Sept. 1 / Advantage IQ acquires Portland company
Advantage IQ, a Spokane-based Avista Corp. subsidiary that provides utility-bill and expense-management services for multisite businesses, announced it has acquired Ecos Consulting Inc., a Portland, Ore.-based energy efficiency services provider that had revenues of more than $17 million for the 12 months ended June 30. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, Ecos will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advantage IQ, retaining its distinct brand identity. The transaction is expected to provide a slight boost to Advantage IQ's 2009 earnings.

Aug. 26 / Coldwater Creek posts $4.9 million loss
Coldwater Creek Inc., the Sandpoint-based specialty women's fashion retailer, reported a net loss of $4.9 million, or 5 cents a share, for its fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 1, compared with net income of $3.1 million, or 3 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. The retailer said its second-quarter performance was in line with expectations and reflected improved sales trends.

Aug. 20 / Avista drops plan to form holding company
Spokane-based Avista Corp. said it has abandoned its plan to change the company's organization to that of a holding company, due to the company's inability to reach agreeable terms with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon. Such a holding company would have given Avista flexibility to pursue business interests outside of utilities, while protecting utility customers from risks associated with nonregulated businesses.

Aug. 19 / Kendall Yards at center of legal dispute
Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific Railroad Co. says in a legal complaint against the developers of Kendall Yards that it isn't responsible for more than $8 million in environmental cleanup costs related to the site of that planned urban village on the north bank of the Spokane River. Union Pacific's filing in U.S. District Court here asserts it was specifically released from any cleanup liability when River Front Properties LLC bought the property. In its response, River Front Properties disputes Union Pacific's assertion and seeks a declaration that Union Pacific is jointly liable for remedial and future cleanup costs.

Aug. 18 / Tax extension passes, council races narrowed
Spokane County residents voted in the primary election to extend until 2020 a 0.1 percent local-option sales tax that will continue to provide an estimated $7 million a year to support public safety and criminal justice programs, services, and personnel. In Spokane City Council races, incumbents Nancy McLaughlin will face Karen Kearney, incumbent Mike Allen will face Jon Snyder, and Mike Fagan will face Amber Waldref in the November general election.

Aug. 18 / Sacred Heart takes next appeal step
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital said it would move to the next step in an appeal process involving its denied application to add 152 acute-care beds after the state Department of Health denied its request for reconsideration. In June, the department approved the hospital's request for 21 intermediate-care nursery beds, but didn't grant the addition of any new adult-care beds. The next stage in the appeal process is an adjudicative hearing with an administrative law judge.

Aug. 18 / Key Tronic's net income falls
Key Tronic Corp., the Spokane Valley-based contract manufacturer, reported net income of $300,000, or 3 cents a share, for its fiscal fourth quarter ended June 27, down from $2.6 million, or 25 cents a share, for the year-earlier period. The results included about $700,000 in severance costs related to cost-reduction efforts. For its full 2009 fiscal year, the company posted net income of $1.1 million, or 11 cents a share, compared with $5.6 million, or 54 cents a share, in its 2008 fiscal year.