Articles by Guest Contributor
When it comes to coronavirus, protect your health and your wallet
Scammers look to capitalize on the news of the moment, especially if the headlines can instill fear and motivate people to act. The ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus is no exception. While scientists and medical professionals are working overtime to find ways to test for and stem the spread of the virus, the Federal Trade…
Bill aims to support next generation of hydropower
As I have said in the past and will continue to vocalize in our nation’s capital: Hydropower is truly the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest. From the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest power producing hydroelectric dam in North America, to the dams along the Columbia and Snake rivers, Central Washington has come to rely on…
Rebound and Recovery website aims to help small business bounce back
We’ve all learned new terms and acronyms in the last few months, from “flattening the curve” and “social distancing” to WFH (working from home) and PPE (personal protective equipment). It’s remarkable how quickly Covid-19 has upended our lives and inserted itself into our daily rhythms. If you run a business, social distancing and PPE are…
Paycheck Protection Program still has $130B to support struggling businesses
During the past few weeks, I’ve been reading a lot about hope and its necessary role in healing, recovery and moving forward, not only as individuals, but as communities and a nation. I’ve been talking to our local team about the role the U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, must have in providing hope to…
Global gut: Wine grape glut may cut into industry’s profits
While the quality of grapes and winemaking in Washington state remain world-class, the global glut of wine continues to cut into the industry’s bottom line. Consumers stand to benefit, whenever shelter-in-place restrictions and pandemic-affected spending allow. “The Washington grape market is suffering from a structural imbalance between supply and demand that will likely require substantial…
Concords rebound: Juice grape growers step up to meet demand
There is no glitz or glamour associated with Concord grape production in Washington state, but the industry is looking better now than in recent years. The reversal stems from growers removing vines, which means they are sending fewer grapes to processors for Concord juice and jelly. But that’s not the only reason for optimism in…
Together in harmony: Developing young voices
How do we, as a society, know that our next generation will be capable of solving the global problems left behind for them to handle? How do we ensure that our future leaders will be able to think independently and multidimensionally, with compassion and confidence? How can we prepare them to face obstacles with the…
A struggling economy is no time to raise taxes
Hundreds of our fellow citizens stepped up to run for elected office during the recent candidate filing week. From local to federal positions, this is an example of our representative democracy at its finest. It’s also a reminder that there are real problems facing us right now, and many of the people solving them will…
Tri-City manufacturing fares well in era of Covid-19
Manufacturing in the greater Tri-Cities certainly isn’t the largest sector. By recent (2018) average annual headcount, it ranks ninth, with about 8,200 workers. If you’re wondering, government – at all levels – is largest. Manufacturing also isn’t a greater provider of high wages in the local economy. In 2018, it paid an annual wage of…
Put it in writing: The insufficiency of the handshake deal
Have you ever yearned for the good old days where a handshake deal was all you needed? The days where, with that handshake, you could trust that the deal would get done and get done right? Those days of trust are not gone. People are still generally trustworthy. People want to fulfill their obligations. But,…
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