Newsbriefs

Privatizing BPA nixed

Washington state members of the U.S. House of Representatives applauded the Trump Administration’s decision last week to abandon a plan to sell the Bonneville Power Administration’s assets.

The Department of Energy’s announcement came after the Washington congressional delegation urged the administration not to privatize BPA.

Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Dave Reichert (WA-08) issued a joint statement following Energy’s announcement.

“On behalf of the 12 million residents and businesses in the Pacific Northwest who rely on the clean, affordable hydropower generated from BPA, we applaud the Administration for responding to our concerns over the potential sale of BPA’s transmission assets and making the formal decision to abandon such plans,” they said in the statement.

Coulee Dam employees trade benefits

Faced with increased deductibles and copays in their health insurance plan, Coulee Dam city employees got a concession May 9 when the town council approved a cheaper benefit negotiated between Mayor Larry Price and the employees this spring.

Employees will now be able to draw from a health savings account to offset the change from a $10 copay to a policy that requires $3,000 out of pocket expenses, plus a $250 deductible, Clerk Stefani Bowden told the council.

The change will actually save the town money, at $550 a month as opposed to $1,000.

Price said the employees all wanted it.

Whooping cough in county

The Grant County Health District warns that it has confirmed four cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in the county.

The health district said the overall risk to the community is low, but noted there is “potential for more cases to occur.”

The illness is often mistaken for a common cold, because harsher symptoms may not develop for two weeks.

Early symptoms can last for one to two weeks and usually include:

• runny nose

• low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)

• mild, occasional cough

• apnea – a pause in breathing (in babies)

Late symptoms — After one to two weeks and as the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include:

• paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop”

• vomiting during or after coughing fits

• exhaustion after coughing fits

If household members are experiencing symptoms, the health district asks that you contact your healthcare provider.