Latest News

BPA to build $1 million hangar here

Steel building at airport will house helicopters used to find power line problems

April 9, 2009

The Bonneville Power Administration plans to construct a 6,500-square-foot aircraft hangar at Spokane International Airport, where it keeps one to two helicopters used to spot from the air problems along its power transmission lines.Grace Gates,

Photo illustration courtesy of ALSC Architects PS

Freeman schools plans $30 million in work

Bids to be let soon for high school modernization; elementary school upgrade to follow

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Freeman School District plans to spend about $30 million to modernize its high school and elementary school in Rockford, Wash., over the next two years, beginning with a contract it expects to award early next month that also will include expansion

Acme bids lowest for runway job

$30.7 million project includes expanding, paving SIA airstrip

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Acme Concrete Paving Inc., of Spokane, has submitted a low bid of $30.7 million for a 19-month Spokane International Airport project to repave SIA's main runway and its two supporting taxiways, and to extend them by 2,000 feet.SIA had estimated

A mining concern's fight for life

Gold Reserve executive gives rare glimpse inside hostile takeover attempt

April 9, 2009

Paul Read and Paul Read

The call came in at about 1:30 on a Friday afternoon, Dec. 12. It was an attorney for a Canadian mining concern and its financial adviser, and he was calling to deliver an ultimatum to Gold Reserve Inc. that would launch the Spokane-based company a

Competition drives down project bids

Government agencies reap cost benefits from economic pressures

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Both public and private project owners are scooping up incredible deals on construction this year, in the form of what seem like incredibly low bids for work. In some cases, contractors' bids for projects are coming in at between 30 percent and a

Manufacturing takes a hit here

Job numbers tell tale of recession; pockets of good news exist

April 9, 2009

David Cole

Employment in the manufacturing sector here has fallen sharply, and while some manufacturers are optimistic about future growth, most everyone agrees the U.S. recession is exacting a toll, or will. Manufacturers employed 16,600 people in the in

Five-story hotel planned at Burgans

Envisioned project would cost $10 million to $20 million

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

A Spokane developer plans to convert the former Burgans Fine Furniture complex north of downtown into a five-story suite style hotel and a retail and events center in a project that could cost $10 million to $20 million. GVD Northwest LLC filed

Going long unlikely to pay off on fixed-income investments

Inflation expected to push interest rates to increase when economy rebounds

April 9, 2009

Personal Investing

Keep it short.That sound advice applies not only to speeches at wedding dinners but also to the duration of your fixed-income investments in 2009.Interest-rate yields are likely to remain stuck at current low levels for a while, with nothing

In the News: April 9, 2009

April 9, 2009

April 7 / Retail sales fall here in fourth quarter Taxable retail sales in Spokane County fell 7.5 percent in the fourth quarter to $1.86 billion, down from $2.01 billion in the year-earlier quarter, the Washington state Department of

April 10-23, 2009

Meetings & Events

April 9, 2009

Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington will hold a community planning meeting, on Friday, April 10, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., at its office at 1222 N. Post. Topics will include senior transportation, the long-term care ombudsman program, and for