Week in review

MONDAY

Two recent emergencies highlighted the role cell phones can play in helping rescuers find someone lost or stranded in difficult terrain.

TUESDAY

Led by coffee-retailer Starbucks, six Washington-based companies ranked among the 100 best companies to work for in America, according to a Fortune Magazine poll. The other companies were Nordstrom, REI, Russell Investment Group, Microsoft and Perkins Coie law firm. No companies based in Idaho or Montana made the list.

WEDNESDAY

Spokane’s Garco Building Systems Inc., which designs, manufactures and distributes steel building systems, has agreed to be purchased by a national corporation for $16.5 million. The deal with NCI Buildings Systems Inc. is expected to close within the next month. Garco’s 150 workers are expected to be offered employment with NCI.

“Regional investment fund WIN Partners has raised $3.5 million and has spread $1.3 million of that money among eight Inland Northwest start-ups. A total of 54 accredited investors, along with two banks, belong to the group.

THURSDAY

Uninsured, poor patients will get a break on hospital bills under a new set of guidelines adopted by Washington’s community hospitals. All of the hospitals have agreed to provide free care to patients living in poverty. Also, uninsured patients living within 200 percent of the federal poverty level will receive discounts on their bills. Spokane-based hospitals already meet or exceed the new guidelines.

“Horizon Airlines will launch daily nonstop flights from Spokane to Sacramento and to Los Angeles starting July 1.

FRIDAY

The Spokane Park Board plans to make an $850,000 deposit on the downtown YMCA property next month, as part of the ongoing process of purchasing the building and land. The park board exercised an option to buy the property when the YMCA announced it had struck a $5.3 million deal with a developer who wanted to build a high-rise condominium tower. The agreement requires the park board to match the developer’s offer.