​The City of Richland is providing advance notice of upcoming construction associated with a new roundabout at the intersection of Reata Road and the future Gage Boulevard extension.
 
The roundabout is being constructed by the developer of Badger Mountain South and will provide a new intersection connection for the Gage Boulevard extension while creating an additional access point to the South Orchard community currently under development. The project is designed to improve traffic circulation, safety, and long-term connectivity in the area.
 
Project Scope
Construction activities will include:

• Roundabout construction
• Installation of sidewalks and ADA-compliant crossings along the north side of the roundabout
• Widening of Reata Road, tapering back to existing roadway east of the project limits
• Installation of City water and storm utilities
• Relocation of a Benton County Irrigation District (BMID) water main
• New streetlights
• New asphalt paving
• New striping and signage

 
Construction Timeline & Traffic Impacts
Construction is anticipated to begin late February to early March 2026, with initial work occurring outside of the existing roadway.
 
In mid-to-late April 2026, construction is expected to shift into the roadway. At that time:

• A full road closure will be implemented on Reata Road between Southgate Way and Badger View Drive
• A signed detour will route traffic via Sagebrush Road to Bermuda Road, south of the project area

 
The contractor will coordinate directly with residents within the work zone to maintain access to homes and properties during detour operations. Access to the South Orchard neighborhood via Southgate Way will remain open during detour operations.
 
Construction is anticipated to be completed in June 2026, weather and site conditions permitting.
 
The City appreciates the public’s patience during construction and will continue to share updates as the project progresses.
 
For additional information or future project updates, visit richlandwa.gov/GageReataRoundabout.

The Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia (CRFMC) is proud to announce the expansion of its Books for Babies program to Prosser Memorial Hospital, ensuring that every newborn in the Prosser community goes home with their very first book, free of charge.

Books for Babies delivers high-quality, bilingual board books directly to new families at the hospital. The program is rooted in a simple and powerful message: reading, talking, and bonding with your baby from birth builds the brain connections children need to learn, grow, and succeed in school and in life.

CRFMC made its first delivery to Prosser Memorial on November 10, bringing 165 books to the birthing center. Every single one has since been placed in the hands of a new family since then.

"Every child deserves to start life with a book," said Leanne Luehrs-Purcell, Executive Director of CRFMC. "Expanding Books for Babies to Prosser Memorial means more families across our region will begin their parenting journey knowing that reading together matters, and that they have the tools and encouragement to do it."
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Prosser Memorial Hospital joins Kadlec Birthing Center, Trios Birthing Center, and Columbia Birthing Center as Books for Babies program partners, extending the program's reach to families throughout the Mid-Columbia region. All materials are provided in both English and Spanish at no cost to families or to the hospital.

​Port of Kennewick invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Blueberry Bridal Boutique’s opening. Blueberry Bridal is the first commercial business to open within the port’s Vista Field redevelopment site. The 4,800-square-foot wedding boutique began offering bridal appointments in late February and will have limited tours following the ribbon-cutting event.
 
What:  Blueberry Bridal Vista Field Grand Opening event
When: Tuesday, March 10 at 11 a.m.
Where: 625 Crosswind Blvd., Kennewick
 
Blueberry Bridal owner, Amber Keller, was the first to express interest in building at Vista Field. From the start, she has fully embraced the community’s vision and thoughtfully designed the bridal shop as a destination retailer.
 
Keller offers private appointments for wedding dress shopping in her gallery of designer gowns, veils, headpieces, jewelry and shoes. Blueberry Bridal also supplies suit and tuxedo rentals.
 
The shop features picturesque windows to take advantage of the natural light, a mezzanine, viewing and photography areas and limited private event space.
 
Visit BlueberryBridalBoutique.com for more information about the bridal shop’s services or VistaField.com for more details about the emerging regional town center.

The City of Richland is now accepting applications from food and beverage vendors and concessionaires interested in operating within City parks during the 2026 season (April 1-October 31, 2026).
 
Vendors play an important role in enhancing the park experience for residents and visitors, and the City is seeking high-quality, reliable operators who offer services that complement the unique character and use of each park location.
 
