Latest News

Post Falls staffing company opens Joplin, Mo., office

Company hires temporary help in tornado-ravaged town for cleanup, rebuild

June 16, 2011

Command Center Inc., the Post Falls-based temporary staffing company, has set up an office in tornado-devastated Joplin, Mo., and earlier this month began hiring workers from that region to handle cleanup and reconstruction jobs.As rebuilding to

School district aims to take over Mann site yet this year

Plan calls for using old Hillyard reserve center for storage, staff offices

June 16, 2011

Treva Lind

Spokane Public Schools says it expects to take control of the former Mann Hall Army Reserve Center property in Hillyard later this year and has short-term plans to use the facilities there for storage and offices for program support staff.Longer

Sirti transformation clears hurdle, takes effect Aug. 1

Agency, counterpart to become Innovate Washington

June 16, 2011

Kim Crompton

Sirti, the Spokane-based Washington state economic development agency, has received final state clearance to move ahead with a major transformation.A bill signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire last week will abolish Sirti and a Seattle counterpart, the

A harmonious convergence

June 16, 2011

Chey Scott

A musical instrument shop and a computer repair venture, both in Spokane Valley, have formed what might seem like an unlikely business alliance, but the businesses' owners say their collaboration has proven to be a good fit. Andy Lovato, owner

Apartment owner files Chapter 11

$6.7 million in debt listed on downtown property; owner hopes to emerge

June 16, 2011

Chey Scott

A holding company named Madison Hotel Apartments LLC that owns a downtown Spokane apartment building, located at 1021 W. First, has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court here.In a voluntary filing, the holding company of A

Softechnologies launches new product

Software designed for use by companies that have in-field service workers

June 16, 2011

Chey Scott

Spokane-based software developer Softechnologies Corp. says it has launched a new product designed to help businesses with field-service workers track and organize that work force.That new software suite, called Mobility Suite EMB, is a direct a

Goldrich to drill soon in Alaska

Spokane mining concern sells $2 million in stock to fund its exploration

June 16, 2011

Treva Lind

Spokane-based Goldrich Mining Co. says it expects to start drilling later this month in the Chandalar gold district of Alaska.Goldrich recently raised about $2 million in a private placement of its common stock, and will use those proceeds to at

Sandpoint takes steps to revitalize

Urban consultant brought in to help implement plan the city developed in 2002

June 16, 2011

Mike McLean

The Sandpoint business community, through that city's urban renewal agency, has brought in a highly touted consultant to breathe life into a revitalization plan developed nearly a decade ago.The consultant, Mark Rivers, who owns Boise-based real

Group floats plan to buy Ridpath Hotel

Vision calls for spending $30 million-plus to create entertainment destination

June 16, 2011

Mike McLean

A Spokane homebuilder-turned real estate investor says he's heading up a group that has offered to buy 11 stories in the 13-story Ridpath Hotel tower and most of an adjacent building. The group envisions buying other parts of the complex, which has

Hope sprouts on INW farms

Growers say high yields likely to offset late start, rising costs

June 16, 2011

Treva Lind

Washington wheat farmers expect a strong year for the industry with anticipated above-average crop yields and - so far - strong global wheat prices. At the same time, farmers cautiously watch the price of fuel, fertilizer, and other overhead an