After a year of product refinement and fundraising, Blaze Barrier Inc., a Spokane-based maker of wildfire suppression systems, is preparing to start manufacturing at its new West Plains facility.

Eastern Washington University is moving forward with plans to launch a master’s in dental therapy program, a move that would place the university among a small handful of institutions nationwide offering the credential and expand access to oral health care in rural Washington, says Dawn Lewis-Kinnunen, dean of EWU’s College of Health Science and Public Health.

Washington state legislative agendas for the city of Spokane and Greater Spokane Incorporated indicate that their priorities for the 2026 legislative session will focus on clarifying taxes, reducing costs for residents, and improving infrastructure and housing affordability, but lobbying efforts from the two entities face an added challenge due to a tight state budget.

The need for more childcare facilities and providers in Spokane County is straightforward: the region is characterized by a lack of access to child care, affordability, and a need for centers that offer nontraditional hours to accommodate the region’s shift workers.

Spokane-based real estate and development company Bornhoft Commercial is closing its doors, says designated broker and founder Chris Bornhoft, who will be joining Spokane-based real estate company SDS Realty Inc. in January. 

Spokane Eye Clinic has been acquired by PRISM Vision Group, a New Providence, New Jersey-based general ophthalmology and retina practice management services provider.