HAPO Community Credit Union has extended its “member-centric” focus to include businesses.The Richland-based credit union recently launched a commercial division that stands ready to helps businesses, large and small.“We are member-centric and focus on what our members’ needs are. Sometimes their needs get lost in bigger banks,” said Monte Drake,...

270 eco-friendly homes certified in Tri-Cities last year compared to 1,000 in SeattleThe owner of Easton Construction’s model home in the Inspiration Estates neighborhood in Kennewick looks like most custom-built homes — a wide and open interior floor plan bringing together the living room, dining room and kitchen with white...

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to fix Karen Miller's title.Tri-City interests are looking at the possibility of installing charging stations for electric vehicles in the Mid-Columbia.Right now, that possibility is in the initial brainstorming stage.The Franklin County and Benton County public utility districts, Energy Northwest and other local...

Pacific Steel & Recycling customers include food processing, construction, towing companiesLong before Jackie Koleber became the manager of Pacific Steel & Recycling’s Kennewick location, she was a customer.[blockquote quote="People don’t realize they can recycle a dishwasher or a hot water heater or Christmas lights." source="Jackie Koleber, manager at Kennewick's Pacific...

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland is looking at a couple of potentially lucrative sources for biofuels.Poop and algae.The poop approach will be tested on a full scale soon in Vancouver, B.C. The algae approach is eventually headed for tests at an Arizona facility.Biofuels refer to a wide range of fuels...

By Wine News ServicePalencia Wine Co. plans to put 500 cases into the totes this yearA Walla Walla winemaker who is relocating part of his business to the Tri-Cities also is doing everything he can to reduce his carbon footprint.[blockquote quote="I’ve seen first-hand how much waste can be generated with...

Three new food trucks will join the Food Truck Friday lunch program in downtown Pasco: Hot Tamales, Fast & Curryous and Rex’ Top Shelf.[blockquote quote="I’m so excited to be sharing a multi-generation recipe." source="Paulina Perez, owner of Hot Tamales" align="right" max_width="300px"]Hot Tamales is owned and operated by Paulina Perez with...

By Paul GuppyWith so much commotion happening in our national government, it is reassuring to know one effective policy in our state is working every day, quietly and effectively, exactly as planned. Paul Guppy, Washington Policy CenterThat policy is based on the wise decision voters made in 2001 to enact...