LeAnn Bjerken

Bartlett open bar in its downtown Spokane venue

Adding spirits meant to draw more customers

March 24, 2016

The Bartlett, a popular all-ages music venue, has opened a new bar in its building. Spokane residents Caleb and Karli Ingersoll opened The Bartlett in January of 2014, but just opened a new bar portion and began serving hard alcohol within the venue, ca

Airport stats show higher revenues, passenger count

Officials expect continued growth in activity this year

March 24, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

A preliminary financial report released last month shows revenue, passenger count, and total freight all rose at Spokane International Airport in 2015 compared with 2014, again exceeding the airport's projections for the year. Todd Woodard, director o

Bookend generations move to Spokane's core

Younger, older people fuel housing demand downtown

March 24, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

A recent housing and economic report reveals Spokane is experiencing a shift in demographics to both younger and older age groups, whose interest in the urban lifestyle is fueling the growth of downtown development projects in the areas of housing, retail

Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund: Focused on poverty, quality of life

Foundation provided grants to 36 organizations last year

March 10, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

The Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund last year made 54 grants totaling more than $360,000 to 36 direct service providers in the Inland Northwest. The charitable foundation's founders, Don Barbieri and Sharon Smith, say it's a drop in the bucket, howe

Northwest Farm Credit's earnings rise

Co-op members receive $92 million in patronage

March 10, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Northwest Farm Credit Services has reported 2015 earnings of $255.6 million, an increase of $27.5 million, or 12 percent, compared with $228.1 million in 2014. The Spokane-based agricultural lending cooperative says its higher net income was due mostly

Rockwood Health's parent posts fourth-quarter loss

CEO says results affected by lower patient volumes

March 10, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

In its year-end financial results, CHS reported a fourth-quarter loss of $83 million, or 73 cents per share, compared with net income of $100 million, or 88 cents per share, in the year-earlier quarter. Revenue in the fourth quarter also fell slightly to

F5 Networks opens second facility in Liberty Lake

Five percent annual growth projected in coming years

March 10, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

F5 Networks Inc., a Seattle-based maker of computer networking equipment, has opened its second facility in Liberty Lake. The new 28,000-square-foot facility, which opened earlier this month, is set to be F5's largest support center in North America,

Inland Northwest cancer care restructured

Summit network opens new Post Falls location

March 10, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Four cancer-care medical practices have restructured and changed their names to Summit Cancer Centers in the latest shifting in cancer care services here. Dr. Arvind Chaudhry, medical oncologist and director of Summit Cancer Centers, says this new integr

Excelsior Youth Center's founding CEO passes baton

Center plans to add staff, expand some programs

February 25, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Excelsior Youth Center, one of Spokane's largest behavioral-health nonprofits, has changed leadership, transitioning to a new chief executive officer for the first time in the 34 years since its founding. Robert Faltermeyer, founding CEO of Excelsior Y

Owner of NorthTown Mall, Valley Mall posts stronger year

Initial rental rates rose by double digits in '15

February 25, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

General Growth Properties Inc., the Chicago-based company that owns and operates both the NorthTown Mall and Spokane Valley Mall here, has reported a decline in fourth-quarter earnings compared with the year-earlier period. For all of 2015, though, the