Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

OTTER TAIL-ELECTRIC RATES Otter Tail ND electric rate case settled Bismarck, N.D. (AP) Otter Tail Power Co.'s North Dakota customers will be paying slightly lower rates under a settlement of an electric rate case.

The utility's 57,000 North Dakota electric customers also will be getting a small refund, with interest, for overpaying their electric bills during the past year.

An average residential customer using about 836 kilowatt hours of power each month will get a bill credit of about $6 within the next three months.

North Dakota's Public Service Commission approved the settlement Wednesday.

Otter Tail customers also will be paying less to finance the cost of new wind farms in northeastern and east-central North Dakota. Now, a typical residential customer is paying $3.82 a month for the wind energy. The new rates put the payback amount at $2.65 a month.

WORKERS COMP-AUDIT Auditors to review denied workers comp claims Fargo, N.D. (AP) Auditors will take a new look at denied workers compensation claims in North Dakota and also will study the laws defining eligibility for certain benefits.

The performance audit of Workforce Safety and Insurance will review its operations in 2008 and 2009.

Reviews last year came to different conclusions on whether some claims were appropriately denied.

The new performance audit by a Memphis, Tenn.-based firm also will study North Dakota's laws limiting payment of claims for workers with pre-existing conditions or degenerative diseases such as arthritis.

The findings are expected by late next summer, giving state lawmakers time to draft proposed legislation for the 2011 session if they believe new is charged with murder and was transported to Fargo earlier.

Gattuso was found in his Fargo home beaten to death with a hammer Oct. 26. Kirkpatrick allegedly arranged the killing because he did not agree with the way his granddaughter was being raised.

Gattuso's wife, Valerie, died in March after an extended illness.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com Grassy Butte FATAL Crash near Grassy Butte kills woman GRASSY BUTTE, N.D. (AP) A collision on U.S. Highway 85 near Grassy Butte has killed a 23-year-old woman.

The Highway Patrol says Amy Svihovec of Watford City died in the crash that happened shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Authorities say a car and a sport utility vehicle collided. The driver of the car was killed. The SUV driver and a passenger were taken to area hospitals.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-26-09 0200CST | save this article / add to your favorites list