Kim Crompton

Ridpath's top floors, annex put on block

Sealed bids to be accepted May 1 for parts of formerly prominent downtown hotel

March 26, 2009

The top two floors of the 13-story Ridpath Hotel tower downtown and the entire four-story annex just east of the tower are scheduled to be offered at auction May 1, in a nontraditional marketing approach, after developers' visions for both failed a

Aircraft painter might move here

Company's plan, 40 jobs depend on hangar loan

March 26, 2009

Kim Crompton

An Everett, Wash.-based commercial and military aircraft painting company plans to move its headquarters and about 40 jobs here if the Spokane Airport Board can secure a $3.9 million loan to construct a hangar facility for the company at Spokane on

Rendering courtesy of NAC/Architecture Inc.

School construction activity here eases, but still strong

Community colleges account for big share of anticipated projects

March 12, 2009

Kim Crompton

Education-related construction activity is slowing, due partly to economy-related concerns and funding constraints, but remains relatively strong, with projects collectively valued at upwards of $200 million currently under way or expected to begin

Washington Trust reports slimmer earnings for 2008

Spokane institution's assets climbed above $4 billion; loans, deposits keep rising

March 12, 2009

Kim Crompton

Spokane-based Washington Trust Bank reported sharply lower earnings for 2008, but says its loans, deposits, and assets all continued to grow at a healthy pace, despite the financial trauma that's plaguing the banking industry nationally.The held

Effort afoot to ease utilities' renewable-energy targets

Marr bill seeks to keep I-937 goals, but avoid big rate-shock impact

March 12, 2009

Kim Crompton

Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, is spearheading a bill in the Washington Legislature that aims to strengthen environmental standards spelled out by voter-approved Initiative 937, but give electric utilities more ways to meet the standards bill, Senate

Phosphorus ban disliked, working

Treatment-plant data show substantial pounds-per-day decline

March 12, 2009

Kim Crompton

A ban on high-phosphorus automatic-dishwasher detergents imposed last July 1 in Spokane County triggered a consumer backlash that lingers today, but appears in early data to be having the desired effect of reducing the amount of the nettlesome into

RiverBank cuts loss, grows loans, deposits, and assets

Three-year-old boutique institution anticipates smaller gains this year

February 26, 2009

Kim Crompton

RiverBank, which opened for business here in 2006, posted a loss of $282,000 for 2008, according to data it has filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.That's improved, though, from a loss of $797,000 in 2007, and President and CEO Duane a

AmericanWest saw losses mount in fourth quarter

Spokane-based bank lost $156 million, reduced assets by 10 percent in '08

February 26, 2009

Kim Crompton

AmericanWest Bank lost about $156 million in 2008, and saw loan volume fall but deposits tick upward slightly, while its total assets declined by 10 percent, say year-end financial documents it has filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. yet

Exploring artful dimensions

February 26, 2009

Kim Crompton

Dave Quinn aspired as a youth to fly jets for the U.S. Marine Corps, but decided instead during his four-year stint in the service that he wanted to focus on artistic endeavors—something he'd displayed a knack for since childhood.Now a of a

Avista, BPA reach proposed settlement of lengthy fight

Residential, small-farm ratepayers' utility bills will fall if pact is approved

February 26, 2009

Kim Crompton

Residential and small-farm customers of Spokane-based Avista Corp. could see a reduction in their utility bills beginning this spring if a proposed settlement of a longstanding dispute between Avista and the Bonneville Power Administration is say a