Journal of Business news feed

Former Kennewick city manager picked for port seat

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The retired city manager of Kennewick has been appointed as the Port of Kennewick’s newest commissioner.

Is the honeymoon over for data centers in Washington?

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Data center regulations are the event horizon that communities across the nation, including in Washington state, are calling on their elected officials to achieve.

Fruit processor fined for failing to meet recycled plastic requirements

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A Yakima Valley fruit processor is facing a fine of more than $20,000 for failing to use recycled plastic in any of its packaging materials.

Washington schools prepare to sue the state for failing to fund public education

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

School boards for the Yakima, Lake Washington and Tacoma districts contend the state’s failure to meet its constitutional obligations is forcing them to rely on local levy dollars to pay day-to-day expenses, echoing an argument made in the landmark McCleary ruling that forced the state to pump billions of additional dollars into education.

WA groups sound alarm on costly workers’ compensation

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A slew of trade and business organizations are sounding the alarm over the increasing costs of the state’s workers’ compensation program even as officials seek to minimize impacts on employers.

Study: Soil moisture, not cultivar, drives drought tolerance for wine grapes

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

With irrigation water supplies becoming more strained each year, some wine grape growers may be wondering which grape varieties can better handle drought conditions.

Brace for heightened business taxes in 2027

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

All the attention may be on recent debates around the state’s coming income tax on high earners, but business owners also will be seeing a bigger tax bill.

CWU tapped for business incubator program, research funding

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Got a great idea for an innovation but not sure where to go for support and funding? Central Washington University could be your go-to.

WA governor meets with NBA commissioner amid expansion doubts

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Washington’s governor recently met again with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to push the case for the return of the Seattle SuperSonics as league expansion here remains uncertain.

Albertsons must pay $900M for role in WA opioid crisis, judge rules

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Grocery giant Albertsons must pay Washington state $900 million for its pharmacies’ role in fueling the opioid epidemic, a judge recently ruled.

Settlement reached with credit card payment processor

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

State and federal officials have reached a settlement with a Washington state-based payment processor that will provide $600,000 for financial relief to 300 of its customers in the state.

Think you can build a better city budget? Give it a try

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

As Pasco works to address a $12.5 million budget gap in 2027, the city invites the community to test their own budget scenarios using a new tool and share their feedback.

Washington voters embracing income tax on high earners

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Voters on Nov. 3 were upholding Washington’s new income tax on households earning more than a million dollars a year, a threshold opponents argued would eventually be lowered to apply to everyone.

‘Blood on board’ program launches in Richland

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A new program intended to help save lives has been launched by Richland’s Fire and Emergency Services department, and an upcoming blood drive is planned to help support it.

Amazon layoffs affect Pasco operations

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Management-level positions at one of Amazon’s Pasco distribution facilities are among those being cut in the latest round of layoffs for the online retailer.

Richland seeks applications for park partnership program

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The city of Richland is looking for partners to help with improvements to parks, trails, open spaces and recreational facilities and there’s a pot of money to help those projects happen.

Port holds interviews for commission seat

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The Port of Kennewick is holding public interviews today for four finalists for its vacant commission seat.

Think you could survive any disaster? Prove it and you could win a bunker

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Confident you could survive the end of the world? Portland-based Columbia Sportswear has an opportunity for you.

As WA open enrollment begins, far fewer than expected have lost coverage

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Starting Nov. 1, Washingtonians who need to buy health insurance through the state’s online marketplace can enroll in or change their plans, but they face another major cost increase to maintain coverage.

Amazon plans data center campus in West Richland

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:08:54 -0500

The tech giant recently confirmed it bought 1,000 acres and is considering an initial three-building data center in West Richland.

Nine insurers approved to provide healthcare plans to WA small businesses

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Small businesses planning to offer health insurance to their employees have up to nine insurers to choose from in the new year, and all are planning to bump their rates up.

Plan for detour if heading to Hanford site from the west

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Workers commuting to Framatome, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Hanford site via Horn Rapids Road will need to take an alternate route for the next two weeks.

Kennewick Man, Woman of the Year nominations open

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 20:00:00 -0500

An annual awards program that celebrates Kennewick residents for their community service, leadership and commitment to the city is accepting nominations.

Groundbreaking for Kennewick VA clinic announced

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

On the cusp of Veterans Day, officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Walla Walla will come to the Tri-Cities to officially break ground on the planned outpatient clinic in Kennewick.

The percentage of people without health insurance is growing

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The percentage of working-age adults without health insurance has increased in the past two years, largely because many people can no longer afford Obamacare coverage after Congress allowed federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year.

Historic Preservation Grant application window open

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Agencies and organizations pursuing historic preservation projects or programs in Benton County are encouraged to apply for a grant from the county’s Historical Preservation Fund.

Hanford marks new record for pre-treating tank waste

ty@tcjournal.biz — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The system that removes nearly all the radioactivity from tank waste stored at Hanford before it is stabilized in glass processed the most waste ever in a single run in September.

WSU Tri-Cities grad named head of WSU College of Nursing

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A two-time WSU Tri-Cities alumna who has led the WSU system’s College of Nursing on an interim basis for the past year now has the job permanently.

Numerica to merge with Oregon credit union

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Spokane Valley-based Numerica Credit Union will merge with Oregon’s SELCO Community Credit Union, creating an institution with $8 billion in assets, nearly 40 branches and more than 325,000 members across three states.

Ironman Foundation donates to Tri-City organizations

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The philanthropic arm of global organization that has brought the Ironman triathlon to the Tri-Cities for the past three years provided $18,000 in grants to organizations that volunteered at the 2026 competition.