Cosmetic dermatology pioneer Dr. W. Philip Werschler is leading an effort to expand clinical trials for drugs, treatments, and devices here, just as many medical practices and health care organizations have cut back on clinical research.

Over the last several years, Nadine Sullivan and her brother Bruce Gage have narrowed the focus of Eco Depot Inc.'s environmentally friendly building products to concentrate mostly on selling and installing solar-electric systems.

Sandpoint's diverse and growing employment base is helping offset last year's loss of major employer Coldwater Creek, several business representatives and observers there say. Companies representing software, aerospace, biomedical, and manufacturing

Brookdale Place at Harbor Crest aims to enrich the lives of residents at the retirement community by ensuring they have opportunities to make the best of each day, says Sandra Bachmeyer, sales manager at the South Hill complex.

Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corp. has signed franchise agreements with the owner of two hotels, one in Spokane and another in Sacramento, Calif. The Spokane property is the former Spokane House Hotel, located at 4301 W. Sunset Blvd., says Pam Scott, RL

Oregon-based Willamette Valley Bank plans to move its Coeur d'Alene home-loan center by summer into a new building on Sherman Avenue at the east edge of downtown, says Steve Novotny, the bank's Coeur d'Alene sales manager and one of its loan officer

The Washington state Senate budget proposal would put the Spokane-based portion of the five-state medical education program known as WWAMI in peril if it wins out over the House version of the budget, says Dr. Paul Ramsey, the CEO of University of Washing