Government

Foes of WA income tax race to collect initiative signatures

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Let’s Go Washington, the initiative sponsor, has until July 2 to turn in at least 308,911 valid signatures of registered voters to qualify for the ballot. State election officials suggest submitting at least 390,000 to account for invalid ones.

Port discovers $1.14 million budget deficit after financial review

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Port of Benton is working to correct a roughly $1.14 million deficit in its 2026 budget after a financial review uncovered several discrepancies in budget documents approved last fall.

States face tight timeline as feds unveil new Medicaid work requirement rules

avollers@stateline.org — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The federal government recently released new guidance on how states should roll out the Medicaid work requirements that will affect healthcare coverage for millions of Americans.

Ferguson issues executive order supporting workplace accommodations for menopause

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Working women may soon have an easier time navigating a major life change in the workplace.

Three new EV charging locations coming to Benton County

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A state agency has awarded $2.4 million to support 16 new electric vehicle charging slots across three sites in Benton County.

The feds have embraced medical marijuana. Now what?

awatford@stateline.org — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent decision to downgrade the drug classification for medical cannabis will help medical marijuana businesses. But the broader divide between federal and state marijuana policy remains largely intact, leaving states to navigate a fragmented and still-evolving cannabis landscape with few clear answers about what comes next.

Where Affordable Care Act insurance coverage has dropped most in WA

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington’s rural counties, including Franklin County, saw the largest drops in insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act after the Republican-controlled Congress failed to extend subsidies that helped consumers afford the plans.

West Richland offers dog microchip scanning station

Sun, 31 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The West Richland Police Department has installed a free microchip scanning station to help reunite lost dogs with their owners.

UPDATE: Pasco names 5 finalists for Pasco police chief

Thu, 28 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The city of Pasco is winnowing the list of which candidates to invite for interviews in its search for the city’s next police chief following a nationwide recruitment effort that drew 16 applicants from across the country.

A year later, how WA’s controversial cap on rent hikes has been enforced

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Tue, 26 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A year into Washington’s limit on residential rent increases, the state has yet to collect a cent in civil penalties from landlords.

New rules around hiring, job postings for WA businesses

Mon, 25 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Business owners may want to review any job descriptions and hiring policies as new state rules regarding hiring and job posting practices are now in force.

Join one of Pasco’s boards and commissions

Mon, 25 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Are you a Pasco resident looking for an opportunity to serve the community? City officials hope you’ll consider filling a seat on one of six boards and commissions with vacancies.

Murray, Cantwell join effort to overturn Medicare AI pilot

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 21 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington’s U.S. Senate delegation has joined an effort by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon to halt a pilot program using AI to make care coverage decisions for Medicare patients.

Investment firm shuttered following allegations of misappropriated funds

Thu, 21 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A Wenatchee-based private equity firm with an office in the Tri-Cities is now in receivership after state regulators allege its officers misappropriated investments through actions including making Ponzi-like payments and its founder using nearly $780,000 to pay for items such as a boat slip and down payments on a vehicle and private home.

Pasco expands permits available online

Wed, 20 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

If you’re a Pasco resident looking to install a new furnace or just move a sink in your kitchen or a bathroom, you no longer need to visit city hall to get the necessary permits.

Mixed bag for Tri-Cities in U.S. House bill for DOE funding next year

Wed, 20 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Federal lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, passed a proposal to fund many U.S. Department of Energy projects out of committee on Wednesday, and the bill has bad news and good news for the thousands of Tri-City workers at the Hanford site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Report: Nearly 100 fed staff left Hanford in 2025

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Findings by the U.S. Government Accountability Office warns that the U.S. Department of Energy may struggle to maintain safe operations at its cleanup sites around the country after losing hundreds of staff members and struggle to fill those roles.

Hospital district awards $20K to support aspiring social workers

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Prospective students interested in one of the newest bachelor’s degree programs at Washington State University Tri-Cities just got a financial boost from the Kennewick Public Hospital District.

BPA officials cautiously optimistic halfway through fiscal year

Mon, 18 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Bonneville Power Administration’s financial performance is a mixed bag at the halfway point of its fiscal year but its leaders say the agency is still on track to meet most of its end-of-year targets.

KID refilling canals as pump comes back online

Sun, 17 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The irrigation district serving much of the city of Kennewick as well as other outlying areas of Benton County has begun refilling canals that went dry a week ago following repairs to a critical pumping station.

Feds award Framatome $8.8 million to expand production

ty@tcjournal.biz — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Framatome is one of a handful of companies that will receive federal funding to build out fuel production for the next generation of nuclear power reactors, and that money is coming directly to its Richland plant.

Richland seeking members for public facilities board

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Interested in helping shape future plans for the outdoor amphitheater at the Reach Museum as well as other public facilities in Richland? Now is your opportunity.

PNNL faces deeper workforce cuts under proposed federal budget

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The Tri-Cities’ largest employer eliminated an estimated 400 jobs last year amid federal budget cuts and shifting priorities. This year, it could be forced to cut more than twice that number.

Report faults former transit CEO for impatience with public processes

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The investigator hired by Ben Franklin Transit’s board of directors to review five allegations of malfeasance by Tom Drozt found two instances where the now-fired CEO of the regional transit agency likely violated procurement and financial policies.

Hanford advisory group warns membership delays may jeopardize its work

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

One of the leaders of the citizen-led group that advises the U.S. Department of Energy on the Hanford site cleanup recently warned it is on the cusp of being unable to function due to federal authorities’ delay in confirming its membership.

Port pauses executive director investigation amid recall appeal

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Port of Benton commissioners have paused their investigation of the organization’s top leader until the recall that port commissioners are appealing is resolved.

City severs unpermitted water connections at Richland Airport; investigation underway

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

About a year after the discovery of unmetered and unpermitted water connections at the Richland Airport, the city of Richland has cut off the water connection to several hangars, and an outside investigation is currently underway.

Here’s how much it’ll cost to swim at Pasco Aquatics Center

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

It’s going to pay to be a Pasco resident when the new year-round Pasco Aquatics Center opens in mid-June.

Richland district forms task force to chart long-range school needs

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The Richland School District has launched a community facilities task force to develop a long-range facilities plan following a failed bond measure in 2024 to build a third high school in West Richland.

New partnership sets stage for university district in Kennewick

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Only months after Heritage University’s president said he wanted his institution to play a bigger role in the Tri-Cities, a new deal between the university and the city of Kennewick appears to be the first step toward that goal.