Articles by Guest Contributor
Washington grape growers inject $875,000 into economy at annual convention
By Andy Perdue This month, wine grape growers from across the state and throughout the Northwest descended on the Tri-Cities for the Washington Winegrowers Association’s annual convention and trade show Feb. 11-14. About 2,000 members of the wine industry were expected at the Three Rivers Convention Center and Toyota Center to attend seminars, learn about…
Legislative session focused on spending, taxes
By Kris Johnson The 66th Legislature convened Jan. 14 and is slated to end April 28. During that time, the top job for lawmakers is to craft the state’s two-year operating budget. The good news is they have record tax collections to work with — more than $50 billion for the 2019-21 budget cycle. To…
Read between the leaves: Tea is good brew for you
By Marilou Shea Did you know that for every cup of coffee consumed daily in the world three cups of tea are consumed? Or that next to water, tea is the most consumed beverage the world over? There are more than 1,500 varieties of tea varying in color and taste. Consumers today are beginning to…
Local or out-of-town attorney? Go local
By Beau Ruff When businesses need attorneys to assist on either day-to-day matters (e.g. labor and employment issues) or once-in-a-lifetime matters (e.g. selling the business), the business will need to choose whether to engage and rely upon local counsel or seek the services of an attorney located in a larger metropolitan area. Generally, the business…
Contractors squeezed by higher costs while demand remains strong
By Jennifer L. Drey Increased costs for materials and labor, coupled with national tariffs and state regulations are presenting challenges and squeezing margins for general contractors in the Tri-Cities as demand for construction remains heavy, according to those in the industry. Nationally, the costs of all inputs to construction increased by 4.9 percent between November…
Farm Bill could clear way for state’s industrial hemp growers
By Michelle Dupler A federal Farm Bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in December opens the door for legal industrial hemp farming nationwide, but it remains to be seen exactly how the crop will be regulated as a legal commodity in Washington state. The Washington State Department of Agriculture has said it…
Tri-City health care sector ranks as region’s second largest work force
By D. Patrick Jones Despite recent challenges faced by local hospitals, health care here is acquiring all the features of a major medical center. Benton-Franklin Trends data makes this quite clear, tracking the share of the work force employed in the five highest-employing sectors. Health care is the second from the bottom in the graph.…
2019: The year of greens, grasshoppers and gut health
By Marilou Shea Unlike the Pantone color of the year that’s selected annually by a chosen few, the food trends I’m about to share — most falling into a “healthy” category — are ultimately based on the masses — yes, that’s you, me, us. As if you didn’t know, keto, kale and gluten-free diets were…
Kennewick attorney fields frequently asked questions about DUIs
By Alex Johnson As a DUI defense attorney here in the Tri-Cities, I often get questions about this area of law. Here are short answers to frequently asked questions about driving under the influence. What is the “legal limit” for a DUI? When I’m asked this question, it is usually pertaining to alcohol-based DUIs. The…
Tax code provides gift that doesn’t receive the appreciation it’s due
By Beau Ruff At death, there is a little-known tax benefit that the federal government provides. It is an adjustment to tax basis and it can have a profound effect on the taxation of the assets owned at death. This column discusses two kinds of taxes that apply at death: the estate tax and the…
Latest News
E-Newsletter
Sign-up for our e-newsletter filled with featured stories and latest news.
