just immediately resonated,” PNNL advisor Shannon Bates said in a statement.

The project was funded by DOE’s Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office. The game is available for free download via the Apple iOS and Android app stores.

Latest WA economic report still leaves some uneasy

The state’s latest revenue forecast is a mixed bag and has some observers concerned about what future budget pressures could bring to bear.

The July revenue forecast from the Washington Office of Financial Management raised projected collections for the current 2025-27 biennium by about $554 million compared with the enacted budget, while lowering projected revenue for the 2027-29 biennium by approximately $461 million, according to a report from the Washington Retail Association. Those changes largely offset each other, keeping the budget balanced for the moment.

The forecast also expects growth in personal income and employment to slow, paired with weaker-than-anticipated tax collections. One-time revenue sources, such as higher-than-expected capital gains tax collections, are also padding the state’s checkbook.

“State leaders have said recent tax increases were necessary to address long-term budget needs. However, the latest projections indicate that lawmakers will likely face difficult choices in future budget cycles, including evaluating spending commitments, revenue sources, and the sustainability of current programs,” Washington Retail said in its report.

Report: Demand for Hawaii flights high in Washington

A recent study shows there’s good reason air travel experts are suggesting a nonstop flight from the Tri-Cities to Hawaii may be in the region’s future.

Online searches of U.S. vacation destination by Washingtonians overwhelmingly focus on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii, according to luxury travel advisors The Resorts Collection. The firm found nearly 300 monthly searches on average of the destination by Washington residents over the past 12 months.

Las Vegas came in second with 190 searches, followed by Yosemite with 168.  

The Tri-Cities Airport already offers daily flights to Las Vegas, as well as multiple destinations in central and southern California within driving distance of the national park.

It was only a few months ago that Jack Penning, a consultant with Volaire Aviation, told Port of Pasco commissioners there’s the possibility of a nonstop flight from the Tri-Cities to Honolulu on the island of Oahu since Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines. Traveler data indicates there would be an estimated 66 passengers departing and arriving from the Tri-Cities each day.

Spokane International Airport recently announced that Alaska Airlines will offer seasonal nonstop flights from its terminal to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport beginning Dec. 19 and running through April 17, according to the Spokane Journal of Business.

Report highlights Washington’s changing business climate

A new report from a business-focused nonprofit points to slowing job growth, a difficult tax environment and other pressures as suppressing business in the state.

The 2026 Competitiveness Redbook from the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy notes that the state is maintaining its strength as a high-tech sector and export hub, according to a release. But with just 0.5% job growth in 2025, a bottom 10 ranking for tax competitiveness and high fuel and labor costs, it’s becoming harder to do business in the state, the report said.

According to the data, employers account for nearly 50% of state and local tax collections, contributing approximately $10,100 per employee.

And one of Washington state’s longest-running boons is eroding: affordable electricity.

“While rates remain relatively competitive, industrial electricity costs have increased compared with previous years, moving Washington from the top-ranked state five years ago to seventh for industrial customers,” according to a statement from Washington Retail Association.

To read the full report, go to: bit.ly/redbook26.

Lamb Weston sees upward trajectory to wrap up fiscal year

One of the Tri-Cities’ largest employers closed out its 2026 fiscal year on a high note according to its latest quarterly report.

Lamb Weston’s net sales exceeded expectations for the recently concluded fourth quarter, with its North American market seeing 9% growth to $1.2 billion compared to the same quarter the previous year. That resulted in it exceeding its projected 2026 net sales by $100 million to reach $6.6 billion.

While net income and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) declined during the quarter, the company said higher sales volumes and lower manufacturing costs from cost savings initiatives and efficiencies more than offset higher inflation, unfavorable price/mix, and higher operating expenses.

“This past year marked an important inflection point for our company,” said Mike Smith, Lamb Weston president and CEO, in a statement. “We over delivered on our financial guidance with solid performance in sales and profitability, led by volume growth in North America. While disruption in the Middle East and input cost inflation have impacted our (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) business, we have been taking actions to help mitigate this volatility in a challenging competitive environment.

“Looking forward, I am highly encouraged by the success we have seen in year one of Focus to Win, particularly the customer momentum that we built through new wins and strengthening of existing relationships,” Smith added.

Lamb Weston has 2,806 employees working in its processing facilities and administrative offices within and outside the Tri-Cities, according to 2025 data in the Journal’s Book of Lists.

The potato processor also saw cash flow improve through the latest fiscal year compared to 2025, reduced capital expenditures and other savings resulting from its Focus to Win strategy launched a year ago.  

Study: Millions of unhappy workers stay for health insurance

Nearly one in four U.S. workers – about 23 million adults – are staying put in jobs they want to leave because of the fear of losing healthcare coverage, according to a recent study.

