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Agriculture labor crunch drives H-2A growth

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Caught between shifting federal administrative rulemaking and ongoing litigation, some Washington state agricultural employers are struggling to navigate changing wage requirements and H-2A guest-worker regulations.

Stevens Clay expands to keep schools compliant

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane-based law firm Stevens Clay PS is expanding its team to help clients in the education sector navigate increasingly complex regulations.

LaunchNW pushes for proper use of Meta funds

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

LaunchNW wants to ensure that funds from the landmark $17.1 billion settlement with Meta Platforms are dedicated to mitigating the harms that initiated the lawsuit rather than plugging the state budget.

Washington wage-and-hour lawsuits are surging

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

A wave of class-action employment cases is surging across Washington, including many alleging violations of the state’s meal and rest break requirements.

Workspace designs are starting to feel like home

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Postpandemic office design trends are shifting from designing for utility to designing for human comfort, some Spokane-based interior designers say.

Statuary brings recognition to businesses

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

An oversized rooster, a towering sasquatch, or a massive metal eagle might seem like unconventional marketing investments, but Mike Ferguson, owner of Spokane-based Way Out West, has spent over two decades supplying Inland Northwest businesses with statues and large outdoor pieces that are helping turn companies into recognizable landmarks.

Solar work rises ahead of tax credit deadlines

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Solar and renewable energy system installations on commercial buildings in Spokane have increased since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed in 2025, as building owners and businesses hurry to perform planned projects before a clean energy tax credit ends.

Wildfires add to Fulcrum's growing workload

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

As the focus shifts from containment to recovery in the aftermath of the Spokane Complex Fires, work for Fulcrum Environmental Consultants Inc. has picked up as the group of scientists makes its way around the city testing homes, schools, soil, and air for hazards people often can’t see.

EWU pushes forward with green energy plans

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Eastern Washington University is accelerating its sustainability efforts with a roadmap of projects including the implementation of a solar array, geothermal heating and cooling, carbon capturing, and a microturbine that uses existing steam production to create electricity.

INW manufacturers build regional supply chains

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Inland Northwest manufacturers are positioning the region as a hub for emerging technologies as they pursue opportunities in nuclear energy, clean energy, and photonics.

A heavy load for carriers

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Some Spokane-area trucking carriers are struggling to fill seats as an aging workforce and the elimination of some state apprenticeship programs hollow out the labor pool. While the industry experienced a brief post-pandemic rebound, job numbers in the county have since declined to 1,591 in 2025 — a 10-year low.

Giving while living gains popularity in the INW

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Estate planning attorney Julie Olds says she is seeing a growing number of clients who don’t want to wait until they're gone to begin making a charitable impact. Instead, they are choosing to give during their lifetimes, allowing them to see the results of their philanthropy and involve family members in decisions about where their money goes.

Fair housing organization faces budget gap

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Northwest Fair Housing Alliance is facing a budget gap as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is delaying the funding of a key grant the nonprofit relies on.

Basset hound rescue donates assets to SpokAnimal

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Washington Basset Rescue is preserving its nearly four-decade legacy by entrusting more than $50,000 in remaining assets to SpokAnimal C.A.R.E., a final effort by the Spokane-based rescue to help animals after its closure.

You gave generously, but was it efficient?

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Regardless of why you give, you should consider how you give. Efficient giving takes knowledge and a plan. When done well, it can leave you with more resources to give and, ultimately, increase the benefit received by a charity and the people or causes it serves.

Western Farms hits 30,000 weekly deliveries

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Western Farms of Idaho is increasing production in the Inland Northwest, now delivering 30,000 eggs per week to two dozen Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-area restaurants and 14 retail stores.

High stakes of sustainability at Browning Beef

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

As Browning Beef LLC contends with higher cattle prices nationally, the Spangle-based beef supplier is working to keep prices low for consumers.

Agriculture helps veterans find renewed purpose

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Agriculture has long depended on people willing to learn by doing. But for many would-be producers, especially those who have served their country and are now looking for a second career, getting started in farming can be difficult. In Spokane, Vets on the Farm is one example of how local resources, relationships, and real-world training can help make that path more accessible.

West Side architecture firm builds INW presence

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Bremerton, Washington-based architectural firm Rice Fergus Miller Inc. is seeing an increase in work in the Spokane area, and Gunnar Gladics, principal and partner at the firm, anticipates continued growth in both projects and personnel.

Sleepless nights inspire Spokane invention

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

SleepVibe Inc. has increased sales of its sleep aid device by more than 300% over the past year through podcast advertisements and support from sleep apnea doctors and first responders across the Inland Northwest who are discovering the benefits of the company’s namesake invention, says CEO and founder James Marsh.

Groundcubed cultivates four-season design in INW

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Groundcubed PC's downtown Coeur d'Alene studio is seeking to capitalize on the high-growth environment of the Inland Northwest as it brings its expertise in pedestrian-oriented design and cold-climate landscapes to projects across Idaho and Washington.

Historic wealth transfer boosts probate work here

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Probate work is rapidly increasing at some Spokane-area estate planning law firms as attorneys begin to see the effects of the nation’s historic transfer of wealth from baby boomers to their heirs.

Rental industry faces mounting headwinds

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Rising regulatory requirements, escalating operating costs and new state housing laws are creating financial pressures for landlords and property managers that ultimately affect tenants across the rental market.

Legal workforce shows resilience in Spokane

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Slow new job growth and high annual turnover characterize the current job market for attorneys in Spokane County, making for a resilient and stable environment, some industry experts here say.

Mable Dunbar leads through her service to others

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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

Barton English School leader evolves program

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

When Becky Rempe arrived at the Barton English School at First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, the decades-old program consisted largely of one-on-one tutoring sessions. Today, the school is abuzz with conversations in multiple languages as immigrants, refugees, volunteers, and residents gather to learn and engage with each other and the community.

Gonzaga program drives women's leadership gains

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Hundreds of women have benefitted from a leadership program at Gonzaga University since its creation more than a decade ago.

Strength in unity: The power of peer leadership

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

True leaders support other leaders. Whether it is a peer, colleague, or friend in a leadership role, one of the most impactful contributions you can make as a leader is to offer your support.

Zone home: City considers zoning changes for housing needs

Thu, 21 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

City of Spokane planning department officials are considering residential zoning changes to increase housing density as part of PlanSpokane 2046, the city's comprehensive growth strategy.

Missing middle housing gains traction in Spokane

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 21 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Missing middle housing — once a mere sliver of residential permits issued by the city of Spokane between 2020 and 2022 — surged to nearly 20% of all residential permitting in 2025.