Government

Avista's energy supply deemed adequate through 2020

Eventually, utility might add natural-gas powered plant

September 24, 2015

Avista Corp. projects having adequate generating resources to meet customers' energy needs through 2020, according to its latest integrated resource plan filed in August with regulators in Washington and Idaho. The Spokane-based utility submits an IRP

Contractors compete for $27 million Sportsplex project

PFD expects to select builder by month's end

September 24, 2015

Spokane Public Facilities District CEO Kevin Twohig says the PFD will make a decision by month's end about which local contractor will be selected for construction of a proposed $27 million sports field house north of the Spokane River. Bouten Construc

Business found not liable for assault at its premises

Appeals court case stems from incident at Denny's

September 10, 2015

A Washington state appellate court panel here has upheld a lower-court ruling that a business isn't liable for injuries caused by one customer assaulting another on its premises. In the case, Star Crill, a customer of the Denny's restaurant at 2022 N

Washington state starts power plant carbon-reduction strategy

Utilities must comply fully by 2030

September 10, 2015

Mike McLean

While Washington state is said to be leading among states in developing green and renewable energy supplies, it's still got a lot of work to do to comply with a new Clean Power Plan rule announced last month by the Environmental Protection Agency, indus

Marijuana retailers fret as state regulations start to shift

Medical dispensaries facing uncertain future

September 10, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

The Cannabis Patient Protection Act, commonly referred to as Senate Bill 5052 has some dispensaries here concerned both for the future of their businesses and the welfare of the patients they serve. The bill, which was passed earlier this summer, seeks to

Company challenges Valley mining moratorium

City officials there remain committed to one-year ban

August 27, 2015

A concrete company here is challenging a mining moratorium that the city of Spokane Valley imposed in late February.

City selects Seattle firm to design park landscape

Berger plans to complete initial work in early 2016

August 27, 2015

The Spokane Parks Board has selected Seattle-based Berger Partnership to complete the design and landscape of public spaces and park grounds for the Riverfront Park revitalization. The Park Board approved a $1.5-million contract with Berger Partnership e

Day-late workers' compensation filing ignites legal battle

Appellate panel overturns Superior Court ruling here

August 13, 2015

A Spokane attorney says he will ask the Washington State Supreme Court to review a Spokane appellate court finding that his client's worker-injury claim, submitted to the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries, was invalid because it was fi

SBA touts 504 financing tool

Overlooked loan program promotes job growth, retention here

August 13, 2015

Mike McLean

A U.S. Small Business Administration financing program is helping businesses expand and better position themselves for the economic turnaround, and Ted Schinzel, the SBA's Spokane branch administrator, says more businesses here could benefit from SBA 50

Spokane-area parks departments foresee jump in ACA costs

City of Spokane reports larger surge than county

July 30, 2015

The city of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department estimates it faces a $60,000 per month increase in costs due to the Affordable Care Act. The ACA requires employers with more than 200 employees to enroll their employees automatically into the organiza