Katie Ross

URM Stores investigation ending; ripple effects continue

Credit unions increase fraud monitoring in wake of attack

February 13, 2014

Spokane wholesaler URM Stores Inc. announced recently that it's nearing the end of its investigation into the cyber-attacks last fall that compromised an unknown number of debit and credit cards, but some aftereffects of that breach still are being felt

Using software to treat rheumatoid arthritis

Company, practice here join to invent, market app

February 13, 2014

Katie Ross

Discus Analytics LLC, which launched in Spokane in May 2011, has collaborated with doctors here to invent and begin marketing a software application designed to help better treat rheumatoid arthritis and its progression. The company worked with physici

Catholic Charities opens retail furnishings store

Business located in former Stewart's hardware space

February 13, 2014

Katie Ross

Catholic Charities of Spokane, a 100-year-old nonprofit that offers social services through Eastern Washington, has opened a retail store called Furnishings for Hope in the historic Stewart's True Value Hardware building, located at 1905 N. Monroe. Th

PAML partners to launch cancer diagnostic tool

Product includes precise genetic sequence testing

February 13, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane-based national reference laboratory Pathology Associates Medical Laboratory LLC is launching with its partner, Seattle-based lab CellNetix Pathology & Laboratories, a new cancer diagnostic product, which will be marketed under the name Symbiodx.

County-city revenue share proposal still in the works

City administrator hopes to have plan by summer

February 13, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane County and two cities that lie within it still are in the process of negotiating a possible revenue-sharing agreement for industrial-zoned land on the West Plains, says Al French, Spokane County commissioner. The talks are moving forward, but no

Marijuana businesses pose risk to banksâ€”for now

Financial institutions follow federal laws, await clarity

January 30, 2014

Katie Ross

Financial institutions in Washington state are anticipating federal guidance on how best to navigate the precarious issue of state law versus federal law in regard to allowing marijuana businesses access to traditional banking services. That question h

City of Spokane stormwater tank projects move forward

Garco Construction named to build what's to be biggest combined sewer overflow container to date

January 30, 2014

Katie Ross

The Spokane City Council awarded in December a $7.7 million contract to Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, to build a 1.5 million gallon combined sewer overflow (CSO) tank, says city spokeswoman Marlene Feist. Construction of the tank is slated to beg

Skyhawks Sports Academy buys SoccerTots programs

Acquisition gives company programs for younger kids

January 30, 2014

Katie Ross

Skyhawks Sports Academy Inc., a Spokane business that runs athletic programs and camps throughout the country for children ages 4 to 12, has acquired the assets of SoccerTots International LLC, another children's athletic development company here that h

Hospitality tech company buys distribution right for Spokane, Boise

Spark Solutions now handles Micros here, in Boise

January 30, 2014

Katie Ross

Salt Lake City-based Spark Solutions Group LLC has acquired distribution rights for the Spokane market for Maryland-based Micros System Inc.'s point-of-sale products, including touch-screen computers that restaurants use to track orders, cash registers,

Fitness industry goes specialized in Spokane area

Small businesses, larger gyms here zero in on workout trends

January 30, 2014

Katie Ross

As more movements emerge in the health and fitness industry, especially in niche markets, Spokane's fitness entrepreneurs and larger gyms are taking steps to keep up with the times. Targeted workouts such as yoga, Pilates, Pure Barre, spinning, and Z