Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
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If we are to meet our soaring demand for electricity and produce it without coal and natural gas, we must double down on nuclear power. Today, U.S. nuclear plants generated enough electricity to power more than 70 million homes. It’s the most reliable source of electricity operating at full capacity over 90 percent of the time. It is “greenhouse gas” free, yet many activists are pushing to close, not build, nuclear power plants. If President Biden and Gov. Inslee conti...
OLYMPIA — The state Senate has unanimously approved Sen. Nikki Torres’ legislation to expand the state’s farm internship program. Torres’ legislation is the first Republican bill passed by the Senate this session, and reflects the freshman senator’s concern for agriculture, which is a cornerstone of Washington’s economy. “This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn how to farm or learn how to run a farm,” said Torres, R-Pasco, who represents the 15th Legislative District, which includes parts of five central Wa...
OLYMPIA - Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and Gov. Jay Inslee say they are backing a package of new laws aimed at protecting workers, pedestrians and commuters. New bills include reducing the blood-alcohol concentration limit for operating a vehicle when driving, imposing more restrictions on high-risk drivers and requiring a skills course for young and older drivers. Amber Weilert, a mother from Parkland, described how a drunken driver took the life of her son. "I am...
Three years after crooks stole billions in unemployment insurance funds, federal and state officials are scrambling to retrieve the money which was directed to the jobless and plug leaks in their systems. According to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, the General Accounting Office estimates taxpayers underwrote $60 billion in fraudulent payments from an “unprecedented infusion of federal Covid-19 relief funds into UI programs during the pandemic.” It gave villains and...
Last week, the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning the capital gains income tax. I attended the hearing in person. It is unclear when the court will issue its opinion. The capital gains income tax is first owed on April 18, 2023. There are three possible rulings the court could issue. One possible outcome is for the state Supreme Court to catch the Hail Mary pass thrown by income tax advocates and by judicial fiat now allow a graduated income tax without a...
RITZVILLE — Big Bend Electric Cooperative in Franklin and Adams counties will be receiving a refund. The utility’s trustees recently approved the refund of nearly $2.1 million to electric ratepayers who purchased power in 2002, 2003 and 2021. “When more revenue is collected than what is needed to cover operating expenses, the cooperative allocates the difference to consumers as ‘capital credits’ for return to consumers in future years,” Big Bend CEO Yvette Armstrong said. “Big Bend first uses this capital for investment in...
OTHELLO — Three teenagers have been arrested for gang-related threats made over social media last week. Angel Nathaniel Alvarez-Hernandez, 18, was arrested and booked into the Adams County Jail for second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, court records show. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office also reported the arrests of two juveniles for second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, felony harassment, cyber harassment and criminal gang intimidation. The names of the juveniles, while public record, have yet to be rel...
RITZVILLE — Sen. Mark Schoesler has introduced several bills this legislative session in Olympia. Here’s a status update on the 9th Legislative District senator’s bills. Senate Bill 5291 to require the state Liquor and Cannabis Board to issue liquor licenses in a more timely manner received a public hearing last week in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. Senate Bill 5343 to reduce costs and increase efficiency in school construction was passed last week by the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. Senat...