Special Report

Diagnostics lab makes yet another acquisition

Incyte acquires the assets of Seattle-based Accupath

July 3, 2014

Incyte Diagnostics, of Spokane Valley, says it has acquired the assets of Accupath Laboratory Services Inc., a one-pathologist lab in Seattle, and Accupath's former owner, Dr. Robert R. Hasselbrack, has joined Incyte, where he will be heading up a compa

A promising response

Firefighters favor smaller vehicles; city extends pilot test phase at three stations

July 3, 2014

Judith Spitzer

Pain â€¦ chest pain, back pain, and abdominal pain as well as nausea, shortness of breath, and vomiting are among the top 10 reasons firefighters are called out by 911 dispatchers to assist people in the city of Spokane, says Brian Schaeffer, assistant fi

Medical-school pilot program attracts fewer students

Incoming second-year class to be half the expected size

July 3, 2014

Linn Parish

The incoming class of second-year medical students in Spokane will be about half the size of the inaugural second-year class, with nine to 11 slots failing to fill. Ken Roberts, director of the Spokane unit of WWAMI, a University of Washington program

Accurate financials key when selling a business

Inconsistencies can raise red flags, jeopardize deal

June 19, 2014

Ed Kirk

The market for buying and selling privately held companies has changed substantially during the last few years. The economic downturn significantly reduced sales and profitability of many companies, decreasing the number of companies for sale as would-be

Banks face some challenges in moving to the cloud

However, they potentially could reap major savings

June 19, 2014

Francis Tam

Cloud computing is changing the game for both large and small businesses. For many, cloud computing has received a lot of buzz because of its ability to decrease the costs associated with administering an on-site system, meaning less investment in informa

Bond investors should be preparing for volatility

Long-term rally could be coming to an end soon

June 19, 2014

Michael Maehl

For the last 30-plus years, it hasn't particularly mattered whether you owned bond funds or individual bonds. Helped by falling interest rates, they both delivered consistent income and a counterbalance to stock market volatility. But, with higher rate

Bank of America looks to build on loan growth in Spokane

Institution now employs about 350 people locally

June 19, 2014

Katie Ross

Bank of America Corp., the Charlotte, N.C.-based financial institution, increased its small business loans in Washington state by 22 percent last year and hopes to keep that momentum rolling, says Kurt Walsdorf, Spokane-based senior vice president and mar

Minimize risk of outliving your investment income

Planning is paramount as retirement dynamics shift

June 19, 2014

Hedley W. Greene and Bruce Pedey

It's 1950 and you are at the 'retirement ageâ€ of 65. It's expected that you will retire, and there's more than a gentle hand on your back as you clear out your desk. Social Security has been in place since 1935 thanks to FDR and the New Deale

Spokane's economy is on consistent growth track

Jobs continue to increase; wage growth is a concern

June 19, 2014

Steve Scranton

Spokane has seen 2014 start with a more consistent pattern of economic growth than the nation as a whole. Unlike much of the Midwest and East Coast, Spokane didn't suffer through the severe winter weather that hampered economic activity. The picture t

Gifting can help with estate taxes

Washington's rate affects more residents than feds' rules

June 19, 2014

Mike McLean

With historically high exemptions, fewer people are paying federal estate and gift taxes now than decades ago, but more Washington state residents should be aware of their potential state estate tax liabilities, some accountants here say. Washington has