Latest News

Itron signs pact with Verizon

Joint marketing plan lets companies respond to utilities' needs together

April 9, 2009

Itron Inc., of Spokane, and Verizon Wireless, of Basking Ridge, N.J., have announced a joint marketing agreement under which they will work together to develop secure, two-way communications for utilities that want to employ Itron's advanced to as

County boosts land-use planning charges

Development interests say fees unreasonable, request further review

April 9, 2009

Mike McLean

Spokane County has increased its fees for land-use and development applications, citing a need to recover the cost of processing them. Some land-use experts, however, say the new fees, which in some cases amount to increases of thousands of are law

Sweet dreams and firearms

April 9, 2009

Kim Crompton

Spokane inventor John Adrain figures that since people spend a third of their lives in bed, there's no better place for gun enthusiasts and people concerned about possible home invasions to store their weapons than under the mattress—though in

BPA to build $1 million hangar here

Steel building at airport will house helicopters used to find power line problems

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

The Bonneville Power Administration plans to construct a 6,500-square-foot aircraft hangar at Spokane International Airport, where it keeps one to two helicopters used to spot from the air problems along its power transmission lines.Grace Gates,

Photo illustration courtesy of ALSC Architects PS

Freeman schools plans $30 million in work

Bids to be let soon for high school modernization; elementary school upgrade to follow

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Freeman School District plans to spend about $30 million to modernize its high school and elementary school in Rockford, Wash., over the next two years, beginning with a contract it expects to award early next month that also will include expansion

Acme bids lowest for runway job

$30.7 million project includes expanding, paving SIA airstrip

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Acme Concrete Paving Inc., of Spokane, has submitted a low bid of $30.7 million for a 19-month Spokane International Airport project to repave SIA's main runway and its two supporting taxiways, and to extend them by 2,000 feet.SIA had estimated

A mining concern's fight for life

Gold Reserve executive gives rare glimpse inside hostile takeover attempt

April 9, 2009

Paul Read and Paul Read

The call came in at about 1:30 on a Friday afternoon, Dec. 12. It was an attorney for a Canadian mining concern and its financial adviser, and he was calling to deliver an ultimatum to Gold Reserve Inc. that would launch the Spokane-based company a

Competition drives down project bids

Government agencies reap cost benefits from economic pressures

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Both public and private project owners are scooping up incredible deals on construction this year, in the form of what seem like incredibly low bids for work. In some cases, contractors' bids for projects are coming in at between 30 percent and a

Manufacturing takes a hit here

Job numbers tell tale of recession; pockets of good news exist

April 9, 2009

David Cole

Employment in the manufacturing sector here has fallen sharply, and while some manufacturers are optimistic about future growth, most everyone agrees the U.S. recession is exacting a toll, or will. Manufacturers employed 16,600 people in the in

Five-story hotel planned at Burgans

Envisioned project would cost $10 million to $20 million

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

A Spokane developer plans to convert the former Burgans Fine Furniture complex north of downtown into a five-story suite style hotel and a retail and events center in a project that could cost $10 million to $20 million. GVD Northwest LLC filed