A recent ruling by the Washington state Supreme Court that banned private businesses from using inmate labor in operations based at state prisons has reinvigorated a longtime debate about the fairness and value of prison-based industries.The of

Petnet Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Knoxville, Tenn.-based maker of radioactive drugs used in cancer detection, has awarded Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, a $1.2 million contract to construct a production facility at the Spokane International of a

Building-material prices that skyrocketed earlier this year mostly have remained at high levels, and in some cases have risen further, causing continued concern in the construction industry here. Contractors say some building plans are being to

Two Spokane-area wineries are establishing new presences near the city center.Barrister Winery has moved to a three-story building near downtown, at 1213 W. Railroad, and Grande Ronde Cellars has leased 3,000 square feet of space in the Freeman

Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest has named building-industry executive Jim DeWalt as its new president and CEO.Associated Industries, a Spokane-based nonprofit employers group, had been looking for a new CEO since February, when J.

A Spokane-based franchisee for Del Taco fast-food restaurants says it has begun work on a Del Taco outlet in Coeur dAlene and hopes to opening another one soon in Post Falls.The franchisee, Liberty Foods & GVD LLC, opened its Del Taco first a

Lanzce G. Douglass Inc., of Spokane, appears to be moving ahead with a $24 million, 328-unit apartment complex on Spokanes South Hill.Spokane County issued building permits late last month for the project, which was proposed for a site at S.

D.A. Davidson & Co., the Great Falls, Mont.-based stock brokerage, has boosted its 2004 and 2005 earnings estimates for Avista Corp., based partly on the Spokane companys potential for greater electric and gas rate relief than projected earlier.

A real estate investment company has bought the former Pre-Vocational Training Center facility on the busy Division Street-Ruby couplet and plans to redevelop the site for retail uses.The company, Magnolia Enterprises LLC, bought the property a

The Spokane area added far more jobs in both April and May than it had in any month since June 2001, the latest figures from the Washington state Department of Employment Security show.Some 3,800 more people had jobs in May than in the month, a