LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane-area apartment occupancy rate ranks high nationally

Job, population growth said contributing factor

December 1, 2016

The Spokane area ranked in the top three small markets nationally for high apartment occupancy rates on a list released last month by RealPage Inc., which provides property management software for the housing industry. The list ranks Syracuse, N.Y., in

Spokane Area Retired Educators Association fights dip in membership

Organizers maintain mission of outreach, education

December 1, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Despite a declining membership, the Spokane Area Retired Educators Association continues to work toward its mission of supporting both its members and education efforts throughout the area. The association's president, Karen Mahan, says that although

Providence Health CEO Elaine Couture: Adapting to myriad of market shifts

Lagging revenues, rising costs lead big health care system to make cuts

December 1, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

With more potential changes in the wind for the health care industry in the wake of Donald Trump's election as the nation's president, Providence Health Care's chief executive, Elaine Couture, says leading officials need to be prepared for new respo

Holiday sales outpace 2015, Spokane retailers say

More seasonal employees brought on this year as well

December 1, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Following a busy Thanksgiving shopping weekend, a number of Spokane-area retailers say they are on track for stronger holiday sales this year than they had last year. The National Retail Federation said in October that it expects sales in November and

Spokane Transit Authority, Uber mull pilot programs

Agency meets with ride-sharing service, discusses partnerships

December 1, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane Transit Authority is looking into partnerships with ride-sharing services, such as Uber. Steve Blaska, STA's director of operations, says the organization's staff met with Uber's regional operations manager, Jonathan Hopkins, in October to

Remodel to convert former Skippers into Dickey's

Cd'A restaurant opening has yet to be scheduled

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

A former Skippers restaurant near the Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d'Alene is being converted into a Dickey's Barbecue Pit restaurant. The new restaurant's owner, Mark Engberson, is a Spokane-based franchisee for both Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Wing

Bedrosians Tile & Stone begins building store in Spokane Valley

$2 million project follows acquisition of Oregon Tile

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Bedrosians Tile & Stone Inc., a porcelain tile and stone importer and distributor based in Anaheim, Calif., has started work on a new 41,000-square-foot building at 19119 E. Broadway for a Spokane Valley store. Eddie Bedrosian, the company's Anaheim-ba

Garco Construction lands $8.7 million DOT project

Contractor to start work in Wenatchee next spring

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

The Washington state Department of Transportation has awarded to Spokane-based Garco Construction Inc. an $8.7 million contract to build a new North Central Region Administration building in Wenatchee. Rich Wagner, a project manager for Garco, says the c

Students experience robotic surgery technology

Rockwood Health System, others put on STEM event

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Rockwood Health System earlier this month hosted its second annual science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine event designed to introduce local high school students to robotic surgery. The event, dubbed STEM2, was staged through a partnership

Northwest Farm Credit Services reports drop in net income

Co-op's capital level grows 5.2 percent

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Spokane-based agricultural lending cooperative, has reported third-quarter earnings of $62.7 million, down almost 6 percent from $66.6 million in the year-earlier quarter. The co-op's net income for the first three