Mention The Great PNW bears to the majority of Spokanites, and one image immediately comes clearly to mind. That animated image, to innocent eyes, looks like one grown bear on his back haunches standing behind another that's resting on all four paws.

Sara Jane Ruggles, life enrichment director at North Star Assisted Living, in Coeur d'Alene, says staff members became misty-eyed as they watched residents participate in their first music therapy session.

Cheney's planning commission has voted unanimously to recommend approval of rezoning of almost 5 acres of land near the southeast corner of Sixth Street and Simpson Parkway that would pave the way for construction of new Cheney Care Community duplexes.

Spokane-area thrift stores associated with nonprofit organizations say donations are increasing and sales are up, meaning more funding is going to the organizations and causes those stores benefit.

Katerra Inc.'s Spokane Valley cross-laminated timber manufacturing facility has not yet been fully completed, but the Menlo Park, Calif.-based construction, design, and manufacturing company has already delivered its first order in Spokane

Plans to preserve the historic Cheney Depot are moving ahead, and the nonprofit organization supporting its preservation says the building could be moved to a new location as early as this summer.

Construction started last month on the first new fraternity house to be built in a generation at Washington State University's Pullman campus.