Most read Tri-Cities stories: Transit CEO fired, Hanford pivotal step and more
From the firing of Ben Franklin Transit’s CEO to the first permanent disposal of radioactive waste at Hanford, it was a busy week in the Tri-Cities. Here are the stories that resonated most with readers.
Here are key takeaways:
• Transit CEO terminated: Ben Franklin Transit’s board unanimously voted to fire CEO Thomas Drozt with no severance pay after an investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing, including hiring a consultant with a sex offense conviction and paying his stepson nearly $5,000 for a training workshop. Reported by Cory McCoy.
• Hanford waste milestone: The first 7.5-ton container of radioactive waste turned into glass was permanently placed in a vast new landfill at Hanford, a pivotal step toward disposing of 56 million gallons of waste stored in underground tanks for up to 80 years. Reported by Annette Cary.
• Community mourns 7-year-old: Donation boxes and a GoFundMe campaign were set up to help the family of Isabella Flores Trinidad, a deaf Pasco second-grader who died after being pulled from an irrigation canal near Prosser. Reported by Cameron Probert.
• Richland eyes $50M police station: The city council voted to enter a $7.75 million purchase agreement for a vacant seven-story office building — more than six times its assessed value — to renovate into a new police station. Reported by Wendy Culverwell.
• Wheat Head opens waterfront taproom: The Horse Heaven Hills brewery set an opening date for Wheat Head on the Water in Kennewick, where neighboring food vendors are bracing for a wave of new business. Reported by Wendy Culverwell.
• Orchard rezoned for 200+ homes: Kennewick’s city council unanimously approved rezoning a former 38-acre orchard for 215 single-family lots, drawing concern from neighbors about smaller lot sizes and changing neighborhood character. Reported by Eric Rosane.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by Cory McCoy. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.