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Retailers' stocks, arguably on sale, might deserve look

Some economists expect recession blues to spur at least modest gift giving

December 4, 2008

This holiday shopping season offers an unusual half-price sale for investors: the stocks of most of the retailers.Even some of the proudest brand names are suffering due to the nation's reduced personal wealth, tight consumer lending, and job be

Mines Management reports quarterly loss

December 4, 2008

Mines Management Inc., a Spokane-based exploration-stage mining company, has posted a loss for the third quarter as it continues to pursue possible development of its proposed Montanore silver and copper project in northwest Montana.The company

Plug-in vehicles would offer big benefits, research finds

Electricity supply-related study projects large net drop in CO2 emissions

December 4, 2008

John Harrison

If you drive to work, imagine reducing the fuel cost of your daily commute to 80 cents from $7.You would also contribute to reducing carbon-dioxide emissions from vehicles and power plants.It's possible to achieve those things by driving a to a

Minera Andes posts net loss of $3.5 million in quarter

December 4, 2008

Paul Read

Minera Andes Inc., a small Spokane-based mining company, has reported a third-quarter net loss of $3.5 million, or 2 cents a share, compared with a loss of $979,000, or 1 cent a share, in the year-earlier quarter.For the nine months ended Sept.

ExxonMobil's first U.S. biodiesel blending plant is here

Project at Valley terminal includes mixing equipment worth about $3.1 million

December 4, 2008

Mike McLean

ExxonMobil Corp. has started mixing petroleum-derived and renewable diesel fuels together here at its first biodiesel blending project in the U.S., says the Irving, Texas-based oil giant.The $3.1 million blending operation, located at 15-acre at

State seeks better energy building codes

Will share in federal grant to update rules for efficiency

December 4, 2008

Washington is one of six states that will share in $2.6 million in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy to update state building codes to improve energy-efficiency standards.The Washington State University Extension Energy Program in

Above: Photo by David Brown, courtesy of Gaelectric. Below: Diagram courtesy of Gaelectric.

Joint venture looks to wind

Irish, Clarkston concerns join forces to develop projects around region

December 4, 2008

Richard Ripley

A joint venture formed by a Clarkston, Wash., company and an Irish renewable-energy concern is working on several efforts to generate green power, including a proposed 200-megawatt wind-turbine farm and a 10-megawatt wind-powered project it would a

Pacific Steel & Recycling waits out lagging markets

Though prices are down, company says value of metal is enduring

December 4, 2008

Jeanne Gustafson

Pacific Steel & Recycling, a venture formed here more than 100 years ago as a one-man fur-trading depot, has become a conglomeration of recycling enterprises, selling a variety of cast-off goods and commodity by-products to businesses that turn new

Providence Physician Services names new chief executive here

December 4, 2008

Jeanne Gustafson

Providence Health Care, of Spokane, has named Dr. Anselmo "Mo" Nunez as chief executive of its physicians group here, Providence Physician Services Co. Providence Physician Services employs more than 70 physicians and other practitioners and &

Inland Imaging ramps up coronary CT angiography

Scanner bought year ago said only device available that can do such scans well

December 4, 2008

David Cole

Inland Imaging LLC, of Spokane, which bought a 64-slice computed-tomography (CT) scanner about a year ago, has begun to operate its coronary CT angiogram program at full capacity with the $1 million machine, located at Holy Family Bhat, a body at a