Latest News

Spokane County's Urban Growth Area plan update is in full swing

Projected growth would fit in current boundaries; many say leave them be

February 16, 2012

Spokane County's planning department is in the process of updating the county's urban growth area boundaries, which determine higher-density residential zones as well as commercial- and industrial-zoned parcels of land around cities. The current

Mild winter brings welcome respite for some businesses

Some industries benefit from nice winter after couple of harsh ones

February 16, 2012

Linn Parish

Two and three years ago, Spokane Realtor Ron McIntire had to shovel out front doors in order to show houses. At the time, McIntire says, about four in 10 houses on the market were vacant, and many listing agents didn't keep the sidewalks clear.

Fuel cell maker ReliOn forecasts big growth surge

Fuel cell maker expands markets, says profitability closer

February 16, 2012

Mike McLean

ReliOn Inc., the Spokane Valley maker of fuel-cell-powered critical backup power systems, says it expects strong revenue growth this year and to attain profitability next year through expanding markets, new product sales, and general settling in on

In the News

February 16, 2012

Feb. 13 / Avista seeks to lower gas ratesAvista Corp., of Spokane, asked utility commissions in Washington and Idaho for permission to reduce overall natural gas rates by 6.4 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively. If approved, the changes would

Calendar

February 16, 2012

Meetings & EventsThe Washington state Department of Labor & Industries will hold a free public hearing on rules about structured settlement agreements for workers' compensation claims Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m. at Center Place, 2426 N. To a

Tum Tum-based green magazine gets new owner, eyes expansion

February 2, 2012

Chey Scott

Green Living Monthly, a Tum Tum, Wash.-based magazine, now is owned by Green Living Publications LLC, a company established by the magazine's editor, Chris Ellis.The magazine formerly was owned and published by Lake Spokane Media LLC, based in a

Wood stove removal incentives offered

Grant is expected to fund from 125 to 140 vouchers for efficiency upgrades

February 2, 2012

Treva Lind

Some Spokane-area residents and businesses might qualify for discount vouchers worth up to $1,000 that would go toward the cost of replacing an old wood stove with a more efficient wood, pellet-burning, or gas appliance.The Spokane Regional Air

Decreased snowpack might not harm upland ecosystems

Less precipitation hurts downstream land more profoundly, study says

February 2, 2012

News Wise

Two studies by Boise State University geoscientists provide new information about how snowmelt is stored and used in mountain environments.Global warming is said to be reducing snowpacks across the western U.S., with potentially far-reaching for

Eco-friendly concrete alternative is under development

New material would use coal burning byproduct, called fly ash, as its base

February 2, 2012

News Wise

Concrete is the most common construction material used globally and is said to account for 70 percent of all construction materials. Though concrete has advantages such as easy application and high availability, it has major disadvantages when a of

Hydropower use increased globally in '10

Generation method now accounts for 16 percent of energy consumption

February 2, 2012

Global use of hydropower increased more than 5 percent between 2009 and 2010, says new research published last month by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online publication. Hydropower use reached a record of about 3,400 or 16 percent