Q&A with Allen D. Brecke of Allen Brecke Law Offices.

 Personal mission statements can be a guide that accompanies you throughout the various chapters of your life.

While funding is key to our national defense, having enough soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen/women in the ranks is golden. However, persistent recruitment shortfalls are growing problems.

Employers are resourceful, and they have risen to the challenge. But it’s time for things to settle down. This is not the time to adopt new taxes and add new layers of burdensome regulation.

About 2,700 engineers work in Benton and Franklin counties, or about 2.3% of the workforce, according to analysis from Benton-Franklin Trends.

STCU recently opened a standalone drive-thru branch at 1335 E. Main St., Othello.

Fortify Holdings LLC recently completed construction of The Alegre apartment complex at 1520 N. Oregon Ave. in Pasco.

Chris and Craig Eerkes have opened Golf Universe at 825 N. Edison St., Suite 190, Kennewick.

Swigg Coffee Bar has opened at 1472 Bombing Range Road in the Paradise Parkway Complex in West Richland.

Lawmakers have made their way to Olympia to kick off 60 days of lawmaking. The session is set to start Jan. 8. If you’re following along for the first time, you may have a lot of questions. This guide should help you follow along with all the action over the next few months.