John Stucke

Albanian villagers consider her a miracle worker. She brings their children, those crippled by accidents and birth defects, to the United States, and they return months later healed and wide-eyed about life’s possibilities. Yet Marvel Nichols knows the true miracle workers are the surgeons and specialists at Shriners Hospital for Children in Spokane, a place founded on the principles that children are precious and should be offered the best medical care.

Bankers have filed a $14.6 million foreclosure action against one of developer Marshall Chesrown’s ambitious and upscale projects overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene. The complaint filed by American Bank, based in Bozeman, Mont., centers on Black Rock North, a 1,100-acre tract that Chesrown and his investment companies envisioned as an extension of the original Black Rock luxury golf club at Rockford Bay.

Michael Wilson announced his retirement as president and chief executive of Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center following a 27-year career in which he helped usher in medical achievements and business decisions that cemented the hospital’s status as a regional leader. He will continue to advise the local leadership of Providence for several months as executives work through a recession that will cut services and jobs, yet embark on an ambitious expansion plan at the hospital.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Washington state’s plan to reduce how much it pays for brand-name drugs prescribed to Medicaid patients. The state hopes to achieve $109 million in savings by steering pharmacies toward cheaper generic drugs. To encourage that shift, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget would pay less for brand-name drugs, as would the Senate’s budget.

Parents, former patients and the medical community reeled from Monday’s news that Shriners International may close its children’s hospital in Spokane. The hospital is regarded by many as a city jewel – a group of specialists who have healed and helped children for 85 years.

Dr. Joel McCullough was hired Thursday as health officer for Spokane County. He will start May 1. The Spokane Regional Health District board voted unanimously to hire McCullough, a former top health executive at the Chicago Department of Public Health.