May 8 / Hecla's earnings plummet

Hecla Mining Co., of Coeur d'Alene, reported first-quarter net income of $12.4 million, or 4 cents a diluted share, down sharply from $43.2 million, or 16 cents a diluted share, in the same quarter last year. It attributed a $19.9 million drop in gross profit to the temporary suspension of production at its Lucky Friday mine in the Silver Valley. Separately, the company said its board has authorized it to repurchase up to 20 million shares of its outstanding common stock from time to time, with the purchases expected to occur over the next 24 months.

May 7 / Ambassadors, investors reach accord

Ambassadors Group Inc., the Spokane-based provider of educational travel programs, announced it has entered into an agreement with Lane Five Capital Management LP and other company management critics regarding the company's 2012 annual meeting of shareholders. Under the terms of the agreement, Lane Five Lisa O'Dell Rapuano and Lane Five nominee Peter H. Kamin will be nominated for the company's board at the annual meeting. Other parts of the agreement say Rapuano, Kamin, and others have agreed to certain standstill provisions through the conclusion of the 2013 annual meeting.

May 7 / Coeur's profit drops

Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. reported first-quarter net income of $4 million, or 4 cents a diluted share, down from $12.5 million, or 14 cents a share, in the same quarter last year. The company said its first-quarter production was 19 percent higher than the year-earlier period, but its gold production was 17 percent lower. The Kensington gold mine reopened last month, and production there is expected to increase throughout the year.

May 3 / Farm Credit's earnings increase

Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Spokane-based agricultural lending cooperative, reported first-quarter net income of $44.9 million, which is a 6.5 percent increase over the year-earlier period. Total capital increased 7.2 percent during the same period to $1.47 billion. Farm Credit President and CEO Phil DiPofi said, "The agricultural economy remains strong, and farm values remain high. While the healthy ag economy has positioned producers to pay down debt, we're starting to see new loan activity increase in markets with growth opportunities."

May 2 / Red Lion posts $7.2 million loss

Red Lion Hotels Corp., of Spokane, reported a first-quarter net loss of $7.2 million, or 37 cents a share, compared with a loss of $4.8 million, or 25 cents a share, in the 2011 first quarter. Red Lion President and CEO Jon Eliassen said, "We are continuing to focus on improving profitability and successfully executing our three-pronged strategy to reduce debt, expand our franchise program, and improve the competitive position of our hotels."

May 2 / INB parent's net income falls

Northwest Bancorp., the Spokane-based parent of Inland Northwest Bank, posted first-quarter net income of $156,000, or 5 cents a diluted share, down from $430,000, or 14 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. In the latest quarter, the company reduced dramatically its net charge-offs to $79,000, down from $1.7 million in the previous quarter and $1.6 million in the year-earlier quarter.

May 2 / Avista's earnings dip slightly

Avista Corp., of Spokane, posted first-quarter net income of $38.4 million, or 65 cents a diluted share, down a bit from $41.9 million, or 73 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2011. Avista Chairman, President, and CEO Scott L. Morris said the earnings were lower because last year's first quarter "was colder than average with precipitation and stream flows well above average." With current snow pack levels and recent precipitation, there is potential for high hydropower generation in the current quarter, he said.