The Spokane Tribe is recruiting a developer to build a hotel near the Chewelah Casino. Market studies indicate the area could sustain a 70- to 100-room project, tribal officials said.

Amazon actually received two pitches from the Spokane metro area encouraging the company to locate its second headquarters here. The Spokane Tribe also submitted a proposal.

Former Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard will lead downtown Spokane’s main business group. The Downtown Spokane Partnership announced Thursday that Richard started this week as the organization’s new president.

The leader of downtown Spokane’s main business organization was fired Tuesday, less than a year after starting the job. The Downtown Spokane Partnership Board voted Tuesday evening to terminate its president, Mike Tedesco, in a 15-0 vote with two abstentions, board Vice President Todd Woodard said.

Less than a year on the job, the leader of a downtown organization that collects about $1 million each year from downtown property owners and tenants is in danger of losing his job. Mike Tedesco, who started his job as the president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership in October, said he was asked on Sept. 7 by three members of the group’s board to resign or face a vote to be terminated. The organization uses city-approved fees on downtown business owners and tenants to pay for security, cleaning crews, downtown marketing and other improvements.