Business & Economy
Business & Economy

Ah, Shuck: Oysters, Cherries, Other Northwest Ag Products Back Up As Coronavirus Quarantines Trade
Right now, all sorts of products aren’t reaching the U.S. because of the coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China. Reciprocally, many U.S. agricultural and forestry products aren’t shipping back into China and other Pacific Rim countries. Global trade watchers say backed-up trade is building up on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Continue Reading Ah, Shuck: Oysters, Cherries, Other Northwest Ag Products Back Up As Coronavirus Quarantines Trade

Ron Wells Helped Develop Spokane, Moscow, Lewiston. He’s Been Sentenced In Federal Fraud Scheme
Prominent Inland Northwest architect and developer Ron Wells was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for his role in staging a car crash to defraud insurance companies. He was sentenced to a year of home confinement and must pay $240,000. Continue Reading Ron Wells Helped Develop Spokane, Moscow, Lewiston. He’s Been Sentenced In Federal Fraud Scheme

What Is The Toll Of Trade Wars On U.S. Agriculture?
The recently signed Phase 1 U.S.-China deal promises some relief. Details remain unclear, but the United States government’s interpretation of this deal is that China will purchase $40 billion of agricultural goods in 2020. Some analysts have questioned how realistic those estimates are, given that the highest level of farm products the United States has ever exported to China was $26 billion in 2012, although one Chinese agricultural consultancy company says this can be achieved. Continue Reading What Is The Toll Of Trade Wars On U.S. Agriculture?

Bigleaf Maple Syrup Flows As Profits Drip From A Once-Maligned Northwest Tree
The bigleaf maple has a broad canopy and is native to the West Coast. It grows from San Diego, California all the way north to British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. But the West Coast timber industry is largely set up to harvest Douglas fir. The tree, with its broad-shading canopy, is often eradicated so more Douglas fir will grow. Continue Reading Bigleaf Maple Syrup Flows As Profits Drip From A Once-Maligned Northwest Tree

Do Kids Have A Right To Sell Lemonade? Washington Lawmakers Want To Guarantee It
Washington lawmakers are tackling a variety of weighty issues this year from homelessness to prescription drug pricing to transportation funding to …. the legality of kids’ lemonade stands. That’s right, lemonade stands are on the agenda for the 2020 legislative session in Olympia. Continue Reading Do Kids Have A Right To Sell Lemonade? Washington Lawmakers Want To Guarantee It

Does The China Trade Deal Move The World Away From Free Trade?
While the new deal with China lowers some trade barriers, it leaves many tariffs in place. And it dictates that China buy more from the U.S., but that has other trading partners worried. Continue Reading Does The China Trade Deal Move The World Away From Free Trade?

Labor Shortage And Fall Weather Stack Up To Leave Apples Rotting In Orchards
For the love of Johnny Appleseed! Why are so many apples left hanging (and rotting) on trees in Northwest orchards after the fall harvest? Industry experts and growers says it’s a combination of factors – but really not due to tariffs, as some people think. Continue Reading Labor Shortage And Fall Weather Stack Up To Leave Apples Rotting In Orchards

‘We Won’t Build It’: Northwest Tech Workers Struggle With Company Ties To Immigration Enforcement
The Southern border may be far from Washington state, but software used by immigration officials is built in Seattle. Now tech workers are grappling with their responsibility as the creators of that technology. Some have become unlikely activists. Continue Reading ‘We Won’t Build It’: Northwest Tech Workers Struggle With Company Ties To Immigration Enforcement

New Law Aims To Help Americans Without Retirement Plans. Will It Work?
The most powerful way to get people to save for retirement in recent decades has been through benefits offered at their job. But a lot of people — about half the American workforce — don’t get that from their employers. Continue Reading New Law Aims To Help Americans Without Retirement Plans. Will It Work?

Dams Vs. Salmon: Workshops Aim To Get Past ‘My Study Can Beat Up Your Study’ On Snake River
More than 300 people showed up to hear speakers talk about why it’s important to either keep or alter the dams. The panel stems from a Washington state study that will guide the state’s position on dam removal. Continue Reading Dams Vs. Salmon: Workshops Aim To Get Past ‘My Study Can Beat Up Your Study’ On Snake River

Unemployment Pushes More Men Into Jobs Fields Dominated By Women
In the last few decades, many high-paying jobs that are mostly done by men – like manufacturing – have contracted or disappeared. At the same time, many jobs in fields dominated by women – like education and health care – have significantly increased. Continue Reading Unemployment Pushes More Men Into Jobs Fields Dominated By Women

Public Invited To Clarkston-Pasco-Vancouver Workshops On Question Of Snake River Dams
Upcoming public workshops will examine a draft report that gauges how people in Washington want to deal with the fate of the dams. At the workshops, officials will present the report’s findings, followed by a panel discussion. People can submit written and online comments on the draft report through Jan. 24. Continue Reading Public Invited To Clarkston-Pasco-Vancouver Workshops On Question Of Snake River Dams