Latest News

Furniture store to close after yearlong effort

February 12, 2009

Horizon Furniture Inc., of Spokane Valley, says it plans to close its doors next month after a year of efforts to cut costs as the furniture industry here has struggled. The 12-year-old furniture retailer has seen business suffer with the times,

Wandermere Fred Meyer to be remodeled

Boise company hired as contractor for $10 million project, work to begin soon

February 12, 2009

David Cole

Fred Meyer Stores, of Portland, has hired Boise-based Engineered Structures Inc. (ESI) as the general contractor to do a $10 million remodel of its store north of Spokane near Wandermere Mall.Caroline Pavlinik, business development director for

Purcell cuts 28 workers, rehires 10

Outdoor cabinet maker saw sales slump to end year, rebound last month

February 12, 2009

David Cole

Purcell Systems Inc., a maker of outdoor cabinets and enclosures for telecommunications equipment, laid off 28 people early last month, but since has brought back 10 of those employees on a temporary basis, says CEO Pete Chase.The layoff was a a

Sterling sees '09 return to profitability

Spokane financial company won't provide guidance on expected level of profit

February 12, 2009

Richard Ripley

Sterling Financial Corp. expects to return to profitability this year after posting a steep loss in 2008, but says it won't provide guidance to investors on how much profit it might earn in 2009.Dan Byrne, the company's executive vice president

Real estate agent ranksdwindle here

Trend in people leaving realty business follows big slump in home sales

February 12, 2009

Mike McLean

Following a steep decline in home sales here, the ranks of real estate agents also are thinning out.Rob Higgins, executive officer of the Spokane Association of Realtors, estimates that membership in the association has fallen to 1,950 today, a

Job lull rocks temp agencies

Staffing industry takes a nosedive in difficult economy

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

The number of temporary positions available in Spokane is way down and is following a national downturn in the industry, say temporary staffing representatives here.Nationally, the temp industry has been bleeding jobs for more than a year, losing

State park plans $20 million lodge

Mount Spokane aspires to open year-round facility for centennial in 2013, seeks design money

February 12, 2009

Mike McLean

Mount Spokane State Park proposes to develop a $20 million lodge that would serve year-round activities at its ski resort and wants to open the facility in 2013, during the state park system's 100th anniversary.The state park is seeking $4 from

Gold continues to shine despite '08 roller-coaster ride

Some analysts say they expect it to climb back above $1,000 an ounce

February 12, 2009

Personal Investing

Historically, gold has been considered a hedge against a loss in the purchasing power of paper currencies. But no one can ever call it a comforting or predictable hedge.While gold prices ended 2008 just a bit higher than they began it, investors

In The News: February 12, 2009

February 12, 2009

Feb. 10 / Hecla completes stock offering Hecla Mining Co., of Coeur d'Alene, announced it had netted $71.3 million in an underwriting of 36.8 million shares of its stock and warrants to buy an additional 18.4 million shares. Hecla said

Calendar: February 12, 2009

February 12, 2009

February 12 - 27, 2009 Rig Riggins, YMCA president and CEO, and Monica Walters, YWCA executive director, will give a presentation, titled Your (New) Y, at the Spokane City Forum, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the