Avista lowered the natural gas rates for about 225,000 customers in Washington and Idaho this week after utility commissions approved a February request to lower rates due to declining wholesale prices.

For those in Washington, if you use an average of 67 therms per month, you’ll see a 6% decrease of $3.90. For those in Idaho, if you use an average of 62 therms per month, you’ll see a 5.7% decrease of $3.46.

These rates are based on the wholesale cost of natural gas. Avista says the price customers pay are driven heavily by that cost. 65% of a residential customer’s bill is the cost of natural gas. Their news release says there is no mark up to the customer so there is no impact on Avista’s earnings.

A Cheney man was arrested after a high speed chase ended in a crash near Wellpinit on the Spokane Indian Reservation early Friday morning.

Todd Toreson, 38, was trying to get away from Wellpinit Tribal Police when he failed to negotiate a turn at Ford-Wellpinit Road and State Route 231 and rolled into a ditch.

Toreson was arrested for driving under the influence and eluding officers, according to Washington State Patrol.

A passenger in the car was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center with minor injuries.

(Updated 12:16 p.m.) - SCRAPS called it the worst case of hooved animal cruelty it's ever seen. 95 animals were pulled from a farm near Elk last week from deplorable conditions. Many of them were emaciated.

SCRAPS says it's overwhelmed with the amount of support it's seen from the community following the rescue of these animals. SCRAPS Development Coordinator Jackie Bell says people have donated money, supplies and that many are now adopting the animals and providing them a new home.

All of the goats and sheep rescued in the seizure. SCRAPS director, Nancy Hill says six horses and seven llamas still need homes. As of right now, they have two Arab mares, three quarter horse mares, and one quarter horse gelding. All the remaining llamas are females. 

The adoption fee for a horse is $125 and for a llama is $50. If you're interested in adopting these animals, go to SCRAPS at 2521 N. Flora Road in Spokane Valley to fill out an adoption application. The shelter is open between noon and 5:30.