All construction in Washington, including both residential and commercial, was ordered to be shut down at midnight March 25 after Gov. Jay Inslee’s office clarified that it is nonessential. Inslee’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order initially seemed to suggest construction was essential. New guidance issued two days later clarified that it is not, with the…

By TCAJOB Washington state earned a B in social distancing, a better grade than Benton and Franklin counties’. Benton earned a C. Franklin got an F. The March 24 scores come from Unacast, a company that collects and analyzes smartphone GPS location data to compile a “Social Distancing Scoreboard.” It scores state and county level performance…

Tri-City businesses and nonprofits are rallying the community to support hospitals, health care workers, seniors and families struggling to secure the resources they need to combat the spread of coronavirus, which causes the deadly COVID-19. Here are some of the ways to help. O’Brien Construction collects respirators O’Brien Construction is challenging contractors to donate N95…

“Open for Business” is the battle cry of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visit Tri-Cities.  The two business entities have launched separate sites with the same branding, “Open for Business,” to give area businesses a place to tell customers how they are adapting to severe measures designed to slow the spread of coronavirus, which…

The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating a health crisis that has claimed more than 120 rural hospitals in recent years.  As Washington residents adapt to Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order to stay home to contain the spread of coronavirus, the state is racing to add more hospital beds to handle the influx of patients.  The Washington Department of Health…

A Leadership Tri-Cities graduate is calling on his fellow grads to adopt a small business to help them survive the coronavirus outbreak and mandatory business closures. John Roach, a member of the 17th class, proposed that each of the program’s previous classes regroup to adopt a business that’s struggling to stay open in the face…

The Washington Policy Center is encouraging Gov. Jay Inslee to waive all Business and Occupation taxes retroactively to March 1.  If the governor has the legal authority, the research and watchdog group said, he should waive tax due dates, fees and penalties for the businesses severely impacted by Proclamation 20-13, which effectively closed restaurants, food courts…

The unprecedented effort to slow the spread of coronavirus has altered many aspects of daily life.  As Tri-Citians adapt, organizations serving seniors are racing to support those hit heaviest by the new normal – those age 60 and over, particularly those with underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease.  While details are still sketchy, the effort comes with a…