By Andrew KirkThose who graduated from college or a university this year could expect to make on average about $50,000 for their first year of work, according to several independent national surveys.They could also expect, on average, to have about that much in student debt.Those working in the construction trades...

President of Columbia Basin CollegeNumber of employees you oversee: The college employs approximately 700 regular employees, not including adjuncts, part-time hourly and student workers. Rebekah S. WoodsBrief background about your college: Columbia Basin College is a public community college serving the Tri-Cities and surrounding communities since 1955. Our mission is...

By Andrew KirkAt statehood, the federal government granted Washington millions of acres of land to be managed for the support of public schools, including universities. Today, it, along with other lands dedicated to different state needs, is managed by the state Department of Natural Resources.A portion of the 1 million...

New state standardized salary schedule responsible for pay discrepanciesKennewick teachers walked out of their classrooms, delaying the start of school by four days this year amid salary concerns.The move resulted in an 8 percent raise for educators in the Tri-Cities’ biggest school district, putting their salaries more in line with...

By D. Patrick JonesTo what degree will the Tri-Cities participate in the knowledge economy well underway this century? First, a quick definition: a knowledge economy is one where a large number of jobs exploit brainpower. We need to look no further than King County to see what this kind of economy looks like. In the economists’ taxonomy of jobs, where there’s...

Job’s Nursery celebrates 80 years in business next yearAs the calendar flips to October, families begin to visit the region’s pumpkin patches.Many head to Job’s Nursery in Pasco.“We have two acres of pumpkins in our pumpkin patch,” said Alex Job, who has been a co-owner of the business since 2012,...

SAGECollegePrep Services offers test prep classes, private tutoring, college counselingWhen Rich Quadrel retired from his research and development manager position at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2015, he thought he’d return to something he really enjoyed years before—teaching.He and his wife Marilyn started SAGECollege Prep Services four years ago and have been...

Demolition work on a former south Richland gas station is complete but the corner lot’s future is still up in the air.The gas station at 590 W. Gage Blvd. closed in the spring, and the owner of the local Roasters coffee chain announced his plan to add a drive-thru coffee...

By Kris JohnsonWashington makes some really cool things.We’re famous for many of them—airplanes, apples, software, wheat and more. The state’s iconic manufacturers established the foundation that our recent economic expansion is built upon.But there are many medium and small manufacturers that fewer people know about. The fishing rod manufacturer in...

A nationwide home décor store is now open in Kennewick.At Home opened  Oct. 1 at 867 N. Columbia Center Blvd. in Kennewick. The Kennewick store is the third At Home in the state and 210th store opening nationwide.The Texas-based company spent $2.6 million to remodel the former Shopko building next...