The news that President Joe Biden plans to resume leasing federal land for oil exploration maybe good five years from now, but that action alone won’t bring down record gas prices at the pump in the months ahead.  According to American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average for a gallon of...

National Travel & Tourism Week may have wrapped in early May, but here at Visit Tri-Cities we have reason to celebrate tourism every day.From our rich history steeped in science to the amazing rivers and outdoor recreation that is only enhanced by our climate to the unique gathering places, our...

When people vow to spend the rest of their lives together in wedded bliss, they sometimes bring a child or children from a previous relationship.Maybe after the union, the couple shares a child of their own in addition to the children from previous relationships. This is the typical “his, hers,...

Our annual section on the work being done to clean up the Hanford nuclear reservation north of Richland provides updates from the main contractors engineering and doing the work and the regulators tasked with making sure it gets done safely.We also have stories on the massive budget required to clean...

Looking back at the 2022 state legislative session, it’s hard not to be disappointed at the missed opportunities.Yes, lawmakers accomplished some things that are good for the economy, like shoring up the unemployment insurance trust fund, lowering the B&O tax threshold for the smallest of small businesses and passing a...

With Covid-19 vaccines widely dispensed and masking requirements mostly lifted, will “work from home” end?Will workers return to the office at pre-pandemic levels?Probably not! It is expensive to drive, and it is a waste of time and fuel to idle in traffic jams. Safety is another factor.Gas prices continue to...

Non-retirement investment accounts are often set up with wealth management firms.When the account is set up, there is an option to put a beneficiary designation on the account and oftentimes the account is then designated as a TOD (Transfer on Death) or a POD (Payable on Death) account.With this type...

How fortuitous that our annual focus on the hospitality industry coincides with the end of our state’s mask mandate.Washington Gov. Jay Inslee lifted the mandate on March 12, in tandem with Oregon and California.

Despite a mountain of money and bipartisan proposals to ease the state’s tax burden, legislators this year sidestepped their chance to provide Washington families and employers with meaningful, broad-based tax relief.Budget-writers in Olympia had a record budget surplus, providing the perfect opportunity to help ease the burden on employers and...

When St. Patrick’s Day rolls around on March 17, the Irish will have lots to celebrate. Ireland is still clean and green. And now, it is spending $15 million to bring visitors back. Irish tourism officials are targeting the 35 million people living in the U.S. with Irish heritage. They are...