Bechtel recently reached a key milestone in its quest to turn hazardous Hanford waste into vitrified glass. The company, which oversees the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, known around the Tri-Cities as the vit plant, completed the first set of test glass pours into a stainless-steel storage container designed to hold vitrified radioactive and chemical waste.

The mission’s existing shelter for women and children is on North Second Avenue in Pasco. It’s in a building that’s more than 100 years old, with aging electrical, plumbing and heating systems.

The Brick Shoppe, at 3902 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite 110, is on track for a grand opening in January. The store will feature new and used Lego, including sets, minifigures and loose bricks to buy in bulk. Customers also will be able to create their own minifigures, or host birthday parties there.

New Gesa members who are referred by a current member and have a promo code must open a savings account, a SmartPlus Checking account and a consumer debit card, and then every swipe by the new member means one entry into the monthly $50,000 giveaway. The contest runs through Dec. 31.

C12 Business Forums wants to expand its faith-based organization to the Tri-Cities to provide peer advisory groups and learning opportunities for CEOs, business owners and key decision makers.

Bikes for Tikes raises money to buy and build bikes to distribute throughout the Northwest. The organization was founded in 2009 by the UA Local 598 Plumbers and Steamfitters Union.

In the past year, the Tri-Cities lost several business and civic leaders who have shaped the area, including
TRIDEC vice president and Tri-Cities champion Gary Petersen; community advocate and entrepreneur Josefina Wannarachue; and Charles “Chuck” Stack, a local Round Table Pizza owner.
Here’s a look back at some of the Tri-Cities’ most notable losses in 2023.

As Tumbleweeds prepares to open a new restaurant in West Richland, it also is trying to figure out the fate of its Richland restaurant as the end of its 10-year lease approaches.