UW offers workshops for area contractors

The University of Washington wants to get to know a bunch of new contractors and will get started this month by holding two workshops.

Where have all the green jobs gone?

Everywhere you turn there is talk of a shift to renewable energy, of building wind farms and solar plants, of making buildings more efficient, of developing biofuels. And of billions in federal funding to help make it all happen.

Yakima water: $18M for studies, but still no plan

In the first of likely many meetings, state and federal officials met Tuesday with tribal and local elected officials, conservation groups and irrigation districts on how best to improve the water supply in central Washington's arid Yakima Valley.

Big Apple real estate takes a ‘nosedive'

One of the city's largest real estate brokerages said there was ‘virtually no business' in the second quarter.

Analysis: Times are tough for renters in U.S.

34 million people in this country rent their homes and their financial situation has deteriorated rapidly since 2000.

Spokane yards get tested for asbestos

Crews are testing residential yards near W.R. Grace's former insulation factory in Spokane for asbestos fibers that can cause cancer.

Pending home sales up for 4th straight month

Pending home sales rose in May for the fourth straight month, spurred by low prices and a first-time homebuyers tax credit, fresh evidence that the housing sector may be recovering.

Seattle sets new recycling record

The city of Seattle hit a new record for recycling in 2008, with half of its residential and commercial waste being recycled or composted rather than going to a landfill.

New Border Patrol HQ put on hold

Plans for new U.S. Border Patrol headquarters in the Olympic Peninsula have been put on hold because of budget issues.

NW drivers are using less gasoline

A new report finds that drivers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho used 180 million fewer gallons of gasoline between 2007 and 2008, the largest drop since 1980.

Stocks post modest gains

Investors kicked off the stock market's third quarter with a moderate gain after getting some reassuring data on manufacturing and housing.

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