DENVER-Electronic applications for commercial real estate loans have taken an eight-month-old company past the $1.4 billion mark for its September transactions. It is the second time since the firm was formed that transactions have surpassed $1 billion for the month.

LINCOLN COUNTY, NC-Fitch, an international rating and research agency, has assigned an AA rating to Lincoln County's $7.5 million general obligation bonds.

BEND, OR-The privately-held scientific research and development firm is spending more than $13 million to create a new facility dedicated to producing clinical-trial drugs for its longtime pharmaceutical client Pfizer, which merged with Warner-Lambert Company in June.

SEATTLE-The proposal is intended to make it easier for the city to punish owners who raise rents or send eviction notices to renters who complain about apartment conditions. Owners fear it would limit their ability to evict bad tenants and penalize silent partners who have no knowledge of a violation.