Focus

Chris Albertson of Richland is a backyard chicken enthusiast who hopes to inspire a new flock of chicken owners to take up the hobby during an April 21 event called Tour De Coop. Participants can tour a dozen backyard coops and ask owners questions about raising chickens during the event.

Backyard chicken coop tour eggs on wannabe beak owners

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Tour De Coop event on April 21 offers scoop on a dozen coops Annette Pederson scooped up the fluffy yellow chicks that had just arrived at Kennewick’s Basin Feed and Supply to start her first foray into raising chickens. “I’m looking forward to fresh eggs, recycling all my food scraps, bug control and fertilizer,” the […]

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Richland Home2 Suites by Hilton, an extended stay hotel, offers a sleek, modern atmosphere and décor using recycled materials. Sustainable business practices are integrated into everyday hotel services and amenities.

Richland hotel caters to travelers seeking more sustainable amenities

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Hilton Home2 Suites focuses on eco-friendly options throughout facility Richland’s new Hilton Home2 Suites appeals to travelers’ increasing environmental consciousness and desire for more sustainable amenities. The Queensgate area hotel’s sales manager, Berenice Trevino, said she’s interacted with guests who specifically seek out Home2 Suites for this reason and said hotel reviews often mention the […]

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Store manager Rita Leach sits among the furniture for sale at the new Repeat Boutique thrift store in the Richland Uptown Shopping Center. Revenue from sales is used to enhance and support Chaplaincy Health Care hospice services, both in-home and at the Hospice House in Kennewick.

Chaplaincy opens second thrift store in Richland Uptown

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The successful launch of Chaplaincy Health Care’s new thrift store in Kennewick last year prompted the opening of a second store in Richland. The nonprofit, which provides hospice, palliative and grief care and behavioral health services, opened a second thrift store — also called Repeat Boutique — in the Richland Uptown Shopping Center in March. […]

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Workers are replacing the deck on the Interstate 82 bridge connecting Washington to Oregon and rehabilitating critical steel components to improve safety. (Courtesy DOT)

State gears up to build rock fence, improve I-182, Highway 12

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Work is expected to begin in May on the biggest rock fence in Washington state’s history—and it’s not along the slopes of Snoqualmie Pass but along Highway 730 south of the Wallula junction. “That whole stretch from the Oregon border to the Wallula junction, there’s boulders in the ditch and there have been cars and […]

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A new $10 million bridge across Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint, Idaho, would improve rail traffic in Pasco, BNSF Railway officials told Tri-City leaders during a recent community meeting. The permitting process is moving forward on the $100 million Sandpoint Junction connector project to build a second rail bridge to span the Idaho lake. (Courtesy BNSF)

Pasco train congestion could be improved with new Idaho bridge

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Coalition of Washington business group supports $10 million project Planning is underway to build a new BNSF Railway bridge in Idaho that’s expected to improve train traffic in Pasco. BNSF Railway and Keep Washington Competitive representatives met recently in Pasco about the project. The permitting process is moving forward on the $100 million Sandpoint Junction […]

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Mike Lahr, vice president of logistics, from left, Christine Parks, terminal manager, and Tyler Denslow, dispatcher and truck driver, stand outside Hittman Transport Services in north Richland. Parent company Energy Solutions acquired the location from Apogee Logistics. Hittman specializes in the transportation of radioactive and hazardous material. The new terminal opened in mid-July 2017.

Hittman Transport Services opens Northwest terminal in north Richland

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Company recently took over Apogee Logistics’ former facility Hanford contractors have a new local set of wheels at their disposal. Hittman Transport Services, a national leader in the transport of radioactive and hazardous material shipments, has established its Northwest terminal in north Richland. “We’re the largest premier transportation company of radioactive waste and nuclear fuel […]

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Federal law now requires carriers and drivers to use electronic logging devices, or ELDs, to help create a safer work environment and make it easier to accurately track, manage and share data. (Courtesy Omnitracs)

New federal regulations aim to keep workers safe, help track shipments

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Kennewick business owners support use of required electronic logging devices The transportation industry is feeling the effects of new regulations that went into effect at the end of 2017. After a 24-month phase-in period, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, now requires carriers and drivers to use electronic logging devices, or ELDs, to […]

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Scott Eckstein, clinical assistant professor of hospitality business management, takes program students on a field trip to gain real-world experience to help them better understand senior living. (Courtesy Washington State University)

WSU hospitality school rolls out Institute for Senior Living

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A Washington State University professor knows firsthand the importance of hiring well trained, qualified “senior living” professionals. Scott Eckstein lived in an assisted living facility for a while to help settle his maternal grandparents into one. He also believes living in one may have prevented his grandmother’s death. He knows the business side of the […]

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hospitality

Hospitality association’s top priority for year is tourism

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By Anthony Anton I love hospitality. We are welcoming and solution-oriented, constantly finding ways to improve the experience we deliver to guests. The team here at the Washington Hospitality Association is working on solutions to policy issues that fit the needs of our industry and work for Washingtonians. During the past several years, we’ve had […]

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