OLYMPIA – The state Senate took a stand against international piracy last week. Not the kind that involves ships being raided off the coast of Somalia, but the kind that involves information technology being stolen in China. On a 39-7 vote, it sent the House a bill designed to help Microsoft and the state’s other software manufacturers keep other companies from illegally using their programs or other intellectual property in creating new products. Instead of cannons and cutlasses, they’d go after IT pirates with lawyers and injunctions.

Managers of Spokane’s Camp Chevrolet Cadillac say they’ve succeeded in persuading General Motors to leave their doors open. As part of its restructuring during bankruptcy last summer, GM announced plans to close about 2,000 dealers. Camp, which is owned by Medford-based Lithia Motors, Inc., was included in the closure group, but neither GM nor Camp announced that decision at the time.

Managers of Spokane’s Camp Chevrolet Cadillac say they’ve succeeded in persuading General Motors to leave their doors open.

Walmart says it will square off with Costco Wholesale Corp. in the Spokane Valley. The Bentonville, Ark., retail behemoth announced Thursday it will build a 151,000-square-foot retail center on a parcel of land due west of Costco’s store at 5601 E. Sprague Ave.

Three major retailers – a discounter, a midpriced department store and an upscale chain – said their profits were up in the fiscal third quarter, showing significant improvement over last year’s dismal fall season. But sales figures at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Kohl’s Corp. and Nordstrom Inc. indicated that consumers were still not ready to spend freely, causing continued concern about the holiday season.

With just one Christmas shopping day left and snow hampering sales in Spokane, retailers are trying to entice buyers today and for post-holiday shopping. Holiday sales could be the worst since 1969, the Associated Press has reported, and retailers are listening to consumers’ demands for good deals.

Most big retailers count on the fourth quarter to produce the year’s highest sales. But this year’s fourth quarter might be one of the worst in memory, retail representatives say. “There’s no question: This is one of the most challenging times we’ve seen in our history,” said Brooke White, a spokeswoman for Seattle-based Nordstrom Inc.