Fees to use a credit card for purchases cost the average family more than $1,000 a year and also increase costs for businesses while banks and credit card companies see record profits from collecting those fees with each swipe. 

Despite a wet winter so far, the drought declared in April 2024 is still in effect, state ecology officials say. Experts are still watching for definitive evidence of sustained drought recovery, such as improved snowpack, streamflows and soil moisture. 

Walla Walla-based Banner Corp. reported a net income of $46.4 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024, leading the company to announce a quarterly cash dividend of 48 cents per share. 

REI Co-op president and CEO Eric Artz, announced Jan. 23 that he will retire in March and the outdoor specialty retailer co-op’s board has named a former board member and executive with other active lifestyle brands as his successor. 

From recruiting, retaining and retraining an effective workforce to mitigating potential supply chain disruptions, the group says it is more critical than ever for manufacturers to be prepared to navigate an increasingly dynamic marketplace. 

The report, led by experts from Washington State University and the University of Washington, described the citizen-led commission as “dysfunctional” and in need of reform. State lawmakers are discussing the effectiveness of the commission’s structure and what can be done to improve it – including potentially dissolving the citizen-led panel altogether. 

Two U.S. lawmakers have introduced new legislation to ensure the continued operation of the Lower Snake River dams to provide power and irrigation to the region. 

The state added nearly 12,000 jobs in the final month of 2024, putting the unemployment rate at its lowest point for the year. It is still up slightly from December 2023 and still above the current national unemployment rate of 3.8%. 

The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalists for its annual awards celebrating the top restaurants and bars, including many in the Pacific Northwest. 

If passed, Washington would join Utah as the only state with a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration limit. Other states have considered similar legislation, but haven’t passed it. Opponents argue the legislation, Senate Bill 5067, would elevate the liability risk for bars and other establishments that sell alcohol.