June 1/ Condon plans reorganizations within city

Spokane Mayor David Condon announced plans to form a streamlined division of the city's major utilities—water, wastewater, and solid waste—and fleet services. As part of those changes, the street department would join with the city's business and developer services division. Separately, Condon announced plans to consolidate the city's human services and community development departments. The city also is relaunching its search for a new police chief, with an emphasis on someone who understands metropolitan policing models, and hopes to have the chief chosen in August.

May 31/ Coldwater Creek posts lower loss

Sandpoint-based Coldwater Creek Inc. reported a net loss of $23.8 million, or 20 cents a diluted share, for its fiscal-year first quarter that ended April 28. The results were an improvement over the year-earlier period, when the company posted a net loss of $30 million, or 32 cents a share. Coldwater Creek Chairman and CEO Dennis Pence said, "Our first-quarter results reflect meaningful progress in our operating performance."

May 30/ Providence buys Valley physicians group

Providence Medical Group acquired Spokane Valley Family Medicine. The acquisition took effect June 1, and the practice will change its name to Providence Family Medicine-Spokane Valley. The eight general primary-care physicians involved in the Valley practice will continue seeing patients at their current location, at 13102 E. Mission.

May 24/ Inland Imaging forms IT unit

Inland Imaging LLC formed an information technology subsidiary, called Nuvodia. Jon Copeland is serving as CEO of Nuvodia and said the company hopes to become a nationwide provider of technology integration and services. It is expected to generate about $20 million in revenue this year and currently has 80 employees, 65 of whom are in Spokane. The company is located in Inland Imaging's headquarters building, at 801 S. Stevens, on Spokane's lower South Hill.

May 24 / Spokane's tourism efforts analyzed

Spokane's "Near Nature, Near Perfect" slogan is an effective marketing tool, but the local tourism industry can use it more frequently and effectively, said North Carolina-based Randall Travel Marketing said in its newly released Visit Spokane 2012 Tourism Research Study. The analysis also said hotel occupancy in Spokane outperformed the national averages in 2009 and 2010. Moving forward, the report said, making more attractive gateways to the city off Interstate 90 should become a priority.

May 24/ Mt. Spokane improvements planned

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park said it plans to make improvements to the mountain's main lodge this summer. The improvements include an addition and a new outside deck that will create seating for an additional 100 people. Other improvements include upgrades to the rental shop, roof repairs, and infrastructure improvements.

May 23/ Lucky Friday rehiring to start in July
Hecla Mining Inc., of Coeur d'Alene, said it plans to start rehiring workers in July for its Lucky Friday mine, near Wallace, Idaho. The company is making safety improvements ordered by federal regulators after two miners were killed in the mine last year. Those improvements are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, allowing the mine to resume full production. More than 110 employees were laid off when the mine closed late last year.