Southgate site-plan work looms Work is expected to get under way shortly on the creation of an unusual integrated site plan for three neighboring, but separately owned, commercial properties in the Southgate area of the South Hill that have been the subject of years of developmen... Full Story

U.S. crisis put Hecla on edge Earlier this month, Hecla Mining Co. announced that its silver production had jumped 26 percent in 2009 and that surging cash flows had left the Coeur d'Alene-based company with zero debt and $100 million in cash on hand. What a difference a year can... Full Story

EZ Loader diversifies amid slump With the U.S. marine industry in a downturn, longtime Spokane manufacturer EZ Loader Boat Trailers Inc. has taken steps to diversify by winning regulatory approval to sell its boat trailers throughout Europe and by launching a line of utility and mot... Full Story

Report makes case for med school here Spokane and Eastern Washington have significant shortages of physicians, and it's projected those shortages will worsen dramatically in the next 10 to 20 years, says a report by two task forces that studied development of a four-year medical school h... Full Story