Taxable retail sales were up slightly across the state in the third quarter of 2024 but it was a tale of two counties in the Mid-Columbia, with Franklin County booming and Benton County seeing much less spending compared to the same period in 2023.
This year’s honorees will be recognized in an event from 4-6 p.m. Thursday,May 15 at Fiction @ J. Bookwalter Winery, 894 Tulip Lane, Richland. Tickets for the event are now available at tcjournal.biz/yp.
The state Employment Security Department announced the layoffs late on April 10. Outside of the Tri-Cities, the notice indicated that the layoffs affect UScellular employees in Yakima, Sunnyside, Union Gap, Longview and Centralia.
A longtime community philanthropist and a recent fundraiser have further bolstered the resources of the Tri-Cities’ first in-patient mental health and substance abuse treatment facility.
SB 5576 would levy a 4% tax on short-term rentals to fund affordable housing efforts if approved. The bill originally called for a 6% tax but that was changed after short-term rental operators told lawmakers how the tax could impact them.
Drought impacts in the Yakima Basin have far-reaching effects for the rest of the state. The region’s agricultural economy generates $4.5 billion each year, producing 71% of the nation’s hops, 63% of apples, 62% of cherries, and significant portions of other crops like pears, raspberries, blueberries, and asparagus, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program as well as state funds. Grant recipients must provide matching funds equal to 33% of the award.
