Becky Kramer

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Spokane mattress manufacturer Northwest Bedding will close in late July

Tue., May 22, 2018

Northwest Bedding Co. will close in late July, laying to rest more than 50 years of mattress manufacturing in Spokane.

News >  Business

Avista announces plan for $165 million smart meter rollout in Washington

UPDATED: Mon., May 21, 2018

Avista’s Washington customers will get smart meters over the next two years, enabling customers to track their energy use within a 24-hour period and helping the utility respond more quickly to power outages.

News >  Business

Washington regulators scrutinize Avista sale in Olympia hearings this week

UPDATED: Mon., May 21, 2018

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will hold “evidentiary hearings” this week to review how Avista would operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hydro One Ltd. of Toronto.

News >  Spokane

‘Educated’ author Westover talks in Spokane about her survivalist childhood, meaning of learning

UPDATED: Fri., May 18, 2018

Best-selling author Tara Westover talked to a crowed of about 700 people Thursday night at the Bing Crosby Theater as part of The Spokesman-Review’s Northwest Passages.

News >  Spokane

Red Lion sells Templin’s on the River in Post Falls

Thu., May 17, 2018

Red Lion Hotels has sold Templin’s on the River in Post Falls for $9.25 million. The company sold seven hotels over the past eight months to reduce assests, pay off debt and expand its franchise business.

News >  Business

Billions at stake for Washington growers and manufacturers under Trump trade policy, speakers say

Tue., May 15, 2018

Washington’s economy relies heavily on trade, with about 40 percent of the state’s jobs tied to international exports. As the Trump administration crafts trade policy, billions of dollars are at stake for the state’s growers and manufacturers.

News >  Business

Avista’s Idaho customers to get rate credits from tax reform

Mon., May 14, 2018

Avista’s Idaho customers could see about $7 in savings on their utility bills from federal tax reform. The utility has asked Idaho regulators to approve decreases in electric and natural gas rates, effective June 1.

News >  Spokane

Competitive Spokane housing market gets airing on “House Hunters” show

UPDATED: Tue., May 15, 2018

A military couple’s search for housing in Spokane’s competitive market will be featured next week on HGTV’s “House Hunters.”

News >  Business

Idaho hearings scheduled on Avista’s sale to Hydro One

Wed., May 9, 2018

Idaho regulators will hold hearings in June on Avista’s proposed sale to Hydro One Ltd., of Toronto.

News >  Business

Spokane-area home prices continue their rise in April

UPDATED: Mon., May 7, 2018

Spokane-area housing prices took another big leap in April, with the median sales price topping $231,000.

News >  Spokane

Amid changes to the neighborhood, Bloomsday’s takeover of West Central remains an annual tradition

Mon., May 7, 2018

Bloomsday takes parts of West Central captive, blocking off streets and restricting access for most of the day. Many neighborhood residents embrace Bloomsday with parties and family gatherings.

News >  Business

Avista needs more detail on Colstrip, carbon costs in its energy plan, regulators say

UPDATED: Tue., May 8, 2018

Avista Corp. and Washington’s other investor-owned utilities should reconsider their reliance on coal-fired electricity, state regulators say.

News >  Spokane

Bloomsday 2018: Coverage of the race

UPDATED: Mon., May 7, 2018

With a blare of sirens and the crack of a starting gun, Bloomsday 2018 sped away under clear, sunny skies, wheelchair racers leading the pack.

News >  Washington

EPA declines to test air downwind of lead smelter in British Columbia

Sat., May 5, 2018

The state of Washington will look for money to conduct air quality monitoring downwind of a Canadian smelter, after the federal government declined to restart the testing.

News >  Spokane

Sunday’s favorable forecast attracts fair-weather Bloomies

UPDATED: Sat., May 5, 2018

Sunday’s forecast – a high near 79 degrees, with cloud cover and light winds – brought a surge of last-minute Bloomsday registrants to the Spokane Convention Center on Friday afternoon. About 43,000 people are expected to participate in this year’s race.

News >  Business

Tribe announces ‘Kalispel Park’ RV grounds, casino development in Cusick

UPDATED: Thu., May 3, 2018

The Kalispel Tribe will open a small casino on its reservation this fall as part of a $10.5 million economic development project that includes an RV park, gas station, fresh market and storage facility.

News >  Business

Avista reports earnings drop in first quarter

UPDATED: Wed., May 2, 2018

Avista Corp. reported a drop in first-quarter earnings Wednesday, with income of $54.9 million or 83 cents per share.

News >  Spokane

Getting salmon above Grand Coulee Dam could lead to fishable population in the Spokane River, tribes say

Wed., May 2, 2018

Getting salmon and steelhead over Grand Coulee Dam could someday bring back a recreational fishery to the Spokane River, local tribes say.

News >  Spokane

Skade’s slug: Newly discovered North Idaho species named for wildlife biologist’s daughter

UPDATED: Wed., May 2, 2018

A new species of jumping slug has been discovered in the coldest glades of the Selkirk Mountains. It was named Skade’s jumping slug after a girl who will experience significiant climate change during her lifetime.

News >  Business

Finding the balance: Realistic expectations reduce stress of buying or selling

Sun., April 29, 2018

Buying or selling a house can be an emotionally fraught time. Having realistic expectations for the process reduces the stress, a local real estate agent says .

News >  Business

Spokane’s affordable housing, pace of life attract people priced out of other West Coast cities

Sun., April 29, 2018

Spokane’s housing prices are attracting people to the area. Realtors say they’re seeing young couples priced out of other West Coast markets and retirement-age people who don’t want to deplete their savings.

News >  Business

Hot Spokane housing market requires aggressive approach

Sat., April 28, 2018

Shopping for a house in Spokane has become competitive in the past couple of years. Demand is up, inventory is down, and prices are rising.

News >  Business

Net-zero living: Liberty Lake house will generate enough electricity to offset residents’ energy use

UPDATED: Tue., May 1, 2018

Greenstone Homes built a net-zero home in Liberty Lake. Solar panels on the roof produce enough electricity to offset the residents’ energy use in the ultra efficient house.

News >  Business

Northern Quest plans $1.5 million food court expansion

Thu., April 26, 2018

Northern Quest Resort and Casino’s $1.5 million expansion of its food court will open in late June, adding three more restaurants.

News >  Business

Avista’s three-year rate plan denied by Washington regulators; small electric increase approved

UPDATED: Thu., April 26, 2018

Washington regulators shot down Avista’s request for three years of rate increases on Thursday. Instead, they approved a 2.7 percent increase in residential electric rates starting May 1. Natural gas rates will drop 1.2 percent.