Latest News

Couple files Chapter 7, lists debts exceeding $5.8 million

Jeff, Esther Smith have owned, held interests in multiple companies here

June 17, 2010

Jeff and Esther Smith, of Veradale, Wash., who own or have owned interests in a number of companies and properties here, including a company through which they owned a Learjet that was targeted for repossession, are moving toward liquidation in 7

Parr Lumber opens Valley outlet to serve contractors

Oregon-based building supplier to employ 20 here

June 17, 2010

Mike McLean

Hillsboro, Ore.-based Parr Lumber Co. says it has opened an outlet in Spokane Valley and expects to employ 20 people there as soon as it gets the new operation up to full speed.Parr's recently leased 2-acre lumber yard includes 5,700 square feet

Rentals by the boatload

June 17, 2010

Mike McLean

A little more than an hour's drive from Spokane, a Seven Bays, Wash.-based company owned by a Spokane couple offers cabin rentals with access to hundreds of miles of waterfront.The cabins are really luxury houseboats and the company, Dakota LLC,

Fairfield bank plans to move city branch

FDIC must approve change of new downtown location

June 17, 2010

Kim Frlan

The Bank of Fairfield, based in Fairfield, Wash., has applied to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Washington state Department of Financial Institutions to relocate its only Spokane location, a third floor branch office at 201 W. North

Graham in line for $9.7 million jail project

114-bed facility for Yakamas will focus on rehabilitation, culture, rather than punishment

June 17, 2010

Mike McLean

Graham Construction & Management Inc., of Spokane, has submitted an apparent low bid of $9.7 million for a contract to build a new jail for the Yakama Indian Nation, the tribe says. The tribe opened bids on June 4, and the Yakama Tribal Council

Study sought of aquifer on West Plains

Previous attempts to fund $3 million multiyear job have been unsuccessful

June 17, 2010

Jeanne Gustafson

Greater Spokane Incorporated is seeking $1.75 million in federal money on behalf of the city of Airway Heights to fund a long-eyed study of the West Plains aquifer, which is a source of drinking water for Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Fairchild Air

Avista makes headway with home audits

44 county homeowners arrange for professional investigations thus far

June 17, 2010

Richard Ripley

Some 44 homeowners in Spokane County have arranged for professional home energy audits so far under a two-year pilot program announced at the end of April that's being administered by Avista Utilities.Customers sign up for the audits through Web

Power City plugs into Las Vegas

Spokane company might have 30 to 40 people there on staff by end of 2011

June 17, 2010

Richard Ripley

Las Vegas dazzles visitors with its millions and millions of lights—and Spokane's Power City Electric Inc. wants to be involved in servicing them, making them more efficient, and maybe even adding some more of them.The Spokane company has a

Builders 'bumping along the bottom'

Contractor numbers fall, as survivors cut expenses, get creative

June 17, 2010

Kim Frlan

The economic recession and resulting construction industry swoon haven't been kind to contractors, as state licensing numbers and association memberships show, and those who have survived say they are cutting costs, getting creative, and hoping for

Executive pay growth here tepid

Overall compensation up slightly; incentive pay falls with economy

June 17, 2010

Paul Read

Executive compensation at publicly traded companies here grew a modest 1.9 percent on average last year amid the troubled economy, as drops in long-term incentive awards were offset by sharp growth in annual salary and bonus pay.The relatively in