News Briefs

Cheney, ML food banks receive Avista assistance

Non-profits in Avista’s service areas in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska will be able to help more families in need this holiday season with over $500,000 in seasonal contributions made by Avista Corporation and the Avista Foundation.

The support announced Dec. 15 will help fund programs, including food banks, energy assistance, shelter and clothing and holiday meals.

According to a news release, $43,351 went to regional food banks. That included $400 donations to both the Cheney and Medical Lake food banks.

The two largest donations went to Project Share, $215,000, with $200,000 going to CARES (Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Services) to provide emergency energy assistance this winter. The total value of Avista’s grants and donations for 2016 is more than $2.1 million from both corporate and foundation sources.

BBB warns of online scams during holidays

An Arkansas woman lost $450 to a fake seller on the Amazon Marketplace. The Better Business Bureau of the Northwest is offering the following tips to help consumers not fall into the same situation during last minute holiday shopping.

Be cautious of shopping online. Because many retailers now have chip card readers, fraud at bricks-and-mortar stores is down. To combat this, scammers have shifted their efforts online. Use a credit (not debit) card online and only shop on secure websites. Look for https in the address (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and for a lock symbol.

Spot look-alike websites. Watch out for URLs that use the names of well-known brands along with extra words. Even the confirmation email can be deceiving.

Say no to unusual forms of payment. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for holiday purchases using prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, third parties, etc. These payments cannot be traced and cannot be undone.

Avoid free gift cards. Pop-up ads or emails offering free gift cards are often just a ploy to get personal information that can later be used for identity theft.

State Patrol holiday DUI patrols begin

Washington State Patrol (WSP) Troopers and other law enforcement agencies are conducting extra DUI patrols across the state this holiday season, from now to Jan. 1. The extra patrols will target impaired drivers that are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. 

There is an increase in the number of fatal crashes involving drivers under the influence during the holidays. According to a WSP news release, at least 40 people die in traffic crashes on Washington roads every December.

The greatest increase involves drivers with a combination of alcohol and drugs or a combination of drugs. This number went from 78 in 2011 to 146 deaths in 2015, an increase of 68 in five years. 

The State Patrol continues to strive to reach its Target Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities or serious injury collisions by the year 2030. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission funds these patrols to increase everyone’s safety on our roads.