A clinic, a cellar, and a caterer are among the finalists for the 2010 Agora Awards announced today by Greater Spokane Incorporated.For small non-profits, the finalists are Christ Clinic, Spokane Humane Society, and Tincan.Among the large non-profits, Catholic Charities of Spokane, The Salvation Army of…
Sterling Financial Corp. has implemented a shareholder rights plan to protect tax assets accumulated as it reported substantial operating and capital losses in recent quarters.The assets, $269 million, can be used to offset an equal amount of future profits. But, said Vice President Dave Brukardt,…
The March real estate foreclosure rate in Spokane County jumped 81 percent compared with February. The rate in Kootenai County also climbed.According to RealtyTrac, 107 homes were foreclosed in Spokane last month, or one in every 1,844 homes. Only 59 homes were foreclosed in February,…
Three Papa John's restaurants closed suddenly in January will be reopened, starting Wednesday.Preston House, owner of six Boise-area Papa John's, said the relaunch of the 101 N. Argonne Rd. store will be followed by reopenings Thursday at 920 W. Indiana Ave. and Monday at 2023…
Washington's unemployment compensation fund is among the healthiest in the nation, according to a study by the National Employment Law Project.With $2.1 billion in reserves as of March 31, the study ranked the Washington system ninth strongest among the 13 still solvent after more than…
A California-based company has been ordered to stop soliciting homeowners seeking modifications to the terms of their mortgages.The Idaho Department of Finance wants the Relief Law Center, also doing business as USA Loan Auditors, to stop what Director Gavin Gee called "among the most outrageous"…
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society will close its Fairfield nursing home in June. Spokesman Mark Dickerson said the facility was losing about $300,000 a year because occupancy was low. The facility has 43 skilled nursing beds, 10 assisted-living apartments and 16 senior-living apartments, but…
Tate Technology Inc. of Spokane will receive the U.S. Small Business Administration Family-Owned Business Award for Washington and Region 10 at a Seattle banquet Thursday.The custom manufacturer of electrical components employs 32 at its Trent Avenue plant. Annual sales are about $4 million.Lee Tate founded…
Fewer Washington employers are offering health insurance, according to the state Employment Security Department.An annual department survey determined the share fell 1.6 percentage points in 2009, from 56.5 percent to 54.9 percent. The drop in 2008 was almost 10 percent, which followed smaller declines in…
Energy Northwest has joined other utilities in a lawsuit challenging continued imposition of a surcharge on electricity generated from nuclear power plants.The operator of the Columbia Generating Station and other plaintiffs want the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia to stop U.S.…
Idaho employers boosted employment by 2,700 in March, the best monthly gain in six years.The increase was enough to trim the state unemployment rate by .1 percent, to 9.4 percent. The number had not fallen for 32 months.The rate in Coeur d'Alene dropped .6 percent…
Boardings at Spokane International Airport declined slightly in February, but numbers for the first two months of 2010 remain above 2009 totals.In February, 106,314 passengers embarked at SIA, off 2.71 percent from February 2009. The total for January and February was 441,092, up less than…
Sterling Financial Corp. has extended the expiration date for its effort to buy back $238 million in trust-preferred securities.The deadline was today. April 12 is the new date.The Spokane-based parent of Sterling Savings Bank and Golf Savings Bank is offering 20 cents on the dollar…
Three northeast Washington companies have been awarded stimulus grants and loans worth $3.2 million.Demand Energy Networks of Spokane will receive a $1.5 million grant to commercialize its electricity storage and network management software. The money will help the company retain or create 93 jobs, according…
Spokane homes are the cheapest among major Northwest cities, according to the Center for Housing Policy.Of the 208 cities surveyed, Spokane ranked 93rd during the 4th quarter of 2009, with a median home price of $159,000.Seattle, ranked 20th nationally, was the most expensive city in…
