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Virginia Thomas

Reporter Virginia Thomas has worked at the Journal since 2017 and covers the health care industry. As a reporter, she loves learning about Spokane's many growing industries. She enjoys traveling with her husband, snuggling with her cats, and cross stitching.

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ARTICLES

Icons 2022: Coopers & Lybrand's Gordon Budke

Budke's legacy threads through many Spokane organizations

May 5, 2022

Virginia Thomas

The list of Spokane-based organizations Gordon Budke has been involved with over the decades contains many familiar names, including Momentum '87, Leadership Spokane, the Spokane Area Economic Development Council, Eastern Washington University,

Cannabis store robberies prompt response

Cashless transaction options available to retailers; industrywide adoption said to be slow

May 5, 2022

Virginia Thomas

In response to a series of armed robberies in the Puget Sound area, the Washington state Department of Financial Institutions and the state Liquor and Cannabis Board are collaborating to solve the problem of an industry that historically has been

Hennessey Funeral Home to replace cremation unit

Switch to more efficient chamber to begin in June

April 21, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Hennessey Funeral Home & Crematory's Spokane location is getting a new cremation unit, managing partner Melissa Johnson says.

Second Liberty Apartments structure to be built

Hillyard neighborhood site will gain 24 units

April 21, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Jordan Tampien, developer and owner of 4 Degrees Real Estate, of Spokane, says work has begun on the second phase of the $8 million Liberty Apartments project, in Spokane's Hillyard neighborhood. Tampien says footings and framing have gone up at

Rind & Wheat spinoff opens shop in old Fery's Catering spot

Morsel offers to-go lunch, pastries

April 21, 2022

Virginia Thomas

A spinoff of bread and cheese shop Rind & Wheat has opened on the southeast edge of downtown. Morsel by Rind & Wheat, which had been scheduled to open earlier this week, primarily offers sandwiches, salads, and pastries, says owner and chef Ricky Webster

McQuilkin leads Whitworth into post-COVID era

Role said to be challenging as university competes for students in ongoing U.S. decline in enrollment

April 21, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Scott McQuilkin, Whitworth University's new president, is taking the helm of the university at a time when Whitworth is focusing on its health and science programs, and while enrollment is dropping at higher education institutions throughout the

Entrepreneurial ecosystem traverses complicated terrain

More new companies land investments as total funding declines in '21

April 21, 2022

Virginia Thomas

While funding opportunities have slowed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spokane's startup community remains active, bolstered by employees located throughout the U.S. and events that bring attention to new companies, some market observers

The INW office market's mixed bag

As large tenants cut back, demand for smaller spaces escalates, observers say

April 21, 2022

Virginia Thomas

The commercial office space market in Spokane is a mixed bag, with high demand for smaller spaces and lower demand for larger corporate offices, commercial real estate brokers here say.

Rockwood Lane's resident demographics trend younger

More active clientele evolves at complex on lower South Hill

April 7, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Rockwood Lane Retirement Community residents have trended younger and more active in recent years, says Jason Finley, property manager and marketing representative.