Business & Economy
Business & Economy
![Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced an extension of the state's stay home, stay healthy measures through May, while unveiling a four-phase economic reopening and recovery plane. CREDIT: TVW](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Governor-Jay-Inslee-stay-home-extension-050120-500x500.jpg)
Jay Inslee Extends Coronavirus Closures Through May, Outlines Phased Plan To Reopen
Washington’s ‘stay home’ order will extend until at least May 31. On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the new time frame and that businesses will be able to open over four phases.
![File photo. Gov. Brad Little speaks March 13, 2020 at a news conference. On Wednesday, April 15, he extended a stay-at-home order to the end of April, saying it’s needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. CREDIT: Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman via AP](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Brad-Little-Governor-of-Idaho-coronavirus-031320-CREDIT-Darin-Oswald-Idaho-Statesman-via-AP-500x500.jpeg)
Idaho Gov. Brad Little Begins Lifting Stay-Home Measures To ‘Re-open’ Economy
Idaho Governor Brad Little kicked off the process Thursday of “re-opening” the state after five weeks of “stay home, stay healthy” measures to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
![A County Library employee hands unemployment paperwork to residents in Tampa, Fla.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ap_20110571837301-bc1a79e39352a61daf4b47f92ea64c40490177c3-500x500.jpg)
A Staggering Toll: 30 Million Have Filed For Unemployment
Another 3.8 million people filed claims for unemployment last week, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to weigh on the U.S. job market. That brought the total for the past 6 weeks to 30.3 million.
![The U.S. economy shrank in the first quarter, as the coronavirus lockdown began.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ap_20106743582555-b0eededdbdf73a42281ae3c9939400bc75af63fc-500x500.jpg)
‘Tip Of The Iceberg’: Economy Shrinks At 4.8% Pace, But Worst Is Yet To Come
The economy contracted in the first quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus began to take its toll and spending dived. It’s the first quarterly drop in six years and a likely precursor to a deep recession.
![Frank Gullo and Jasmine Esposito-Gullo](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/img_6238_custom-71f5ca4ef04d988b9c309ad87d02e06b95544bfb-5-500x500.jpg)
3.4 Million Homeowners Skip Payments. But Many Are Scared, Say Congress Needs To Act
Homeowners say that to catch up on payments, lenders demand big balloon payments they can’t afford. Advocates want Congress to mandate that missed payments simply be added to the end of the loan term.
![Banks reported struggling to get through to the Small Business Administration on Monday to enter loan application information to the newly replenished small business relief program](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gettyimages-1210101894_wide-e9124114076a5f22ecf252ecc20e1a3c97d9a9c8-500x500.jpg)
Small Business Loans Site Crashes On First Day Of Reopening
Bankers tell NPR that the SBA’s portal wouldn’t allow them to enter the loan application information that is needed to access the PPP program.
![Energy analysts say coal use is down so much that some power plants might run out of room to stockpile it.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/coal-pile_wide-e1d8f4a4a3da63bfbd75fe3d1751b9c5a4ad1dd4-500x321.jpg)
Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Coal
Coal use has plummeted in part because it’s more expensive than natural gas or renewable energy. Mines are shutting down, and some power plants may run out of places to stockpile coal.
![Palouse Falls State Park is home to Washington's official state waterfall -- and large crowds in the spring runoff season.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Palouse-Falls-CREDIT-Tom-Banse-N3-500x500.jpg)
Washington Moves Toward Reopening Fishing, Hunting, Golfing, State Parks Beginning May 5
Fishing, hunting and golfing can resume on May 5 in Washington, at which time people can also return to state parks and other state lands for day trips, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday.
![The U.S. leg of Weezer's Hella Mega tour with Green Day and Fall Out Boy has yet to be canceled due to the coronavirus](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gettyimages-848706888-c52fc0e52f34cbd92564b2597f76438992ad89b5-500x500.jpg)
Why Ticket Holders Are Struggling To Get Refunds For Concerts And Live Events
Entertainment companies Live Nation and AEG have modified their refund policies for postponed events. Getting money back would depend on whether a concert or a game has a firm rescheduled date.
![President Trump a new coronavirus economic aid package, largely targeted to support small businesses, in the Oval Office on Friday. CREDIT: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gettyimages-1210880680_custom-a1007b4b89cc207facb49255c72fec6d5e24a9a4-500x500.jpg)
President Trump Signs New Coronavirus Bill For Small Businesses And Hospital Relief
The biggest item in the $484 billion measure is roughly $321 billion in additional funding for a small-business loan program. President Trump signed the legislation on Friday.
![Idaho has created a new website to share details of its new four-stage coronavirus reopening plan.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Idaho-Rebounds-Image-CREDIT-State-of-Idaho-500x500.jpg)
Gov. Brad Little Announces 4-Stage Reopening And Recovery Plan For Idaho
Idaho Gov. Brad Little has announced a four-stage plan for re-opening the state’s businesses and communities after closures due to the coronavirus. The first stage is scheduled to take effect May 1.
![Morgan Henry Kerr of Bellingham's Farmers Market monitors the new market entrance to monitor the number of people in the market so that physical distancing is maintained at all times.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Farmers-Market-Bellingham-3-500x500.jpg)
Inland Northwest Farmers Markets Hit By Coronavirus Closures Adapt To New Rules
While some elements of a farmers market are allowed — selling food and soap — other parts are not considered an “essential business” under Washington and Idaho’s orders. That means no more live music. No more kids’ activities. No seats. No touching the produce.