Taking a folic acid pill a daya simple measure to prevent severe birth defects is under-promoted in the media, under-recommended by health-care providers, and under-used by women of childbearing age, according to a review of studies.Less a

Women who use nonpermanent birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies now have a host of options from which to choose, and most dont require the daily vigilance that the traditional pill does, say womens health experts here.Alternatives

Spokane-based Inland Imaging LLC has installed a piece of imaging equipment that it expects will improve outcomes for breast cancer patients here. The device, a positron emission mammography (PEM) scanner, is one of only two such devices in state a

Key Tronic Corp., the Spokane Valley-based contract manufacturer, says it expects to begin making products in December for Kaz Inc., a Southborough, Mass.-based maker of health, home, and garden products.Key Tronic declines to say what product

ACI Coatings LLC plans to expand its services with a new 12,000-square-foot shop building that will be dedicated to pre-finishing woodwork and will double the Spokane Valley painting contractors current space, says Mike Kirschbaum, the companys

Enrollment is up at most Spokane-area colleges and universities, and several are reporting record or near-record freshman classes this fall. Only Eastern Washington University noted flat enrollment numbers, following a dip in enrollment last has of

Auto insurance rates continued to rise in the second quarter this year, according to a study by Insurance.com, which claims to be the nations largest online auto insurance agency. Insurance.coms quarterly Car Insurance Rate Report found on

Medical costs are continuing to mount at a pace well above inflation, but the practice of cost shifting, or shifting bigger portions of health-care premiums from employers to employees, may be leveling off, health-plan providers here say.As

Premera Blue Cross, the big Mountlake Terrace, Wash.-based health-care insurer, says earlier projections that its Spokane campus would employ 630 people by next year might not come true, based on efficiencies the insurer is implementing. Still,

Longtime Spokane law firm Randall & Danskin PS has added seven attorneys since the beginning of this year, giving it 19 lawyers in all, and says the expansion has broadened its business law expertise, its ability to provide clients with long-term &