The increase will push the state’s per-gallon tax rate on gas and other vehicle fuels from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents. Starting July 1, 2026, it will rise each year by 2% – about a penny annually – to account for inflation.
Kennewick firefighters responded to 237 unintentional commercial fire alarms in 2024, three quarters of them due to system malfunctions, according to the Kennewick Fire Department.
The state had the largest percentage drop in its construction workforce compared to a year ago, according to one construction trades group. The Tri-Cities, however, is bucking that trend according to state employment data.
The device using the PNNL-developed technology can detect fentanyl at levels as small as 6 parts per trillion. That’s equivalent to being able to detect six drops of food coloring mixed into 18 million gallons of water.