Erick Bengel
/
NWPB
Another harvest season for Washington’s venerated vegetable — the Walla Walla sweet onion — is at an end. Soft and juicy and fragile like a fruit, sweets are as synonymous with the Walla Walla Valley as is wine. And they’re federally protected: Only onions grown in the area can officially be sold as a Walla Walla sweet.
-
Amanda Cowan/The Columbian filesThe federal agency that maintains the Columbia River’s shipping channel is proposing to build seven giant in-water pens as part of a $377 million project to manage dredge spoils. -
Puyallup Tribe of IndiansFor the first time in the event’s history, an Indigenous sovereign nation will formally be a part of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. -
Farmworkers who believe they were discriminated against by their former employer, Cornerstone Ranches, can now seek compensation through a $1 million settlement secured by the Washington state Office of the Attorney General.
-
From Wenatchee, Washington, to Owyhee, Oregon, farmers and ranchers are making tough choices about water. Poor winter snowpack throughout the region is to blame. Farmers and ranchers are looking at a dry spring, summer and fall irrigation season. -
Potentially contaminated Manila clams were harvested and shipped to retailers in Washington, Oregon, California and six other states. -
Experts say there’s a growing need for more people in the nuclear workforce as energy demands increase. At Washington State University’s Nuclear Science Center, they’re ramping up research and training to meet that need. -
Absolutely tiny things called winter grain mites are creating a huge problem in northern Washington state wheat fields. -
A performing arts organization and hub for community activity in Tacoma is closing its doors at the end of June. -
Washington and Idaho journalists who work for newspapers owned by McClatchy Media are negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. One of their biggest priorities is how the company uses artificial intelligence. -
The stadium where the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC all play is now staffed by a majority union workforce.That wasn’t the case three years ago, when only 17% of Lumen Field staff were unionized.But now, ahead of the city and stadium hosting six matches of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, many workers have organized. About 80% of the workforce at Lumen now belong to one of a dozen unions representing workers at the stadium. -
What will set off your New Year? If you’ll be making a toast to 2026 – you should know, the Northwest is home to new and interesting sparkling wines. -
Washington state’s largest winery, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, has been purchased by the Wyckoff family. The Wyckoffs own a variety of agricultural businesses across Washington state. -
One of the oldest and largest U.S.-owned forage companies has filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief. The hay industry that once appeared to be baling green cash is deeply struggling.
