Linn Parish

Wellness incentives stir increased participation

More employers here said offering financial rewards as inducement to workers

February 14, 2013

Spokane-area employers that offer wellness programs in some cases are seeing an uptick in employee participation, in part because incentives for participation have become more compelling.Kathy Worden, co-owner of Spokane-based Workwell LLC, a

Merchant Services Direct made false advertising claims, BBB alleges

Merchant Services Direct takes down its website while pursuing resolution

January 31, 2013

Linn Parish

The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Montana says Spokane Valley-based electronic payment processing company Merchant Services Direct LLC has made advertising claims that may be misleading. Chelsea Dannen, of at

Paine Hamblen law firm expands into Walla Walla

Paine Hamblen forms informal joint venture with small firm there

January 31, 2013

Linn Parish

Paine Hamblen LLP, of Spokane, has opened a satellite office in Walla Walla and has formed an informal joint venture with Walla Walla-based Virtual In-House Counsel PLLC. Jane E. Brown, managing partner at the 110-year-old Spokane law firm, says

Innovate Washington is ready to grow

Technology-focused economic development group to bolster staff, develop energy hub

January 17, 2013

Linn Parish

Quietly operating for a year and a half as a statewide technology-related economic development agency, Innovate Washington expects to make more noise in the coming year. As it does so, Innovate Washington CEO Kim Zentz says, the organization's a

Spokane-area public companies' special dividends hit at year-end

Moves could lessen shareholders' tax burdens

December 20, 2012

Linn Parish

In light of uncertainty over what will happen to federal tax rates in 2013, at least a couple of the Inland Northwest's large publicly-traded companies have issued special dividends as this year comes to a close. These companies are following a

Inland Imaging installs arm-leg MRI at Holy Family

New device touted to be comfortable for patients, frees up larger machines

December 6, 2012

Linn Parish

Inland Imaging LLC, of Spokane, has added a magnetic-resonance imaging machine designed specifically for scanning patients' arms and legs. Installed last month at the company's imaging center in Providence Holy Family Hospital, at 5715 N. on the

Drug testing practices expected to stay the same despite new marijuana laws

Employers are expected to keep existing policies in place despite I-502

December 6, 2012

Linn Parish

When new laws regulating marijuana use go into effect today, Dec. 6, those employed in workplaces that routinely test for drugs probably will still want to refrain from toking up. Chances are good that Washington state employers that prohibited

Rockwood Retirement redesigns its planned Summit tower

South Hill retirement center to start $51 million project next summer, CEO says

November 21, 2012

Linn Parish

Rockwood Retirement Communities, of Spokane, has redesigned The Summit retirement-apartment tower project planned for its Rockwood South Hill campus, making it taller, more slender, and less expensive to build. With the redesign, the plans to on

Four community banks report increased earnings in Q3

Despite low interest rate environment, some find ways to boost total assets

November 8, 2012

Linn Parish

Four community bank companies that have a presence in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area have reported increases in third-quarter net income.Two of those banks had posted a loss during the third quarter of 2011.While all are reporting challenges in

Sustainable investment effort gains traction, some say

Groups work to connect investors with entrepreneurs involved in green companies

November 8, 2012

Linn Parish

For two years, Dan Grady funded Winfiniti Inc. himself and with the help of friends and family.For the next phase of development for the startup that makes building-efficiency management software, Winfiniti sought and got help from a new friend,