Sept. 18 / Inslee appeals UGA decision

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee directed the state commerce and transportation departments to file an appeal of Spokane County commissioners' recent expansion of the county's designated urban growth area. In a letter to the commissioners, Inslee said he was particularly concerned that the creation of new industrial land along the Geiger Spur rail line near Fairchild Air Force Base could encroach on the air base and threaten its future. The commissioners issued a press release saying they believed the governor's concerns were based on inaccurate or outdated information and concerns that already had been addressed, but said they appreciated and shared his desire to protect the air base.


Sept. 17 / Court blocks ski area expansion

A Washington state Court of Appeals panel blocked a proposed major expansion of the Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, ruling that the state Parks and Recreation Commission violated state law by approving a land-use reclassification for the project without first requiring the preparation of an environmental impact statement. In partially overturning a Spokane County Superior Court decision, the appellate court sided with the Lands Council, a Spokane-based environmental group that opposes the nonprofit ski area's expansion into nearly 300 acres of subalpine habitat on the mountain's northwest slope.


Sept. 12 / Itron cutting 750 jobs

Itron Inc., the Liberty Lake-based maker of utility meter-reading technology, said it plans to trim its workforce by about 9 percent, or 750 positions, by about June 2014. It estimated in a filing with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission that the layoffs, together with some office closings, and consolidations will result in a net annual cost savings of about $30 million. It said it was taking the actions to increase efficiencies and improve profitability.


Sept. 11 / Umpqua to acquire Sterling Financial

Sterling Financial Corp., the Spokane-based parent of Sterling Bank, and Portland-based Umpqua Holdings Corp. said they've entered into a definitive agreement for Umpqua to acquire Sterling in a transaction valued at $2 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2014, after which all Sterling operations will operate under the Umpqua name and brand. The combined bank will have about $22 billion in assets and about 5,000 employees at nearly 400 locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, and Nevada.


Sept. 10 / PFD approves hotel property sale

The Spokane Public Facilities District board approved the final sale and transfer of a district-owned downtown piece of land to the Worthy Group for $6.67 million for development of an envisioned 15-story, 721-room convention center hotel and 900-space parking garage. The 120,000-square-foot parcel that changed hands, known as the South Block, is just south across Spokane Falls Boulevard from the Spokane Convention Center, between Washington and Bernard streets, and most recently had served as a 300-stall parking lot.


Sept. 10 / Coldwater Creek posts big loss

Coldwater Creek Inc., the Sandpoint, Idaho-based specialty women's apparel and accessories retailer, reported a net loss of $16.4 million, or 54 cents a share, for its fiscal quarter that ended Aug. 3, which was only slightly improved from a loss of $17.6 million, or 58 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. The company said its cash totaled $17.3 million as of Aug. 3, down from $45.5 million a year earlier. It closed three premium retail stores and one factory store during the latest quarter, leaving it with 344 premium retail stores, 36 factory stores, and eight spas.