Research from the West Health-Gallup Center on Health in America based its findings on survey responses from thousands of U.S. adults submitted in the last quarter of 2025, according to a release.  

The findings mark an 8 percentage point increase in the rate of “job lock” in the country since 2021 as workers face financial strain related to healthcare expenses. The result is “a powerful constraint on worker mobility, productivity, entrepreneurship and wage growth,” the West Health-Gallup Center said in a statement.

“The consequences extend well beyond

Gesa commits upward of $75K to Spokane wildfire support

Gesa Credit Union has donated $25,000 and is committing an additional $50,000 to support those affected by the wildfires that devastated Spokane’s Westside and Northside areas in early August.

The initial donations are going to four local fire agencies as well as other community partners providing support in the affected neighborhoods, according to a release.

The additional $50,000 will be from a dollar-for-dollar match for anyone making contributions to the Gesa Community Foundation, with all those proceeds going toward relief and recovery efforts in Spokane.

Donations can be made online at Gesa.com or in person at any of Gesa’s 46 branch locations. The credit union has nine locations in the Tri-Cities.

Workforce development council seeks new partners for services

Has your organization developed an innovative way to help individuals develop workforce skills? The Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council wants to hear from you.

The local council has issued two Requests for Information, or RFIs, to connect with organizations in the region interested in providing services for adult, dislocated and youth workers through the federally-funded Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Qualified applicants include community-based organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit agencies and public entities that have effective and emerging workforce services delivery models, innovative practices and explore forward-thinking technologies and trends in workforce development.

“Together, we can strengthen our workforce, support local employers, and create pathways to family-sustaining careers throughout our region,” the council said in a statement.

Go to: bentonfranklinwdc.com/rfp.

Report: Tri-Cities job market contracts over past year

Unemployment is markedly worse in the Tri-Cities compared to a year ago, according to the latest figures released by the Washington Employment Security Department.

The June unemployment rate of 4.2% was a decline from the month prior and remains below the state average of 5.2%. There’s also more than 1,200 additional people who have jobs in the region compared to May.

But the latest figures are higher than they were in June of 2025, when the unemployment rate sat at 3.7%. Additionally, 700 more people were working and a thousand fewer people were receiving unemployment benefits compared to June 2026. The size of the labor pool has remained essentially flat.

U.S. employers shed 23,000 jobs in July, and the employment count for earlier months was revised downward by 103,000 jobs as labor shortages begin to weigh in on hiring, according to new statistics released Aug. 7 by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The number of health care jobs nationwide grew by 22,000 in July, but that was lower than the monthly average gain of 36,000 in the past  year.

Inflation could be taking a toll as employment in general merchandise retailing declined by 21,000 jobs and gas stations cut 5,000 jobs.  Employment in finance also dropped by 14,000, continuing a slide of 121,000 jobs since a recent peak in May 2025.

Washington’s July jobs figures have not yet been released.

-Stateline, an online publication of the nonprofit States Newsroom, contributed to this report.

Urgent care opens third location

An urgent care clinic that has two existing locations in the Tri-Cities has opened its third in Kennewick.   

Health First Urgent Care opened Aug. 10 in the former Shelby’s Floral building at 5211 W. Clearwater Ave. The 4,431-square-foot building was remodeled for $886,000, according to a permit filed with the city of Kennewick.  

The new location allows Health First to serve all three of the Tri-Cities.  

Like the Richland and Pasco clinics, the Kennewick clinic will see patients for illnesses, injuries, minor procedures, X-rays, lab testing and other non-life-threatening medical concerns. The Kennewick clinic will not be able to perform drug testing.   

The Kennewick clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  

Health First Urgent Care first opened in the Tri-Cities in 2020.

Lourdes Medical Center rolls out autonomous cleaning robot

Lourdes Medical Center is celebrating the successful integration of “Scrubsy,” an autonomous floor-cleaning robot from Peppermint Robotics, more than a month after it joined the hospital’s Environmental Services team.

Staff named the robot through a hospital-wide contest, submitting and voting on potential names before “Scrubsy” emerged as the favorite.

The robot autonomously cleans large floor areas using advanced navigation technology, freeing Environmental Services staff to focus on detailed cleaning, infection prevention and other support work throughout the hospital.

Miramar Dental opens in Kennewick

A new dental training facility has opened its doors in Kennewick.

Miramar Dental was built over the past year at 6335 W. Rio Grande Ave., next to the existing Miramar Health Center.  

The facility operates in partnership between the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, serving as both a training site for students with PNWU School of Dental Medicine and a patient care facility.

“It’s an opportunity for these two groups to come together and bring students to a place where they can learn to practice and do the community good at the same time,” said Kari Steadman, chief operations officer for Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, in a statement.  

