Becky Kramer

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News >  Business

Avista and Hydro One ask Washington regulators to reconsider denial of $5.3 billion sale

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 11, 2018

Avista Corp. and Hydro One Ltd. will ask Washington regulators to reconsider their Dec. 5 decision denying the $5.3 billion sale of Avista to the Toronto utility.

News >  Spokane

GU’s board votes against fossil fuel divestiture, but will invest $10 million to combat climate change

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 11, 2018

Gonzaga University won’t divest its $228 million endowment from fossil fuel production, but it will put $10 million into companies researching how to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

News >  Business

Avista deal began to unravel over the summer with Ontario elections

Sun., Dec. 9, 2018

A hearing in Olympia last May offered hints that Avista Corp.’s sale to Hydro One Ltd. was headed for trouble.

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News >  Business

Average Spokane County home price was $246K during November

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 7, 2018

Spokane County home prices leveled off during November, while the number of homes sold during the month dipped slightly.

News >  Business

Avista may seek another ‘white knight’

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 7, 2018

Avista Corp. remains a likely takeover target, even though the Spokane-based utility’s plan to be purchased by a Canadian company is apparently dead.

News >  Business

Spokane ranked among ‘underrated cities’ for craft beer

Wed., Dec. 5, 2018

Spokane’s brew pubs have landed the city on

News >  Business

Washington regulators shut down $5.3 billion Avista sale to Ontario’s Hydro One

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 5, 2018

Washington regulators denied Hydro One Ltd.’s proposed purchase of Avista Corp., finding the merger does not serve the public interest.

News >  Business

Advancing composites: CdA company’s breakthrough technology attracting interest from big players

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 3, 2018

The owners of Continuous Composites say the company’s technology could revolutionize manufacturing, dramatically lowering the costs for fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fiber composites. The Coeur d’Alene company’s patented technology is attracting attention from aerospace, automotive and other industries.

News >  Business

These 5 Spokane-area business startups won up to $50,000 from Mind to Market

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 30, 2018

Spokane-area investors launched a new fund this year to help Inland Northwest companies with early stage equity funding.

News >  Business

Idaho regulators question if Canadian politics could hurt Avista if sale to Hydro One is approved

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 27, 2018

Hydro One Ltd.’s independence was on the stand Monday, as Idaho attorneys grilled executives about the Canadian government’s influence on the utility trying to buy Avista.

News >  Business

Spokane-area retailers expect strong holiday season

Sun., Nov. 25, 2018

Spokane area residents will spread their money around this season, hitting the malls, patronizing small businesses and shopping online, according to a survey by Washington State University. Five local retailers weigh in on holiday sales.

News >  Pacific NW

Idaho regulators asking hard questions about Avista’s sale to Canadian utility

Sun., Nov. 25, 2018

Idaho regulators are raising tough questions about Avista Corp.’s sale to a Canadian utility, and their concerns have the potential to unravel the $5.3 billion deal.

News >  Spokane

Spokane International Airport deploys passenger assistants to help travelers get through screening

Sat., Nov. 24, 2018

Next time you’re at the Spokane International Airport, you might see people in lilac suit coats helping direct passengers through security. The airport has hired “passenger assistants” to help inexperienced travelers and others get through screening efficiently.

News >  Business

Ferris grad Andy McCune named to Forbes list of 30 under 30

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 20, 2018

Andy McCune, a 2014 Ferris High School graduate, was named to Forbes Magazine’s list of “30 under 30,” which recognizes young entrepreneurs.

News >  Business

New U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal could open up B.C. grocery stores to Washington wine sales

Sun., Nov. 18, 2018

The proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement could open up British Columbia grocery stores to sales of Washington wines by November 2019.

News >  Spokane

Census Bureau taking applications for Spokane employees for 2020 count

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 16, 2018

If you’re interested in working for the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020, now is the time to get your application in.

News >  Business

Black Friday’s draw continues to wane, WSU survey finds

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 20, 2018

Black Friday’s draw as a retail experience continues to decline, with 84 percent of Pacific Northwest shoppers saying it “used to be an event.” More people are expected to shop on Cyber Monday than Black Friday, although many shoppers plan to visit brick-and-mortar stores during the holidays.

News >  Idaho

Silver Valley woman’s shrewd investing amassed $12M to benefit North Idaho communities

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 14, 2018

Through 40 years of shrewd investing, Margaret F. Galbraith turned a modest inheritance into a fortune valued in the millions. The Silver Valley native died in 2005, leaving a $12 million endowment to benefit Idaho’s six northern counties.

News >  Business

Bunker Hill Mining Corp. reaches new lease-purchase deal for historic Kellogg property

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 13, 2018

A Canadian company trying to reopen the historic Bunker Hill Mine has renegotiated the lease-purchase option after defaulting on payments in October.

News >  Business

Startup Spokane helps local entrepreneurs develop their ideas, launch companies

Tue., Nov. 13, 2018

Startup Spokane returns this weekend for its 11th round of coaching entrepreneurs through creating a company in 54 hours.

News >  Business

Spokane County home sales drop while sale price rises

Fri., Nov. 9, 2018

The number of homes sold in Spokane County dropped during October but the average price increased to $264,000, as low inventories of residential properties continued to influence the market.

News >  Spokane

State’s largest solar farm nearing production

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 9, 2018

Washington’s largest solar farm will begin commercial production next month, helping a Spokane Valley manufacturer 85 miles to the east move to all renewable energy.

News >  Spokane

Gregoire chosen for Avista post-sale board of directors

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 7, 2018

Former Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire would sit on Avista Corp.’s board of directors if the company is sold to a Canadian utility.

News >  Spokane

Job growth, affordable housing could bring nearly 15,000 new residents to Spokane-Coeur d’Alene metro area in 2019

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 7, 2018

About 740,000 people live in the greater Spokane-Coeur d’Alene metro area, and that figure could swell by nearly 15,000 next year if the projected growth rate pans out.

News >  Business

Sears Spokane credit union will merge with PrimeSource Credit Union

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 6, 2018

Sears Spokane Employees Federal Credit Union is merging with another local credit union.