Latest News

Waterford on South Hill launches big upgrade project

Poor economy, however, causes ebb in occupancy and cottage project to stall

January 28, 2010

The Waterford on South Hill retirement community has launched a multimillion-dollar facelift of its main building on its campus, but also is experiencing the effects of a difficult economy, with higher-than-normal vacancies. Meanwhile its cottage

Boomer surge said likely to alter economy

Nearly half of employers surveyed expect negative impact, sociologist says

January 28, 2010

News Wise

As millions of baby boomers prepare to retire, "the inevitable talent drain threatens to alter the national economy," says Ithaca College sociologist Stephen Sweet, referring to a recent report he coauthored, released by the Sloan Center on Aging &

Senior issues relegated to defensive position this year

Continued funding concerns trump policy discussions this session

January 28, 2010

Jeanne Gustafson

The name of the game is defense for advocates of the the long-term care industry as they do battle during Washington's legislative session this year.As the Legislature tackles a supplemental budget for the remainder of the current biennium, to a

Senior-living projects wilt, shift

With bad economy, developers cancel one here, postpone another, revise focus on third

January 28, 2010

Mike McLean

Senior-living projects here are faltering or changing direction or timing at least partly due to continuing recession-related uncertainties.In status changes to three of them, plans for a $14 million skilled-nursing center on the South Hill have

Title insurers weathered housing slump with cutbacks

First-time-buyer credit brought much-needed help to sector last year

January 28, 2010

David Cole

As the housing industry goes, so goes the title insurance industry, and with the big slump in home sales both here and nationally, companies here that provide title insurance have had to weather a difficult storm along with the sector they home to

Wheatland extends growth run amid industry bleakness

Bank posts solid earnings despite first full year of costs from four added branches

January 28, 2010

Kim Crompton

Wheatland Bank, skirting the turbulent waters that have wreaked havoc with many financial institutions around the country, says it recorded net income of more than $1 million last year, added to its record loan growth of the prior year, and had

Learning investing lessons from Bernie Madoff scandal

Do your research, heed red flags, and don't put faith in friends, enforcers

January 28, 2010

Financial Planning Association

One of 2009's biggest personal finance stories was the capture of Bernard Madoff, creator of the biggest Ponzi scheme in history. If you read the headlines and told yourself it didn't affect you because you weren't rich enough to be snared by such

Credit unions scramble to meet new cost

Special assessment to rebuild deposit insurance fund could double in 2010, institutions say

January 28, 2010

Jeanne Gustafson

Credit unions here say they've been finding ways to absorb hefty new assessments last year to help replenish a national deposit insurance fund that was tapped to help out two big institutions in distress. They fear this year's assessments could be

Commercial projects take a hit in credit crunch

Regulators said pressuring banks to cut back on loans for construction projects

January 28, 2010

Mike McLean

Lenders' tightened credit requirements for construction loans, spurred partly by heightened regulatory scrutiny, are keeping viable commercial projects from getting off the ground, some finance and development market observers here say.Kate and

Small Business Watch: January 28, 2010

January 28, 2010

Adams Tractor adds Stihl product line at East Trent store Adams Tractor Co., located at 1602 E. Trent, in Spokane, is adding Stihl power equipment to its product line and has beefed up its parts and service department to handle Stihl a