Two major food distributors here say they've stepped up efforts to help their recession-pinched customers operate more efficiently, including by using in-house chefs to help them come up with new, economical menu items.The distributors, Sysco of

The restaurant industry, hit hard by recession and high unemployment, is seeing less investor appetite for its stocks.While people must eat, they are increasingly careful about how they spend their money to do so.As in any severe shakeout, of

Hotels.com, an online provider of lodging worldwide, has released its Hotel Price Index, noting a theme of recovery in the travel industry as global hotel rates rose 2 percent in 2010. Despite the increase in year-over-year rates, consumers can

The Washington state Department of Transportation was scheduled to start work this week to finish repaving a two-mile stretch of north Division Street.The DOT last year awarded an about $3.6 million contract to Inland Asphalt Co., of Spokane, of

Coeur d'Alene-based Contractors Northwest Inc. has won a more than $3 million contract to make improvements to a portion of the city water system at Emmett, Idaho.Matt Nason, a project manager for Contractors Northwest, says the contract has the

Spokane Public Schools says it has approved four construction contracts totaling $12 million for roofing and mechanical-system projects at three elementary schools and athletic-facility improvements at three high schools.Work on the projects, be