Your trusted source for local Pullman, WA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Whitman Recovery Community Center opened in Pullman, offering mental health and peer recovery services. Celebrating its grand opening today, the center aims to foster community connections and support for those struggling with mental health and addiction. Director Megan Guido highlighted the need for more local behavioral health services, underscored by a recent community health assessment.
Local Republican leaders plan a censure hearing for Rep. Lori McCann on June 30 due to her voting record. McCann argues she represents a diverse constituency and disagrees with parts of the Idaho Republican Party Platform, which she claims is a "moving target." The hearing follows a process that may lead to penalties for lawmakers who do not align with party guidelines.
Whitman County's planning commission reviews its wind energy code, focusing on setback regulations for proposed turbines. The commission plans to continue discussions in its next meeting, with no set timeline for code revisions. Residents have expressed concerns regarding the current setback proposals.
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.
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.