Stories by Scott Maben for the Spokesman-Review

News > Spokane

Three Spokane skating groups buy Eagles Ice Arena

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 31, 2017

People have learned to skate, check and spin at north Spokane’s Eagles Ice Arena for over 40 years, and the new owners aim to keep the rinks cold and smooth for generations to come.

News > Business

UW expands CoMotion collaborative innovation hub to Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 31, 2017

The University of Washington is bringing CoMotion, its collaborative innovation hub, to Spokane to support startups and aspiring entrepreneurs.

News > Business

Sandpoint’s Quest Aircraft taps aviation veteran to lead company

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 25, 2017

Quest Aircraft Company in Sandpoint has named aviation veteran Robert H. Wells its new CEO.

News > Business

Travel through Spokane Airport rises 3.2 percent in 2016

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 24, 2017

Travelers stepped on and off commercial planes 3.2 million times at Spokane International Airport last year, which was a 3.2 percent increase over 2015, year-end numbers show. That also was the highest number since 2008 and 2007, two years that saw record-high travel of 3.4 million departures and arrivals.

News > Business

Spokane region sees strong growth in jobs, labor force

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 24, 2017

The labor force grew by 8,870 last year in the Spokane area as more workers were drawn by strong job growth in a mix of industries.

News > Spokane

Reversal on trade pact leaves some in Northwest worried, others relieved

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 23, 2017

Washington business and trade groups characterized President Donald Trump’s move Monday to back off from a proposed trade pact among Asia-Pacific nations as a setback for the state’s economy.

News > Business

Workforce in Idaho near full employment as jobless rate drops to 3.7 percent

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 20, 2017

The unemployment rate in Idaho ticked even lower in December, to 3.7 percent, after five straight months at 3.8 percent. A year ago the seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 3.9 percent.

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High-end RVs at Spokane show include amenities typically found in new homes

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 19, 2017

How do you get away from it all when your RV literally has it all? That’s not a dilemma that seems to bother many buyers these days. As new homes increasingly come with high-end furnishings and all manner of creature comforts, so too do recreational vehicles.

News > Business

Nodland Cellars closing downtown Spokane tasting room; Terra Blanca will take it over

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 17, 2017

Nodland Cellars has sold its downtown Spokane tasting room in the Chronicle Building, according to owner and winemaker Tim Nodland.

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Idaho drone operator sees sales triple as focus widens

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 13, 2017

A North Idaho operator of unmanned aircraft systems tripled its sales in 2016 as it widened its focus beyond precision agriculture. Empire Unmanned, based in Hayden, experienced “tremendous growth” in mining, engineering and structure inspections, the company said Friday.

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Global firm buys Liberty Lake energy storage company

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 11, 2017

A Liberty Lake company that makes energy storage systems for office buildings and other large electricity consumers has been acquired by Enel, a global energy giant based in Rome.

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Hecla Mining silver, gold production up sharply over 2015

Tue., Jan. 10, 2017

Silver and gold production surpassed expectations for 2016, Coeur d’Alene-based Hecla Mining Co. said Tuesday.

News > Spokane

Flu claims life of elderly woman in Spokane County

Tue., Jan. 10, 2017

An elderly woman who died last week is the first flu-related death in Spokane County this season, health officials said Tuesday.

News > Business

Intel has high hopes for virtual reality tool developed by WSU professors

Thu., Jan. 5, 2017

The immersive, live-streaming sports and music experience of a virtual reality technology born on the Palouse is going big time under its new owner, Intel.

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Sandpoint’s Qkey, which puts online security in a user’s hands, shown at CES

Thu., Jan. 5, 2017

A North Idaho startup aiming to boost online security and a virtual reality company with Palouse roots are showing their stuff this week at CES, the flashy, cutting-edge gadget show in Las Vegas.

News > Idaho

Coeur d’Alene hopes to keep some glass containers out of landfill

Mon., Dec. 26, 2016

Bottles and jars have gone straight to the dump for almost nine years in Kootenai County. The city of Coeur d’Alene is looking to keep some of that glass out of the landfill. What to do with it, though, remains a dilemma.

News > Spokane

John Padula summoned courage in the wake of a church shooting to foster hope and fellowship

Sun., Dec. 25, 2016

John Padula was doing his best to hold it together and display courage in the face of an unthinkable act of violence. The man he considered a mentor, father figure and close friend was in intensive care, his body riddled with bullet wounds.

News > Business

Log home estate near Spokane Valley hits market at $3.5 million; belonged to former federal official

Fri., Dec. 16, 2016

A luxury log home close to the city yet secluded on 200 forested acres has just hit the Spokane real estate market for the first time. And it can be yours for only $3.5 million.

News > Business

Spokane-based etailz Inc. announces layoffs

Thu., Dec. 15, 2016

Spokane-based etailz Inc. is laying off 8 percent of its employees under a restructuring, the company said Thursday.

News > Business

Schweitzer Resort ready to open Sky House summit lodge

Wed., Dec. 14, 2016

Visitors to Schweitzer Mountain Resort soon can sit on top of the world with a warm drink in their hands. The ski resort near Sandpoint is about to open Sky House, a year-round lodge at the peak of Schweitzer Mountain. The two-story lodge with a restaurant, bar and café offers panoramic views of the Selkirk Mountains, Lake Pend Oreille and the entire resort.

News > Spokane

Gee Automotive acquires Ron Tonkin Dealerships in Oregon

Tue., Dec. 13, 2016

Gee Automotive Cos., the regional auto dealership group founded in Spokane, will become one of the largest dealership groups on the West Coast with the acquisition of Ron Tonkin Dealerships in Portland.

Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor

Sun., Dec. 4, 2016

At 7:53 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese dive bombers, fighter bombers and torpedo planes attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu. Approximately 350 Japanese planes took part in the attack, which lasted less than two hours.