Latest News

Going mobile: Online banking usage spikes during pandemic

Inland Northwest banks, credit unions report more downloads, transactions

June 18, 2020

With banks limiting contact between employees and their customers, the use of digital and mobile banking tools that the institutions have been investing in for years have seen sudden, dramatic spikes, Spokane-area financial industry representatives say.

Spokane bankers frustrated by sluggish guidance on PPP

Flexibility Act causes more confusion than clarity for some aspects of program

June 18, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Inland Northwest bankers say they're frustrated by a lack of federal guidance regarding particulars of the Paycheck Protection Program. Some say they and their customers are confused about some aspects of the program.

Spokane hoteliers hope to buck West Side trends

INW hospitality industry isn't immune to uncertainty, though

June 18, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Reports of hundreds of layoffs at hotels in the Seattle area this month have some in the industry here concerned that Spokane will once again follow the trends set by the West Side.

Going the distance: The future of restaurants and retail stores in the Inland Northwest

Despite reopening, restaurateurs, retailers still face stiff headwinds

June 18, 2020

Kevin Blocker

On May 11, Bob and Barbara Materne celebrated the 39th anniversary of The Swinging Doors with little fanfare, because patrons weren't allowed inside the North Side restaurant and sports bar at that time.

SCC building is being expanded, renovated

Project intended to create new space for college's fire sciences program

June 4, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Construction crews have started work on a $1.7 million expansion and renovation of a building on the Spokane Community College campus, in East Spokane.

New apartment, townhome projects to create 154 units

Spokane Valley complex valued at $17.4 million

June 4, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Three residential projects with a total of 154 living units are in the works-two on Spokane's South Hill and one in Spokane Valley. Building permit information for The Monika Apartments, at 16618 E. Broadway, in Spokane Valley, shows that six buildin

Puget Sound Pipe & Supply to build West Plains operation

Company looks to expand access to Idaho, Montana

June 4, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Kent, Washington-based pipe valve and fitting manufacturer and retailer Puget Sound Pipe & Supply Co. plans to build a new, roughly 20,000-square-foot warehouse and office building on the West Plains to better serve customers in Eastern Washington, Idaho,

Women-owned Cd'A contractor grows with federal work

Design-build firm takes jobs in 13 western states

June 4, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Not even the COVID-19 pandemic has been able to blunt the tide of growth the design-build construction company Verdis is experiencing. Since becoming a member of the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program in 2016, Verdis has

McKinstry plans new West Plains fabrication facility

$5M industrial project will be built using CLT

June 4, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Seattle-based McKinstry Co. is in the process of buying undeveloped land north of Spokane International Airport, where it intends to build a $5 million fabrication facility for its Spokane operations.

Commentary: Home is everything during pandemic

Lessons learned quickly in recent time of crisis

June 4, 2020

Tom Clark

Our home is everything now. It's our office. It's our gym. It's our children's classroom and their playground. Our new restaurant is our kitchen. Our new reality is reframing what it means to be together.