By Kris JohnsonThe lack of access to affordable, high-quality child care isn’t just a problem for families. A recently released report shows that it’s also a major issue for employers and for the overall economy.The report, “The Mounting Costs of Child Care: Impacts of child care affordability and access to...
By Don C. BrunellEmployers and employees need to set aside their differences and partner with one another. The same advice should be heeded by our elected officials.Easier said than done, especially in a vitriolic and politically-charged atmosphere punctuated by an absence of listening and a profusion of people shouting at...
By Beau RuffConventional financial wisdom suggests that the first thing a person should do after building the three- to six month rainy-day fund is to maximize contributions to retirement accounts. Qualified retirement accounts offer a clear tax advantage: contributions are pre-tax, and therefore can reduce taxable income and the associated...
By Andrew KirkPasco’s residential subdivisions continue to gobble up farmland and large buildings are sprouting up all over industrial zones.Franklin County is offering to let the city annex 4,800 acres of land to the north so it has room to grow, said Rick White, community and economic development director for...
By Andrew KirkThe Tri-City’s bedroom community saw continued residential growth in 2019 and more is on the horizon.West Richland issued 86 residential building permits for the first half of 2019, compared to 42 during the same period last year.The Heights at Red Mountain Ranch, the largest residential development project ever...
By Andrew KirkThe Port of Pasco’s key properties continue to see interest, growth and improvements.The port manages the Tri-Cities Airport and the marine terminal east of the cable bridge, and promotes the development of land on multiple sites in east Pasco to boost the economy in south Franklin County.The port’s...
By Andrew KirkPort of Benton property not far from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is changing hands as plans are hatched to develop industrial flex space in north Richland.The Port of Benton manages 2,756 acres in the north, central and west side of Benton County, including 50 buildings on 12 sites, 16 miles...
By Andrew KirkAlmost 100 people will lose their jobs at Zirkle Fruit Co.’s Prosser plant in October and about 200 more will be laid off in the coming months.The layoffs are necessary as the Selah-based Zirkle Fruit Co.’s plant at 101 Max Benitz Road closes its apple packing line. The...
By Marilou SheaIn a recent column, I waxed poetic about how lovage, among other uncommon herbs, is trending as a culinary darling these days. I’ve just done a deep dive into lovage—which sounds like “luggage”—and it’s a pretty, cool herb, and while it won’t shake the shingles off your roof,...
By Aaron WellingSix trillion dollars.It’s a large sum and one that warrants a better understanding. How much is $6,000,000,000,000?It’s the estimated cost of the war on terror.It’s slightly larger than the gross domestic product of Japan ($5.4 trillion).It’s six times the value of Apple.And it’s the projected annual cost of...
