SEATTLE –  Attorney General Rob McKenna today urged homeowners to check out contractors they hire to help repair their storm-damaged homes and remove fallen trees caused by yesterday’s 40-50 mph winds.

“A quick fix may end up costing you much more than the job is worth if the repairs aren’t done properly,” McKenna said.

All contractors who do construction work in Washington must be registered with the state, post a bond and carry general liability insurance coverage.

SEATTLE – The Washington Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit today accusing a former Bremerton couple who sold magazine subscriptions on eBay of violating consumer protection laws. Attorney General Rob McKenna said more than 30,000 consumers nationwide purchased subscriptions but never received their magazines.

SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today recommended the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) reject a request by the Avista Corp. to increase revenues by over $55 million for its electric and natural gas customers.

Public Counsel represents the public in utility rate cases. Chief Simon ffitch called Avista’s rate request excessive.

Olympia – Attorney General Rob McKenna will recognize the courage of domestic violence survivors as special guest speaker at the 7th Annual Domestic Violence Survivor’s Recognition Day at 4 p.m. today at the Harrison Street Gallery at the Seattle Center.

OLYMPIA – More than 5,000 Washington residents become victims of identity theft each year according to reports from the Federal Trade Commission. That ranks Washington in the top 10 states for per capita victim reports.  Attorney General Rob McKenna will visit Oak Harbor on Thursday, Oct. 18, to help raise awareness of identity theft prevention and assist the public in keeping sensitive documents out of the hands of crooks.

{Editor's note: Secure Links Networks corrected to Securelink Networks.}

OLYMPIA…The Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA) awarded Attorney General Rob McKenna the Freedom’s Light award during its annual convention Friday in Yakima. The award recognizes those who have supported the freedom of the First Amendment and work hard to protect that right. McKenna received the award along with Rep. Lynn Kessler.

Olympia – Attorney General Rob McKenna will visit several schools in Eastern Washington next week as part of the on-going schedule of school visits in his “Operation:  Allied Against Meth” campaign.

When: 
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
• 9 – 9:45 am - Colville High School
• 12:15 – 1:15 pm – Republic High School
• 2 – 3 pm – Curlew High School

Thursday, October 11, 2007
• 8 – 8:45 am – Omak Middle School
• 9 – 9:45 am – Omak High School
• 1 – 1:45 – Mansfield High School

OLYMPIA…Citizens for Safe Yakima Communities (CSC) will now have an extra $25,000 to fight the battle against methamphetamine in the Yakima area, thanks to a grant from the Office of Attorney General Rob McKenna.

Founded in 2006 and based out of the Yakima Chamber of Commerce, CSC is a private, not for profit, volunteer group of community leaders working together to reduce crime and the causes of crime in the Yakima Valley.

SEATTLE—Thanking him for his tireless work to secure funds to upgrade an irreplaceable law enforcement database housed within the Attorney General's Office (AGO), Attorney General Rob McKenna today presented state Representative Mark Ericks with a special award at the AGO's Annual Attorney Conference in downtown Seattle.