Nov. 4 / Avista Corp.'s earnings improve
Avista Corp., of Spokane, reported third-quarter net income of $7.4 million, or 13 cents a diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.9 million, or 7 cents a diluted share, in the year-earlier quarter. It also reported net income for the nine months ended Sept. 30 of $56.1 million, or $1.04 a share, up from $24.4 million, or 45 cents a share, in the year-earlier period.

Nov. 3 / Providence, Premera reach agreement on rates
Providence Health & Services and regional insurer Premera Blue Cross announced they've reached an agreement on rates that will keep Providence in Premera's provider network, ending a dispute that lasted for months. The agreement, they said, covers Providence's eight Washington hospitals, including Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital here. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.

Nov. 3 / Coldwater Creek withdraws guidance, trims expansion
Coldwater Creek Inc., of Sandpoint, withdrew its previously issued sales and earnings-per-share guidance for the fourth quarter, due to market volatility, and scaled back to 15 from 40 the number of stores it expects to open next year. Also, in preliminary third-quarter results, the company said it expects to report sharply lower sales of about $225 million, which likely will translate into a loss of 7 cents to 9 cents a share.

Oct. 31 / AmericanWest announces huge loss, branch closures
AmericanWest Bancorp., the Spokane-based parent of AmericanWest Bank, reported a third-quarter loss of $96.9 million, or $5.63 a diluted share, down from net income of $5.3 million, or 31 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. It also said it plans to close six of its 64 branches, including on the West Plains, in the Qualchan area, and in Latah, Oakesdale, and Kennewick, Wash., plus an in-store branch in St. Maries, Idaho.

Oct. 30 / Bonanzino picked to head ISM
The Institute for Systems Medicine, the Spokane nonprofit biomedical research organization, named Anthony Bonanzino as its CEO. Bonanzino, former CEO of Hollister-Stier Laboratories LLC, of Spokane, will be responsible for enacting a new business plan that will focus on securing sustainable funding, supporting innovative research projects, and attracting researchers to Spokane, ISM said.

Oct. 29 / Spokane Valley changes direction on couplet
The Spokane Valley City Council voted to restore two-way traffic on Sprague Avenue and Appleway Boulevard between Dishman-Mica and University roads, but the two streets will remain a one-way couplet between Interstate 90 and Dishman-Mica, where commuter traffic is the heaviest. Scott Kuhta, a Spokane Valley project manager, said the decision is part of an ongoing process to adopt a Sprague-Appleway traffic plan that would support Spokane Valley's efforts to establish a city center district.

Oct. 29 / Itron reports quarterly profit
Itron Inc., the Liberty Lake-based maker of automated meter-reading technology, reported third-quarter net income of $7.7 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $3.4 million, or 11 cents a share, in the year-earlier period, an increase it attributed in large part to foreign exchange rates. Itron's overall quarterly revenues rose to $485 million, up 12 percent from $434 million in the third quarter of 2007.

Oct. 28 / Key Tronic's net income rises
Key Tronic Corp., the Spokane Valleybased contract manufacturer, reported net income of $400,000, or 4 cents a diluted share, for its 2009 fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 27, up from $200,000, or 2 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Revenues were $48.2 million, up from $44.6 million. Jack Oehlke, president and CEO of Key Tronic, said the company will take steps to reduce operating expenses, because it anticipates slower revenue growth because of uncertainty in the global economy.