After years of organizing events, supporting Native artists, and operating a nonprofit focused on Indigenous communities, Spokane Tribe member Jeff Ferguson has opened a new brick-and-mortar business designed to give Native artists a permanent place to showcase and sell their work.

Nonprofit leader Mable Dunbar says effective leadership starts with something simple: being willing to do the same work she asks of everyone else. 

Westside Church Spokane is building a $2.2 million, 12,000-square-foot sanctuary at 11916 W. Melville Road, in Cheney, that will provide a permanent home for the congregation.

The construction industry is currently facing a significant surge in expenses driven by rising material costs, fuel prices, and complex regulatory requirements leading to challenges in balancing tighter margins with affordability, some builders say.

The city of Spokane is preparing to bolster its general fund by $2.1 million following the sale of its 11,800-square-foot North Monroe Public Defender Building. The deal, which is expected to close this month, is under contract for purchase by Ryan Best, of Spokane-based Best Law PLLC, and Beth Pierce according to a 14 page sale and lease agreement on file with the city.

From a service clerk in Montana to the leader of a regional grocery chain in Spokane, Jeff Philipps says his legacy was built by consistently restocking a few simple ideas: "Businesses succeed when they invest in people, and communities grow stronger when leaders choose to give back." 

The planned transition of The Spokesman-Review from more than a century of Cowles family ownership to nonprofit stewardship has moved into a new phase after Comma Community Journalism Lab announced it has reached its fundraising goal of $2 million that allows for the transfer to move forward.

Spokane-based restaurant People's Waffle is expanding into North Idaho with a new location opening May 22 at 400 N. Fourth, in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Wandering Bear Kitchen is prepping to open at 429 E. Second in Spokane, with a focus on wood-smoked meals, take-and-bake dishes, and community connection. Belinda and Shaunn Wenig expect to open the 800-square-foot facility in late May, offering a gathering spot where people can meet and eat.

Wildfire risk is reshaping the homeowners insurance market in Washington state, particularly for residents living in areas that are more vulnerable to wildfire activity, including many residences in Spokane County. While premiums have increased sharply in recent years, new data from the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner shows rate increases are now beginning to cool down.