Focus
Tri-Cities’ financial sector boosted by strong economy
By D. Patrick Jones Remember the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid?” It certainly is true when assessing the state of regional lending. Let’s walk through what the economy does for the regional financial sector. But first, a word about the sector. The “credit intermediation” industry – largely banks and credit unions – works on a…
CEO Q&A with Eric Pearson
Brief background of your business: Community First Bank started 20 years ago and is the only locally-owned bank in the Tri-City market. We specialize in commercial, mortgage and construction lending, as well as banking for clients who desire a consultative relationship with their financial institution. HFG Trust was founded in 1982 and merged with Community…
Connect with congressional leaders at Aug. 14 summit
By Kris Johnson It isn’t just the decisions made in Olympia that impact the economy in Washington state. What happens in the “other” Washington can also affect employers, their employees and our families. Everything from health care to trade and immigration to taxes are increasingly impacted by what happens — or doesn’t — in Washington,…
Prudent investor rule helps to protect other people’s money, assets
By Beau Ruff You can do whatever you want with your money and assets but when charged with caring for another person’s money and assets, a body of law provides guidance on how you should proceed. Enter the prudent investor rule. I am not talking about financial planners and wealth management companies, though both are…
Federal regulations change for check endorsements
Consumers should be aware of a regulatory change that went into effect on July 1, adding a step to the process of depositing a check from your cellphone aimed at helping to prevent fraud. With the advent of banking mobile apps and other “remote deposit capture” technology, the nation’s check collection system is quickly converting…
E-commerce experts offer tips for navigating digital marketplace
The new storefront is online and to be successful there, it’s best to learn all you can about how to do it. That’s according to James Bledsoe, director of the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration’s eCommerce Innovation Lab in Tacoma. “That’s how people are finding you and finding your products,” Bledsoe said during…
Citibank to pay states $100M over interest rate manipulation
Citibank, a Wall Street financial institution, will pay a total of $100 million to 42 states, including Washington, for manipulating a key interest rate before and during the Great Recession, costing investors millions of dollars. These manipulations may have led investors to make riskier investments than they realized, or impacted the profits from or costs…
More than 2 million tax ID numbers to expire this year
With more than 2 million individual taxpayer identification numbers, or ITINs, set to expire at the end of this year, the Internal Revenue Service is urging affected taxpayers to submit their renewal applications soon to beat the rush and avoid refund delays next year. In the third year of the renewal program, the IRS has…
Engineers earn national kudos for creating nuclear fuel assembly model
Present a problem to an engineer and that engineer will find a solution with enthusiasm. That’s what a group of people did recently at Framatome in Richland. Caleb Sarka, Rianna Preston, Chad King, Destinee Rea, Jeff Waddell and Manuel Seubert all work for Framatome. And all are members of the North American Young Generation in…
Regional public utility districts ponder best ways to handle bitcoin growth
Mining in the Northwest was different in the 1890s. Back then, miners hunted for gold in the streams and mountains of Alaska and the Yukon with picks and shovels. Seattle was a jumping-off point and supply center for gold miners. Today, central Washington, upstream of the Tri-Cities, has become the focus of a new type…
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Around Town Photo Gallery
Area agriculture producers, processors and industry officials set a new event record by raising more than $91,000 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities Inland Northwest on June 13 at the fifth annual Ag World Golf Classic at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick. Ag World Support Systems was joined by co-hosts Simplot, Lamb Weston, McCain Foods and Potato Growers of Washington to make the 18-hole scramble a success. (Courtesy Ag World Golf Classic)
A Pasco Fire Department uniform serves as a photo backdrop for youngsters at the June 30 Pasco Farmers Market. Department officials were on hand to discuss home fire escape plans, smoke alarms and hands-only CPR, a form of CPR that doesn’t require rescue breathing on adults. (Courtesy Pasco Fire Department)
Jason Lee of Richland, a Navy veteran and union recruiting specialist with UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 598, was busy chasing ducks and geese on a dream hunt in Saskatchewan while filming an upcoming episode of Brotherhood Outdoors TV. He was selected to appear on the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s television series to highlight his work ethic and commitment to the service of his country and community. The episode aired on the Sportsman Channel. (Courtesy Union Sportsmen’s Alliance)
Campers watch their rockets soar June 29 at Washington State University Tri-Cities’ middle school science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, camp in Richland. WSU offered seven camps, with many selling out, including Fantastic Flight, a camp to explore flying machines that included creating catapults, slingshots and rockets. (Courtesy WSU Tri-Cities)
