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Carving a niche in keystones

December 6, 2012

After selling their Rathdrum-based, high-end wood-molding manufacturing company a few years ago, it didn't take long for Clint and Cheryl Bower to discover they weren't ready to retire. So they started over again, though on a smaller scale.About

Spokane County's retail sales rank eighth in state, survey says

Per-capita statistics are listed above the average for state's 39 counties

December 6, 2012

Spokane County ranks eighth among Washington state counties in terms of per-capita retail sales in a 2012 Washington State retail survey released late last month.The survey, issued by Jim Vaughn, of Pollock Pines, Calif., lists Spokane County's

Spokane school district garners record interest rate in bond sale

Favorable financing will enable district to hold tax level steady

December 6, 2012

Treva Lind

Spokane Public Schools recently has sold $50 million worth of bonds at an historic low interest rate of 2.9 percent as part of the 2009 voter-approved $288 million bond authorization to fund school construction projects, school district say.The

Developer adjusts plans for old Burgans Furniture block

$6.8 million renovation includes residential suites, commercial tenant space

December 6, 2012

Mike McLean

A Spokane development company has updated its plans to convert the Burgans Fine Furniture block north of downtown into a mixed-used use complex following a proposed $6.8 million renovation of two existing buildings there, records on file with the a

Colmac sees no letup in growth trend

Colville manufacturer anticipates more sales, employment gains in '13

December 6, 2012

Jessica Valencia

Colmac Holding Co., a sizable Colville, Wash.-based manufacturer, is anticipating increases in revenue and employment in 2013 for all three of its subsidiary businesses, says company Chairman Scott McMillan.Projected growth in those areas would

Drug testing practices expected to stay the same despite new marijuana laws

Employers are expected to keep existing policies in place despite I-502

December 6, 2012

Linn Parish

When new laws regulating marijuana use go into effect today, Dec. 6, those employed in workplaces that routinely test for drugs probably will still want to refrain from toking up. Chances are good that Washington state employers that prohibited

Riverfront Park upgrades eyed

Proponents say millions of dollars in improvements needed

December 6, 2012

Treva Lind

Approaching its 40th birthday, Riverfront Park is showing its age and will require millions of dollars in upgrades to return it to peak condition, say several proponents of the popular downtown destination.Two bridges in the park, which was as a

Spokane groups seek funding, relief in upcoming state legislative session

Transportation, education requests here top $1 billion

December 6, 2012

Mike McLean

The Washington Legislature will face big challenges in the 2013 session, including a court order to increase public school funding, new national health care mandates, putting together a transportation package, and recovering from revenue says Rich

Small Business Watch

November 21, 2012

Shogun owner starts self-storage businessShogun Inc., which owns and operates the Shogun Restaurant at 821 E. Third, has remodeled a 23,000-square-foot building neighboring the eatery and converted it into Shogun Plaza Self Storage, which opened

A global perspective on Obamacare

November 21, 2012

Kim Crompton

In social and professional venues here leading up to the recent re-election of President Barack Obama, there seemed no shortage of pointed opinions on the looming implementation of the Affordable Care Act.Most people I encountered seemed either