New state standardized salary schedule responsible for pay discrepanciesKennewick teachers walked out of their classrooms, delaying the start of school by four days this year amid salary concerns.The move resulted in an 8 percent raise for educators in the Tri-Cities’ biggest school district, putting their salaries more in line with...

By D. Patrick JonesTo what degree will the Tri-Cities participate in the knowledge economy well underway this century? First, a quick definition: a knowledge economy is one where a large number of jobs exploit brainpower. We need to look no further than King County to see what this kind of economy looks like. In the economists’ taxonomy of jobs, where there’s...

Nearly a year into the #MeToo movement, the awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace has prompted many large and small business owners to take a closer look at their own policies and procedures. John Heaton, president of Pay Plus BenefitsJohn Heaton, president of Pay Plus Benefits in Kennewick, believes...

New businesses are opening up left and right in Tri-Cities, while existing ones continue to grow and expand, with new development opportunities like the Vista Field overhaul and other, smaller scale projects on the horizon.But there’s a lot of nuance inherent in starting a new business or expanding an existing...

What causes a kid or teen to drop out of school? The answer to that question can be vast — and attributed to myriad factors, from housing to economic status to food and transportation.nEnter Paulina Valdez, who works for Communities in Schools, or CIS, and has a portable...

The U.S. Department of Energy and Bechtel National Inc. are collaborating with Columbia Basin College in Pasco to help prepare chemists for their work at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant’s analytical laboratory.The 3,300-square-foot laboratory at CBC will be used to prepare the analytical laboratory’s future staff for work...

By Lori AraujoThe Department of Energy’s Volpentest HAMMER Federal Training Center is a critical resource for worker health and safety at the Hanford site.The facility north of Richland features an 88-acre campus comprised of numerous classrooms, specialty training areas and props that create a variety of hazardous material and emergency...

An event featuring national speakers and activities designed to bring together job seekers, policy makers, educators, labor unions, tribes, veterans and a variety of industries is from Oct. 1-3 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.Called Connect Tri-Cities, the event is part job fair, scholarship challenge and conference that...

By David ForsythOne sign that an industry is maturing and becoming an important part of the regional economy is the development of an educational infrastructure that trains its existing and future workers. David ForsythAdditional support comes in the form of research from some of these same facilities. Such is the...

By Stacey DennyAnel Suarez credits a group of female colleagues for encouraging her to apply for a new position at Mission Support Alliance.Suarez said members of MSA’s Synergy Network bolstered her confidence to seek the promotion.“All of the women in the group were very supportive and encouraging. I’m not sure...