Week in review

Tuesday

The rate Washington customers of Avista Utilities pay for electricity is tied for the cheapest rate in the West, with that of Seattle City Light, the municipal utility serving Seattle, according to a seven-state survey of a dozen utilities done by the Lee Newspapers group.

“ExpressJet Airlines CEO James Ream visited Spokane as his company launched two daily nonstop flights to San Diego, bringing to seven the daily nonstops the new airline has added this spring between Spokane and California.

Wednesday

A business loan program run by Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs has made about $700,000 in loans to cover start-up costs for 110 small businesses in the 10 years since the microenterprise program began.

Thursday

Former Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Co. executive Thomas Turner testified in his criminal trial that he was following orders from his boss, C. Paul Sandifur Jr., when he signed off on a controversial real estate deal that contributed to the company’s demise.

“Residential and small farm customers of Washington’s private utilities, including Avista, will see an immediate increase in their monthly electricity bills after state regulators passed along the effect of a recent federal appeals ruling against the Bonneville Power Administration. Avista customers in Washington and Idaho will see increases of $5 to $6 per month.

Friday

Agilent Technologies Inc. will layoff about a quarter of its Liberty Lake work force over the next year, executives announced. The roughly 75 employees are part of the unit that develops equipment to test cell phones.

“Safeco Insurance has devised a high-tech solution for parents who want to keep tabs on their teens’ driving habits. The device will send e-mail or cell phone alerts to parents if their children are speeding or straying outside a designated driving zone.

“Mayor Dennis Hession has selected Theresa Sanders, who was second in command at the Spokane Area Economic Development Council until last year, as the city’s new economic development director. The position will pay $103,252 annually.

Saturday

Jurors found former Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Co. executive Thomas Turner guilty on all three counts charged against him in the first criminal trial related to the demise of the Spokane company. Turner was charged with lying, misleading and hiding salient information from investors.