Government

Legislative outlook: Spokane advocates seek $160 million-plus for projects, initiatives

Business advocates to fight tax increases first, though

December 20, 2018

Spokane-area interests are seeking funding for education, transportation, health care, and community projects and initiatives valued at more than $160 million during the upcoming state legislative session.

Mental health insurance coverage to broaden soon

System could deliver more holistic care, Frontier CEO says

December 6, 2018

Samantha Peone

Starting Jan. 1, behavioral health services traditionally covered through Medicaid also will be covered by some of the same managed care organizations that currently cover physical health services, says Jeff Thomas, CEO of Frontier Behavioral Health.

Washington state denies HydroOne's acquisition of Avista

Regulators says proposed acquisition wouldn't serve public interest

December 5, 2018

Mike McLean

Washington state regulators denied the proposed acquisition of Avista Corp. by Canada-based Hydro One Limited, finding the merger wouldn't service the public interest. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission determined the proposed merge

City of Spokane approves three land-use change requests

Fourth proposal tabled, fifth withdrawn, refiled

November 21, 2018

Samantha Peone

The Spokane City Council has approved three requests for land-use designation changes and postponed a fourth request, while a fifth request was withdrawn, says Dwight Hume, of Land Use Solutions & Entitlement LLC,

SBA lending in Spokane District reaches $226.7 million

Restaurant, hotel, gas stations account for bulk of activity here

November 8, 2018

Samantha Peone

Total lending backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in the Inland Northwest rose $8.3 million through fiscal year 2018, data compiled by SBA indicates.

U.S. Pavilion at Riverfront Park concept

ART ONLY

November 8, 2018

Staff Report

This conceptual drawing shows what a walkway within the U.S. Pavilion at Riverfront Park could look like when the $16.5 million renovation of the iconic downtown feature is completed.

Washington L&I mulls overtime, salary rule changes

Meantime, feds revisit thresholds that had been rejected in 2016

October 25, 2018

Virginia Thomas

The Washington state Department of Labor & Industries is starting to look into updating wage requirements for salaried employees.

Stantec awarded contract to assess state rest areas

Project starts this month, to be finished in mid-2019

October 11, 2018

LeAnn Bjerken

The Spokane office of Stantec Inc., an international design firm with headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta, is one of three others that will be working on a recently awarded $575,000 contract to lead a statewide evaluation of 33 rest areas

Spokane Transit Authority, Greenstone team up on pilot project

Effort is bus system's first with private partner

October 11, 2018

LeAnn Bjerken

Liberty Lake-based real estate development company Greenstone Corp. has announced a new partnership with Spokane Transit Authority that will enable residents, business owners, and employees in the Kendall Yards neighborhood access to free transit.

Spokane Valley launches new infrastructure reporting system

SVexpress application employs GPS mapping

October 11, 2018

Virginia Thomas

Since launching a citizen infrastructure reporting app last month, the City of Spokane Valley has received more than a dozen reports through the app, says Elisha Heath, executive assistant to the city manager.