By Amanda MasonFor the Tri-Cities Area Journal of BusinessToxic algae can no longer hide in plain sight.The Benton-Franklin Health District Water Lab in Kennewick is now home to ELISA, a testing kit and plate reader that detects toxins from algae blooms in water samples collected from local lakes and rivers.The...

The greater Tri-Cities is rich with STEM jobs.The chart, taken from the Vitals of the Association of Washington Business Institute, makes this clear.The density of STEM jobs in 2021 in the two-county workforce was slightly over 5.6%. That places the metro area at the top of the heap for STEM...

Science and technology have made many things better when it comes to sports.And they will continue to do so in the future.The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business talked to some Tri-City area high school athletic directors and one football coach about what science and technology have done for sports.Here is...

A longtime West Richland diner once named for Jamie McCallum is now owned by Jamie himself, and the first order of business was changing the restaurant’s name – to honor his young daughter with a terminal cancer diagnosis.Jamie and his wife, Frances, launched Lil’ Moon Diner at 3790 W. Van...

Columbia Birth Center pulled up roots this spring.The hospital and home birth alternative for those seeking more holistic health care services moved to an updated and more spacious location in Richland next door to the Kadlec Regional Medical Center campus.The birth center’s new home at 948 Stevens Drive was formerly...

An Oregon company that builds and operates residential facilities for seniors broke ground in May on Riverwalk Estates, a 149-unit, $40 million facility that will provide assisted and independent units near Canyon Lakes.Salem-based Hawthorn Construction Group is building the four-story facility off Highway 395 at 4704 W. Hildebrand Blvd., behind...

The title will be changing soon at Richland’s Magnolia Music Studio, but the love for making and teaching music will continue.Magnolia Music Studio is being sold by Cynthia Vaughn to Samantha Schneider, who takes over ownership on Aug. 1.Schneider will change the name to Creative Music Learning Center Richland just...

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, a privately held Oklahoma City company with 590 24-hour truck stops and convenience stores in 41 states, is finalizing construction of its latest location, at Pasco’s King City.The $10 million, Arby’s-anchored travel center is one of 40 expected to open in 2022 and is...

The Port of Kennewick has canceled plans to celebrate the latest phase of its wine-oriented village on Columbia Drive because of extreme heat in the forecast on July 28.The forecast calls for temperatures of up to 111 degrees."We're taking this precaution because these high temperatures can negatively impact the health...

The Port of Benton evicted the longtime operator of its railroad track network in June after a Benton County court ruled the tenant breached its duty to maintain the tracks.Tri-City Railroad Co., which operated the port’s southern connection, was found in default of its lease for failing to maintain the...