Despite the economic climate, lawyer billing rates continue to grow well past the rate of inflation, with the most expensive lawyers getting increasingly more expensive, according to the 2012 Real Rate Report.Jointly released last week by Legal

Headcount among the top law firms in the U.S. increased marginally last year, based on data compiled for the National Law Journal's recently published 35th annual ranking of the nation's 250 largest firms.Those top firms collectively employed in

Spokane-based R&R Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. has opened a satellite office in North Idaho.Randy Hastings, owner of R&R Heating, says five employees work out of the 1,200-square-foot space at 9030 N. Hess, in Hayden."I felt the need to an

Inland Asphalt Co., of Spokane, is the low bidder on a $1.6 million project to rehabilitate a half-mile stretch of Columbia Avenue between Division and Post streets, as well as several surrounding residential streets in the Franklin Park on North

The Spokane Sons of Norway fraternal organization says its lodge on the North Side is for sale.The property is listed for $850,000, says Mel Molstad, vice president of the organization.The 10,000-square-foot, single-story lodge building, at a

One of the Journal readers owes me a heaping helping of "I told you so."In late January, I received newly released recycling-rate statistics from the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System. What the numbers showed was groundbreaking: In 2010, it

Tacoma design firm sets up branch officeTacoma, Wash.-based BLRB Architects PS has opened a branch office in downtown Spokane.The Spokane branch is located on the fifth floor of the Fernwell Building, at 505 W. Riverside. Architect Greg is the

Red & Associates, a Spokane Valley human-resources consulting firm formed six years ago, is joining forces with Moloney+O'Neill, the longtime Spokane-based insurance and employee-benefits brokerage, executives at the two firms say.John Moloney,