Becky Kramer

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News >  Spokane

Itron lowers 2018 revenue forecast amid backlog for electronic components

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 6, 2018

An industrywide backlog for electronic components will cast a shadow on Itron Inc.’s 2018 earnings.

News >  Business

Amazon showcases progress of West Plains fulfillment center

Sat., Nov. 3, 2018

Amazon showed off progress on its new West Plains fulfillment center Friday, which will be finished in fall 2019.

News >  Business

Former GSI employee to lead statewide focus on growing Washington’s aerospace industry

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 31, 2018

Robin Toth helped Eastern Washington’s aerospace manufacturing industry grow through her job at Greater Spokane Incorporated.

News >  Business

Hart index sees third-quarter slip in regional companies value

Tue., Oct. 30, 2018

Despite strong gains by Clearwater Paper Corp. and Itron Inc., the Hart Capital Inland Northwest Index fell by 3.6 percent during the third quarter.

News >  Spokane

Open enrollment begins for 2019 insurance coverage under Washington and Idaho exchanges

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 31, 2018

Washington and Idaho residents can begin signing up this week for 2019 health insurance and dental plans under the states’ individual insurance markets.

News >  Spokane

Research finds Nez Perce had tobacco long before Euro-American trappers, settlers arrived in NW

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 30, 2018

Nez Perce Indians grew and smoked tobacco 1,200 years ago, long before white traders and settlers arrived in the Pacific Northwest. New research from Washington State University analyzed pipes from archeological sites to document tobacco smoking in the region.

News >  Idaho

Idaho’s Proposition 2 would expand Medicaid in one of the most Republican states

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 29, 2018

Idaho is one of four Republican-leaning states where voter initiatives to expand Medicaid are on the Nov. 6 ballot.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County’s unemployment rate drops to near-record low in September

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 30, 2018

Strong job growth pushed Spokane County’s unemployment rate down to 4.4 percent in September, a near-record low for the month. The county is on track to add about 5,000 new jobs this year.

News >  Spokane

Area residents to see lower natural gas rates

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 24, 2018

Inland Northwest residents who heat their homes with natural gas will get a break on their winter heating bills.

News >  Spokane

State regulators have tough questions regarding Avista sale to Canadian utility

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 23, 2018

Proposed Avista sale to Hydro One prompts tough questions from regulators after Canadian utility’s management shakeup.

News >  Business

More Washington workers could be eligible for overtime under proposed change

Mon., Oct. 22, 2018

Changes to Washington’s overtime rules could significantly boost the number of professional workers eligible for time-and-a-half pay.

News >  Business

Share.Farm app developers look to extend season for area farmers-market producers, customers

Sun., Oct. 21, 2018

About 900 Spokane-area residents have signed up for the app at

News >  Business

Company defaults on lease for Bunker Hill Mine, future of restarting mine in doubt

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 15, 2018

The company that hoped to reopen the Bunker Hill Mine later this year has defaulted on its lease-purchase option payment.

News >  Business

The Sears bankruptcy: Locals lament company’s decline, even if they’ve become infrequent shoppers at the one-time retail giant

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 15, 2018

Sears Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization Monday. The retailer will close 142 of its 700-plus remaining stores and eliminate thousands of jobs in a bid to stay afloat.

News >  Business

Coeur d’Alene construction company converts to employee ownership

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 12, 2018

Rick and Shelley Carlson knew they wanted the company they founded, Inland Waterproofing Services Inc., to continue after they retire. The couple recently sold the business to their workers through an employee stock ownership plan.

News >  Business

Idaho Independent Bank of Coeur d’Alene is selling to Montana company

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 11, 2018

Idaho Independent Bank of Coeur d’Alene will be purchased by the Montana holding company that recently bought Inland Northwest Bank.

News >  Business

Parent company of Advanced Input Systems slated for acquisition

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 11, 2018

Esterline Technologies Corp., which owns a Coeur d’Alene manufacturer, is being acquired for $4 billion by TransDigm Group Inc.

News >  Business

Spokane-based Stay Alfred receives $47 million for expansion

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 11, 2018

Stay Alfred, a local hospitality startup, has received $47 million from investors to grow the company.

News >  Business

Made in Spokane: Tour highlights local manufacturing companies

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 10, 2018

The Association of Washington Business’ Manufacturing Week bus tour came to the Spokane area Wednesday, highlighting the role of manufacturing in the local economy. Spokane County has 534 manufacturing companies, employing about 15,300 people.

News >  Spokane

Area Avista customers not affected by B.C. gas pipeline explosion

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 10, 2018

Avista’s natural gas customers in Eastern Washington and North Idaho aren’t affected by Tuesday’s pipeline explosion in British Columbia at this time, company officials said.

News >  Business

Townhomes coming to Indian Trail development

Sun., Oct. 7, 2018

A development in Spokane’s Indian Trail neighborhood is set to grow by 14 townhomes, according to permits issued by the city.

News >  Idaho

Coeur d’Alene Tribe approves $15.8 million youth and family rec complex

Sat., Oct. 6, 2018

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has approved plans for a $15.8 million youth and family recreation center near Worley, Idaho.

News >  Spokane

Business startups tout Spokane’s cost of living, appeal to prospective employees

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 4, 2018

Speakers praised Spokane as a place to do business at Thursday’s Triangle Venture Expo, saying their employees appreciate the short commutes, affordable housing and local public school systems.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County’s housing prices continue to level off

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 5, 2018

Spokane County home prices continued to level off in September after posting sharp gains earlier in the year. The average sales price was $259,472 last month.

News >  Spokane

Spokane to host 2019 national roller championships

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 3, 2018

The 2019 USA Roller Sports National Championships will bring about 3,000 contestants to the Spokane Convention Center next summer for nearly a month of youth and adult competitions, generating about $11 million in local sales.