With competition heating up as telecommunication companies seek to penetrate the small-business market, businesses here can expect telecom prices to fall further, and reliability to improve.Qwest Communications International Inc. and XO Inc., a

The Kalispel Tribe says it plans to announce soon a big expansion of its Northern Quest Casino, in Airway Heights, and although a spokeswoman declines for now to provide details, an online newsletter says the project would include a hotel, center,

Esprit Technologies Inc., a Spokane Valley-based training program provider, says it plans to move to larger quarters in the International Gateway Corporate Park to accommodate its growing operations, which include a new division named Teach English

Pend Oreille Public Utility District No. 1, in Newport, Wash., says it has awarded a $69 million contract to Andritz VA Tech Hydro, of Charlotte, N.C., to replace the turbines and do other related work at the districts Box Canyon Dam on the Pend

Timberlake Forest Products Inc., a Spokane Valley-based maker of specialized lumber, has closed its doors and has filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court here. Stephen and Sheryl Kennedy and David Thompson are in

A representative of the Wingers USA restaurant chain says he plans to open a new Wingers Grill & Bar restaurant at the Spokane Valley Mall in a building that had been occupied by a Tony Romas restaurant, which closed earlier this new diner is

Rapid Clinics LLC, a new Spokane company, has opened a non-emergency health clinic in the Rosauers supermarket in Spokane Valley, and says it hopes to open as many as five more such outlets here over the next several years.Jay Molitor, Rapid of

Hours before an agreement was reached in late April for an Indian pharmaceutical giant to buy Hollister-Stier LLC, the deal fell through at the 11th hour, only to be put back together in a New York City hotel bar.The $122 million transaction of

Prium Companies LLC, the Tacoma-based developer that owns the big Rock Pointe Corporate Center just north of downtown Spokane, says it plans to build a fifth office building there and expand one of the complexs two parking garages.Prium Rock

New executive-pay disclosure rules, triggered nationally in response to shareholder outrage over big CEO payouts and unclear disclosure, are shedding fresh light on the components of executive compensation, but also are making it more difficult to