Latest News

Iron Bridge project dispute appears close to resolution

Mayor, developer trade emails over whether city was to blame for delay

December 15, 2011

A publicized tiff over the long-planned rehabilitation of a pedestrian bridge near the Iron Bridge Corporate Campus appears to be moving toward resolution, despite a flurry of emails between a partner in the multimillion-dollar office complex and a

Journal Publisher Bever to retire early next year

Paul Read will take over newspaper's top position

December 15, 2011

Linn Parish

Journal of Business Publisher Greg D. Bever will retire Jan. 20, after a 43-year career in the newspaper industry. Paul Read, who has been with the Journal since its inception 25 years ago and currently serves as its operations manager, will the

Spokane's wooden ski whiz

December 15, 2011

Chey Scott

Tis the ski and snowboard season once again, and inside TJ Sneva's workshop on Spokane's North Side, he's working long hours as orders for his custom-built, handmade wooden skis come rolling in.Sneva is the owner and sole employee of Sneva a he

Inland Power CEO to retire next spring

Spokane utility's board launches search to find Mikkelsen's replacement

December 15, 2011

Treva Lind

Kris Mikkelsen, CEO of Spokane-based Inland Power & Light Co., has informed the electric cooperative's board and employees that she plans to retire next spring. The board has hired an executive search firm to help find her replacement.The search

Poll: Spokane is less confident in economy

Tri-Cities/Wenatchee business owners more upbeat than those here

December 15, 2011

Treva Lind

A recent survey of 200 business owners in Washington state found overall confidence in the economy to be slightly improved from August ratings, but Spokane respondents were less optimistic than their West Side and Tri-Cities/Wenatchee peers.The

New SRM unit targets organics

PacifiClean aims to help clients set up regional waste-processing plants

December 15, 2011

Kim Crompton

SRM Development LLC, of Spokane, has launched a new subsidiary called PacifiClean Environmental that will seek to work with government entities and large private-sector clients to develop multimillion-dollar, organic-processing facilities.The is

Aerocet stays afloat during 'slow' season

Airplane pontoon maker credits sister company's growth, strong demand

December 15, 2011

Mike McLean

Aerocet Inc., a North Idaho manufacturer of composite floats for aircraft, is enjoying the busiest "slow" season it's ever had. As of early this month, the company's workforce was 34 and expected to increase yet this winter, says Garry Hojan, the a

Retailers face pressure on liquor sales

Grocery store chain execs say customers will expect them to stock hard alcohol

December 15, 2011

Kim Crompton

Spokane area-based grocery store chains aren't tipping their hand yet as to whether or how they plan to stock and market liquor, following Washington state voters' recent approval of Initiative 1183, which privatizes state liquor for a couple of to

Gusts of change on the way

Tiny town of Oakesdale hopes to reap benefits of energy project

December 15, 2011

Chey Scott

The small farming town of Oakesdale is hoping to see a boost to its economy as a result of the planned nearby 58-turbine Palouse Wind project for which construction is scheduled to ramp up next spring.Residents of the 420-person community aren't

Montanore moves closer to permit

Silver-copper project would create hundreds of jobs

December 15, 2011

Mike McLean

Spokane-based Mines Management Inc. says it anticipates federal approval as soon as next year of an exploratory mining permit that could lead to a large silver and copper mine, creating hundreds of jobs in northwest Montana.Mines Management's be