Latest News

Capital raising could total $600 million

Sterling Savings' needs balloon as equity figure on balance sheet falls

February 11, 2010

A fundraising that regulators have required Sterling Savings Bank to perform could end up totaling $600 million, rather than $300 million, two of the Spokane bank's top executives say.The amount of equity capital Sterling will need to raise is 1

Contractors' bids flood trickle of jobs

Some builders traveling farther, cutting profits in competition for work

February 11, 2010

Mike McLean

A dwindling supply of big construction projects is leading to unhealthy competition among bidders for too few jobs, some in the industry say.While project owners are benefiting from low bids, contractors are going farther to bid for work, are on

Photo courtesy of University of Washington

Simulator hub possible here

UW dean says spin-off companies, intellectual capital likely

February 11, 2010

Richard Ripley

Small-town doctors don't deliver babies very often, but to keep their skills current—and to avoid catastrophic medical mistakes—they can practice deliveries with childbirth simulators at the University of Washington School of another can

Valley Hospital eyes expansion

Master planning process under way to determine space needs

February 11, 2010

Kim Crompton

Valley Hospital & Medical Center, which experienced a surge in patients after adding staff last year, is exploring the possibility of expanding, possibly through the construction of a tower, and says construction could begin as early as looking at

In The News: February 11, 2010

February 11, 2010

Feb. 9 / Potlatch posts higher earnings for quarter, year Spokane-based Potlatch Corp. reported earnings of $2.9 million, or 7 cents a diluted share, for the fourth-quarter of 2009, compared with a net loss of $4.4 million, or 11 cents

Calendar: February 11, 2010

February 11-25, 2010

February 11, 2010

Meetings & Events Greater Spokane Incorporated will hold a breakfast meeting, featuring Spokane Mayor Mary Verner's State of the City Address, on Friday, Feb. 12, from 7:15 to 9 a.m., at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane a

Workers failing to save enough for retirement, study finds

Less than one-fourth said they're saving more than they were year ago

January 28, 2010

When it comes to their retirement, America's 50-somethings seem to be in a state of denial. Although the economic downturn has forced pre-retirees ages 50 to 59 to consider working years longer than they had hoped, their current rate of savings is

Waterford on South Hill launches big upgrade project

Poor economy, however, causes ebb in occupancy and cottage project to stall

January 28, 2010

David Cole

The Waterford on South Hill retirement community has launched a multimillion-dollar facelift of its main building on its campus, but also is experiencing the effects of a difficult economy, with higher-than-normal vacancies. Meanwhile its cottage

Boomer surge said likely to alter economy

Nearly half of employers surveyed expect negative impact, sociologist says

January 28, 2010

News Wise

As millions of baby boomers prepare to retire, "the inevitable talent drain threatens to alter the national economy," says Ithaca College sociologist Stephen Sweet, referring to a recent report he coauthored, released by the Sloan Center on Aging &

Senior issues relegated to defensive position this year

Continued funding concerns trump policy discussions this session

January 28, 2010

Jeanne Gustafson

The name of the game is defense for advocates of the the long-term care industry as they do battle during Washington's legislative session this year.As the Legislature tackles a supplemental budget for the remainder of the current biennium, to a