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Grant PUD considering Wanapum Dam embankment analysis
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will consider a proposal to hire the engineering firm Gannett Fleming to analyze the right embankment at Wanapum Dam to determine if it is at risk for erosion. If approved, the 10-year contract would cost a maximum of $15 million. “Our embankments were built well, and with the best practices of the time they were built,” said Rebecca Simpson, PUD engineering manager. Utility district engineer Logan Castle said during a presentation at the commission meeting Tuesday that the analysis would focus the embankment on the Grant County side, and would look at the potential for what Castle called internal erosion. Christine Pratt, PUD public information officer, said there is no risk to the public, but that utility district officials want to ensure the embankment remains stable. However, the construction method meant that some of the work was done in the water, what Simpson called,” in the wet,” which limited the options. Some sections of the embankment are at higher risk than others, she said...
Vaccine rollout barrels on with health disparity in backseat
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine to the right people could change the course of the pandemic in the United States. But who are the right people?
A rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout backfired in some US states
Despite the clamor to speed up the U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19 and get the country back to normal, the first three months of the rollout suggest faster is not necessarily better.
California, Florida, Texas lose House seats with Trump order
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If President Donald Trump succeeds in getting immigrants in the country illegally excluded from being counted in the redrawing of U.S. House districts, California, Florida and Texas would end up with one less congressional seat each than if every resident were counted, according to an analysis by a think tank.
California, Florida, Texas lose House seats with Trump order
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If President Donald Trump succeeds in getting immigrants in the country illegally excluded from being counted in the redrawing of U.S. House districts, California, Florida and Texas would end up with one less congressional seat each than if every resident were counted, according to an analysis by a think tank.
California, Florida, Texas lose House seats with Trump order
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If President Donald Trump succeeds in getting immigrants in the country illegally excluded from being counted in the redrawing of U.S. House districts, California, Florida and Texas would end up with one less congressional seat each than if every resident were counted, according to an analysis by a think tank.
Shoe test adds strange twist to Detroit wrongful conviction
DETROIT (AP) — Blood on the shoe of a 14-year-old Detroit boy who was convicted but subsequently cleared of four murders reveals DNA from one of the victims, state police said after a high-tech analysis by a private company.
Grant PUD commissioners approve rate increase
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners have approved electrical rates for 2018, effective April 1. The rates were approved at the regular commission Tuesday. The vote was 3-2, with commissioners Tom Flint and Dale Walker voting no. Residential rates will increase by 1.5 percent, an estimated $1.49 per month. The actual increase depends on use. General service (class 2) rates will go up by 2.1 percent, an estimated $6.43 per month. Irrigation customers (class 3) will receive a 3.4 percent increase, about $24.65 per month. Rates for large general customers (class 7) will go up one percent, an estimated $73.85 per month. Large industrial customers (class 15) will receive a rate increase of seven-tenths of 1 percent. Industrial customers, agriculture food processors and ag boiler customers all will receive a 5 percent increase. Commissioners approved a policy in 2014 that customers would pay at least 80 percent of the cost of providing them service, and not more than 15 percent over the cost of providing service. The actual cost of service is determined by a study, originally conducted in 2014 and updated periodically. The latest study is being conducted this year. Commissioners also have approved policies establishing a 2 percent overall increase each year for 10 years, beginning in 2014. Because rate classes have different costs of service, different rate classes will see different increases. Rates, rate structure and rate increases have been the subject of a lot of discussion at commission meetings the last few years. Commissioners have, over the years, outlined their positions on rates, and they reiterated those opinions at Tuesday’s meeting. “This is always a delicate subject, when you start talking about rate increases,” said commissioner Larry Schaapman. Schaapman and commissioner Terry Brewer said they thought the rate structure was a fair way to apportion costs. Schaapman said the cost analysis method inoculates the system against outside pressure, in his opinion. Commissioner Bob Bernd said analysis indicated a 2 percent increase across the board would make the disparities worse between rate classes. Bernd said he’s been on the commission long enough to remember situations with no rate increase one year and a 6 or 8 percent increase the next year. “Went through that, didn’t like if very well.” Flint said the current regular-but-small increases are “certainly more palatable” than periodic 6 or 10 percent increases. The commission has, in his opinion, set “a worthy goal, popular or unpopular,” Bernd said. Flint said he’s not necessarily opposed to a 2 percent increase, since the PUD has generated substantial debt to upgrade the turbines and generators at Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams. But he doesn’t like the way the increases are structured, he said, with rate increases for irrigators at more than 2 percent. Farmers and ranchers helped build Priest Rapids and Wanapum, he said, and deserve consideration. Walker said he has been consistent in his opposition to rate increases as long as the PUD has a substantial cash balance. Brewer said he’s in favor of a series of small increases as a more sound business practice, in his opinion, than small or no increases followed by large increases. Because the PUD is engaged in a multi-decade - and very expensive - upgrade project, the utility needs to keep money on hand to pay some of those costs, Brewer said.
The first step in managing plastic waste is measuring it – here's how we did it for one Caribbean country
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Planned Parenthood expanding Annapolis health center
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Planned Parenthood has expanded its health center in Annapolis, Maryland.
Vaccine rollout could ease crisis, but who gets it first?
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine to the right people could change the course of the pandemic in the United States. But who are the right people?
Securing the Budget You Truly Need! The Google Translate for Communicating to C-Suite
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Jan. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Mirochnik, CEO at HALOCK Security Labs and Board Member of The DoCRA Council, will be presenting at the
Coronavirus-linked hunger leads to more than 10,000 monthly child deaths over first year of pandemic, UN analysis finds.
HOUNDE, Burkina Faso (AP) — Coronavirus-linked hunger leads to more than 10,000 monthly child deaths over first year of pandemic, UN analysis finds.
The Fishin' Magician: Steelhead Season 2012
This year's steelhead season should open sometime the second week of the month to the middle of the month, according to Jeff Korth, Fish Manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Region 2. We have seen the fish counts over Priest Rapids Dam pass the 15,000 fish mark already and there are more on the way. This should make for a good season.
Judges: Trump can't exclude people from district drawings
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Saying the president had exceeded his authority, a panel of three federal judges on Thursday blocked an order from President Donald Trump that tried to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted when congressional districts are redrawn.
Judges: Trump can't exclude people from district drawings
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Saying the president had exceeded his authority, a panel of three federal judges on Thursday blocked an order from President Donald Trump that tried to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted when congressional districts are redrawn.
US officials: No new environmental study for nuclear lab
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The National Nuclear Security Administration says it doesn’t need to do an additional environmental review for Los Alamos National Laboratory before it begins producing key components for the nation’s nuclear arsenal because it has enough information.
US officials: No new environmental study for nuclear lab
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The National Nuclear Security Administration says it doesn’t need to do an additional environmental review for Los Alamos National Laboratory before it begins producing key components for the nation’s nuclear arsenal because it has enough information.
Facility analysis to be submitted to Othello School Board
OTHELLO — Othello School Board members will review recommendations for changes to district facilities, and eventually district patrons will get a look at those recommendations also.
Facility analysis to be submitted to Othello School Board
OTHELLO — Othello School Board members will review recommendations for changes to district facilities, and eventually district patrons will get a look at those recommendations also.