Becky Kramer

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News >  Business

Hydro One appoints new board, wants review of Avista purchase to restart

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 22, 2018

Hydro One Ltd. has installed a new board of directors in the aftermath of a political shake-up that jolted the utility’s efforts to acquire Avista Corp. The Canadian utility wants Idaho regulators’ review of the proposed sale to resume.

News >  Spokane

Safeguarding utility workers: UI grads create device to reduce electrocution deaths

Sun., Aug. 19, 2018

Tim Ledford, Brandon Bledsoe and John Thompson developed a

News >  Spokane

Methodology for setting 2016 Avista rates was flawed, court finds

Mon., Aug. 13, 2018

Avista Corp.’s 2016 rates for electricity and natural gas may need to be recalculated, following a successful court challenge.

News >  Health

Shriners Hospitals for Children reduces Spokane staff, focuses on growing outpatient load

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 10, 2018

Shriners Hospitals for Children in Spokane is reducing its staff by about 10 percent as it converts to a “micro hospital” with more focus on outpatient care.

News >  Business

Average housing prices in Spokane County drop $10,000 in July

UPDATED: Sat., Aug. 11, 2018

Buying a home in Spokane County just got a little more affordable. Average prices dropped about $10,000 between June and July – a cool-down that local Realtors attributed to discouraged buyers choosing to wait out the competitive market.

News >  Business

New alliance promotes locally owned business, benefits of keeping dollars in area

Fri., Aug. 10, 2018

The

News >  Business

John Richards, former Potlatch CEO, remembered for loyalty to workers

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 7, 2018

John Richards, 81, was part of a storied North Idaho timber family and also held the top job at Potlatch Corp. He died July 25.

News >  Spokane

Washington regulators schedule October hearing on proposed Avista sale

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 6, 2018

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has scheduled an Oct. 23 technical hearing on the proposed $5.3 billion sale to Hydro One Ltd. of Toronto.

News >  Spokane

Amazon roll-out in Spokane follows growth in Prime subscriptions; among 7 fulfillment centers announced this year

Sun., July 29, 2018

Amazon’s desire to be closer to your doorstep is behind the company’s plans for a massive distribution center near the Spokane International Airport.

News >  Pacific NW

Treaty negotiator: Canada could revisit salmon restoration to British Columbia spawning grounds

Thu., July 26, 2018

Salmon and steelhead migrated into Canada each year before the construction of Grand Coulee Dam blocked fish passage to the upper Columbia River basin. Getting salmon back to British Columbia is something the Canadian government would consider studying, a treaty negotiator said Wednesday.

News >  Spokane

Hecla buys Nevada gold mines

UPDATED: Tue., July 24, 2018

Hecla Mining Co. finalized the purchase of three Nevada gold mines in a cash-stock transaction.

News >  Spokane

Trade war with Canada is 19,000-job gamble for Eastern Washington

Tue., July 24, 2018

An escalating trade war will create hardships for both the U.S. and Canada, speakers at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region’s annual summit in Spokane warned Monday.

News >  Business

Local officials look to ‘Amazon effect’ to boost region’s economy

Sun., July 22, 2018

Beyond the Amazon fulfillment center’s 1,500-plus jobs, local officials see the company’s presence here as an opportunity to raise Spokane’s profile as a place to do business.

News >  Business

Washington regulators delay decision on Avista sale

UPDATED: Fri., July 20, 2018

Washington regulators have extended a deadline to Dec. 14 for deciding whether Avista’s sale to Hydro One Ltd. would benefit customers.

News >  Spokane

Amazon confirms plans for fulfillment center near airport

UPDATED: Fri., July 20, 2018

After months of speculation, Amazon confirmed it’s the entity behind a huge warehouse planned near Spokane International Airport.

News >  Spokane

Washington adds 4,100 new jobs in June on strength of private sector hiring

Wed., July 18, 2018

Washington’s economy added 4,100 jobs in June, while the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.7 percent, unchanged from May.

News >  Spokane

Walt Worthy purchases Hotel RL Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., July 17, 2018

Worthy Hotels Inc. has purchased the Red Lion Hotel at the Park for $35 million.

News >  Business

Analysts: Hydro One shakeup could threaten or delay Avista sale

UPDATED: Thu., July 12, 2018

Financial analysts say the political shakeup at Hydro One could threaten or delay Avista’s $5.3 billion sale to the Toronto-based utility.

News >  Business

Hydro One CEO and board ousted in political shakeup

UPDATED: Wed., July 11, 2018

Hydro One’s chief executive officer was ousted Wednesday by Ontario’s new premier, and the utility’s entire board of directors submitted resignations.

News >  Spokane

Former executive of Spokane Valley company faces tax evasion charges

UPDATED: Wed., July 11, 2018

A former Fasteners executive, accused of stealing money from the Spokane Valley company, now faces a grand jury indictment for tax evasion.

News >  Business

Spokane County’s median home price continues rise in June

Mon., July 9, 2018

Spokane County’s median home prices rose to $246,250 in June, but the number of sales dropped off slightly.

A&E >  Books

Spokane River primer: Hone your knowledge about the river in our midst

Sun., July 8, 2018

Hone up on your knowledge of the Spokane River with this primer, released just in time for Wednesday’s Northwest Passages Book Club gathering featuring “The Spokane River” editor Paul Lindholdt and anthology contributors.

News >  Spokane

Finding the right house in Spokane’s competitive market: A tale of two families

Sun., July 8, 2018

Two families talked to The Spokesman-Review about what it’s like to be house hunting this summer in Spokane’s competitive real estate market.

News >  Spokane

Looking for a Spokane area home? Prices vary by neighborhood

Sun., July 8, 2018

Spokane County’s median sales price of $240,000 masks a wide variation in home prices by neighborhood. In Liberty Lake, the median price was $372,320 in May. In East Central, it was $151,125.

News >  Business

Two Spokane companies honored among Seattle magazine’s ‘100 Best Companies’

UPDATED: Thu., July 5, 2018

Two Spokane firms appeared on Seattle Business magazine’s 2018 list of 100 best companies to work for – Provisional Recruiting and Staffing and the local office of Hayden Homes.