Articles by Guest Contributor
Successful libel lawsuits can be complex
By Beau Ruff When a person conveys false or misleading information about another person or entity, the injured party has a potential cause of action (lawsuit) against the offending individual. Regrettably, most people misunderstand this cause of action and the requirements for a successful lawsuit. An aggrieved person may feel slighted but the lawsuit to…
Nonprofit to build group homes for developmentally disabled adults
By Arielle Dreher A nonprofit’s new Kennewick development aims to offer more housing options for developmentally disabled adults in the Tri-City area. The 1.7-acre dirt and asphalt lot with a community garden in the corner is the future home of Carmina’s Place, a cluster of five community group homes for adults living with disabilities that…
Tri-City retailers may rejoice this holiday shopping season
By D. Patrick Jones It’s November and ’tis the season. Holiday decorations, a parade of ads, the Hallmark channel showing lots of Christmas trees and, of course, the ever-present music reminds us that it is time to shop. For most retailers, as this quarter goes, so go the results for the year. So, a look…
Local unemployment rate hits lowest point in 28 years
By Jennifer L. Drey It’s a good time to be a job seeker in the Tri-Cities. The unemployment rate for Benton and Franklin counties hit a record low in September, dropping to 4.1 percent and marking its lowest point in the 28 years kept on record by the state’s Employment Security Department. The figure was…
Second chance hiring may expand talent pool for Tri-City employers
By Jerry Goodstein Washington became the 11th state to adopt the Fair Chance Act on June 2, extending “ban the box” job seeker protections to cover the state’s public and private employers. The bill delays criminal background checks until an applicant meets the basic criteria for the job and prohibits employers from automatically or categorically…
Empowering employees helps business owners succeed
By Danielle Kane Congratulations, business owner. You have successfully found and hired a team of smart and capable employees to help accomplish the organization’s goals. The team is working well – until one day, your top manager needs an unexpected couple of days off during a busy time when you and your other employees are…
A pumpkin primer in time for the holidays
By Marilou Shea It came as no surprise to my mom when I told her that Lurene Fleshman of Harris Produce in Pasco told me that they don’t use pumpkins in their pie-making. They use squash. In New England, where we’re from, squash pie was the original pumpkin pie. It was in that same region…
Impact investing means aligning your portfolio with your purpose
By Meredith Farris You want to make a difference in the world in a way that reflects your deeply-held beliefs. Increasingly, investors are defining long-term value as not only realizing attractive returns, but also generating positive social or environmental impact. To that end, they are looking for ways to align their portfolios with their purpose,…
Famous trophy helps to raise money for autism foundation
By Annie Fowler The most iconic trophy in sports made an appearance in the Tri-Cities last month, helping to raise $15,000 for the Responding to Autism Center in Kennewick. The Stanley Cup, the guest of former NHL goalie Olie Kolzig, made an appearance Oct. 23 at the Carson Kolzig Foundation in Kennewick and at a…
Place real property in an LLC to reduce liability exposure
By Beau Ruff Generally, in Washington state, income-producing real property should be placed into a Washington limited liability company, or LLC. What is real property? Real property is any property that is of a non-movable nature: land, house, condo, building, etc. It is distinguished from personal property. What does it mean to be income producing?…
