Region in brief: Air stagnation advisory issued

The National Weather Service in Spokane issued an air stagnation advisory through noon Thursday for nearly all of Spokane County as well as counties closer to the Canadian border in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

The advisory indicates that stable high pressure over the region is preventing dust and smoke in the lower elevations from dispersing, raising the risk that pollution could reach unhealthy levels. Colder air near the ground during calm winter days concentrates pollution. Air quality in Spokane on Tuesday afternoon was in the moderate range.

The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency had not issued any burning restrictions as of Tuesday, but continued its request that residents heating with wood burn as cleanly as possible.

Included in the advisory are Spokane, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Ferry, Okanogan and parts of Chelan counties in Washington, and Bonner, Boundary and the northwest portion of Kootenai counties in North Idaho. Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls were not in the advisory area.

Boise

House panel OKs gas tax deals

Four fuel tax agreements that Gov. Butch Otter negotiated with Idaho Indian tribes cleared the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday with just one dissenting vote.

State Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard, told the panel, “I agree with this myself, but I have a district that does not, and they come down pretty hard on it. So I will have to be voting against it.”

The resolution ratifying the agreements earlier passed the Senate unanimously; it now heads to the full House.

The agreements with the Coeur d’Alene, Nez Perce, Kootenai and Shoshone-Bannock tribes provide that the tribes will charge gas taxes equal to the state’s gas tax. They also require the tribes to spend their tax proceeds on transportation needs. Last year, lawmakers passed legislation to impose the state’s gas tax on tribal gas stations if tribes didn’t reach agreements with the governor by Dec. 1. All four agreements met that deadline.

Bill raises penalty for some scams

A bill that would increase penalties for financial scams that target the elderly and people with disabilities has been sent to the House floor.

The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee unanimously approved the measure Tuesday.

The proposal would let victims recover triple the lost amount or $15,000, whichever is greater.

It would only apply to the disabled and people 62 or older who have lost their homes, essential assets or 25 percent of their income or retirement accounts.

The Idaho Consumer Protection Act already allows any consumer to recover damages, or a penalty of $1,000, from unlawful business practices.