The unemployment rate in the Spokane metropolitan area fell in May to its lowest level in almost nine years.At 4 percent, the rate dipped to its lowest point since September 1998, when it came in at 3.6 percent.That is mighty low, Jeff

Liberty Lake-based Itron Inc., the No. 1 supplier of automatic meter-reading equipment in North America, is striving to compete in the next big meter-reading markettechnology that gives utilities and their customers two-way communication.The

Lydig Construction Inc., of Spokane, has begun work on a $50 million infrastructure project that will serve new housing developments planned at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, near Sandpoint, says the real estate broker whos marketing the work will a

With competition heating up as telecommunication companies seek to penetrate the small-business market, businesses here can expect telecom prices to fall further, and reliability to improve.Qwest Communications International Inc. and XO Inc., a

The Kalispel Tribe says it plans to announce soon a big expansion of its Northern Quest Casino, in Airway Heights, and although a spokeswoman declines for now to provide details, an online newsletter says the project would include a hotel, center,

Esprit Technologies Inc., a Spokane Valley-based training program provider, says it plans to move to larger quarters in the International Gateway Corporate Park to accommodate its growing operations, which include a new division named Teach English

Pend Oreille Public Utility District No. 1, in Newport, Wash., says it has awarded a $69 million contract to Andritz VA Tech Hydro, of Charlotte, N.C., to replace the turbines and do other related work at the districts Box Canyon Dam on the Pend

Timberlake Forest Products Inc., a Spokane Valley-based maker of specialized lumber, has closed its doors and has filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court here. Stephen and Sheryl Kennedy and David Thompson are in

A representative of the Wingers USA restaurant chain says he plans to open a new Wingers Grill & Bar restaurant at the Spokane Valley Mall in a building that had been occupied by a Tony Romas restaurant, which closed earlier this new diner is

Rapid Clinics LLC, a new Spokane company, has opened a non-emergency health clinic in the Rosauers supermarket in Spokane Valley, and says it hopes to open as many as five more such outlets here over the next several years.Jay Molitor, Rapid of