Newhouse pushes effort supporting Toppenish hospital   

Republican Dan Newhouse is pressing the federal agency overseeing Medicare and Medicaid to make it easier for hospitals located on tribal lands, including one in Toppenish, to achieve a federal status that will provide higher reimbursement for federally-supported care.  

The outgoing U.S. House member specifically mentioned Astria Toppenish Hospital in his letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, advocating for a pathway for such hospitals to be designated as Critical Access Hospitals.  

Astria Toppenish currently does not qualify for the status as it is located within 35 miles of another hospital, per federal regulations.   

Newhouse said that should change given the population it serves and the financial straits the hospital finds itself in.  

“Implementing these new administrative changes to the Interpretive Guidelines for the program will support rural hospitals in fighting against the drug and mental health crises that have been persistent across my state and is a significant opportunity to safeguard existing, essential healthcare services for our rural and tribal communities,” Newhouse wrote.

Port of Kennewick considers boat investment

The Port of Kennewick is considering investing in a passenger boat to show off the best the Tri-Cities’ has to offer.

The idea came in part from port CEO Tim Arntzen’s past experience with jet boat tours on the Hanford Reach, he told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. Cities, Hanford contractors or Visit Tri-Cities officials used the tours to bring in people interested in investing in the area, he said.

“I still remember the value of getting people out on the water – dignitaries, travel writers, folks that are thinking to invest in the community,” Arntzen said.  

He talked with port Commissioner Skip Novakovich, and the idea kept coming up, so he brought it to the commission to pursue.  

The idea is to secure a 14- to 16-person passenger boat that could be used by the port as a sort of water taxi for events on Clover Island or by other organizations in the area for a small fee.

The port already has the infrastructure to store, fuel and maintain a boat, and Arntzen already has the necessary certification to captain such a vessel. Another port staff member has an interest in getting certified, Arntzen said.  

For now, though, the port is merely looking for letters of support from the Port of Pasco and Port of Benton. A show of community support would help the Port of Kennewick access some grant funding through the Tri-City Development Council, or TRIDEC, Arntzen said. So far, they’ve been interested, he said.  

Port of Benton’s interim executive director, Ron Branine, told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business the port is supportive of it.  

Nominations open for business-focused awards

Nominations are open for a business-focused awards program now in its 30th year. It’s the first time nominations are open to the public.  

The annual Entrepreneurial Awards celebrate businesses and individuals who demonstrate innovation, perseverance, leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit. The awards are typically presented alongside the Sam Volpentest Entrepreneurial Leadership, or Sammy, Award, which recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the economic vitality of the region through their vision, leadership and dedication.  

In previous years, the awardees were nominated by the program’s sponsors. This year is the first time that community members will be able to nominate individuals or businesses for the Entrepreneurial Awards and the Sammy Award.  

Eligible businesses must be in Benton or Franklin counties, have fewer than 15 employees and have been in business for less than seven years. Nominations are open through Sept. 11 at tcentrepreneurialawards.com. 

Awards will be presented at a luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Richland Riverfront Hotel, 50 Comstock St., Richland.  

Last year’s Sammy Award winner, Phil Ohl, will be the emcee at this year’s event.  

The program is hosted by the Richland Rotary Club and Fuse and is presented by Strong Racing.  

Port commissioner announces resignation

A longtime Tri-Cities public servant is stepping back from elected office. Port of Kennewick Commissioner Ken Hohenberg retired from the position effective Sept. 1.  

His retirement was announced at the commission’s Aug. 11 regular board meeting.  

“After nearly 50 years of community service, I’ve decided to retire to spend more time with my family. It has been a privilege to serve as a Port of Kennewick commissioner, representing tens of thousands of you who live in my district. I am proud to pass the torch to a new commissioner knowing all that has been accomplished. We have a great team, doing great things to benefit the region,” he said in a statement.

Voters in port’s District 1, which includes parts of Kennewick and Richland, elected Hohenberg to his six-year term, which began in 2022.

Commissioners Skip Novakovich and Raul Contreras Gonzalez will appoint a replacement from district 1 to fill the remainder of his term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027.  

The port will put out a notice to the community seeking applicants around Sept. 8, and applications will be open for at least 15 days, Port CEO Tim Arntzen told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.  

Those submitting an application would need to be in the Port of Kennewick’s area as well as from the port’s district 1.  

After an interview process, the port’s two sitting commissioners will make a selection, likely in late October. The appointed commissioner would serve until the next election, which takes place in November of 2027.

Hohenberg retired from the Kennewick Police Department in 2022 after a distinguished career, including serving as police chief and deputy city manager.

He was named Tri-Citian of the Year in 2009.

Prior to serving as a port commissioner, Hohenberg received the port’s 2011 Friend of the Port award in recognition of his role in transforming Clover Island and as a champion for the urban renewal of downtown Kennewick.

Arntzen called him a “true statesman” and said he would be missed.

Port commissioners also spoke highly of his tenure.

“In my time as a Port of Kennewick commissioner, I’ve had the honor of serving alongside several fellow commissioners,” Novakovich said in a statement. “Ken is one of the best and selflessly represented the community.”

Contreras Gonzalez said, “I’ve only had the privilege of serving with Ken on the port commission since the start of the year, but it’s evident that he is the type of leader every elected official should aspire to be.”  

Kennewick schools, teachers union agree on 2-year contract

The Kennewick School Board and the Kennewick Education Association have reached a two-year contract covering the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.  

