Senate approves utilities official

The Washington state Senate confirmed Jeffrey Goltz as chairman of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on Wednesday.

Goltz, 59, was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to fill the post formerly held by Mark Sidran, who announced in December that he was stepping down. Goltz will serve a six-year term that runs until Jan. 1, 2015.

The utilities and transportation commission is charged with setting the rates and regulating services for privately owned electric, natural gas, telephone, water and solid-waste utilities. It also regulates residential-moving companies, commercial ferries, pipeline and railroad safety in the state.

Before joining the commission, Goltz was a deputy state attorney general.

Becky Kramer

Spokane

Travel company reports net loss

Spokane’s Ambassadors Group Inc. on Wednesday reported a net loss of $5.3 million for first quarter of this year, compared with a $5.5 million loss for the first quarter 2008.

The travel company, which arranges trips for student groups and adult professionals, saw a 28-cent-per-share quarterly loss, compared to a 29 cent-per-share loss for the same period of 2008.

Company CEO Jeff Thomas said the next two quarters are the company’s busiest periods.

Looking ahead, Thomas said, the company has booked more trips during the first quarter compared with the same period a year earlier.

The company’s stock rose 13 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $10.30 during Wednesday’s trading on the Nasdaq exchange.

Tom Sowa