Workers’ average pay up by 5.4 percent

Washington workers earned 5.4 percent more on average last year than in 2005, making an average wage of $42,584, according to the state Employment Security Department.

Average weekly pay increased from $776 in 2005 to $818 last year, the largest jump since 1999, when workers received an 8.4 percent average boost, according to a department news release.

The increase will affect unemployment-insurance benefits and employers’ unemployment taxes, which are calculated in relation to average wages, according to the department. The minimum weekly benefit for jobless workers will increase from $116 to $122 on July 1. The maximum weekly benefit will increase from $496 to $515.

“The wage growth is yet another sign of how strong our economy is, and the increase in unemployment benefits further reflects that strength,” said Karen Lee, department commissioner.

Starting Jan. 1, companies will pay unemployment taxes on the first $34,000 paid per employee. The current threshold for the tax is $31,400. About 39 percent of state employers had workers making more than $31,400 in 2006.

spokane

Expedia.com ranks Davenport among best

The Davenport Hotel and Tower was recently ranked as one of the top hotels in the world by Expedia.com.

The 93-year-old Spokane hotel was ranked third in the United States and sixth in the world among more than 70,000 hotels, according to a joint news release from Expedia.com and The Davenport Hotel.

Spokane’s downtown gem was listed with hotels that are renowned worldwide, including The Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne, Fla., and The Peninsula Beijing in China. The select list represents the top 1 percent of the hotels that Expedia.com offers, the release said.

The ranking takes into account service, overall experience and notable value and draws from a collection of opinions of more than 300,000 travelers. It also factors in the opinions of nearly 300 market managers.

Controlled burn planned on North Side

Avista will complete a controlled burning of natural gas from 5:30 to 6:15 a.m. today in the 9100 block of North Market Street.

Residents and drivers may see flames during the burn-off. However, the company said, there will be no cause for concern. No customers will be affected.

Avista is conducting the burn-off as the company removes a distribution pipeline from operation while construction continues on the North/South Freeway, the release said.

If you smell gas:

•Don’t smoke, light matches, turn electrical switches on or off, use the telephone or do anything to create a spark.

•Open doors and windows, if possible.

People who hear natural gas escaping should evacuate their home or building and not return until Avista workers confirm that it is safe, the company said. Call the utility company from a neighbor’s phone to report the problem.

From staff reports