
Articles by Laura Kostad

PNNL patents method of extracting lithium from water
The alchemists of yore sought to convert low-value lead into high-value gold. A solution to that puzzle remains elusive, but researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have discovered something more…

Columbia Birth Center offers alternative to hospital at new location
Columbia Birth Center pulled up roots this spring. The hospital and home birth alternative for those seeking more holistic health care services moved to an updated and more spacious location…

Growers report good volumes despite chilly spring
It’s hard to say how 2022 will play out for Washington’s cherry growers. “It’s always a weather-vulnerable crop, and there are many ways the cherry crop can be sabotaged by…

Apple industry renews focus on domestic market
As summertime approaches, consumers begin to look to local markets for the parade of fresh fruits, and apple orchards buzz with preparations for the late summer harvest. Last year, 122…

Richland pharmacy redefines customer service
Doctor’s Pharmacy has been making steady inroads within the Tri-City community through its customer service-focused business model since opening last year. The pharmacy, at 65 Columbia Point Drive in the…

New franchise owners want to bake joy into their Bundt cakes
Tri-Citians need a little more cake. That’s what Julie Zirker believes. She’s the co-owner of the first Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise in the Tri-Cities. It’s opening at 110 Gage Blvd.,…

What is the state of recycling in the Tri-Cities?
Though each of the Tri-Cities offers curbside garbage service, each handles recycling differently. Pasco, West Richland and greater Benton County (including Finley, Burbank and other Tri-City burbs) are serviced by…

Modern-day alchemist helps customers find their signature scent
A small shop in the Uptown Shopping Center helps customers create their own signature scent. Shannon Franklin is a fragrance alchemist who offers custom fragrances as a way to “help…