Your trusted source for local Pullman, WA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Downtown Pullman will close parts of Pine Street Plaza and adjacent areas today for the relocation of the Pine Street Bridge. The pedestrian bridge, dislodged by flooding in February, is undergoing its first design test in 20 years and is expected to reopen in August after inspections and additional work.
Republican leaders in Idaho criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for supporting dam breaching during his visit to the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery. Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon emphasized the importance of the dams to Idaho's economy and infrastructure, stating that local communities should decide their future. Kennedy highlighted the significance of salmon for Native American tribes and linked the decline of fish stocks to health issues in those communities.
The U.S. Forest Service will eliminate its nine regional offices as part of a consolidation effort by the Department of Agriculture, according to a memo from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. This reorganization, aiming to move services outside Washington, D.C., has raised concerns among Forest Service experts regarding its effectiveness and impact on forest management.
Local broadcasting organization KJEM faces challenges after losing federal funding, relying more on listener support. The station, managed by Washington State University students, offers hands-on training under professional guidance. This shift highlights the growing importance of community contributions to public media.
Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin expresses confidence as the city deals with significant turnover in its leadership, including the recent resignation of Fire Chief Brett Nash. The search for a new city administrator is progressing quickly, with interviews expected in August.
Conservation groups are suing the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality over an air quality permit for a large mining project near the Frank Church River Wilderness. The Idaho Conservation League and Save the South Fork Salmon argue the permit fails to adequately address arsenic and dust emissions, posing health risks to nearby workers and recreational users.
Russell Elementary School's K-2 classes, now integrated into West Park Elementary, achieved a 79.9% score on the Idaho Reading Indicator test, up from 68.2% in the fall. Despite challenges from consolidation and a diverse student body, the administration emphasizes collaboration among teachers to address individual student needs.
Moscow officials reaffirmed community strength following the sentencing of Bryan Kohberger for the November 2022 murders of four university students. Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger and Prosecutor Bill Thompson highlighted local resilience and the emotional toll of the investigation on law enforcement. Support systems were established for first responders grappling with the traumatic aftermath of the case.
A former Washington State University student was sentenced to one year in prison for raping a fellow student in 2024. Erick Leal, 26, received the maximum sentence after a jury convicted him of third-degree rape, with the judge emphasizing the severe consequences of his actions. Leal must register as a sex offender for ten years following his release.
A Moscow man, Nathanael Jensen, accepted a plea deal for possessing child pornography in federal court. The 25-year-old faces up to 10 years in prison after federal prosecutors dropped two additional charges. The investigation began when police received tips indicating Jensen had child sexual abuse material on his Dropbox account.