Government

Jobs to continue to grow here, though possibly at slower rate

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December 19, 2013

The rate of growth, however, might not keep pace with this year, says Grant Forsyth, regional labor economist for Spokane-based Avista Corp. He's projecting a 1.5 percent increase in employment next year in Spokane and Kootenai counties, which would be

Inland Northwest economy continues to make positive strides

While some industries face challenges, others report return to prerecession levels

December 19, 2013

Linn Parish

In some sectors of the Inland Northwest economy, activity levels are returning to prerecession levels, welcome news that comes none too soon for economic observers. In overall employment, Spokane-area economists are expecting job growth next year, though

Country Homes Boulevard stormwater project to begin next year

Pipe and soil will replace current asphalt channel, lower treatment volume

December 19, 2013

Katie Ross

The Spokane County stormwater utility department is in the design stages of an estimated $2.5 million restoration project that will remove a longtime asphalt drainage channel that serves as a median separating the traffic lanes on Country Homes Boulevard,

Spokane Public Schools eyes shuffling facility uses

District looks to expand programs, reduce some student-teacher ratios

December 19, 2013

Treva Lind

Spokane Public Schools plans to shuffle facility uses by next fall to expand some programs and address a state-required reduction of class sizes for certain elementary grades. Assistant Superintendent Mark Anderson says the district also has started a s

Future of downtown Spokane's IMAX theater grows cloudier

Planning advisory group might consider other uses for Riverfront Park facility

December 19, 2013

Treva Lind

The future of the IMAX theater in downtown Spokane appears more clouded in the wake of a Riverfront Park advisory committee's recent recommendation to stop showing movies there. The group's recommendation is part of an overall report on current plann

Economic pessimism lingers in Eastern Washington

Survey shows that most still give fair, poor marks to current conditions

December 19, 2013

Linn Parish

While the state as a whole has become relatively more optimistic about the state of the economy, Eastern Washington businesses are just as pessimistic about it as they were in 2012, says the findings of a survey by the Spokane office of Portland-based Gal

Spokane metropolitan statistical area breaks into top 100 nationwide

500,000 population benchmark reached without Coeur d'Alene

December 19, 2013

Mike McLean

When Hertz Equipment Rental opened a 25,000-square-foot showroom and service outlet here two months ago to sell and rent out industrial and construction equipment, the global company noted that the new site is located in one of the top 100 U.S. metro mark

'Green rush' set to boom

Prospective Spokane-area marijuana retailers vie for licenses

December 19, 2013

Katie Ross

As the license application deadline for growing, processing, or selling marijuana in Washington state approaches, the number of Spokane County retail applicants is almost twice the number of retail licenses the county has been allotted. As of Dec.17, a

Don't let big terminal get derailed

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December 5, 2013

Guest Commentary

Recently, I sat down with members of Greater Spokane Incorporated, the Spokane City Council, the Legislature, and local labor organizations to talk about two things that we all agree are important to Spokane: jobs and agriculture. The reason I visited

Francis Avenue bridge partially open as work continues

North Spokane Corridor phase set to be finished in full by next summer

December 5, 2013

Katie Ross

The new Francis Avenue bridge is now open to through traffic, says Darrell McCallum, the Washington State Department of Transportation project engineer for the development. The state opened one westbound lane and one eastbound lane on Nov. 16, McCallum