Up Close

Johnston Engineering builds on strong 2020

Firm expects continued revenue growth this year

July 15, 2021

Johnston Engineering PLLC saw its strongest year-over-year growth last year and is on track to meet or exceed that level this year, says owner Andy Johnston.

Moses Lake school design promotes project-based learning

Real World Academy said future of education

July 15, 2021

Kelly Hendrickson

Moses Lake, like many central Washington cities, has been growing for decades. The region has been attractive to both the technology and manufacturing industries.

Spokane architect Bob Wills reflects on his 50-year career

Wills reflects on creating firm, succession planning

July 15, 2021

Virginia Thomas

Bob Wills is retiring after 30 years alongside firm co-founder Gary Bernardo at the helm of Spokane-based architecture firm Bernardo|Wills Architects PC. Bernardo says planning for the departure of his partner has long been in progress.

Engineering Idaho: David Evans & Associates consults on major traffic changes

Firm to work on $57.2M interchange project

July 15, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Established in Portland, Oregon in 1976, the transportation civil engineering consulting company David Evans & Associates Inc. has secured a solid presence in the Inland Northwest.

Small farms work to stave off droughts, fires

Increasingly hotter weather drives up costs for farmers

July 1, 2021

Natasha Nellis

Tucked away on a small 50-acre property in Valleyford, about 12 miles southeast of downtown Spokane, CasaCano Farms owners Madyson Versteeg and Jorge Cano have been hard at work reducing fire and drought risks.

Food shortages test Inland Northwest restaurants

Some menu items pulled in response, proprietors say

July 1, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Most mornings, Paul D'Orazi opens emails to find out which foods will be in short supply that day. The 'low inventory warningâ€ he received at Incrediburger & Eggs on a recent, late June morning from distributor US Foods contained shredded

Economy endures its sharpest, shortest recession

Full return forecast in mid-year outlook

June 17, 2021

Shawn Narancich

The U.S. economy is back in business after enduring its sharpest and shortest recession ever. Zero percent interest rates at the Federal Reserve, multiple government stimulus payments, business subsidies, and generous unemployment benefits all helped

Small business owners regain their confidence

Banker offers advice for journey to recovery

June 17, 2021

Kurt Walsdorf

Small business owners in Spokane and across the country are slowly but surely regaining their footing after a uniquely challenging year. In fact, Spokane County's job market is continuing to recover, with its April 2021 unemployment rate dropping

Health care industry starts to rebound from COVID-19

Industry experiencing some recovery in '21

June 17, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Despite being caught directly in the crosshairs of a global pandemic, local health care officials report the industry is on the financial mend a little more than a year beyond the arrival of COVID-19.

Sticker Shock: Steep construction costs likely to persist this year

Double-digit percentage price increases are common for most materials

June 17, 2021

Natasha Nellis

Contractors here have seen staggering material cost increases over the past year as surging demand and supply chain bottlenecks have pushed prices to record heights, and many predict those issues won't end this year.