A nearly $10 million federal grant will pay for rail improvements from Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick to Horn Rapids Road in Richland. The work means faster train speeds, reduced wait time for drivers and emergency vehicles, and more railcars using the lines. 

A Richland High graduate and Broadway star will speak at this year’s Tri-Citan of the Year ceremony on April 17 at Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Nominations are still being accepted for the award. 

Republican state Sen. Matt Boehnke filed a bill after saying the recent Energy Facility Siting Evaluation Council process to approve the siting of the Horse Heaven wind farm in his district did not properly account for local concerns and gave the governor too much authority. 

Efforts to curb housing costs in Washington state are falling short of helping even those living in state-funded housing units as the availability of homes, inflation and other factors continue to squeeze renters. 

Governor-elect Bob Ferguson recently announced the appointment to lead the agency, which manages a budget of $7.9 billion and administers more than 100 programs in the areas of housing, energy, community and economic development, local government and business services.

Many federal employees who currently work remotely could lose some of their pay if a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, passes Congress. 

The estimated $49 billion in medical debt of 15 million Americans will no longer be permitted as part of credit reporting following the finalization of a new  federal rule. 

Two showings of “The Dream…We Almost Never Heard” are planned Jan. 18 in Richland.

“Inching up to just shy of 7%, mortgage rates reached their highest point in nearly six months,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. 

Two men with a combined 40 years of experience in the transit field after working for transit agencies on the east and west coasts have joined Ben Franklin Transit’s executive team.