A new set of worker protections take effect Oct. 1, and state justice officials and business groups are advising business owners to learn what their new obligations are under the law. 

The last weeks of summer find much of the Northwest experiencing historic drought causing water supply shortages for public water and electric utilities, costing farmers tens of millions of dollars in lost crops and leaving vegetation and soils dry and susceptible to fires. 

Twin City Foods plans to lay off more than 100 employees as it consolidates its Ellensburg and Pasco plants.

The Kennewick Irrigation District Board of Directors has appointed a new district manager and board secretary. 

Heads up, wine enthusiasts: There’s a new appellation in Washington’s wine country and there’s already some well-established wineries within it. 

A group of Mid-Columbia irrigators and the Washington Department of Ecology are sparring over a long-planned housing project for agricultural workers west of Paterson along the Columbia River. 

National meat processor Tyson Foods is downsizing its operations and its plant outside the Tri-Cities is on the block.

One of 17 defendants in a lawsuit over nitrate-contaminated groundwater in Oregon’s Umatilla and Morrow counties will pay $6.2 million to resolve legal claims against it. 

Klickitat County is covered by rolling hills of hay production, vineyards and grazing livestock. But the county, which is roughly the size of Delaware and has about 24,300 residents, is also an epicenter in the region’s battles over clean energy facilities and more recently, data centers. 

State ecology officials recently said it’s not all bad news when it comes to the current state of Washington’s water year. But just like water, good news is also in short supply.