Focus

Savannah Wammock teaches at Kirkwood Elementary in Toppenish as part of the Heritage University’s accelerate program. Students like Wammock earn a master’s in teaching while working as the teacher of record in K-12 classrooms. (Courtesy Heritage University)

Heritage University tackles teacher shortage with accelerated programs

by

A shortage of certified teachers is making it difficult for school districts statewide to find qualified educators to fill open positions. That’s according to a report from the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction last fall. Heritage University in Toppenish is helping alleviate this shortage through two teacher education programs designed to put […]

Read More
Kamiakin High School senior Mitchel Denke runs a four-hour radio program each weekend at U-Rock Radio in Kennewick, thanks to the station’s Training The Kids program that began in March.

U-Rock radio trains young DJs, then gets them on-air

by

A weekend DJ on U-Rock Radio admitted he didn’t know much about ’80s rock music when he started. Age might have something to do with it. Mitchel Denke is a senior at Kamiakin High School, born around the turn of the century. But joining the station has turned him into a fan of the music. […]

Read More
Paul Strand, a Washington State University Tri-Cities professor of psychology, is among a team of researchers working to evaluate and refine a data-driven program to reduce truancy in kindergartners to seniors across the state. (Courtesy WSU Tri-Cities)

WSU leading implementation of statewide online truancy prevention program

by

WSU Tri-Cities professor serves on research team working on project Washington State University is leading the online implementation of a program aimed at reducing school truancy that could positively affect schools across the state — and possibly the nation. The Washington Assessment of the Risks and Needs of Students, or WARNS, program uses data-driven procedures […]

Read More
Hanford’s vit plant project is on pace to treat low-activity tank waste as soon as 2022, and ahead of full WTP commissioning, taking advantage of those facilities close to completion. Bechtel hired 22 students for internships at the site this summer. (Courtesy Bechtel National)

Bechtel offers real-world experience to college students

by

Bechtel National Inc.’s radioactive waste treatment plant project has provided more than 330 internship opportunities for college students seeking real-world experience in their fields of study since 2006. From engineering, construction, procurement, environmental, safety, and information technology, to the human resources and public communications departments, interns receive unique opportunities to directly contribute and assist in […]

Read More
Zurla Lucatero, from left, Haylee Carnes and Beverly Burns of the Children’s Developmental Center in Richland will be working with children diagnosed with autism through applied behavior analysis, or ABA. Several Tri-City businesses and groups contributed money to start up the new program.

Business donations help to launch new autism therapy program

by

Nearly $42,000 contributed to Children’s Developmental Center in Richland The Children’s Developmental Center in Richland soon will begin offering an intensive research-based and data-driven therapy program to help children with autism. The therapy, called applied behavior analysis, or ABA, helps children with autism learn through behavioral intervention by using everyday tools and routines from the […]

Read More
Ryan De Leon, a 2016 Washington State University Tri-Cities nursing program graduate, talks about what he learned about his homestay family during a Sept. 6 dinner and gathering for students in the Tri-Cities cohort for the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. The event marked an opportunity for the students to get to know their homestay families. The students also got the chance to meet local health professionals and get to know the Richland campus. (Courtesy WSU Tri-Cities)

WSU College of Medicine shows glimpse into medical education need

by

A new overview of the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine charter class shows it is made up of a strong percentage of female, low socioeconomic status and first generation students. The class, a group of 60 students who are current residents of or have significant ties to Washington, represent a population […]

Read More
American businesses lose more than $400 billion per year to cyberattacks, with one in four small businesses affected, according to a Better Business Bureau report.

Cybersecurity basics can protect businesses from data breaches

by

By Michelle Dupler Whether its ransomware, viruses, data theft or some other cybersecurity risk, a network breach can be one of a business owner’s worst nightmares — costing time, money and reputation. A 2016 report by the Better Business Bureau on the “state of cybersecurity” estimated that American businesses lose more than $400 billion per […]

Read More
TriboTEX’s Carl Holder of Richland and Vladimir Borisov man their booth at the American Chemical Society’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., in August. The company developed a product to enhance engine lubrication and durability.

Company aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve vehicle efficiency

by

Pasha Rudenko started his materials science doctorate at Washington State University in 2009 with one goal: to make lubricants safer. “Lubricants are just a mixture of base oil, most often mineral or synthetic, or vegetable oil and additives,” said Rudenko, whose undergraduate degree is in materials science for nuclear reactors. “(The) toxicity of lubricants comes […]

Read More