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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Business in brief: Davenport Hotel lays off managers

Spokane’s Davenport Hotel let go three managers on Wednesday, including Tom McArthur, the company’s historian and communications director since 2003.

The names of the two other workers were not disclosed.

“I can confirm I don’t work there anymore,” said McArthur, who has been an active spokesman for the historic downtown hotel. “But I signed an agreement not to disclose the details of my severance,” he said.

Managing Director Lynnelle Caudill said McArthur and one other manager let go will have the chance to do occasional work for the hotel, through contracts.

Caudill said the ongoing economic slump has affected the hotel’s bottom line. The Davenport has about 300 full-time workers and more than 50 managers, she said.

Tom Sowa

NLRB now has agent here

The National Labor Relations Board has a full-time representative in Spokane for the first time.

NLRB attorney Adam Morrison transferred from the federal agency’s Portland office at the beginning of the year. He’s “not the Adam Morrison you’ve probably heard about before” that played basketball for Gonzaga University, noted Regional Director Richard Ahearn.

“In the recent past there has been a sufficient number of cases (in Eastern Washington) to justify having somebody here on a permanent basis,” Ahearn said. Morrison, a “resident agent,” will work out of his home; the NLRB won’t open an office here, Ahearn said.

Morrison will report to the NLRB’s Seattle office. The agency addresses workplace issues such as unfair labor practices and employees’ rights to organize.

Addy Hatch

Oil, gas prices at low levels

New York – As energy prices surged this month, economists told motorists to brace for the return of $3-a-gallon gasoline.

But that’s hardly a guarantee, especially after a three-day sell-off that pushed oil and gas prices to their lowest levels of the year.

“If oil prices have peaked, maybe $3 isn’t a foregone conclusion,” PFGBest analyst Phil Flynn said.

Energy prices rallied this winter as frigid temperatures blanketed parts of the country.

A gallon of regular unleaded is 15.4 cents more expensive than last month and 96.7 cents more expensive than a year ago.

But oil prices started falling this week as temperatures warmed up and China announced that it would try to cool bank lending.

Benchmark crude for February delivery gave up $1.14 to settle at $79.65 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday. Crude fell as low as $78.37 earlier in the day.

Associated Press