Washington jobless rate

falls to 9 percent

OLYMPIA - Washington's jobless rate has dropped to 9 percent - the lowest since March 2009, according to figures released Thursday by the state Employment Security Department.

The October rate compares with a revised figure of 9.2 percent for September and 9.4 percent in October of last year in the state.

The national jobless rate also is 9 percent.

With 4,600 jobs added in October in Washington, the department said the state has added jobs in 12 of the last 13 months.

A loss of 18,000 jobs reported in September was revised to a loss of 10,700 jobs.

"The October numbers showing slow, steady improvement are more consistent with what we've seen for more than a year," said Dave Wallace, a department economist. "It looks more likely that the September numbers were an anomaly."

Attorney disbarred for fraud, theft

BOISE - The Idaho Supreme Court has disbarred a Boise attorney who acknowledged taking more than $355,000 in fees from seven clients and refusing to provide an accounting or refund when they hired another attorney.

Rick Bergesen was disbarred on Oct. 31 and cannot seek re-admission to the Idaho State Bar for five years, The Idaho Statesman reported.

In order to gain readmission, he would have to prove he is fit to practice law and reimburse the state Client Assistance Fund for payments made as a result of his dishonest conduct. He would also have to refund all unearned fees to clients and others named in the disbarment complaint who did not receive full reimbursement.

Ada County prosecutors alleged Bergesen bilked client Joy L. Cassidy, 75, out of $152,000.

Cassidy hired Bergesen to represent her after she was charged with putting syrup, ketchup and mayonnaise in library drop boxes after being banned from the library.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Bergesen pleaded guilty to grand theft for taking a $1,100 retainer from a client after his license was suspended. A second theft charge was dismissed. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison and agreed to pay more than $150,000 in restitution to Cassidy and another client.

Wind farm canceled due to seabird

RICHLAND - Energy Northwest and four southwest Washington utilities have canceled the Radar Ridge wind power project, which had been proposed as the first major wind farm in western Washington.

Energy Northwest of Richland announced the decision Wednesday at a board meeting in Portland, Ore. About $4 million had been spent on the proposed project since 2007, about half of that from Energy Northwest.

New restrictions proposed for the project by U.S. Fish and Wildlife were unreasonable, said Jack Baker, Energy Northwest vice president for energy business services.

At issue was habitat for marbled murrelets, a seabird listed in 1992 as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Energy Northwest also was concerned about the soft market for wind power and the need to spend up to $750,000 to finish the regulatory process with an uncertain outcome.

The project would have built 32 wind turbines on state forest land in Pacific County to help meet requirements of Initiative 937, passed by Washington voters in 2006. The initiative set requirements for utilities to buy wind or other power the initiative defined as renewable.

The Pacific County, Grays Harbor, Clallam County and Mason County public utility districts were working with Energy Northwest to develop the 80 megawatt project. But all parties agreed a week before Wednesday's meeting that the project should be terminated, Baker said.

Olympia fast-food worker

arrested in credit card fraud

OLYMPIA - Detectives noticed something about all the Washington State Employees Credit Union members in Olympia who were reporting fraudulent use of their credit cards.

Everyone had used their cards at a fast-food restaurant in downtown Olympia.

Police said Thursday that investigators found a 17-year-old employee was using a skimming device to get the numbers, and then using them to buy electronics the teen sold on Craigslist.

Skimming machines and merchandise bought with fraudulent credit card numbers were found in a search of the suspect's home.

The teen was booked on identity theft and forgery charges.

Montana man gets 20 years for 9th DUI

HAMILTON, Mont. - A Corvallis man who crashed his motorcycle while intoxicated was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his ninth conviction of driving under the influence.

The Ravalli Republic reported District Judge Jeffrey Langton sentenced 57-year-old Robert Alan Bratten Wednesday.

Bratten was charged after an April 9 motorcycle crash. A test at the hospital found his blood-alcohol level was 0.298, more than three times the legal limit.

Ravalli County prosecutor Angela Wetzsteon noted that four of Bratten's DUI arrests occurred while he was under supervision and sought a prison sentence of 20 years with 10 suspended. The defense recommended a five-year suspended sentence and alcohol treatment.

From wire service reports