Latest News

Mall owner eyes options for recovery

Some of its properties, though none here, now are out of bankruptcy

January 28, 2010

General Growth Properties Inc., the ailing Chicago-based owner of three of the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area's largest shopping centers, says it has retained a financial firm to help it evaluate financial transactions that would enable it to emerge 11

Foreclosures accelerated here in 2009

Analysts believe return to 'healthy' default rate could take several years

January 28, 2010

Mike McLean

Foreclosures in Spokane and Kootenai counties continued to climb in 2009, and economic analysts here say any turnaround will be gradual.The Spokane County auditor reported 924 foreclosures on deeds of trust in 2009, up a steep 65 percent from in

Magnuson Hotels plans London office

Company has affiliates in Scotland, Bahamas, eyes adding 150 UK hotels

January 28, 2010

Jeanne Gustafson

The owners of Spokane-based Magnuson Hotels say they plan, personally, to move to London soon to launch an international headquarters for the quickly growing hotel-reservation management company.Tom Magnuson, the company's CEO, says he and his a

Report makes case for med school here

Task forces highlight shortages of doctors here, in region, across country

January 28, 2010

Richard Ripley

Spokane and Eastern Washington have significant shortages of physicians, and it's projected those shortages will worsen dramatically in the next 10 to 20 years, says a report by two task forces that studied development of a four-year medical school

EZ Loader diversifies amid slump

Manufacturer here clears sales hurdles in Europe, adds line of utility trailers

January 28, 2010

David Cole

With the U.S. marine industry in a downturn, longtime Spokane manufacturer EZ Loader Boat Trailers Inc. has taken steps to diversify by winning regulatory approval to sell its boat trailers throughout Europe and by launching a line of utility and a

U.S. crisis put Hecla on edge

Company sought to refinance large debt as credit markets froze

January 28, 2010

Paul Read and Paul Read

Earlier this month, Hecla Mining Co. announced that its silver production had jumped 26 percent in 2009 and that surging cash flows had left the Coeur d'Alene-based company with zero debt and $100 million in cash on hand. What a difference a year a

Southgate site-plan work looms

Collaborative developer effort to involve about 45 acres

January 28, 2010

Kim Crompton

Work is expected to get under way shortly on the creation of an unusual integrated site plan for three neighboring, but separately owned, commercial properties in the Southgate area of the South Hill that have been the subject of years of mostly a

'Tech trauma' should ease as demand climbs, rates fall

Cost-saving technologies likely to perform the best this year, analysts predict

January 28, 2010

Personal Investing

Tech trauma is a modern investor ailment.While the patient is aware that technology stocks are symbolic of the near- and long-term promise of the economy, their erratic movement can spike blood pressure beyond normal limits.Not even last tech

In the News: January 28, 2010

January 28, 2010

Jan. 26 / Key Tronic posts higher earnings Key Tronic Corp., the Spokane Valley-based contract manufacturer, reported net income of $1.7 million, or 17 cents a diluted share, for its fiscal 2010 second quarter ended Dec. 26, up sharply

Calendar: January 28, 2010

January 28-February 11, 2010

January 28, 2010

Meetings & Events The Spokane chapter of the American Advertising Federation will hold a lunch meeting, featuring Michael Strassburger, of Modern Dog Design Co., of Seattle, on Wednesday, Feb. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the of