Washington utility increases power rates for bitcoin mining
EPHRATA, Wash. — A utility in central Washington has increased electricity rates for cryptocurrency miners.
The Capital Press reported that Grant County Public Utility District commissioners adopted a new rate for so-called mining operations. Those firms use stacks of computer servers and a lot of electricity to produce Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies that exist electronically.
Commissioner Tom Flint told some miners Tuesday that their industry is risky and unregulated and he wanted to make sure other ratepayers were protected.
Miners have flocked to the region because of its cheap hydroelectric power. Since last summer, the utility has gotten inquiries from those wanting to access to a lot of power.
Chelan County PUD currently has moratorium on power applications from cryptocurrency miners as it considers a proposed rate for the industry.
Police arrest suspect in fatal boat ramp shooting
PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland police have arrested a man on suspicion of fatally shooting another man at a Portland boat ramp in August.
According to law enforcement officials, 30-year-old Jamias L. Hart-Resberry was arrested Saturday on charges of murder, unlawful delivery of cocaine and violating his parole. Police said Hart-Resberry is suspected of shooting 47-year-old Andre D. Pennington at the M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp on August 20. Details surrounding the shooting have not been released.
Police said 16 people have died via homicide in Portland so far in 2018. Thirteen of those deaths were because of shootings.
Montana State Title IX head leaves in midst of lawsuit
BOZEMAN, Mont. — The administrator responsible for upholding protections against sex discrimination at Montana State University has left her position in the midst of a federal lawsuit accusing her and the university of bias.
University spokesman Tracy Ellig told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle that Jyl Shaffer had a “change of status” Aug. 3 and is now teaching as an adjunct instructor in American Indian studies. He said the change in the office overseeing Title IX is permanent but wouldn’t discuss whether it was initiated by Shaffer or the university.
Former student Erik Powell sued the school last year after he was kicked him off campus after he spoke against transgender people during a private meeting with a teacher.
The university said Powell used threatening language which is not protected speech. Powell denies using threatening language.
U.S. House committee to discuss dams at field hearing in Pasco
PASCO — The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee is meeting in Washington state this month to discuss economic benefits provided by the Columbia and Snake river dams.
The Sept. 10 hearing was scheduled in Pasco at the request of Washington Republican Dan Newhouse. The Tri-City Herald reported Newhouse says the hearing is intended to educate Congress and others about benefits of the federal Columbia River power system and help dispel misinformation.
Some groups are pushing to tear down four dams on the Snake River in Washington to restore salmon runs and provide more fish for struggling orcas.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon has found that not enough is being done to improve salmon runs and has ordered a federal environmental review of the power system. He said the review must consider breaching the dams as one option to protect imperiled fish.
3 years for woman who ran over, killed Kitsap County man
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — A woman who ran over and killed a Kitsap County man who was out for his regular morning walk has been sentenced to three years in prison.
The Kitsap Sun reported that 29-year-old Ali Rochelle Giannini was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to hit-and-run resulting in the death of 61-year-old Michael Dale Keaton in July. She told investigators she fell asleep, hit something and kept driving.
In a letter to Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes, Giannini said she was sorry for what she had done. She called it a “tragic accident,” and said she is engaging in church, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and healthy relationships so that she can be there for her now 3-month-old daughter when she gets out of prison.
Seattle police: International District death a homicide
SEATTLE — Seattle police officers say the investigation into the death of a 56-year-old man is being treated as a homicide.
According to the Seattle Times, police were dispatched on Saturday after receiving a report a man was bleeding from the leg in Seattle’s International District. First responders say the man — whose name has not been released —was unresponsive when they found him and he was later pronounced dead.
Det. Mark Jamieson said the medical examiner is determining the case of the man’s death and officers were following up on leads, but declined to disclose if officers were looking a particular suspect.