The selection process is competitive. Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria, including vendor availability, feedback from provided references, the type of food or beverage services offered, and how well those services align with City standards.

• Applications received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026, will receive priority consideration.  
• Applications will be accepted through 5:00 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2026. 

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Prospective vendors are encouraged to carefully review available vending locations before applying.  Applications, requirements, park vending locations, and additional details for the 2026 vending season are available online at www.richlandparksandrec.com/ParkVendor.

The Richland Public Library invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of “The Lawn,” a new outdoor gathering space designed to expand library programming beyond its walls and provide a welcoming place for events, play, study, and connection.

The grand opening will take place on Saturday, March 7, beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at the Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive. The ceremony will be followed by a full day of free, family-friendly programming on “The Lawn.”

Following the ribbon cutting, the Library will host Story Time on “The Lawn” at 10:15 a.m., offering families a special outdoor storytelling experience. At 1:00 p.m., the community is invited to return for Holi: Festival of Colors, a vibrant cultural celebration marking the arrival of spring and emphasizing joy, unity, and renewal.

“The Lawn creates new opportunities for the Richland Public Library to bring people together in meaningful ways,” said Chris Nulph, Library Manager. “This space allows us to offer programs that encourage learning, creativity, and community connection in an open, accessible outdoor setting. In addition to hosting events, it provides a place for families to play, students to study, and community members to gather. We’d like to extend special appreciation to the Richland Library Foundation for their financial contribution, which helped make this project a reality.”

Designed as a flexible, multi-use space, “The Lawn” features outdoor lawn games available for children and families, as well as tables and seating with access to power and Wi-Fi, supporting everything from casual play and reading to studying and small group activities. The space will support a wide range of Library programs, events, and partnerships throughout the year, reinforcing the Library’s role as a community hub.

All events are free and open to the public. No registration is required.

For more information about the project, visit www.myrichlandlibrary.org/TheLawn.

The City of Pasco announces the retirement of Police Chief Ken Roske, effective Friday, March 27, 2026, concluding a distinguished 39.5-year career in public safety service to the community.

Chief Roske began his career with the Pasco Police Department on September 2, 1986, as a Police Officer. Over the decades, he rose through the ranks, serving as Sergeant, Captain, and Deputy Police Chief before ultimately becoming Police Chief on October 7, 2019.

Throughout his career, Chief Roske demonstrated dedication to professional excellence and completed the FBI Academy. Early in his tenure, he received an Exceptional Performance Citation on May 16, 1988, recognizing courageous, outstanding, or unusual performance of duty.

During his time as Chief, Roske helped guide the department through significant progress, including strengthening professional standards, maintaining accreditation, spearheading the launch of regional academies through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission with the Southeast Regional Campus, modernizing operations, and continuing to build trust with the community. He also prioritized succession planning and leadership development to ensure long-term organizational stability.

“On behalf of the community of Pasco, I want to thank Chief Roske for his decades of dedicated service,” said City Manager Harold Stewart. “He has helped shape a department that sets a high professional standard and earns the trust of the residents it serves. We wish him the very best but will greatly miss his experience and leadership.”

Reflecting on his career, Chief Roske shared that serving the City of Pasco has been one of the greatest honors of his professional life and expressed confidence that the department is well positioned for continued success through the strength of its leadership team, internal systems, and culture of accountability and service.

Chief Roske will continue working with City leadership to support a smooth and thoughtful transition ahead of his retirement.
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The City of Pasco extends its sincere appreciation to Chief Roske for nearly four decades of commitment to public safety and service to the community.

​Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) has hired contracted security officers to patrol transit centers and ride randomly selected bus routes beginning Monday, February 23, 2026. The transit security officers will be responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for employees, passengers, and community members. They will conduct visible patrols of transit centers, buses, and surrounding BFT properties to deter criminal activity, identify safety concerns, and respond promptly to incidents. Ben Franklin Transit staff want to ensure the public understands that these are not federal ICE officers, but security officers employed under a contract with Phoenix Security Corporation, a local company.

A primary focus of their duties will be conflict prevention and de-escalation. The transit security officers are expected to engage individuals respectfully while maintaining authority and professionalism. Ben Franklin Transit staff believe that deploying security officers will contribute to a secure transit system that promotes public trust, employee confidence, and rider safety throughout the BFT network. Security personnel are widely used in the transit industry, particularly among larger transit providers.

​Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C) is pleased to announce a $200,000 investment that will strengthen higher education in the region while developing tomorrow’s workforce. Gifts of $50,000 each are part of separate partnerships with Washington State University Tri-Cities, the Columbia Basin College, the Washington State STEM Educational Foundation, and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
 
“One of our six Values is Make It Better,” said Carol Johnson, H2C President and Program Manager. “We are tremendously fortunate to have great education institutions in the Tri-Cities. This collaboration will help those organizations be the best they can be, as they prepare future workers to move the mission forward at Hanford, or any other career or industry they have a passion for.”
 
The partnerships go beyond monetary support, building on current programs (e.g., co-ops and internships) and support of the institutions, to encompass targeted areas of need and focus for H2C’s workforce development. Specifically, agreements with:
 
The Washington State University Tri-Cities will expose engineering students to principles of nuclear safety and business students with accounting and procurement practices necessary for government contracting.
 
The Columbia Basin College supports curriculum that equips students with transferable skills in project management, radiological protection, instrumentation and controls, operations, and safety and health.
 
The Washington State STEM Educational Foundation supports in-classroom programs that expose students to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, while identifying what additional skills are needed to ensure students are highly competitive job applicants.
 
The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce will support efforts to map current workforce development initiatives in our community to highlight gaps relative to H2C workforce needs and career opportunities.
 
“At H2C, our most important goal is to be the solution today for a better tomorrow,” Johnson said. “We do that every day through our important work on the Hanford Site, but also through partnerships like this with community organizations whose work and positive impact will be felt far beyond our community and for generations to come.“

​The Pasco City Council voted unanimously at the February 17 regular meeting to declare a six-month moratorium on applications related to “Essential Public Facilities,” including Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA) Housing and Secure Community Transition Facilities (SCTF). This temporary ban will allow the City to create ordinances and policies regulating future applications. 
 
“There are certain requirements in state law that we can’t override,” explained City Manager Harold Stewart, adding: “it’s not a question of whether or not these facilities are allowed in our community or not…This buys us time to allow for public input, and process for us to explore options and alternatives that we can legally pursue.”
 
State law requires a public hearing on this emergency moratorium within 60 days. That public hearing is expected in April.
 
During the six-month moratorium, the City will gather public input and prepare changes to City ordinances. The goal of this effort is to create a process that preserves as much local control as state laws allow, and increase opportunity for community input on proposed LRA Housing and SCTF applications. Public meetings will be announced on the City of Pasco website: pasco-wa.gov/lrahousing and social media pages. Members of the public may also submit written comment through the City of Pasco website.
 
Comments from City Manager Harold Stewart can be found here: https://we.tl/t-cB3hopjI6R This link will expire on February 22, 2026.

Two individuals were honored today in recognition of their selfless devotion to Port of Kennewick’s properties and personal stewardship of Columbia Gardens Artisan Village, Clover Island and Vista Field.​

At today’s Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners meeting, port CEO Tim Arntzen announced the selection of Ricardo Garza and Daniel Tlatenchi as the 2025 “Friends of the Port” awardees.

“Rick and Daniel have been instrumental in ensuring that port properties are safe and welcoming to the public,” said Arntzen. “They start their days early and are often the first eyes on port properties. They are truly valuable members of our team.”

The commissioners applauded the selection and presented the pair with commemorative plaques, honoring them for their diligence, high standard of service and truly caring spirit.

Commission President Ken Hohenberg expressed gratitude to the awardees on behalf of the entire board, “Rick and Daniel’s dedication to keeping all our spaces inviting for the community is evident. We thank them for their commitment and congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.”

Garza and Tlatenchi take tremendous pride in their work and have gladly undertaken every stretch assignment thrown their way, including managing the Columbia Gardens “vineyard” to great success.

Additionally, a few years ago, Garza and Tlatenchi were the first to notice the Clover Island Yacht Club boathouse fire, and their timely response helped minimize damage within the marina.

The annual “Friend of the Port” award recognizes outstanding service to the port and the community.