Washington state moved one step closer Feb. 16 to creating a personal income tax two years after the Legislature said it wouldn’t.

State Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, on Feb. 21, will hold his first town hall of the 2026 legislative session and since declaring his run for the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Two state lawmakers serving communities in and near the Tri-Cities are hoping the state will take advantage of the U.S. Department of Energy’s efforts to establish sites around the country that support all aspects of the nuclear industry, from fuel production to waste storage. 

Community members will have their first opportunity Feb. 21 to see the new spaces, playground and other improvements at the community center that has long served Pasco’s east side neighborhoods. 

Bonneville Power Administration officials are feeling more optimistic about the power provider’s finances for 2026 than at this time last year, but still anticipate challenges ahead. 

Benton-Franklin Health District is among six recipients of a grant aimed at making it easier for families during pregnancy or who recently welcomed a child to access mental health services. 

More than half of working-age adults get their health insurance through an employer, but in many states premium contributions and deductibles take a significant bite out of household incomes.

The revisions show the United States added only 181,000 jobs last year — the first year of the new Trump administration — one of the lowest increases ever outside recessions. 

Pasco’s new aquatics center is scheduled to open later this year and officials are seeking the public’s input on three possible names and logos for the facility. 

Columbia Generating Station was shut down early in the morning of Feb. 12 after operators found issues with the pumps circulating water through the reactor’s core.