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A Washington State University student, Erick Leal, was convicted of third-degree rape after a weeklong trial. He faces a sentence of six months to a year in jail and will register as a sex offender for ten years. The victim received a five-year sexual assault protection order.
Pullman seeks community feedback on proposed flood hazard maps for Whitman County, with comments due by Aug. 13. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is accepting public input until Aug. 20 to inform floodplain management measures.
Pullman is seeking applications for a new city administrator, with a salary range of $141,768 to $172,320. The position became vacant following the departure of Mike Urban, who claims he was wrongfully terminated after a complex situation involving an investigation. Applications are accepted until June 29, and the interim administrator is Jeff Elbracht.
The Hatwai Fire in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley burned 250 acres before being fully contained on Monday. Evacuations were ordered as the blaze threatened homes, reportedly sparked by a tree branch contacting a power line.
The University of Phoenix and the University of Idaho ended negotiations for a $685 million acquisition deal. Concerns over costs and legal challenges prompted both institutions to withdraw from the partnership, with UI set to recover $17.24 million in expenses.
Direct care workers provide vital support to individuals with disabilities, such as 30-year-old Kees Beehner, who lives in a certified family home in Lewiston. Caregivers help maintain Kees's independence while assisting with daily activities, but face challenges due to limited funding for their roles.
Idaho schools, including Orofino Junior Senior High, are launching forestry programs to prepare students for careers in the logging industry, which needs new workers. The Idaho Department of Education allocated $65 million for the Idaho Career Ready Students grant program, with Orofino receiving $528,100 for its natural resource program. Local schools are integrating hands-on experience in forestry and related fields to attract students to this $2.5 billion industry.
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the city of Troy, alleging that its denial of a conditional use permit for Christ Church violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. City Attorney Todd Richardson contends that the denial stemmed from community concerns about traffic and parking, not religious discrimination. The city plans to revise its zoning code to clarify what is permitted in the commercial district.
Snake River spring chinook salmon face a crisis, with only three populations remaining in Washington, and one already functionally extinct. In contrast, fall chinook show promise, exceeding population goals due to hatchery support. Fisheries managers anticipate a slight increase in this year's chinook returns, although most are hatchery-bred.
Northern Idaho lawyers elected Nez Perce County Clerk Patty Weeks to the Idaho State Bar Board of Commissioners, marking a significant milestone as the bar celebrates its 100-year anniversary. Weeks, who has a background in law and public service, is one of only three women to hold this position in the past six years.