Washington Policy CenterGovernment Reform DirectorJason MercierWhat is the Washington Policy Center?Washington Policy Center (WPC) is an independent, nonprofit think tank that promotes sound public policy based on free-market solutions.WPC improves lives of Washington state’s citizens by providing accurate, high-quality research for policymakers, the media and the general public. Headquartered in...

Recreational cannabis sales in Benton County reached more than $39.6 million in fiscal year 2021.That’s up 16% from $34 million in fiscal year 2020.The increase over the previous year shows a slower rate of growth compared to the nearly 43% growth rate in fiscal year 2020 over the previous year.Statewide,...

Tim Arntzen, longtime CEO of the Port of Kennewick, narrowly survived a job challenge during a stormy performance review by the port’s divided commission.The performance review was conducted in public session during the commission’s Nov. 9 meeting, held virtually because of the pandemic. The commission voted 2-1 to accept the...

Scott Keller, the Port of Benton’s retired executive director, is seeking appointment to the seat vacated by Commissioner Bob Larson, who retired on Oct. 28, four years into a six-year term.The port’s remaining two commissioners, Roy Keck and Jane Hagarty, intend to appoint Larson’s replacement on Nov. 29. Keller is...

It’s not the typical narrative for small business owners.When statewide shutdowns in the wake of Covid-19 closed the Richland Public Library’s doors, its café, Novel Coffee + Teas, shut down with it.Though many businesses took advantage of the lull to re-imagine their brands, spaces and business models, few were faced...

Steven Whitehead played football for years, getting a cup of coffee with the National Football League’s New Orleans Saints before embarking on a successful indoor football league career with the Tri-Cities Fever.The last season with the now-defunct Fever came in 2015, when he was named the Indoor Football League’s (IFL)...

A group of Tri-City builders is turning its focus away from commercial development to focus on multifamily projects.It’s a strategy that appears to be a smart business move for Urban Range LLC.Four partners make up the LLC which brings together under one umbrella a group of experienced builders with businesses...

Susanne and Jessie Ayala had a plan.It just didn’t include opening Ciao Trattoria in downtown Pasco, which they did in October.The Ayalas intended to leverage their restaurant experience and the success of their Ciao Wagon food truck into a sit-down restaurant in east Pasco, at the Osprey Pointe Marketplace, which...

A former fire station in the heart of Benton City will be the new home of Pepper Preppers LLC, a hot sauce business, as well as a commercial kitchen available for lease to a limited number of food startups.Cheri and Bill Smoot, founders of Pepper Preppers LLC, have a $211,000...

Prompted by complaints about the blasts from trains rumbling through Pasco, the city is looking at what it would take to create a “railroad quiet zone.”The city council reviewed the state and federal requirements for quiet zones during a July workshop but has taken no further steps since then.Steve Worley,...