OLYMPIA
State to increase online business license offerings
The Washington Department of Licensing has increased its offering of online business licenses, from five to more than 90, in a recent expansion of the Internet Master Business Application.
The department is making it easier for business owners to register for multiple licenses that are regulated by multiple state agencies.
Those include selling products such as cigarettes, wine, beer, and lottery tickets, as well as business licenses for 25 cities.
Please visit www.dol.wa.gov.
BINGEN
Insitu’s unmanned aircraft system used by university
Insitu Inc., a Boeing Co. subsidiary, has provided the University of North Dakota with its ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system, to be used in the nation’s only program offering a bachelor of science in aeronautics unmanned aircraft systems operations.
The university is a designated U.S. Department of Defense Center of Excellence for UAS Research, Education and Training. It used funds provided by the U.S. Air Force to acquire its ScanEagle system.
The UAS system will enable students to learn on state-of-the-art equipment and participate in research activities. Insitu is headquartered in Bingen with offices in Vancouver.
For information on the UND program, visit www.uasresearch.org.
CINCINNATI
Procter & Gamble results better than expected in 1Q
Procter & Gamble Co., the world’s largest consumer products company, reported better-than-expected first-quarter results Thursday and forecast a better outlook after a year of households cutting spending and trading down to cheaper brands.
The maker of Tide and Pampers reported profit was off 1 percent at $3.35 billion, or 1.06 per share, compared to $3.31 billion, or $1.03 per share, a year ago. Sales fell 6 percent to $19.8 billion.
This was the first quarter under new CEO Bob McDonald, who has pledged to aggressively win back market share from lower-priced competitors and store brands. The company cut prices across 10 percent of its broad portfolio, stepped up advertising focused on offering value, and adding cheaper versions of Pampers diapers and feminine-care and toothpaste products
Washington
Mortgage rates inch up
Rates for 30-year home loans climbed to 5.03 percent this week, the third consecutive weekly increase.
The average rate inched up from 5 percent a week earlier, mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday. The last time the average was higher was the week of September 24, when rates averaged 5.04 percent.
