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Final Hoopfest registration deadline is Monday

Final Hoopfest registration deadline is Monday

You have until Monday, May 20th, to get those Hoopfest entries in. This is the final deadline to play in the largest three on three basketball tournament in the world.

Unfortunately, the deadline for guaranteed entry has already passed, this entries made for the Monday deadline will be granted on a space available basis. But don't fret, even if you aren't able to play there are still plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Hoopfest is still need of general volunteers as well as people to act as court monitors. 

Visit http://spokanehoopfest.net to register as a player or to sign up as a volunteer.

Spokane Wineries celebrate Spring release

Spokane Wineries celebrate Spring release

The Spokane Winery Association is holding it's annual Mother's Day Spring Release Weekend, so tell mom you love and appreciate her with a bottle of wine or an afternoon of tasting.

Spring is when wineries release their selections for the season and local wineries are celebrating with tasting events and other festivities. There are 21 Washington wineries featured at 17 local tasting rooms throughout the area.

The Mother's Day Spring Release Weekend events run from 12pm-6pm through Sunday, May 12th, at area wineries and tasting rooms. Tasting fees vary depending on the location. You can download a map of local places at http://www.spokanewineries.net 

Avista Energy Resource Team goes mobile

Avista Energy Resource Team goes mobile

Avista Utilities is taking their services on the road setting up their mobile Energy Resource Team in communities throughout the area. Today, they were in the Spokane Valley with Second Harvest's mobile food bank offering tips and supplies to make homes more energy efficient.

 

“The biggest goal is to educate people on ways to conserve energy in their homes,” says Ana Matthews, a Consumer Affairs Program Manager with Avista. The Energy Resource Team provides resources and materials to help people who are struggling lower their monthly bills and set them up with resources such as SNAP when they need more help.

 

Avista workers handed out bags with rope caulk, window insulation kits, fridge coil cleaners and compact florescent light bulbs to help get homes on their way to a lower bill. Matthews says the biggest energy sucker is drafts in the home and they come from places you might not think to look such as your outlets.

 

Footloose in the Palouse turns your attic finds into eBay treasure

Footloose in the Palouse turns your attic finds into eBay treasure

Do you know what collectibles may be lurking in your attic? A new business in Rockford is here to help you turn those attic finds into cash treasures.

 

Laurie and Bill Benson opened Footloose in the Palouse, an eBay consignment business in early March, and so far they've been greeted with great enthusiasm.

 

“Everyday is like Christmas, you never know what's going to walk through the door,” says Laurie adding that they'll sell anything online. The Benson's are working hard to not only sell items on eBay for their clients, but also to educate the community on what has become collectible.

 

Adopt-A-Room brings the comforts home to families battling cancer

Adopt-A-Room brings the comforts home to families battling cancer

Every year the Ronald McDonald House in Spokane serves over 700 families from around the region. With the Adopt-A-Room program local businesses can help make their stay a little more comfortable.

 

The Ronald McDonald House provides an escape for families while their children receive medical care at local hospitals. The only requirement to stay is that you have to have traveled more than 40 miles from home. Residence is free of charge. Adopt-A-Room helps make the stay free for families, and helps make those room feel a little more like home.

 

Ferrante's Marketplace Cafe has sponsored Room 16 since 2011. To help fund the room adoption all the profits at the cafe from today and tomorrow will go to the Ronald McDonald House. Tony Ferrante owns the cafe along with his wife Bobbie, and says it feels great to know that they are helping families and children.

 

Pink tractor at the finish line

Pink tractor at the finish line

Race for the Cure runners will be greeted by something new at the finish line this year. A bright pink tractor. Northwest Farm Credit Services have been working with volunteers and donors from across the North Idaho and Eastern Washington region to get the tractor ready in time for its race day debut.

 

Northwest FCS is the finish line sponsor at this year's Race for the Cure and they wanted something big to greet finishers. Jennifer Rohrer, the Public Relations Communications Coordinator, saw a picture of a pink tractor online and thought it would be a great way to represent the communities that they serve.

 

Washington's March unemployment rate drops to 7.3 percent

After strong monthly job gains in Washington earlier this year, that momentum appears to have slowed.

Washington state's unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent last month, the lowest rate in more than four years.

According to the Associated Press, the state saw a decrease of 5,500 jobs from February. An estimated 254,000 people in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in March, including more than 136,000 who claimed unemployment benefits.

More than 3,100 unemployed workers ran out of unemployment benefits last month. A total of 135,236 people have exhausted their benefits since extended benefits were activated in July 2008.