A Tri-City executive is being sued in U.S. Bankruptcy Court by a creditor seeking more than $1 million for an outstanding loan balance, interest and legal fees.The case against Fraser S. Hawley, a developer and business leader who was married to state Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, is set to go...
The Tri-City business community is breathing easier as the 2022 Legislature concluded its work without passing bills some feared would add complexity and cost to operating in Washington.The regular session ended March 10 in a flurry of activity, including an agreement on a $64.1 billion supplemental budget.But it’s what didn’t...
In the old days, the decision to fund a retirement account with pre-tax dollars (traditional IRA) or fund it with after-tax dollars (Roth IRA) often hinged on when a person predicted his income would be highest and thus the tax savings greatest.So, if a person thought his or her income...
Jeff PetersenJeff Petersen retires on March 31 after more than 20 years as CEO of Petersen Hastings, the Tri-Cities wealth management firm established by his late father, Jim Petersen, in 1962.Scott Sarber a longtime member of the team and partner, steps up to the role of president and CEO.While Petersen...
Michael NovakovichMichael Novakovich, president and CEO of Visit Tri-Cities, is looking forward to May, which is when the tourism agency he leads expects to finalize the economic impact of tourism on the local economy in 2021.After a pandemic-battered showing in 2020, signs of revival will be welcome news to an...
The women overseeing two popular waterfront restaurants in Richland didn’t intend for their jobs to become their careers.Kassandra Bell of Anthony’s at Columbia Point, earned a degree in psychology (which comes in handy interacting with staff and guests), and Cara McDonald of Budd’s Broiler spent two decades in real estate...
As I write this, the state is preparing to roll back Covid-19 mandates: Masks are coming off, spring is in the air, and there’s a sense of a promise to return to (something like) normal.The hospitality industry has been waiting for this moment for two years, and so have the...
As we might suspect from our own travel, tourism took a huge hit in 2020.The Benton-Franklin Trends metric on direct travel and tourism spending makes this painfully clear.Total estimated spending in the two counties plunged from about $496 million to $345 million, or a drop of 30%.What has been affected?...
A gaming lounge at Columbia Center is closed with a handwritten note in the window: Closed because of staffing issues.It’s one small sign that the Great Resignation is in full force in the Tri-Cities, disproportionately affecting the hospitality and visitor sector. As Michael Novakovich, CEO of Visit Tri-Cities reports, local...
Richland’s Solar Spirits launches cocktail lineSolar Spirits Distillery of Richland has launched Pioneer Cocktails, premixed cocktails in a bottle.Pioneer Cocktails are sold in the Solar Spirits tasting room and each bottle contains the equivalent of about four cocktails.The lineup includes the Martinez, which pairs Old Tom Jim with cherry liquor,...
