Week in Review

Top Story

Coeur d’Alene had the fourth-fastest job growth rate in the nation last year. The Coeur d’Alene metropolitan area added 6.8 percent more jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of the new jobs came in high-paying fields, such as construction and manufacturing. Spokane’s job base grew by 0.9 percent, earning the 238th spot on a ranking of more than 400 metropolitan areas.

Tuesday

Travel Management Inc., a Post Falls travel agency, paid $91,587 to Alaska Airlines to settle a lawsuit that accused the firm of deceptive and fraudulent ticket-selling practices.

Moody Bible Institute Northwest received state approval to offer a five-year program in missionary aviation technology, based in Spokane. Moody moved its program to Spokane from Tennessee in 2003, but hadn’t received permission to offer its full program here, which includes two years of flight instruction.

Wednesday

The Federal Reserve boosted a key interest rate by a quarter-point to 2.75 percent, continuing a campaign to gradually nudge up interest rates to combat unwanted inflation. It was the seventh time the central bank has pushed rates higher since last June.

In a case that could set limits on Internet search engines, the French news agency Agence France-Presse is suing Google Inc. for pulling together photos and story excerpts from thousands of news Web sites. The issues raised by the case have profound implications for the Internet.

Thursday

A group of investors paid $1.7 million for the 100-year-old Schade Towers building on the eastern edge of downtown Spokane. The group, which includes executives from Tomlinson Black Commercial and Baker Construction, plans to renovate the structure for office and retail space.

Friday

A team of investors announced plans to build upscale condominiums on the north bank of the Spokane river, just west of the Flour Mill in Spokane. The group, headed by WestCoast Hospitality Chairman Don Barbieri, said the units will range in size from 1,800 square feet to 3,300 square feet and prices will start at $400,000.

Gary Sbona, a Silicon Valley veteran, has taken over as chief executive officer of Vivato, a Spokane Valley high-tech company.

Saturday

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ordered the sale of bankrupt Metropolitan Mortgage’s three insurance companies. Bids will be accepted until May 27 and a deal is anticipated in June. Kreidler said the move is the best chance to return some money to Metropolitan creditors.