Thomas Clouse

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Gus Johnson Ford sells to automotive group based in North Dakota

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 18, 2021

Gus Johnson Ford, one of the largest locally-owned car dealerships, finalized a sale Monday to Corwin Automotive Group, which is based in Fargo, N.D.

News >  Business

Amazon launches air operations at Spokane International Airport

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 14, 2021

Amazon began operations Thursday at its newest air-cargo hub at Spokane International Airport, becoming only the second facility of its kind in the state of Washington.

News >  Business

Hayden Homes purchases RYN Built Homes’ lots

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 13, 2021

Hayden Homes announced Wednesday that it had acquire the lot supply of Spokane Valley-based RYN Built Homes, a family-owned business formerly known as Viking Builders.

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AWB bus tour highlights Spokane’s variety of manufacturing companies

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 7, 2021

The Washington Association of Business trucked into Spokane for a bus tour Thursday of area manufacturers who talked about the lack, need and importance of both training and retaining qualified employees.

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KSPS awarded $260,000 grant for learning initiative

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 7, 2021

KSPS announced this week that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has awarded it a $260,000 grant to extend the reach and impact of PBS KIDS, which is an early-learning resources program for children ages 2-to-8. 

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Wake Up Call Coffee opens 11th location this week in Spokane Valley

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 7, 2021

Wake Up Call Coffee opened its 11th location in the Spokane area.

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Denver-based investment firm buys Hayden Lake Marina

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 7, 2021

An investment group announced this week it has purchased the Hayden Lake Marina located on the namesake body of water north of Coeur d'Alene.  

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Massive cryptocurrency mining operation planned at former Ponderay Newsprint mill

UPDATED: Fri., March 11, 2022

The new owners of the shuttered Ponderay Newsprint in Usk have formally requested enough power to restart the mill and build what could be one of the largest cryptocurrency mining operations in the country.

News

Cryptocurrency explained

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 16, 2021

Let's just say that your 30-year-old Tandy TRS-80 computer would probably melt if you tried to use it to mine for Bitcoin.

News >  Business

Lumber prices fall, but ‘chaos’ in supply, labor hits area home builders

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 11, 2021

Lumber prices have finally fallen off record levels, but other supply problems will prevent Spokane-area home buyers from seeing the benefit of lower costs for some time, industry officials said.

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Post Falls’ Ground Force sells to Chicago-based company

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 10, 2021

A Chicago company has agreed to purchase Post Falls-based Ground Force Worldwide. 

Correction for Wednesday

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 7, 2021

Misidentified location

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STCU opening new Spokane Valley branch; completing merger

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 30, 2021

Spokane Teachers Credit Union announced Monday it will be opening its third Spokane Valley branch and completing a merger early next month with Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union.

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Payroll Protection Program saved Spokane businesses from uncertainty

Sun., Aug. 29, 2021

One month after Penny Antonelli-Flegel purchased her business in February 2020, the coronavirus pandemic prompted a shutdown that put much of Spokane-area economy on an uneasy, indefinite hold.

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Washington Ag crews remove massive Asian giant hornet nest near Blaine

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 27, 2021

Crews returned this week to an Asian giant hornet nest they found earlier this month near Blaine and removed more than 1,500 of the world's largest hornets that were in various stages of development.

News >  Business

Spokane Valley Walmart closing Friday, Saturday for cleaning

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 20, 2021

The Walmart in Spokane Valley is closing at 2 p.m. Friday and all of Saturday so store officials can clean and sanitize the building at 5025 E. Sprague Ave.

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Crews track captured Asian giant hornet to first nest discovery of year near Blaine

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 20, 2021

A day after Washington Agriculture officials held a training session with their cohorts from Oregon, the Oregon crew tracked an Asian giant hornet to the first nest of the invasive species found this year.

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A wrenching situation: Spokane mechanics struggle to fix a surge in older cars amid labor shortage

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 18, 2021

Spokane mechanics are facing the double quandary a labor shortage at the same time customers are clamoring for appointments to fix older cars to offset the soaring prices of used and new cars.

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Asian giant hornet photographed in Northwest Washington

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 13, 2021

In the middle of another heatwave, smoke and resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, an unwelcome-new Washington newcomer has raised its ugly sting: the Asian giant hornet.

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‘It leaves a hole’: Jim’s HomeBrew closing on North Division after 70 years, marking end of an era for local brewers

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 12, 2021

Untold gallons of homemade brews, stouts, ales, mistakes and blue ribbons originated from the store located on a stretch of North Division Street that anchored giants of Spokane business history. 

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David’s Pizza closing on Sundays due to worker shortage

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 10, 2021

David's Pizza has announced it will now close on future Sundays for the first time in its 26 years in business.

News >  Business

Spa Paradiso owners closing Kendall Yards business this month

Sun., Aug. 8, 2021

Spa Paradiso came about because Larry Schoonover bought his wife a gift card to a different Spokane spa that was about to close some 22 years ago.

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Spokane businesses joining national push to require proof of vaccinations

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 3, 2021

After watching bars close again with the uptick in COVID-19 cases in Seattle last week, the owners of Neato Burrito and Baby Bar in downtown Spokane decided to begin requiring its customers who come in after 5 p.m. to show proof that they had been vaccinated.

News >  Business

Dry cleaners struggle to recover business lost in pandemic

Sun., July 4, 2021

The business world transitioned from tailored suits to yoga pants during the pandemic, which hurt an iconic industry designed to make employees look sharp: dry cleaners.

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Heat forces restaurants, markets and bakeries to throw in towel

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

Spokane's record heat wave forced several area restaurant owners and farmers markets to temporary shut down operations for a variety of heat-related issues.