Special Report

'Low-income' credit unions rise in number, NCUA says

Two in Spokane among nearly 1,900 nationwide now holding designation

November 8, 2012

A National Credit Union Administration initiative has resulted in a jump in the number of credit unions to obtain the federal agency's low-income designation, which is based on the income levels of a majority of those credit unions' members. Two

Angel investment market continues recovery, study says

Amount put into startups rose by just over 3 percent during first half of this year

November 8, 2012

News Wise

The angel investor market in the first two quarters of this year showed signs of steady recovery since a downturn in the second half of 2008 and the first half of 2009, with total investments at $9.2 billion, an increase of 3.1 percent over the in

Sustainable investment effort gains traction, some say

Groups work to connect investors with entrepreneurs involved in green companies

November 8, 2012

Linn Parish

For two years, Dan Grady funded Winfiniti Inc. himself and with the help of friends and family.For the next phase of development for the startup that makes building-efficiency management software, Winfiniti sought and got help from a new friend,

Global plans rebranding, operational changes next year

Credit union financials show growing stability, room for growth, it says

November 8, 2012

Jessica Valencia

Global Credit Union, the Spokane-based financial institution, is preparing to undergo a sizable rebranding effort starting next year, says President and CEO Jack Fallis. "I think we've come up with a recipe for success," says Fallis, who has top

'Beer Money' brews finance basics

Cd'A-based D.A. Davidson consultant pens guide that endeavors to put investing concepts on tap

November 8, 2012

Treva Lind

Darin Hayes, a Coeur d'Alene-based D.A. Davidson & Co. financial consultant, has had more than a few informal conversations over beers with friends about basic concepts of personal finance and investing.A fan of specialty brews, Hayes says he to

Banking on the move

Banks optimize websites, develop dedicated apps to deliver mobile services

November 8, 2012

Mike McLean

Seeing growing demand for mobile banking services, several financial institutions here are enhancing their online services and developing mobile-dedicated web applications so customers can more easily conduct their banking via their Bank, Spokane a

Psoriasis antibody shown to ease Crohn's Disease effects

Researcher says finding could be first step toward a new treatment option

October 25, 2012

News Wise

Ustekinumab, an antibody proven to treat the skin condition psoriasis, has now shown positive results in decreasing the debilitating effects of Crohn's Disease, say researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.The in

Seattle researchers, others look at genetics, diabetes

Multidisciplinary group lands $4.3 million grant to search for treatments

October 25, 2012

News Wise

Scientists around the world have been working for decades to find better treatments, cures, and potentially preventions for Type 1 diabetes. Assisted by a new $4.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, researchers from two Seattle

Childhood cancer organization here grows, shifts focus

Executive director knows from personal losses what affected families endure

October 25, 2012

Jessica Valencia

When Mary Anne Ruddis lost her 9-year-old daughter to leukemia in 1994, she says she did everything she was told not to do, including moving from California to Spokane. Five years later, when her 12-year-old son died from a brain tumor, she says

Hospitals' infection testing practices vary a lot, study shows

About 40 percent say they don't screen routinely for MRSA, similar organisms

October 25, 2012

News Wise

Screening practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in intensive care units vary widely from hospital to hospital, says a new study by researchers at Columbia University School of Nursing and published in the October 2012 issue of Journal