Tod Stephens

Current Position: correspondent

Tod Stephens is a business correspondent for The Spokesman-Review. He joined the newspaper in July 2023 as a business writer. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with degrees in English Studies and Economics. He previously covered business, education and military beats at the Rapid City Journal in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Email: tods@spokesman.com

All Stories

News > Local business

Survival of the delicious: Downtown Spokane’s newest bars and restaurants

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 15, 2024

Spokane’s restaurants and bars are struggling, but that hasn’t stopped a cohort of new owners .

News > Business

The Dirt: Residential community planned for Latah Valley

Sun., Oct. 13, 2024

The Latah Glen Residential Community, a contentious development planned for the Latah Valley neighborhood, is set to include 157 single-family homes.

News > Spokane

Beloved Five Mile farmhouse may be demolished for apartments

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 10, 2024

Four three-story apartments buildings could soon replace a historic home on the Five Mile Prairie. But developer says the home suffered significant water damage and argues the city is in desperate need of affordable housing.

News > Local business

The Dirt: New brewpub planned for downtown Spokane

Sun., Oct. 6, 2024

What previously housed Mountain Lakes Brewing Co. may soon be home to Bardic Brewing and Cider.

News > Agriculture

Potato manufacturer Lamb Weston to lay off hundreds in Connell

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 2, 2024

Soon, 379 workers at a Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. potato processing plant in Connell, Washington, will be out of a job.

News > Washington

Washington’s new minimum wage for 2025 is set

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 1, 2024

Every year, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries sets a new minimum wage.

News > Business

North Spokane Walmart not sold on self-checkout

Mon., Sept. 30, 2024

Self-service checkout stations at retail and grocery stores have grown to be staples of the shopping experience. But times are changing.

News > Business

Private firefighting company opens location in Post Falls

Fri., Sept. 27, 2024

Wildfire Defense Systems Inc. has an army of certified firefighters and a fleet of emergency vehicles, but they’re not typical fire responders. As a private company, the mission of its workers isn’t to fight fires, but to save homes.

News > Business

The Dirt: 64 residential units planned for South Hill

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 27, 2024

On Spokane’s South Hatch Street, a developer is planning to erect three, three-story residential buildings on a roughly two-acre plot.

News > Local business

New bar and cafe opens as part of a Davenport Hotel remodel

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 20, 2024

A remodel of a portion of the Davenport Hotel lobby was unveiled to the public Friday – and nothing about it is minimalistic.

News > Business

The Dirt: Saltese Creek multifamily project acquires funding

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 20, 2024

About $25 million of construction financing has been secured for the development of Saltese Creek, a 192-unit multifamily project being built just south of the intersection of Tschirley Road and 6th Ave in Spokane Valley.

News > Business

New manufacturing plant slotted for airport area

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 18, 2024

A new manufacturing plant planned near the Spokane International Airport could bring about 300 jobs to the West Plains.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Billionaire found dead in private lake north of Spokane

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 16, 2024

Daniel Reiner, an investor of companies worth billions of dollars, was found dead last month in a Pend Oreille County Lake he owned with his wife.

News > Local business

210-unit apartments underway near downtown Spokane

Sat., Sept. 14, 2024

Work to build a 210-unit apartment building near downtown is underway. It will consist of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units and a parking garage.

News > Business

The Dirt: New health clinic planned for Spokane

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 7, 2024

Frontier Behavioral Health and CHAS Health are partnering for a new clinic on East Sprague Avenue, according to plans submitted to the city of Spokane.

News > Local business

New Spokane Business Association makes public debut, determined to quash downtown crime

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 13, 2024

After forming its board of directors, hiring a CEO and hosting a dinner event for about 700 guests, next up for the Spokane Business Association is solving Spokane’s most prominent issues.

News > Transportation

Spokane International Airport gets $18 million from Biden administration

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 9, 2024

The Spokane International Airport has nabbed $18 million in federal funds for upgrades.

News > Local business

Spokane’s largest buildings face uncertainty, potential

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 9, 2024

Designed, at least partly, by renowned architect Kirtland Cutter, the Peyton Building is one of Spokane's oldest structures and sits on what had been known as downtown's "million-dollar corner."

News > Business

CdA Spokesman-Review building sold to bank

Wed., Sept. 4, 2024

Mountain West Bank has purchased the former Spokesman-Review building in Coeur d’Alene.

News > Business

Spokane County settles $5 million debt to Costco

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 30, 2024

In 2017, Spokane County promised to pay Costco about $5 million if it built one of its wholesale retail stores in its jurisdiction. Now it's time to pay up.

News > Business

The Dirt: U-Haul planning new building downtown Spokane

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 30, 2024

According to preliminary plans submitted to the city of Spokane, developers are looking to construct a five-story, self-storage facility at a parking lot once used by customers of the iconic restaurant, Dick’s Hamburgers.

News > Business

Amazon on the Palouse? Unnamed warehouse development planned near Pullman airport

Wed., Aug. 28, 2024

A warehouse and distribution center is being planned near the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, and it just might be a location of one of the world's largest companies.

News > Business

Avista’s Vermillion stepping down; Rosentrater to become first woman to lead company as CEO

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 27, 2024

Avista Corp. announced Monday that longtime CEO Dennis Vermillion will be stepping down early next year and will be replaced by Heather Rosentrater, who will become the first woman to lead the utility in its 135-year history.