Entrepreneurs can hone their pitching skills

Spokane-area entrepreneurs looking to craft a 10-minute investor pitch are invited to sharpen their message during a Thursday afternoon Alliance of Angels “pitch workshop” at the downtown offices of K&L Gates law firm, 618 W. Riverside Ave.

The session, including a workshop on how to improve one’s investor pitch, will run from 2 to 5 p.m. It’s sponsored by Sirti and by Connect Northwest. Cost per attendee is $50.

It’s sponsored by the Alliance of Angels, a Seattle-based association of more than 100 Puget Sound private investors and high-worth business leaders looking to help tech companies grow. Registration is required as space is limited. Register at www.brownpapertickets .com/event/48451.

DALLAS

Southwest to cut flights

Southwest Airlines Co. trimmed its schedule Tuesday, eliminating 32 roundtrip flights and adding 19 new ones starting next May.

For Idaho, the changes mean daily flights between Boise and Portland will be cut to two each way, down from three.

The Dallas-based carrier released its schedule for May 9 through June 26.

Southwest serves 64 U.S. cities and plans to add flights to Minneapolis in March.

TOKYO

Sony trims 8,000 jobs

Sony Corp. is slashing 4 percent of its worldwide work force, reining in spending and shutting plants as it tries to ride out a looming worldwide recession that is battering Japan’s export-reliant manufacturers.

Tokyo-based Sony, which is cutting 8,000 of its 185,000 jobs, said Tuesday it will shut five or six plants.

ATLANTA

Delta gets credit card deal

Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s biggest carrier, said Tuesday it is getting a $1 billion boost following a credit card agreement it has reached with American Express Co.

A company executive also said Delta expects to turn a profit in 2009.

From staff and wire reports