The evolution of downtown Spokane continues. This week, the historic Fox Theater reopened after a $31 million make-over.

The theater, which had been targeted for demolition to make way for a new parking lot, is now "part of a growing area called the Davenport Arts District," reports the Associated Press. The district includes "the restored Davenport Hotel, the 800-seat Bing Crosby Theater, The Big Easy concert hall, and numerous nightclubs and art galleries."

In addition, ground has been broken on a proposed new $40 million home for the YMCA and YWCA. The 80,000-square-foot building is on Monroe Street downtown. It marks the first time the two Y's have been partners.

So those are two feel-good developments. One that neighbors aren't so crazy about - a ruling by a Spokane city hearing examiner that opens the door for big-box retail on the South Hill. Neighbors seem resigned to the three lots being developed, says KXLY-TV, but they oppose a zone change that would allow the big stores because they feel that adjacent streets couldn't handle the traffic.

In technology news, a Spokane company is struggling to bring a new electric car to market, the narrow-bodied Tango.

According to the Spokesman-Review, Commuter Car Co. has survived so far mainly on contributions from some high-profile investors and buyers - including Google's Sergei Brinn and actor George Clooney. But with orders for 10, and only two delivered, the company's a long way from being able to get by on its own revenues.

"There's a very good possibility that once we've delivered these 10 cars, since many of our customers are billionaires, that we just ask them for more money," company president Rick Woodbury said. "But I think it's premature to ask for money right now because let's just prove we can do what we promised with what we've got and do it profitably."

IN YAKIMA, DELTA AIRLINES says it will suspend its afternoon flights from Salt Lake City due to decreasing passenger loads. A Delta spokesman hinted it was a seasonal issue - just not that many people fly in January and February, when the airline plans a six-week hiatus - but it seems likely to touch a nerve with leaders there, who came up with more than $600,000 to lure Delta to the airport.

Also touching a nerve -  a long-time local accountant is facing charges that he cooked the books to get away with more than $2 million from two fruit-packing companies between 1996 and 2005. The accountant, David Lenihan, has been charged with first-degree theft and is being held on $200,000 bail.

AND IN NEWS THAT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE Washington CEO readers, a Tourism Walla Walla survey shows that most visitors to the wine country are fairly affluent.

"The typical overnight visitor has an approximate average income of $109,000, travels here by private vehicle, stays more than three days at a time, visits more than seven wineries and uses the Internet to plan the trip," report my friends at the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.