Debbie Cockrell

Olympia, Tacoma

Covering the South Sound specifically and the world in general for @thenewstribune. [email protected]. Retweets ≠ endorsements.

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Articles

What’s to become of closed Tacoma paper mill? First, a long, complex cleanup

1 week ago | thenewstribune.com | Debbie Cockrell

The turnaround to get a closed Tacoma paper mill on the market to sell will take some time and faces a complex road of dismantling and cleanup. Representatives for the former WestRock Tacoma Mill, 801 Portland Ave. E., announced the facility’s closure in August 2023. Demolition documents since submitted to the city show at least one asbestos-treated portion of the mill as well as wood-framed fuel storage bins slowly deteriorating and requiring special handling in the decommissioning process.
Iconic Tacoma candymaker hit hard by tariffs, losing China business, CEO says

1 week ago | thenewstribune.com | Debbie Cockrell

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray was in Tacoma on Wednesday to highlight the effects the global tariff upheaval is having on Pierce County and Washington state trade. The CEO of Brown & Haley, as well as representatives from the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle and the nonprofit Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, participated in a business roundtable held at the Brown & Haley factory in Tacoma. Murray, a Democrat, told attendees she was there to hear their stories about what they’d experienced.
An indoor pickleball chain has designs on Tacoma. Here’s what we know

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Debbie Cockrell

You might have seen the headlines this week that discount retailer Big Lots is returning under new ownership in some states. That’s not happening in Washington, but at least one former Tacoma location appears to be gaining a new tenant. Last summer, Big Lots operated 26 stores in Washington state and around 900 nationwide. Its former store at 2401 N. Pearl St. in the Westgate South shopping center was the last of its stores in Pierce County to close late last year.
An indoor pickleball chain has designs on Tacoma. Here’s what we know

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Debbie Cockrell

You might have seen the headlines this week that discount retailer Big Lots is returning under new ownership in some states. That’s not happening in Washington, but at least one former Tacoma location appears to be gaining a new tenant. Last summer, Big Lots operated 26 stores in Washington state and around 900 nationwide. Its former store at 2401 N. Pearl St. in the Westgate South shopping center was the last of its stores in Pierce County to close late last year.
New York-based coffee chain launching a Tacoma shop next week. Here are details

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Debbie Cockrell

A sign advertising the new Gregorys Coffee shop coming to the Tacoma Mall was seen Aug. 1, 2024. Craig Sailor The News Tribune A new coffee shop that got its start on the other coast is set to open next week at the Tacoma Mall. Gregorys Coffee will hold its grand opening on April 15. The News Tribune in August reported on the addition of Gregorys in the former Starbucks space, which is Starbucks moved across the street to a freestanding site at 4201 Steele St. in January 2024.
What’s next for The Swiss? Upcoming workshop to tackle how to best use iconic site

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Debbie Cockrell

People with ideas of how an iconic University of Washington-Tacoma building should evolve are set to gather this week at a local workshop. The problem: What to do with The Swiss, which sits at the corner of South 19th Street and Jefferson Ave. The building’s history goes back to the early 20th century, when the Swiss Society created the chalet-influenced hall that once marked the southern edge of Tacoma’s market district.
Planned schoolyard overhaul in Tacoma on pause with anticipated federal funding cut

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Debbie Cockrell

A view of the schoolyard at Larchmont Elementary, 8601 E. B St., Tacoma. Plans to revamp it for community schoolyard/park space are on hold as result of EPA actions terminating similar grants of which the school system was a recipient. Parks Tacoma Federal money awarded to a Tacoma public school for schoolyard upgrades appears to be among U.S. government cancellations of various grants issued during the Biden administration.
8 stories of change in the Tacoma area’s business landscape

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Kristine Sherred |Debbie Cockrell |Becca Most

Closures of establishments such as a beloved comic book store and a vegan restaurant highlight mounting challenges that Pierce County businesses face when it comes to rent, wages, and rising costs. Ongoing transitions — like a retired chef handing over a legacy restaurant — showcase efforts to preserve local culture and community ties. Establishments like Macy’s South Hill Mall site shutter while others aim to reinvent in a changing market.
9 impacts from government downsizing on communities in Washington state

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Becca Most |Debbie Cockrell

The downsizing of government operations under the Trump administration has wide-reaching consequences for public infrastructure and labor markets. Federal workforce reductions have led to sweeping impacts, including layoffs affecting tens of thousands of employees and cuts to agencies like the EPA, Veterans Affairs, and Social Security Administration. Communities are seeing closures of parks and facilities, halted federal projects, and rising unemployment claims tied to these measures.
Federal funding cuts have Pierce County health officials ‘reimagining’ services

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Debbie Cockrell

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department hasn’t been immune to federal budget cuts, while federal-level layoffs also have left data collection in at least one program at risk. In response to questions, TPCHD media representative Kenny Via told The News Tribune that two local health department programs took the initial hit of funding losses: one tied to COVID-19 response and the other with wildfires.