Thomas Clouse

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News >  Spokane

White Elephant owners ending 74-year legacy in Spokane

Sun., June 7, 2020

The history of the White Elephant stores mirrors the story of Spokane: A somewhat unconventional place that provides nearly everything that matters, at an affordable price. The owners are closing the iconic stores.

News >  Business

Bloem exits River Park Square for new location in Spokane

Wed., June 3, 2020

One of the founding tenants of River Park Square has set up shop at a new downtown location that will allow the owners of Bloem Flowers, Chocolates and Paperie to write a new chapter for their 43-year-old family business.

News >  Spokane

Asian giant hornet found this week in Northwest Washington

Fri., May 29, 2020

Washington agriculture officials announced Friday that the state has its first confirmed siting of the Asian giant hornet this year.

News >  Washington

Asian giant hornet found this week in Northwest Washington

UPDATED: Fri., May 29, 2020

Washington agriculture officials announced Friday that the state has its first confirmed sighting of the Asian giant hornet this year.

News >  Agriculture

Spokane area farmers offering fresh produce without crowds

Fri., May 29, 2020

The South Spokane Farm Corridor was spawned in 2018 as a way to connect area farmers with customers seeking locally grown produce. But concerns over proper social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic have added value to the idea because shoppers can obtain the fresh produce without facing crowds, said Doug Phelps, the agriculture liaison for the Spokane Conservation District.

News >  Idaho

Self-employed in Idaho now eligible for state coronavirus-related assistance

Wed., May 27, 2020

Self-employed Idaho residents can now apply for a portion of the $300 million worth of financial help from the state.

News >  Business

Spokane bike shops pedaling hard to maintain pandemic surge

Fri., May 22, 2020

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, bike shop manager Tim Dunn prepared for empty stores and employees left with nothing to do. But Spokane followed a national trend in which Americans fell back in love with bicycles.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Valley bar dispute escalates with state citation over violation of stay-home restrictions; owner vows to fight

UPDATED: Thu., May 21, 2020

State agents have issued a Spokane Valley bar owner a citation for remaining open in defiance of a state business closure order. But the bar owner says he may continue to fight what he calls government overreach.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Valley bar that defied Inslee closes again

UPDATED: Wed., May 20, 2020

One of two Spokane Valley bars that opened in violation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s directive for non-essential businesses has closed temporarily.

News >  Spokane

Amazon begins hiring 2,000 workers for West Plains facility

UPDATED: Wed., May 20, 2020

Even though Amazon officials started hiring for various jobs in February, the company announced Wednesday that has now started general hiring of more than 2,000 positions at its newly constructed processing facility on the West Plains.

News >  Business

Inslee decries Spokane businesses violating order

UPDATED: Thu., May 21, 2020

Despite tough talk from Gov. Jay Inslee, some Spokane-area businesses have opened despite not appearing to fit the definition of essential businesses.

News >  Business

Confusion causing some Spokane businesses to give back relief funds

UPDATED: Mon., May 18, 2020

New guidelines released Friday that were designed to clarify how businesses could qualify for loan forgiveness from the Payroll Protection Program have created even more confusion, especially in Spokane where most businesses can’t yet open, a local banker said.

News >  Spokane

Inslee’s office: Hobby Lobby openings in Spokane area violate virus restrictions

UPDATED: Mon., May 18, 2020

After first checking with Spokane City Hall, Hobby Lobby retail stores this week started allowing customers into their businesses under reduced hours and social distancing directives. However, a spokesman for Gov. Jay Inslee said the opening appears to be in violation of state guidelines that only allow for essential businesses to remain open during the coronavirus pandemic.

News >  Business

Health care provider to close Kootenai Heart Clinics in Spokane

UPDATED: Thu., May 14, 2020

Kootenai Heart Clinics announced Thursday it close its three Spokane locations by the end of August, but it will maintain its services and clients in Coeur d’Alene and outreach facilities throughout North Idaho.

News >  Spokane

Spokane’s Party Palace closing after 33 years; pandemic hastens decision to end store’s run

UPDATED: Wed., May 13, 2020

Since 1987, Spokane shoppers had a place to get costumes for ’70s parties, balloon arrangements for graduations and decorations for all seasons at the Party Palace.

News >  Business

Appliance stores running out of freezers during pandemic

UPDATED: Tue., May 12, 2020

A store that prides itself on having the appliances that customers need has run out of freezers, and the supply chain disruption has made it difficult to replace the equipment that has been sold.

News >  Agriculture

SBA for first time makes disaster loans available to farmers

UPDATED: Tue., May 5, 2020

Federal officials this week have reserved a disaster loan program, which traditionally had been used for things like hurricane recovery, to give exclusive access to agriculture-related businesses to ensure that farmers get a chance to secure funds from the national relief program.

News >  Spokane

State seeking volunteers to trap dangerous Asian giant hornets in Western Washington

UPDATED: Mon., May 4, 2020

It looks like a pest someone would invent for a horror movie. And, it’s got a sting to match. But no, the Asian giant hornet is not likely to ruin any backyard outings in the Spokane area anytime soon, a state official said.

News >  Business

SBA coming through on promises to fund small businesses

Sun., May 3, 2020

Federal money continues to flow into small businesses with community bankers leading the way as the second round of the Payroll Protection Program ends its first week since Congress replenished its funding.

News >  Spokane

Crews return to existing homebuilding sites in Spokane County

UPDATED: Thu., April 30, 2020

Hammers have begun to fly again at residential constructions sites in Spokane County that were shut down by Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

News >  Spokane

Washington grapples with thousands gridlocked in unemployment system

UPDATED: Tue., April 28, 2020

Will O. Smith, 37, of Spokane, picked a fine time to switch jobs. The coronavirus pandemic hit just after he started his new gig and he quickly became one of tens of thousands of Washingtonians stuck in a pool of out-of-work employees making hundreds of unanswered phone calls into an unemployment system ill-equipped to offer them assistance.

News >  Business

Second round of business relief exposes more problems at SBA

UPDATED: Mon., April 27, 2020

Spokane-area bankers were ready Monday morning when the federal government opened the flood gates to a second round of funds designed to keep employees on local payrolls.

News >  Spokane

Washington state doubles amount of grant money available to small businesses

UPDATED: Thu., April 23, 2020

The state of Washington has doubled the amount of money to $10 million that will be available for grants to help the state’s smallest businesses, but it has received applications from more than 26,000 applicants.

News >  Business

Congress approves $310 billion more into program to help small businesses

UPDATED: Thu., April 23, 2020

Congress approved another $310 billion in relief for small businesses Thursday with new guidelines to ensure that small banks and businesses get a share of the program to help them retain employees during the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

News >  Spokane

Computer engineers in CdA design new reusable mask for medical uses

UPDATED: Wed., April 22, 2020

Computer engineers from Coeur d’Alene are teaming up with a Liberty Lake manufacturer to turn their expertise of making high-strength aircraft components into reusable N-95 masks that could help ease the shortage of protective equipment needed by medical personnel, essential employees and first responders during the coronavirus pandemic.