In brief: Avista seeking gas, electricity rate cut

Avista’s Washington customers could see a slight rate reduction beginning Aug. 1 as a result of changes to surcharges that pay for the electric and gas utility’s energy efficiency programs.

Avista is seeking the decreases to balance funds in a program that pays out rebates and incentives to customers who cut their power use by installing energy-efficient appliances and furnaces, insulating their homes or other means. The changes must be reviewed and approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

If the utility’s request is approved, typical residential electric customers would see a 1.9 percent decrease on their bills, on average a $1.47 monthly reduction.

Typical residential natural gas customers would see a 1.3 percent decrease on their bills, on average a 79 cent monthly reduction.

Avista paid out $11.4 million in rebates to more than 28,000 Washington customers last year.

Police say man, 32, urinated on mall wall

A man was arrested for urinating inside River Park Square in downtown Spokane on Thursday.

Christopher Robin Hanson, 32, was “rendered unconscious” after he threatened a security officer who confronted him and fought with officers who arrested him Thursday about 10:20 p.m. at the mall at 808 W. Main Ave., according to court documents. The mall is owned by The Cowles Co., which also publishes The Spokesman-Review.

The security officer, Benjamin Hill, told officers he saw Hanson urinate on a wall and door inside the building. Officer Scott Lesser tried to “gain arm control” of Hanson but Hanson refused and a struggle ensued. Police did not detail how Hanson was knocked out, but they said he later kicked Officer Ron Van Tassel as he was placed into a patrol car.

Hanson was booked into jail for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, third-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief.

Former bailiff accused of sexual abuse of child

A bailiff at the Kootenai County courthouse is no longer employed by the county after he was arrested on child sex abuse charges.

Jack David McPike, 31, of Athol, is accused of sexually abusing a girl from 2006 until this month, when the girl told a school counselor about the abuse and the counselor contacted the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

Detectives arrested McPike in the parking lot of the Kootenai County Courthouse on May 17 as he was leaving work. McPike had been a bailiff there since August.

A Kootenai County human resources employee confirmed Friday McPike was no longer employed as of May 18. She said she couldn’t say whether he was fired or quit.

McPike has pleaded not guilty to charges of infamous crime against nature, lewd conduct with a minor and sexual abuse of a child. He remains in the Kootenai County Jail on $50,000 bond.

WSU campus fires will cost $860,000

Three suspicious fires that recently left two buildings in ruins on Washington State University’s Pullman campus caused an estimated $860,000 in damage.

The fires broke out in two university-owned apartment complexes and a veterinary research facility in the span of one week. The short time frame and close vicinity of the blazes has led investigators to deem the fires suspicious.

The worst damage occurred on May 26 at the community center for the Chief Joseph Village apartments. University officials project it will cost $480,000 to replace the charred building.

Firefighters arrived at the scene of the most recent fire in McCoy Hall early Tuesday morning. Sprinklers quelled the flames and spared the building, but the water and fire together took an $80,000 toll, mainly destroying furniture and lab equipment.

Mayor Glenn Johnson, who acts as a spokesman for the Pullman Fire Department, said it’s clear that an arsonist is responsible for the McCoy fire. The scene showed signs of a break-in and several spots where someone ignited materials were found in the building.

The first fire erupted at the community center for the Nez Perce Village apartments on May 22, less than a mile away from the second fire. Replacing the building will come at an estimated cost of $300,000.