In brief: Avista proposes lowering Idaho rates

Avista has proposed reducing its rates for its Idaho customers this fall in response to lower natural gas prices and lower power supply costs.

Residential electric customers using an average of 939 kilowatt-hours per month would see their monthly bills decrease by $1.09, to $79.46.

Residential natural gas customers using an average of 60 therms a month would see their monthly bills drop by $4.42, to $51.36.

This would be the second natural gas price cut this year for Avista’s Idaho customers, for an overall rate decrease of 14 percent.

The lower rates would take effect Oct. 1 if the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves them.

Scott Maben

Man pulled from Spokane River dies

A man rescuers pulled from the Spokane River on Friday night has died.

The man, who a family member identified as Clarence R. Keesler, was attempting to cross the river from the north shore to the south shore near Boulder Beach when he started calling for help about 15 to 20 feet from the shore. He was underwater for five to 10 minutes before witnesses pulled him out of the river, brought him to a dock and attempted CPR.

Medics arrived and transported him to Deaconess Medical Center.

The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed an autopsy found Keesler died of drowning Friday.

Witnesses at the scene said he may have been intoxicated.

Chelsea Bannach

Idaho Supreme Court to hear election case

The Idaho Supreme Court will take the opportunity during its semiannual visit to Coeur d’Alene to hear arguments in the case of a candidate who challenged his five-vote loss in the 2009 election.

Jim Brannon filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the election following his loss to incumbent Mike Kennedy in the November 2009 election for Coeur d’Alene City Council.

The state’s high court accepted review and will hear oral arguments on the case at 11:10 a.m. on Sept. 19 at the Kootenai County Courthouse, Idaho Supreme Court Clerk Stephen Kenyon said.

Thomas Clouse