Mayor West asked to resign

The Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau called on Mayor Jim West to resign, saying in a joint statement Monday that “we believe the community needs a new CEO.” Later in the week, the Spokane Area Economic Development Council said its board also authorized the organization to ask for West’s resignation, following allegations of sexual abuse and misusing the office of the mayor.

Tuesday

The European Union has given Microsoft Corp. until the end of the month to comply with its antitrust order or face punitive sanctions.

Wednesday

Two sawmills in St. Maries, Idaho, said they will spend millions upgrading their operations — a boon to a county where one of every five jobs is tied to the timber industry. Regulus Stud Mills said it is spending about $8 million to rebuild its St. Maries sawmill this year; Potlatch Corp. said it will spend nearly $3 million to complete an upgrade begun two years ago.

Thursday

Home prices in Kootenai County set a record in April, reaching an average of $191,145. A year ago, the average sales price was $151,925.

Friday

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a civil lawsuit against American International Group Inc., accusing the nation’s largest insurance company and its former chief executive officer of using “deception and fraud” to boost the company’s stock price.