Stories by Thomas Clouse for the Spokesman-Review

News > Business

Spokane-based 4AM relocating into River Park Square

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 13, 2024

River Park Square announced Thursday that local business 4AM will be relocating to the downtown mall from its previous location at the corner of North Washington Street and West Dean Avenue.

News > Health

Washington approved insurance rate increase

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 11, 2024

Washington's insurance commissioner announced Wednesday that his office has approved a 10.7% rate increase for those residents who obtain insurance through the state's exchange.

News > Local business

Fed-up business leaders decry Spokane’s homelessness problem after Zona Blanca announces closure

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 10, 2024

Spokane business leaders used the impending closure of a downtown restaurant Monday as a call to arms for elected leaders to begin finding a solution to the homelessness problem.

News > Business

The Dirt: New 32-unit multifamily project planned near Spokane

Sun., Sept. 8, 2024

Preliminary plans have been submitted to Spokane County to build a four-building, 32-unit multi-housing project on a street that represents the border of Spokane and Spokane County.

News > Business

Xfinity opens new store on South Hill

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 4, 2024

Comcast announced this week that it has opened a new Xfinity store on Spokane's South Hill.

News > Business

Avista’s new CEO Heather Rosentrater’s path to success began as a barista in Millwood

Sun., Sept. 1, 2024

Heather Rosentrater was working in 1996 in her parent’s coffee shop in Millwood when a Gonzaga professor, who doubled as Washington Water Power’s chief technical services engineer, verbally complained about losing his engineering student.

News > Business

Genetically modified wheat approved for U.S. testing, but may not be boon for Northwest farmers

Wed., Aug. 28, 2024

Federal agriculture regulators announced Tuesday that they approved the testing process that could allow farmers in the U.S. to start planting a genetically-modified strain of wheat from South America that produces good crops even in drought conditions.

News > Business

Avista’s Vermillion stepping down; Rosentrater to become first woman to lead company as CEO

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 27, 2024

Avista Corp. announced Monday that longtime CEO Dennis Vermillion will be stepping down early next year and will be replaced by Heather Rosentrater, who will become the first woman to lead the utility in its 135-year history.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

‘College athletics has gotten very expensive’: Gonzaga starts process of raising costs for men’s basketball season tickets

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 23, 2024

It’s about to be easier to become, and more costly to remain, a season-ticket holder for the University of Gonzaga men’s basketball games inside McCarthey Athletic Center.

News > Business

Dry Fly Distillery sells majority stake to California wine maker

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 13, 2024

A longtime California-based winery, Caymus Vineyards, has purchased a majority stake in Spokane-based Dry Fly Distilling.

News > Business

STCU purchasing Oregon-based Community Bank

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 13, 2024

STCU has entered an agreement to purchase the 10-branch Community Bank, based in Joseph, Oregon. Those branches would then become part of the Spokane-based, member-owned financial institution.

News > Idaho

Organic farmers fight Idaho for land they thought was theirs

Sun., July 28, 2024

Nearly a half century ago, Greg and Leah Sempel began scratching a living out of land that almost nobody wanted. Now the state of Idaho has made their simple life awfully complicated.

News > Business

Clearwater Paper selling tissue business for $1.06 billion

UPDATED: Mon., July 22, 2024

Spokane-based Clearwater Paper Corp.. a tissue and paperboard supplier which operates a major plant in Lewiston, announced Monday that it is selling its tissue business to Sofidel America Corporation for $1.06 billion.

News > Weather

How utilities are holding up to the power demand during Spokane’s heat wave

Thu., July 18, 2024

The heat is here to stay, at least as far as the National Weather Service forecasts.

News > Business

Anthony’s purchases Churchill’s Steakhouse in Spokane

UPDATED: Mon., July 15, 2024

The restaurant that started featuring lobster and steak in Bellevue in 1973 has added another Spokane location to its list. Anthony's Restaurants has purchased Churchill's Steakhouse, which will continue to operate under the same name and menu.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane adult family home operator faces felony charge

UPDATED: Fri., July 12, 2024

A Spokane care provider has been charged with improperly obtaining more than $68,000 worth of state payments while operating a business that catered to disabled adult clients.

News > Idaho

Appellate judges mostly rule against Hayden Christmas display

UPDATED: Wed., July 10, 2024

For a former Hayden couple known for hosting massive holiday shows, a recent federal appeals ruling was anything but Christmas in July.

News > Local business

Housing inventory is slowly growing in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene

Wed., July 10, 2024

More homes have become available in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, but the sales pace continues to remain muted compared the the craziness of the local economy as it emerged from the coronavirus pandemic.

News > Business

Clearwater Paper fined for failing to report chlorine releases

UPDATED: Tue., July 9, 2024

Federal regulators announced Tuesday that Clearwater Paper Corp., based in Lewiston, has agreed to pay a fine for failing to properly report chlorine releases in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

News > Business

South Hill, Spokane Valley to lose Safeway grocery stores amid merger

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 27, 2024

Spokane's South Hill and Spokane Valley would each lose a Safeway store under a plan showing locations that would sell to a new owner as part of a massive merger proposed by Albertsons and Kroger.

News > Higher education

WSU eyes new building near Jensen-Byrd site

Sat., June 29, 2024

Plans are progressing on what could become a $60-to-$80 million new medical training facility on Washington State University's Spokane campus.

News > Business

The Dirt: Courtyard by Marriott in Spokane to get total remodel

UPDATED: Fri., June 28, 2024

A permit was requested last week to remodel both the interior and exterior of the Courtyard by Marriott near the Spokane Convention Center.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Are power shutoffs coming? Avista officially shifts into fire safety mode

Thu., June 27, 2024

Avista Utilities announced Wednesday that it has shifted into what it calls "fire safety mode" as the weather heats up and dries out vegetation that could become the fuel for the region's next wildfire.

News > ID Government

Coeur d’Alene officials pass measure to protect historic buildings

UPDATED: Mon., June 24, 2024

In 1999, John and Tina Hough stayed at the historic bed-and-breakfast in Coeur d'Alene that was converted out of a school named for a previous visit by President Theodore Roosevelt.

News > Business

The Dirt: Two projects to add living units near Gonzaga

Sun., June 23, 2024

While construction has begun on one side of the street, developers hope to obtain permits within days to begin a second residential project for rental units targeting Gonzaga University students on East Sharp Avenue.

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