Dept of Energy invests in Richland nuclear fuel plant as state bills on nuclear strategy stall
RICHLAND — The United States Department of Energy is sending $8.8 million to Framatome U.S. Government Solutions to expand its nuclear fuel fabrication plant in Richland, adding ceramic pellet production lines that will boost annual capacity by about 200 metric tons of uranium. The grant is one piece of a $94 million package announced May […]
WSU, Fluke partnership expands hands‑on training for engineering students
EVERETT—Engineering students across Washington State University (WSU) will soon train with the same diagnostic and measurement tools used in advanced industrial plants, power utilities, and manufacturing facilities worldwide, thanks to a new partnership with Everett-based Fluke Corporation. The collaboration will place gifted professional-grade Fluke equipment into engineering classrooms and labs across five campuses, giving more than […]
DEA operation results in largest drug seizure in Eastern Washington history
SPOKANE — The Drug Enforcement Administration on March 3 executed federal search warrants at multiple locations in the Tri-Cities, Washington area that resulted in the largest seizure of controlled substances in Eastern Washington history. The federal search warrants were based on an ongoing drug trafficking investigation into Amador Sanchez and several co-conspirators. The investigation revealed Sanchez […]
Six indicted in fraudulent H-2A visa scheme involving 500+ farmworkers
[The Center Square | Tim Clouser] – Federal prosecutors announced charges against six individuals on Monday after they allegedly transported hundreds of farmworkers to Washington state under fraudulent H-2A visas. The first case involves a 10-count indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington against two individuals from Yakima. The second involves a 51-count indictment […]
Ferguson may have broken ethics laws allowing ex-adviser to fly on state plane
TUMWATER [JERRY CORNFIELD]—Washington Governor Bob Ferguson likely violated state ethics laws by allowing his former top adviser, Mike Webb, to travel with him on a state plane to the Tri-Cities last summer, the state Executive Ethics Board ruled Friday, January 9, 2026 (Case No. 2025-061). In a unanimous vote, the board concluded there was “reasonable […]
