Yes, you're right. Those monthly cell phone bills keep getting pricier. One reason is the gradual upward-sloping rates of federal, state and local taxes added to the monthly charges, a recent report says. That survey of all 50 states also found Washington is the second…
Avista Corp. today reported net income of $92.4 million, or $1.65 per share, for 2010, compared to $87.1 million, or $1.58 per share, for 2009. For the fourth quarter of 2010, Avista’s net income was $25.7 million or 45 cents per share, compared to $22.1…
Today's business story on the timeline and plans involved in building a Trader Joe's store on Spokane's South Hill showed one key factor in the deal: "As part of the deal with Trader Joe’s, the property owner, Lincoln Heights Center, LLC, agreed to renovate the…
Thursday is the occasion of the next Executive Connect Breakfast, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Spokane Club Georgian Room. The keynoter is Tom Tiffany, president and CEO of PAML (Pathology Associates Medical Labs). Tiffany has been in the biomedical business for nearly 40 years…
Spokane's Next IT has developed a text message(SMS)-based version of its interactive virtual agent software and has installed it for Gonzaga University's "Ask Spike" application. Gonzaga has been one of Next IT's early adopters of the virtual agent service, which allows people to chat or…
View Larger Map Seattle-based consumer electronics retailer Video Only has purchased the former Circuit City building on North Division. Plans are underway to open its first Spokane store later this year, city permits show. The company is a competitor of other area retailers such as…
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Nearly 70 workers will be losing jobs as their company closes its concrete railroad tie plant in Grand Island, The Associated Press reports. CXT is a subsidiary of L.B. Foster Co., which is based in Spokane. L.B. Foster’s website says CXT…
SEATTLE — Starting next month, a group of five hospitals in the south Puget Sound area will no longer hire smokers. The Franciscan Health System says it will screen applicants for nicotine. Chief operating officer Cliff Robertson says it’s going to "walk the talk" about…
Washington State. Sen. Maralyn Chase of Shoreline has introduced a bill in the Legislature that would require that all drink containers sold in Washington have a 5-cent recycling deposit. The bill, SB5778, aims to reduce the number of glass and plastic bottles and metal cans…
The Daily Beast, a generally helpful commentary and news blog, tossed Spokane into the food-industry upper, or lower, echelons in a recent list of the 10 most fast-food saturated cities in the land. Yay, Spokane. We ranked No. 9, just after Cincinnatti and ahead of…
Reversing a trend that began in the mid-1990s, big banks are imposing new fees on their least-profitable customers — those who want just a bare-bones checking account. Those who can’t maintain fat balances, or who don’t use other services that would make them more lucrative…
Spokane County home sales hit a seasonal low in January, but finished with slight increases in number and average price compared with a year ago. The Spokane Association of Realtors reported 184 sales, up from 176 in January 2010. The average price was $178,903, compared…
The rate of foreclosure in Spokane County increased almost 60 percent in January compared with the same month in 2010, RealtyTrac reported today. Lenders reclaimed 116 homes, and the owners of another 133 received a notice of trustee sale. One home in every 801 was…
Tacoma-based web design outfit SiteCrafting has provided a brand new website for Spokane's Lutherhaven Ministries. The redesigned site, the fifth version in the nonprofit's history, can be seen at Lutherhaven.com. Lutherhaven Ministires promotes Christian camping and retreat ministries. Those include operating Camp Lutherhaven on Lake…
The Washington Department of Revenue will visit with local business owners in Spokane on Monday (yes, Valentine's Day) to get input on how the agency can simplify the tax process for small businesses. The visit to Greater Spokane Incorporated's offices, 801 W. Riverside, Suite 100,…
Spokane has always had a fair share of do-it-yourself businesses and inventors looking to hit a home run through a clever new thing. See today's business story on Minds-i, a deceptively smart Liberty Lake startup that's redefining the hobby-construction-kit industry. Another new firm is Ergami,…
Verizon launches its sales blitz of the iPhone 4 with stores here opening bright and early Thursday. We know the River Park Square Verizon location will open two hours early, at 7 a.m., to meet the first wave of buyers. Doors to the atrium will…
View Larger Map Worth blogging here is the John Stucke story from today on expansion plans by Rockwood Clinic, of Spokane: The fast-growing clinic will open a family health care center, with three providers – including at least one physician – in a new location…
This Friday's Good Morning Greater Spokane event features Spokane Mayor Mayor Verner giving an annual state of the city address. The Greater Spokane Inc. event starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Spokane Convention Center. It is expected to run until 9 a.m. Tickets are $25…
Downtown Spokane is offering a double-barrelled program for its annual meeting, which starts at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17. It will be at the Spokane Convention Center exhibition hall. Renowned speaker and consultant Roger Brooks, founder and CEO of Destination Development International, will talk…
Fox carried the Super Bowl this year and for at least one weekend, DirecTV customers in this area were able to watch and not have to resort to desperate measures. Some fans have already jumped ship, during a monthlong blackout of the KAYU Fox signal,…
The Association of Washington Business last week gave three of 10 awards for workplace excellence to Spokane firms. The awards sponsored by Davis Wright Tremaine LLC, a Seattle law firm, recognizes workplace safety, job training and advancement, and innovative benefit and compensation programs. CTX Inc.,…
Spokane company co-founder Lewis Lee recently was quoted extensively at a CNBC blog on the fundamental importance of intellectual property in business development. Which is exactly up Lewis Lee's alley; he co-founded immensely successul Spokane-based IP law firm Lee & Hayes, housed in downtown Spokane.…
Greater Spokane Incorporated, the area's main business advocacy group, has launched a satellite website to gather comments and opinions from area constituents. It's YourPolicyVoice.org, and it launched in concert with the recent visit by GSI and about 90 business people to Olympia last week to…
View Larger Map Two officials with the Spokane Tribe of Indians Thursday predicted their proposed West Plains casino-hotel could be ready for business sometime in 2013. Tribe Chairman Greg Abrahamson and Vice Chair Mike Spencer told a West Plains Chamber of Commerce group they hoped…