Spokanes two major electric utilities say they have concerns about a proposed initiative that would make all of Washington states larger utilities get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and biomass, by of and

F&M Bank, of Spokane Valley, put its profits back on a growth track last year, recovering from a dip in 2004 that had ended a run of seven straight years of record earnings.The bank posted net income of $3.2 million for 2005, up 23 percent the

Willis Group Holdings Ltd., one of the worlds largest insurance brokerages, plans to open an office here next week that will be managed by Curtis Taylor, former top executive here for Marsh, one of Willis competitors.The New York publicly a

A more aggressive use of annexation covenants and the creation of a port districtboth lightning rods for community debate here in the pastare two of the strategies that new Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession says hell push as he seeks to bolster a

Inland Imaging, the Spokane areas largest provider of radiology services, has taken initial steps to enter the fast-growing Phoenix market, and is considering expanding into also-hot Las Vegas, says top executive Steve Duvoisin.In Phoenix, it

Dont look now, but paper checksthose symbolic instruments of financial empowermentare slipping away toward that same graveyard of technological obsolescence as the slide rule, the typewriter, and the record player.Financial institutions

Backers of a proposed new bank here, called RiverBank, have applied to the Washington state Department of Financial Institutions for a commercial bank charter.Longtime Spokane banking executive Duane Brandenburg, who is heading the effort to up

Health-care sector here looks sunnier for the most partThe health-care industry here appears on track to strengthen a bit overall in 2006, with some caveats, due partly to improved financial performance by the two major hospital systems Health

The retail sector here is expected to remain robust in 2006, though it will be challenged to match this years stellar performance.Spokane County and the cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley have budgeted for sales tax revenue increases of 4 2

AmericanWest Bancorps recently announced agreement to buy Pasco-based Columbia Trust Bancorp for $37.5 million is a noteworthy piece of business for the Spokane-based institution, but just a fraction of what it believes is yet to come.That to