Brookdale Canyon Lakes earns national honor

Brookdale Canyon Lakes has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as part of the 2025 Best Senior Living list in the Assisted Living category, the highest possible rating. 

Residents and family members were surveyed across thousands of independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement communities across the country. The ratings provide insight into the community’s care, dining, engagement, management and staff. 

“This recognition is a testament to the positive impact we have on our residents’ lives, which is made possible by the relentless dedication of our associates to provide compassionate, personalized care and services to each resident,” said Joe Green, executive director of Brookdale Canyon Lakes, in a statement.

Learn about low-dose radiation risks at free talk

The B Reactor Museum Association is offering a talk on the risks of low-dose radiation exposure featuring a leading expert in radiation biology.

The free presentation is at 7 p.m. May 12 at the Richland Public Library.

It features Antone Brooks, who has decades of experience in radiation research, from molecular and cellular biology to experimental animals and humans. 

The former research director at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Lovelace Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute will challenge conventional radiation risk models and share emerging evidence that low-dose radiation may trigger adaptive, protective biological responses.

He’ll also discuss how fear-driven policies can lead to costly social and health consequences, making the re-evaluation of radiation safety standards critical.

Once controversial Richland flower shop closes

A Richland flower shop at the center of a discrimination lawsuit for its previous owner’s refusal to provide flowers to a gay couple closed its doors on March 31. 

Arlene’s Flowers & Gifts, most recently owned by Kim Solheim, announced the closure via social media. A reason was not provided.  

She bought the Lee Boulevard flower shop from previous owner Barronelle Stutzman in mid-2022. 

“We are deeply grateful for your support over the years,” Arlene’s post said. 

Arlene’s made national headlines when the former owner refused to provide flowers for the wedding of Tri-City residents Curt Freed and Robert Ingersoll, longtime customers of the shop. The couple sued with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, saying she violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws. 

Stutzman was defended by Alliance Defending Freedom, arguing that her right to religious liberty permitted her to decline to serve Freed and Ingersoll. In the end, she was twice found by the Washington Supreme Court to have violated anti-discrimination laws, first on appeal from Benton County Superior Court and again on remand by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Stutzman eventually settled the lawsuits in late 2021, paying $5,000 to the couple. 

Solheim, who previously worked for Stutzman, made the flower shop inclusive, selling rainbow-themed arrangements during Pride Month in June and saying it was a safe space for all. 

Report: WA not ready for growing senior population

The state Workforce Board is sounding the alarm that steps need to be taken to meet the looming demands of an aging population.

More than 1.7 million Washingtonians will be 65 or older by 2030, according to a release, with that increasing to 2.3 million by 2050. And many of those individuals will require care due to disabilities, injuries or illness. 

But long-term care opportunities and services face significant challenges, from staffing shortages and high turnover to the high cost of care that weighs on families and communities.

“As a result of growing demand from the Washington population and a shrinking of the traditional caregiver labor pool, the future of long-term care will be immeasurably worse without decisive action by both the public and private sectors,” the report reads.

The Workforce Board’s Long-Term Care Workforce Initiative proposes a variety of solutions to ensure Washingtonians continue to live fulfilling lives in old age while not straining care networks and resources. 

Some of those recommendations include:

• Consistent hours for caregivers, which leads to a stable income.
• More local training opportunities for rural and isolated communities.
• Management training focused on recruitment and retention.
• Using technology to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens.
• Incentive pay for professional nurses who mentor and train student nurses.
• More support for state training programs, including a long-term care nursing residency program.

Social Security launches new tools for phone claim processing

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently launched new fraud prevention tools for claims filed over the phone. Now, individuals can complete all claim types over the phone, and new anti-fraud capabilities will protect beneficiaries and streamline the customer experience. 

By analyzing patterns and anomalies within accounts, SSA can identify suspicious activity in phone calls. If something is amiss, that person will be asked to complete in-person identity proofing to continue processing their claim.

These upgrades will allow SSA to better serve customers who are unable to file online or visit an office in person while maintaining the security of its services. SSA spent $16.5 million in March to modernize phone services nationwide. 

Along with the security upgrades, surge capacity is being put in place to support higher demand.