December 10, 2008 in Business on Page A10 SPARKS, Nev. – The boom days are over for much of the hard-rock mining industry. Falling metal prices and rising production costs have squeezed profits in recent months, forcing many …

December 10, 2008 in Business on Page A10 Spokane-area entrepreneurs looking to craft a 10-minute investor pitch are invited to sharpen their message during a Thursday afternoon Alliance of Angels “pitch workshop” at the downtown offices of K&L …

December 10, 2008 in Business on Page A10 On any given day, about 1,500 J.C. Penney Co. employees are on a leave of absence from one of the company’s 11,000 stores across the country. About 1,200 workers a …

December 10, 2008 in Business on Page A10 TROY, Mont. – Miners at Revett Minerals’ copper and silver operation here have taken a 10 percent wage cut, and managers have agreed to a 20 percent salary reduction because …

December 10, 2008 in City on Page B1 For 12-10-2008

December 10, 2008 in City on Page B1 Compared to the rest of the country, more Spokane County residents live alone and more are divorced. More grandparents are raising their grandkids. More residents live in big homes, but …

December 10, 2008 in Idaho on Page B1 Ravaged by an introduced pest and facing threats from climate change, stands of whitebark pine are disappearing so quickly from the Western landscape that the species needs federal protection, conservation …

December 10, 2008 in City on Page B2 SEATTLE – Prosecutors are seeking yet another sentencing for would-be millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam – this time without credit for helping to convict a fellow terrorist. Ressam was sentenced for …

  December 10, 2008 in City on Page B2 The region’s fired Homeland Security coordinator – arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in October – was given a deferred prosecution, approved last week by Stevens County District Court Judge …

December 10, 2008 in City on Page B2 More than 900 Washington teachers will get pay raises of $5,000 or $10,000 a year because they’ve passed a rigorous national certification process designed to produce better educators. Only two …

  December 10, 2008 in City on Page B3 Spokane Valley officials were stunned Tuesday evening to learn Spokane County won’t plow their roads next winter. City Manager Dave Mercier said the city faces “stunningly high” capital costs to …

December 10, 2008 in Idaho on Page B3 After winter storms dropped 20 inches of snow and rain in the Lightning Creek drainage in late 2006, flooding devoured millions of dollars worth of backcountry roads. The roads provided …

December 10, 2008 in City on Page B3 Spokane County on Tuesday ended its road partnership with Spokane Valley, effective Oct. 15. County Commissioner Mark Richard said that it no longer made economic sense for the county to …

December 10, 2008 in City on Page B3 SEATTLE – Two high-ranking managers resigned, four top officials were suspended and three others received written reprimands as the Port of Seattle responded to a scathing report that detailed fraud …

December 10, 2008 in City on Page B3 YAKIMA – Some state lawmakers from the Yakima Valley say the federal Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority by conducting a meeting with other government agencies on well water quality. …

December 10, 2008 in Opinion on Page B4 Company gives $100,000 to congressman’s pet cause. Congressman protects company tax loophole worth tens of millions. Bam! Company gives pet cause another $100,000 check. Sounds like old times in the …

December 10, 2008 in Opinion on Page B4 I spoke to a lot of audiences during the recent election season, and invariably someone would stand up and ask whether I thought we should ditch the Electoral College and …

December 10, 2008 in Opinion on Page B4 The state of Washington has met its deadline for producing a Web site that gives visitors detailed information about the state budget. It’s a good start (if you’re a budget …