Let's get the party started: An overseas run-up in real estate funds is rocking.International real estate funds are up 38 percent in 2009, or about 100 percent above their market bottom in March, according to Lipper Inc. Global real estate funds

Oct. 27 / Avista to receive $20 million for feeder upgrade Avista Utilities said it will receive a $20 million stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for an upgrade of 58 of its feeder lines that serve highly populated of /

Meetings & Events The Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau will hold its annual meeting, themed Strategic Optimism Ahead, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Tom Norwalk, of the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau,

Texas Roadhouse Inc., a Louisville, Ky.-based restaurant chain that specializes in steaks and spareribs, plans to open a large outlet in Coeur d'Alene in March and will employ about 160 people there.Texas Roadhouse has 330 restaurants in 46 in a

Spokane-based Sterling Savings Bank says it's converting a former FirstBank Northwest branch building in Liberty Lake into a call center.The call center, which Sterling calls a customer resource center, occupies a 2,800-square-foot single-story

Jo-Ann Stores Inc., the Hudson, Ohio-based specialty retailer that does business here as Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts, has leased most of a building that formerly housed a Circuit City Stores Inc. outlet near the Spokane Valley Mall, says a commercial &