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    • Voters Guide — Fall 2021
      • Francis A. Benjamin, Pullman City Council (Ward 1 – Challenger)
      • Al (Alan) Sorensen, Pullman City Council (Ward 1 – Incumbent)
      • Megan Guido, Pullman City Council (Ward 3 – Open/Uncontested)
      • Tricia Grantham, Pullman Regional Hospital Board (Pos. 4 – Incumbent)
      • Reid West, Pullman Regional Hospital Board (Pos. 4 – Challenger)
      • Jeff Elbracht, Pullman Regional Hospital Board (Pos. 7 – Uncontested)
      • Hillary Hoffman, Colfax City Council (Pos. 2 – Open seat)
      • Martin J. Marler, Whitman Hospital Board (Pos. 5 – Incumbent)
      • Brad Pearce, Palouse City Council (Pos. 1 – Open seat)
      • Tracy Stewart, Palouse City Council (Pos. 3 – Challenger)
      • Ron Weller, Palouse City Council (Pos. 7 – Open seat)
    • Voters Guide — Fall 2020
      • Art Swannack, County Commissioner (Dist. 1, incumbent/uncontested)
      • Tom Handy, County Commissioner (Dist. 2, challenger)
      • Dean Kinzer, County Commissioner (Dist. 2, incumbent)
    • Voters Guide – Fall 2019
      • Francis A. Benjamin, Pullman City Council (At-large – Challenger)
      • Eileen ‘Mac’ Macoll, Pullman City Council (At-large – Incumbent)
      • Chris Johnson, Pullman City Council (Ward 1 – Challenger)
      • Ann Parks, Pullman City Council (Ward 1 – Incumbent)
      • Nathan Weller, Pullman City Council (Ward 2 – Uncontested)
      • Pat Wright, Pullman City Council (Ward 3 – Uncontested)
      • Jim Kackman, Colfax City Council (Pos. 6 – incumbent)
      • Dominic Villareal, Colfax City Council (Pos. 6 – challenger)
      • Mark Mackleit, Colfax City Council (Pos. 4 – incumbent)
      • Colleen Cross, Malden Town Council (Pos. 1 – challenger)
      • Robert Ward, Rosalia Town Council (Pos. 4 – incumbent)
      • Bethany Fletcher, Tekoa City Council (Pos. 3 – incumbent)
      • Jonathan Musson, Uniontown Town Council (Pos. 4 – challenger)
      • Michael Shore, Uniontown Town Council (Pos. 1 – challenger)
      • Beth Ficklin, Pullman School Board (Dist. 1, challenger)
      • Susan S. Weed, Pullman School Board (Dist. 1, incumbent)
      • Allison Munch-Rotolo, Pullman School Board (Dist. 2, uncontested)
    • Voters Guide – Fall 2018
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Author: Jacob Jones

Jacob Jones has worked as a reporter and photographer for newspapers across Washington state since 2003, covering local government, criminal justice and natural resources. He most recently worked on staff at the Inlander in Spokane and The Daily World in Aberdeen with freelance bylines in the Washington Post, the Spokesman Review, Washington State Magazine and other regional publications. He lives in Pullman. Find more info on our Mission page.

Palouse police chief fired after investigation into pistol licenses, overtime pay claims

Posted on February 21, 2022February 21, 2022 by Jacob Jones

The City of Palouse recently fired its longtime police chief after an investigation found evidence he had failed to respond to a 911 call, claimed overtime pay for callouts he did not respond to in person and issued concealed pistol licenses without completing proper background checks.

Lawsuits, internal investigations and WSU Athletics: Our most-read stories of 2021

Posted on January 1, 2022January 1, 2022 by Jacob Jones

Local legal disputes, personnel investigations and COVID-19 responses again drove much of our coverage in 2021 as we look back on some of our most-read and unique stories. As in previous years, we want to provide an annual review of our most impactful reporting and share operational background for transparency.

Internal report outlines leadership, staffing problems at WSU’s Cougar Health Services

Posted on December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 by Jacob Jones

An internal assessment of the workplace culture at Washington State University’s on-campus medical clinic found “trust is broken” between staff and leadership, resulting in communication problems, low morale, staff turnover and service inefficiencies.

Pullman councilman accuses WSU athletic director of threatening him over party video

Posted on November 1, 2021November 3, 2021 by Jacob Jones

A Pullman City Councilman has accused the Washington State University athletic director of verbally attacking him and threatening his businesses over a social media video of a party at the athletic director’s home.

Voters Guide Fall 2021: Local city council and hospital board candidate questionnaires

Posted on October 17, 2021October 17, 2021 by Jacob Jones

Whitman County Watch emailed questionnaires on local issues to candidates in Pullman, Colfax and Palouse city council and hospital board races. We have published their unedited responses along with links to addition coverage of campaigns, ballot measures and voter registration information.

WSU agrees to $275,000 settlement, ending lawsuit against Mike Leach, appeal board

Posted on October 14, 2021October 15, 2021 by Jacob Jones

Washington State University has agreed to a $275,000 settlement to resolve a 2018 lawsuit against former football Head Coach Mike Leach and the university for kicking a former player off of the team and revoking his scholarship over a later-dismissed shoplifting arrest.

Local agencies report staff vaccination rates, City of Pullman seeks deadline extension

Posted on October 10, 2021October 22, 2021 by Jacob Jones

The City of Pullman has requested an extension of the vaccination deadline for staff who serve the WSU campus while Whitman County, Pullman schools and local hospitals continue finalizing their employees’ certifications in the last days ahead of the Oct. 18 deadline.

Lumberyard restaurant settles 2019 lawsuit over alleged wage theft, missed breaks

Posted on October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 by Jacob Jones

Lumberyard Food Hall in Pullman recently agreed to a $190,000 class action settlement with former employees who filed suit in 2019 over alleged wage theft, required break violations and other workplace complaints.

Officials urge vaccinations as Delta surge strains regional hospital, testing capacity

Posted on September 21, 2021September 22, 2021 by Jacob Jones

“The region’s health care system remains strained and this is particularly due to the high rates of transmission in our unvaccinated populations in Eastern Washington,” Skidmore said, noting a spike in patients from Idaho also contributed to capacity and staffing issues in Washington.

Judge rules player owed damages in lawsuit against Leach, WSU over revoked scholarship

Posted on September 14, 2021September 14, 2021 by Jacob Jones

The state Court of Appeals partially reversed a previous dismissal of the 2018 lawsuit after finding WSU had violated the football player’s due process rights. A local judge ruled last week the player was entitled to “more than nominal damages in an amount to be proven at trial.”

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Local news lights the way
This is a journalistic experiment in public transparency — intended to expand access to information on government policies and practices through the use of reporting, records and community dialogue. Stories will be limited going forward as I focus on a new full-time investigative position at Crosscut. You can reach me there.

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