Kadlec has shifted to a new medium to use in its ventilators and similar respiratory therapy equipment that is just as effective and safer to handle. It also will net the hospital about $20,000 per year in cost savings.

Water is starting to flow through the area’s canals, and it could be pricier this year for irrigation districts or landowners. 

Have concerns about how rising temperatures, wildfires and low snowpack could threaten the Tri-Cities? The local city governments need to hear from you. 

A sustainable aviation fuel production facility has launched the siting process for its facility at the end of 2024 by initiating environmental reviews. Once built, the facility will convert gaseous feedstocks into sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel using chemical processes.

Despite a wet winter so far, the drought declared in April 2024 is still in effect, state ecology officials say. Experts are still watching for definitive evidence of sustained drought recovery, such as improved snowpack, streamflows and soil moisture. 

The report, led by experts from Washington State University and the University of Washington, described the citizen-led commission as “dysfunctional” and in need of reform. State lawmakers are discussing the effectiveness of the commission’s structure and what can be done to improve it – including potentially dissolving the citizen-led panel altogether. 

Two U.S. lawmakers have introduced new legislation to ensure the continued operation of the Lower Snake River dams to provide power and irrigation to the region. 

The three plaintiffs challenging a wind and solar power facility in the Horse Heaven Hills share in their legal challenges a laundry list of how Gov. Jay Inslee, state agencies and the courts allegedly have violated everything from state environmental protection laws to local land use planning regulations and limited access to proceedings around the decision.

A local conservation district plans to build a new facility in West Richland.

Republican state Sen. Matt Boehnke filed a bill after saying the recent Energy Facility Siting Evaluation Council process to approve the siting of the Horse Heaven wind farm in his district did not properly account for local concerns and gave the governor too much authority.