Latino businesses in Eastern Washington are being targeted by a Florida company making deceptive insurance phone calls, according to the Better Business Bureau.

A state representative and two longtime farming couples will be inducted into the Agriculture Hall of Fame in January.

A new real estate office is opening in Kennewick.

A meeting to collect information about the state’s Open Space Taxation Act and its definition of “commercial agricultural purposes” will be in Yakima on Dec. 4.

Olympia Small business owners in Washington can learn more about tax planning by watching a new video launched Monday by the state.

Ring in the holiday season on Nov. 28-30 with a holiday open house at Badger Mountain Organic Vineyards and Powers Winery in Kennewick.

Richland Farmers are invited to a two-part course addressing good agricultural practices in response to recent disease outbreaks linked to produce.

Columbia Winery has come to a long-term agreement with its owner, California-based Ascentia Wine Estates, which bought the winery earlier this year.

WALLA WALLA Farmers and growers have a chance to earn three credits of pesticide recertification before the end of the year.

WALLA WALLA Banner Corp., parent company of Banner Bank and Islanders Bank, has announced that it received $124 million from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program.

Three Tri-Cities businesses are working together to collect food donations for the needy this holiday season.

The Port of Benton Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting has been changed to 1 p.m. on Dec. 11.

WALLA WALLA The Blue Mountain Humane Society will close down its thrift store by the end of the year.

WALLA WALLA — Net sales at Key Technology Inc. increased about 25 percent in the 2008 fiscal year, the company has announced.

Walla Walla restaurant Luscious by Nature has announced some wintertime changes.

Motel 6 is collecting new teddy bears for its “Great Teddy Bear Roundup” for children experiencing stressful or traumatic situations.

A sustainable agriculture conference is coming to Richland in February.

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about buying tickets for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration in January.

Organizers of the Pasco Ag Show have announced that the Washington State Department of Agriculture director will be the keynote speaker.

Fruit growers, orchard managers, crop consultants and field staff are invited to the 2008 Pest Management Fruit School on Dec. 10 and 11.

Immigrants applying for work permits are being warned of scam e-mails claiming to be from U.S. immigration lawyers.

A spa offering facials, waxing, spray tans and more has moved to Kennewick.

A Prosser real estate office has moved.

The AmericanWest Bank branch at 1149 N. Edison St. in Kennewick will close Jan. 30.

PROSSER -- Enjoy some heat with your sweet when you eat Chukar Cherries’ new extra dark chocolate chipotle cherry product.

Monkey Dooz, a children’s salon and party spot, is under new ownership.

Local fruit growers will get the chance at a series of workshops to learn about and use a new software program designed to help make long-term decisions about implementing new technology or making other management changes.

The parent company of Banner Bank announced Nov. 4 that is has received preliminary approval to participate in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program, which is part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act passed this fall.

Northwest Farm Credit Services has announced third quarter earnings of $39 million, compared with $28.4 million in third quarter 2007.

Three new courses have been added to Washington State University’s online Certificate in Organic Agriculture program for the spring semester.

Truffles, toffee and an assortment of chocolate and other goodies are coming to the Columbia Center mall Nov. 13.

A salon and party place for girls 18 and younger is opening in Kennewick.

Visit the new Tri-Cities Business & Convention Center building during the annual holiday open house on Dec. 4.

KENNEWICK National outdoor retail co-op REI received an EnviroStars award Tuesday for its environmental initiatives.

The Institute of Management Accountants is offering a seminar from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. at the Shilo Inn in Richland.

Washington’s minimum wage will increase 48 cents to $8.55 an hour, beginning Jan. 1. The annual mandatory increase is a result of a voter initiative passed 10 years ago. It requires the minimum wage to be adjusted each year according to the change in the federal Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers. The index increased 5.9 percent during the 12-month period ending in August.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi will speak at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting Oct. 21.

The Alternative Energy User Group will meet Wednesday to hear from West Richland's Melvin Campbell on his views about energy and where it comes from.

The Mid-Columbia Macintosh (computer) Users Group will get a demonstration on genealogy applications at its monthly meeting Oct. 9.

Join winemaker Justin Wylie of Va Piano Vineyards in Walla Walla at this week's Behind the Bottle series at Backbone Wine and Panini Bar at 114 W. Kennewick Ave.

Experience the beauty of grapes on the vine and the fun of crushing them at Airfield Estates' second annual Vineyard Run and Grape Stomp on Oct. 11.

The Tri-Cities is ranked 195 out of 363 metro areas in the country in terms of 2006 Gross Domestic Product in current dollars, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis anounced today, Sept. 25.

Two Washington companies will pay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to settle alleged violations of some provisions of the Clean Air Act, EPA announced today, Sept. 22.

Kennewick's Infinia Corp. will get about $9.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a technology to help store solar energy for future use.

A new clothing store featuring gear for "dudes" and "bettys" is coming to the Columbia Center mall.

BCRA Architects of Tacoma will help design the first waterfront office building at the Port of Pasco's Riverfront Business Park.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed Mike Schwenk of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to the Board of Directors for Washington Technology Center. Schwenk's term will end in June 2011.

YESCO, an electric sign manufacturing and repair company with headquarters in Salt Lake City, recently opened for business in Kennewick.

The 10th annual United Way Golf Tournament raised $29,000 for charity. The money will support United Way programs in Benton and Franklin counties.

Pamela Henderson, CEO of NewEdge and The Brewery, a market research and design company based in Richland, will talk about innovative marketing, branding and communication strategies at the Three River's Entrepreneur Network meeting Thursday, Sept. 18.