The KEA represents the district’s certificated educators. The district employed 1,141 teachers in 2024-25, according to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Education. 

District and union leaders said the agreement prioritizes student safety, instructional time, support for educators and student success. 

“We appreciate the thoughtful and collaborative work of both bargaining teams in reaching this agreement,” said Superintendent Lance Hansen in a statement. “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to providing safe, supportive learning environments and ensuring our educators have the support they need to help every student succeed.” 

The contract includes pay raises for certificated educators, additional support for student safety and behavior, expanded resources for special education, more professional development opportunities, and measures aimed at improving collaboration between teachers and district leadership. 

“This agreement represents the shared commitment of KSD and KEA to our students, educators and schools,” said KEA President Melissa Schneider in a statement. “We worked together to address important priorities while strengthening our ability to collaborate and support student success.” 

The district enrolls more than 18,000 students. 

Kennewick’s Cynergy Center sells for $5M

A prominent commercial property in Kennewick’s Southridge area has come under new ownership.

Cynergy Center, a more than 20,000-square-foot office building at the corner of 27th Avenue and Union Street, has sold for $5.1 million, according to a release. The new owner, listed as 4309 West 27th Place LLC, paid fully in cash.

“This transaction generated multiple offers within days of hitting the market, underscoring continued demand for well-located medical office investments in the Tri-Cities,” said Ruthanne Loar of brokerage Marcus and Millichap. “It was especially notable that the buyer completed a 1031 exchange out of Texas and back into Washington, reflecting continued confidence in the long-term strength of the Kennewick market.”

A 1031 exchange allows real estate investors to sell a property and use the proceeds to buy a new business or property, delaying capital gains taxes.

Built in 2006, the Kennewick building, known for its curved glass front, is fully leased to a mixture of tenants, with more than 60% being medical offices. It’s a far cry from eight years ago, when it had been empty for months when two doctors and a Tri-City investor sought to revitalize it.

Among the current tenants are brunch spot and patisserie Cafe Magnolia, creative firm Sara Nelson Design and healthcare-related firms specializing in women’s health, sports medicine, dermatology and esthetics. 

Another recent tenant was Equilus Capital Partners, a Wenatchee-based private equity firm that was placed in receivership after state regulators alleged its officers misappropriated investments through actions including making Ponzi-like payments and its founder using nearly $780,000 to pay for items such as a boat slip and down payments on a vehicle and private home. 

New fine art festival coming to Kennewick

Artists working in a wide range of media will have a new opportunity to share their work with the public via a new juried art show and festival this fall, but the deadline to apply is coming up fast. 

Organizers working with the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership recently announced the inaugural Art on Autumn, a two-day outdoor event taking place Sept. 18-19 at Keewaydin Park in downtown Kennewick. 

“Our goal is to build an event that artists look forward to returning to year after year – one that not only supports the creative community but also strengthens our downtown and creates lasting connections between artists and collectors,” said Stephanie Button, HDKP executive director, in a statement.

The festival will also serve as a fundraiser for the South Columbia Creative District, also called SOCO. Proceeds from artist commissions, sponsorships and donations go toward establishing the creative district as an independent nonprofit. 

Go to: historickennewick.org/art-on-autumn.

Be a part of Ironman, whether you’re an athlete or not  

Organizers of this year’s Ironman triathlon are hoping to draw as many Tri-Citians into the event as possible, either as volunteers or through a new race event that provides a way to experience part of the triathlon’s course. 

The new Currents to Kicks event, scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Sept. 20 at Richland’s Columbia Point Marina, allows participants to swim a 1.2-mile downriver stretch and run a 2.1-mile course – both events are part of the course for the full 70.3-mile triathlon. The event is open to local swimmers, runners and athletes, as well as Ironman participants. 

The new race will take place at the same time as Party at the Point, a celebration with live music, food and vendors, aimed at showcasing all the Tri-Cities has to offer. 

“People who get involved, get inspired,” said Kevin Lewis, president and CEO of Visit Tri-Cities, in a statement. “And these two events create new ways for our community to be part of the energy surrounding Ironman weekend. You don’t have to race 70.3 miles on Sunday to experience what makes this weekend special.” 

Ironman takes place starting at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 20. 

Those wanting to be involved but not necessarily on the course can instead volunteer during the triathlon. Nearly 1,600 volunteers are needed throughout the entire weekend of the race, from athlete check-in and handing out water along the course to supporting race transition areas and cheering on the athletes at the finish line. 

To learn more about the Currents to Kicks event, go to: visittri-cities.com/events/signature/ironman. 

To view available volunteer positions and register, go to: ironman.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=105015.

Hanford returns tank space to service after years of upgrades  

A year after a Hanford site facility returned to service following six years of repairs and upgrades, it has added hundreds of thousands of gallons of space in underground tanks, just by evaporating water in the hazardous waste they contain. 

Crews working in the 242-A Evaporator facility recently completed a waste-reduction campaign focused on condensing the site’s waste. That work supports contractor Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure, or H2C, in conducting waste transfers from older underground tanks to newer, double-shell tanks aimed at reducing risk to the community and environment. 

The evaporator removed 353,000 gallons of water by boiling radioactive and chemical waste at low pressure. The resulting slurry is returned to a tank for future treatment while the extracted water is filtered and sent to Hanford’s Effluent Treatment Facility for additional processing and disposal.