May 18 / Clearwater to build $260 million tissue-products plant
Spokane-based Clearwater Paper Corp. said it plans to build a new facility, at a cost of between $260 million and $280 million, to produce private-label bathroom tissue. The company said it's working on final site selection in the southeastern U.S. for the tissue-drying and converting facility, which ultimately could produce about 70,000 tons of bathroom tissue and household towels each year. The plant is expected to begin partial production in the second half of 2011 and to employ as many as 250 people.

May 18 / Job numbers lower, unemployment up
Nonagricultural wage and salary employment in the Spokane Metropolitan area, at 208,000 in April, was down 3,300 jobs from the April 2009 level, according to preliminary Washington state Employment Security Department figures. Preliminary figures from another survey put the unemployment rate at 8.8 percent in April, up from 8.7 percent in the year-earlier month.

May 17 / Huppin's to open North Side retail store
Huppin's Hi-Fi, Photo & Video Inc., of Spokane, said it plans to open a second consumer electronics retail outlet this fall in the former Furniture Supercenter space, at 8016 N. Division, where it will feature a showcase for 3-D video electronics and focus on integrated home electronics and Internet applications. Huppin's said it will redevelop the 24,000-square-foot building with neighbor Pawn 1 Inc., which will expand into part of the structure, leaving room for two other retail tenants.

May 14 / State OKs more beds at Sacred Heart
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital announced it had obtained approval from the Washington state Department of Health to add 75 adult acute-care beds, which will bring its total licensed capacity to 719 beds. The approval required Providence Holy Family Hospital to reduce its number of licensed beds by 25 to a total of 247 beds. Providence said that it hopes to begin awarding construction contracts in June.

May 10 / Dishman Dodge buys Chrysler franchise
Dishman Dodge, of Spokane, bought the assets and franchise of the Spokane Chrysler dealership in a transaction that was completed May 7, after several months of negotiations. Dishman owner Marti Hollenback said the dealership now is operating as Dishman Dodge Chrysler at the Dishman Dodge property, which encompasses 10 acres of land at 7614 and 7700 E. Sprague

May 6 / Avista reports dip in first-quarter earnings
Avista Corp. reported first-quarter net income of $28.8 million, or 52 cents a diluted share, compared with $31 million, or 57 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. One of the warmest first quarters on recordand low precipitation and snowpack reduced demand by the Spokane-based utility company's customers for energy and cut into its hydroelectric generation and net income, Avista Chairman, President, and CEO Scott Morris said.

May 5 / Red Lion posts first-quarter loss
Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corp. reported a first-quarter net loss of $4.4 million, or 24 cents a share, compared with a loss of $3.3 million, or 18 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. The chain reported hotel revenue of $30.6 million for the quarter, down slightly from $30.8 million in the year-earlier quarter. The company said it modified some of its offerings and increased sales and technology resources to position itself for an industry recovery, but that hurt its operating performance.