Articles by Guest Contributor
COVID-19 brings daunting challenge to Tri-City economy
An oft-used description of economics has been the “dismal science.” Most of us economists soundly dislike that nickname. After all, recent Nobel prize winners in economics have been rewarded for their insights into poverty alleviation (2019) and technological change (2018). But this month, I present some definitely dismal numbers. In a departure from prior columns,…
Oil and mineral rights difficult to profit from, complicate estate planning
Property rights are often considered a “bundle of sticks” where a person can own varying interests in land. The person can own the entire bundle—called “fee simple.” Or a person can own distinct and specific interests in a piece of property. One form of ownership is the ownership of only the oil and mineral rights…
Economic crash makes dams more critical
We are learning many painful lessons during the coronavirus shutdown. A key lesson that if a policy isn’t economically sustainable, it isn’t environmentally sustainable. This is a particularly important lesson to remember when considering how to promote recovery of salmon and steelhead populations on the Snake River. Earlier this year, the federal agencies finished the…
Let’s work to find a new path forward
Several federal agencies just released a massive court-ordered federal study (called an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS) about the Snake and Columbia river dams. If you had other things on your mind last month, that’s more than understandable. Also, you didn’t miss much: the EIS is just another federal study aimed at propping up the…
Economic challenge requires resourcefulness, resolve
Reopening Washington’s economy while fighting the coronavirus will be an incredible challenge, but there is a way forward. We’ll get through this. The path forward requires sober assessment of what we’re up against: A crisis that has put us on a path toward 1 million unemployed, with one in five Washington workers out of a…
We must take steps to care for older adults’ mental health
No matter your age, mental health and well-being are influenced by numerous factors and are susceptible to change. Right now, most people, across all sectors of society, are being affected by the global health crisis related to the new coronavirus. One particular group we should keep in mind during this challenging time is older adults,…
A look back at a century-old graduation in the age of coronavirus
By East Benton County Historical Society On May 14, 1920, exactly 100 years ago this month, Kennewick High School graduated its 13th class with festivities and ceremonies marking the occasion. Kennewick graduated its first class in 1908, and this year marks its 113th graduating class. The tradition of graduation ceremonies, complete with pomp and circumstance,…
One Hanford team working on project of the century
Hanford is one of this country’s greatest public works projects, both during a national security mission that lasted for more than four decades in the last century and during its current cleanup mission. Just as our Hanford workforce overcame challenges to deliver for our nation in the past, we are proudly delivering safe, efficient and…
State stays focused on cleanup to protect future generations
In the spring, Tri-City community members with science backgrounds are called upon to help judge science fairs, teach at Salmon Summit and educate the public at the Hanford Health and Safety Expo. Our Nuclear Waste Program, one of the agencies overseeing Hanford cleanup, usually supports those events in force. Not this year, of course. The…
Vit plant drives for more progress in 2020
The vit plant entered this new decade looking different than ever before. And we are well positioned for another transformational year in 2020. We are driving toward spring 2021 when we will heat up the first of two melters inside the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). We are…
