Adams County economic development proponents are looking ambitiously at the potential for turning the quiet farm town of Ritzville, located about an hour's drive southwest of Spokane at the junction of Interstate 90 and U.S. 395, into a bustling hub for

Purcell Systems Inc., the Spokane Valley-based company that makes temperature-controlled outdoor cabinets for the telecommunications industry, is diversifying and expects 40 percent growth over the next fiscal year, says Chris Craig, its general manager.

Dr. Randall Riggs, a psychiatrist, and Kimberly Stankovich, a veteran chemical dependency counselor, have opened an outpatient clinic east of downtown Spokane that they say is using an empathetic and healing approach to treat opiate-dependent patients.

A Washington State University Spokane pharmaceutical sciences student has received a national award from the Rheumatology Research Foundation to fund research into slowing or eradicating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Two doctors at a Spokane Valley eye-care clinic say a laser device now aids them in the process of performing cataract surgery.

Cosmetic dermatology pioneer Dr. W. Philip Werschler is leading an effort to expand clinical trials for drugs, treatments, and devices here, just as many medical practices and health care organizations have cut back on clinical research.