Updated 1 week ago
Basin Business Journal commodity report for Nov. 22, 2023

Commodity prices in the Basin

Updated 1 month, 1 week ago
Chemical processor fined nearly $480,000 for exposing workers to toxic gases

TUMWATER — A manufacturing company in Moses Lake that works with dangerous chemicals is facing nearly $480,000 in fines for safety violations, according to a statement from the Washington State Department of Labor …

Updated 2 months ago
Energy Dept. awards Washington $23.4 million for electric infrastructure

OLYMPIA — On Sept. 5, Washington state received a $23.4 million Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to modernize the electric grid and reduce impacts due to extre…

Updated 3 months, 1 week ago
Yakima orchards pay back wages to improperly paid workers

TUMWATER — The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries announced July 12 that the owners of two Yakima orchards have paid $500,000 in back wages and interest to more than 400 workers. “Farmworkers do…

Updated 4 months, 1 week ago
Basin Business Journal commodity report for July 21, 2023

Here's how agricultural commodity prices have changed in the last month:

Updated 4 months, 2 weeks ago
As fuel taxes plummet, states weigh charging by the mile

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Evan Burroughs has spent eight years touting the virtues of an Oregon pilot program charging motorists by the distance their vehicle travels rather than the gas it guzzles, yet his own mother still…

Updated 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Wenatchee port commissioner named to WSTC

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Janet “JC” Baldwin of Wenatchee to fill an open seat on the Washington State Transportation Commission, according to an announcement from the WSTC. Baldwin is a small busines…

Updated 5 months, 1 week ago
Basin Business Journal commodity report for June 2023

Here's how agricultural commodity prices have changed in the last month:

Updated 6 months, 1 week ago
For honey bees, 2023 is potentially a bad year

A massively destructive hurricane in Florida last year, a very stormy winter in California, and higher than average colony losses mean that 2023 is positioned to be a bad year for honey bees. “I talked with a be…

Updated 6 months, 1 week ago
WSU Institute for Northwest Energy Futures receives state funding

RICHLAND, Wash. — Washington’s clean energy future became a little brighter when members of the Washington State House and Senate approved Gov. Jay Inslee’s funding proposal for the Washington State University Tri-…

WSDA Awards Farm to School Purchasing Grants
2023-11-21
WSDA has offered $3.7 million in Farm to School Purchasing grants to 105 applicants.
Scam Alert: Fake websites targeting SecureAccess Washington (SAW) users
2023-11-21
The Washington State Department of Agriculture was notified of a “sponsored ad” SecureAccessWashington (SAW) spoofing campaign, involving paid search results that push people to fake web pages. The goal of these malicious campaigns is to obtain customer login information.
State Veterinarian urges vigilance in protecting ‘man’s best friend’
2023-11-17
Veterinarian is encouraging dog owners to be vigilant to keep their animals safe and healthy. There have been no reports of this unknown illness in Washington state as of today, Washington State Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle said.
State sees first substantial decline in Japanese beetle numbers, but wider distribution
2023-11-08
WSDA saw its first substantial decline in Japanese beetle numbers after trapping more than 19,000 beetles this summer in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties. However, the beetles were trapped over a wider area.
Kittitas County flock tests positive for bird flu; veterinarians urge continued self reporting
2023-10-27
Washington state veterinarians confirmed the state’s 17th county, and 44th flock infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Kittitas County. ​