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Eco-friendly concrete alternative is under development

New material would use coal burning byproduct, called fly ash, as its base

February 2, 2012

Concrete is the most common construction material used globally and is said to account for 70 percent of all construction materials. Though concrete has advantages such as easy application and high availability, it has major disadvantages when a of

Hydropower use increased globally in '10

Generation method now accounts for 16 percent of energy consumption

February 2, 2012

Global use of hydropower increased more than 5 percent between 2009 and 2010, says new research published last month by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online publication. Hydropower use reached a record of about 3,400 or 16 percent

Kaiser Aluminum's Trentwood site cleanup moves ahead

Removal of contaminants expected to cost up to $18 million

February 2, 2012

Chey Scott

At the order of the Washington state Department of Ecology, Kaiser Aluminum Corp. recently completed a draft document outlining options to remove contaminants found in the soil and groundwater at its Trentwood aluminum rolling mill in Spokane of at

A rival to foam peanuts

Valley manufacturer One Earth Starch offers biodegradable packing material

February 2, 2012

Treva Lind

Two-year-old Spokane Valley manufacturer One Earth Starch recently has grown into an adjacent space to prepare for expansion and additional storage of its biodegradable alternative to plastic foam packaging peanuts.One Earth Starch, which makes

Finance professionals say deficit cuts needed for growth

More than half surveyed don't think tax increases should be taken off table

February 2, 2012

Finance professionals overwhelmingly believe that clear action must be taken on deficit reduction to accelerate economic growth this year, and more than half think that tax increases shouldn't be taken off the table to achieve a deficit reduction a

Banks losing billions a year due to fee change, study finds

Fewer customers opting for overdraft protection said cutting into revenues

February 2, 2012

News Wise

A new study by finance researchers at the University of Arkansas indicates that U.S. banks are losing anywhere from $3.8 billion to $5.3 billion in annual revenue due to the Federal Reserve's 2010 changes to overdraft policy. "The lower fee may

Longtime financial adviser observes industry evolution

Donald Morgan sees own young practice grow; firm caters to business owners

February 2, 2012

Chey Scott

Since entering the finance sector more than three decades ago, Spokane-based financial adviser Donald Morgan says he's seen a lot of change in the area of wealth management. That change, he says, has been influenced by factors that include and a

SBA loan limits give small business buyers more options

As acquisition market improves, changes made in '10 are helping now

February 2, 2012

Paul Keller

According to the latest economic census, there are almost 9,000 companies in Spokane County with combined total revenues of nearly $18 billion. In the manufacturing sector alone, there are more than 500 companies with average annual revenues that 8

FDIC sells stake in company holding Colfax bank's loans

$13.6 million transaction gives Kansas-based entity 25 percent interest in LLC

February 2, 2012

Kim Crompton

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. says it has sold a 25 percent initial equity stake in a limited liability company it formed in its receivership capacity to hold certain loans of the failed Bank of Whitman, in Colfax, Wash.The 62 loans the to

Businesspeople have reasons to be optimistic about 2012

Strong retail sales, capital spending, other indicators suggest economic rebound

February 2, 2012

Michael Maehl

Sir Winston Churchill remarked that one should "avoid prophesying beforehand because it is much better to prophesy after the event has already taken place." Nonetheless, I am moved to disregard his advice in this particular instance.Before I I