While funding is key to our national defense, having enough soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen/women in the ranks is golden. However, persistent recruitment shortfalls are growing problems.

Employers are resourceful, and they have risen to the challenge. But it’s time for things to settle down. This is not the time to adopt new taxes and add new layers of burdensome regulation.

About 2,700 engineers work in Benton and Franklin counties, or about 2.3% of the workforce, according to analysis from Benton-Franklin Trends.

STCU recently opened a standalone drive-thru branch at 1335 E. Main St., Othello.

Fortify Holdings LLC recently completed construction of The Alegre apartment complex at 1520 N. Oregon Ave. in Pasco.

Chris and Craig Eerkes have opened Golf Universe at 825 N. Edison St., Suite 190, Kennewick.

Swigg Coffee Bar has opened at 1472 Bombing Range Road in the Paradise Parkway Complex in West Richland.

Lawmakers have made their way to Olympia to kick off 60 days of lawmaking. The session is set to start Jan. 8. If you’re following along for the first time, you may have a lot of questions. This guide should help you follow along with all the action over the next few months. 

Vatik Dulo of the Camas, Washington-based Akula Group and investor Ryan Foster are negotiating to buy a 13,077-square-foot parcel in the former airport that's now envisioned as a vibrant, walkable mixed-use development. A purchase and sale agreement is expected to come before the Port of Kennewick commission soon.

Kylee Sullivan owns and operates multiple child care locations serving more than 1,000 kids in the Tri-Cities – and she's not showing any signs of slowing down.