Business in brief: Despite sales gain Red Lion nets loss

Red Lion Hotels Corp.’s sales increased during the first quarter of 2007, but the company still posted a loss.

A news release from the company said during the first quarter of the year, which is typically the slowest for the hotel chain, Red Lion Hotels posted a net loss of $2 million, or 10 cents a share.

The loss was down from the first quarter of 2006, when the company had a net loss of $2.7 million, or 20 cents a share. Overall sales were $39.3 million, up 9.9 percent over the same quarter last year, with occupancy increasing by 1.7 percent, the release said.

Outages planned south of Spokane

Avista Utilities customers in some Eastern Washington towns south of Spokane will lose power for a few hours early Tuesday morning while the utility works on an electric substation, the utility announced this week.

Towns affected by the planned outage will include Rockford, Fairfield, Waverly and Latah. Rural customers along state Route 27 from Rockford to Latah will also lose power, according to the company.

The outage is scheduled from about 1 to 6 a.m.

Silverton, Idaho

U.S. Silver Corp. reports loss

U.S. Silver Corp. reported a net loss of $6.3 million during its first nine months of operation.

The results, which included the period through Dec. 31, were in line with the company’s expectations, said Bruce Reid, U.S. Silver’s chief executive officer. The firm purchased the Galena Mine near Silverton, Idaho, last June and has been working to increase its silver production. U.S. Silver anticipates returning to profitability this year, Reid said.

Albany, N.Y.

Cuomo subpoenas alumni groups

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has broadened his student loan investigation to alumni associations nationwide that steer students to loan consolidation companies, his office said on Thursday.

Cuomo issued 90 subpoenas and letters to alumni groups. All had agreements or relationships with lender Nelnet, based in Lincoln, Neb.