A building permit on file with the city of Kennewick valued the cost of building the 18,111-square-foot facility at $3.7 million.  

The facility celebrated its opening with an Aug. 4 ribbon cutting.  

Popular Thai restaurant wraps up successful fundraiser

A popular Richland restaurant and night life spot has met its goal to raise $100,000 for a major reconstruction project to remain open.  

The Emerald of Siam announced via its social media on July 14 that reaching the goal means it can undertake necessary upgrades to replace its kitchen hood system, which includes relocating gas lines, electrical systems and fire suppression infrastructure.   

“Because of this incredible community, we’re able to move forward with the kitchen remodel that will help keep The Emerald of Siam serving this community for years to come,” read the post. “The love and generosity you’ve shown us over the past two months has been overwhelming in the best possible way. We will never forget what you’ve done for us.”  

Ravadi Quinn opened the Emerald, located on the Jadwin Avenue side of the Uptown Shopping Center near the Uptown Theatre, in 1983 when there were no other restaurants in the Tri-Cities dedicated to Thai cuisine. The family continues to operate the restaurant.   

The restaurant has since become a haven for musicians, performers and various communities within the Tri-Cities, while also supporting numerous nonprofit and community organizations over the past 40 years.  

The restaurant’s owners learned this spring that they needed to make substantial updates to its building in order to meet current city and fire codes. They needed to raise at least half the goal to make the construction work and the requisite temporary shutdown feasible for the long term.

Two Tri-City companies among fastest growing U.S. companies

A law firm and a wealth management company based in the Tri-Cities once again have made a list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the country.

The 2026 list from business magazine Inc. ranks privately-held companies based on three years of annual revenue growth from 2022-25.

Gravis Law of Richland was ranked No. 4,380 on this year’s list with 46% growth over the past three years. The firm appeared on the list for five years running until its absence in 2025. Its current position is nearly 700 spots below where it was last ranked in 2024. Its revenue range was $25 million to $50 million, and its employees have contracted by 3%.

Gravis is one of the largest law firms in the Tri-Cities, with 11 attorneys in the region and offices throughout the West, according to the 2025 Book of Lists from the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. Brett Spooner is the firm’s CEO.

Kennewick-based HFG Trust, a financial services company, came in at No. 4,641 on the list with 34% growth. It’s the second year in a row the company has the made list, and its ranking this year is up roughly 300 spots compared to 2025. It had a listed revenue range of $10 million to $25 million and grew its employees by 12%.

HFG Trust has $1.8 billion in assets under management in Benton and Franklin counties and has 13 registered financial advisors, according to the Book of Lists. It has branches in Roseburg, Oregon, and Berkeley, California, and William Wang is listed as the firm’s top executive.

To qualify for the Inc. 5000, companies must:    

• Be privately held, for-profit, based in the U.S., and independent (not a subsidiary or division of another company).   
• Have generated revenue by March 31, 2022.   
• Have generated at least $100,000 in revenue in 2022.
• Have generated at least $2 million in revenue in 2025.

Companies also were required to pay $695 to submit an application for consideration.

PFAS found in Kennewick drinking water

The same manmade “forever chemicals” that stalled development at Vista Field for months have again been detected in the city of Kennewick’s drinking water.  

June water samples from one of the city’s water collectors in Columbia Park indicated that the running annual average for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at 10.5/16.0 parts per trillion, according to a release. That exceeds the new state maximum of 4.0/10 parts per trillion that went into effect in January.  

The city also detected levels above the state action levels in March 2024 and March 2025.  

The city is working with an engineering firm to design a $33 million water treatment facility and has received a $15 million state grant toward funding that future project. In the meantime, the state Department of Health recommends anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding or using tap water to mix infant formula to find an alternative source of drinking water.  

PFAS are a type of synthetic chemical used around the world since the mid-20th century. 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.  

State officials recently cleared the Port of Kennewick’s Vista Field development of PFAS after they were found there as part of routine testing last summer. The discovery had forced the port to stall development until further testing and remediation could be completed.

Trios Health earns national transparency badge

Trios Health has earned the Leapfrog Full Transparency Badge, recognizing the hospital’s public reporting on patient safety and quality through the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey.

The badge is awarded to hospitals that complete, affirm and submit all sections of the survey, one of the nation’s voluntary reporting programs on patient safety, quality and transparency.

Kena Chase, market chief nursing officer of Trios Health and Lourdes Health, said in a statement that the badge reflects Trios Health’s ongoing commitment to openness, accountability and continuous improvement.

“Our patients and their families deserve clear, meaningful information about the care they receive, and we are proud of our team members, providers and leaders who work every day to strengthen safety, quality and trust across our hospital,” she said.

The badge appears on Leapfrog’s public ratings website.