5 Richland stories you may have missed: AI data center, new police station, more

From a salmon-saving celebration to radioactive waste disposal, several major stories unfolded recently in and around Richland. Here’s a quick catch-up on what you might have missed.

Here are key takeaways:

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is exploring a possible AI data center for research on its Richland-area premises as soon as 2028, with an initial power need of 2 megawatts that could expand to 40 megawatts. Story by Annette Cary and Wendy Culverwell.

• Richland City Council voted to enter a $7.75 million deal to buy a vacant seven-story office building — assessed at just $1.27 million — to convert into a new police station. Story by Wendy Culverwell.

• The Yakama Nation celebrated the removal of the Bateman Island causeway, an earthen dam built around 1940 that blocked salmon migration where the Yakima and Columbia rivers meet in Richland. Story by Tri-City Herald staff.

• The Department of Energy placed the first container of vitrified radioactive tank waste into a permanent landfill at the Hanford nuclear site, a milestone in addressing 56 million gallons of stored waste. Story by Annette Cary.

• Benton County Fire District 4 will ask West Richland area voters on Aug. 4 to approve restoring its levy rate to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund six new firefighters and replace an aging fire engine. Story by Cory McCoy.

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.