TACOMA, WA-Don L Hirtzel is the new executive vice president and manager for Columbia Bank's northern region. The locally based full-service commercial bank is looking to Herzl to increase its presence in King County.

AUSTIN-Texas environmentalists and voters have nipped a plan to pump $1.5 million per year into Austin's coffer, $900,000 into the Austin Convention Center and $2.8 million into Austin Energy. The pool of money would have come from a 400-acre hotel-golf course project.

SAN MATEO, CA-A San Mateo County Superior Court judge rules that the city must hold more public hearings and then vote again on the project because certain statutes governing the permanent closure of a public street were not followed.

CHICAGO- In its quarterly conference call, management says it has sold 17 properties since the end of 3Q for $245 million. CEO says the strategic shift into supply-constrained markets will begin to show in next year's results.