While some businesses indicated by March they had not yet seen any impact from the COVID-19 closures, others reported significant losses in revenue as WSU students left the area and customers hunkered down. “We try to be prepared for hard times,” one owner wrote, “however we did not expect a pandemic combined with stock market upset.”
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.
Salary commission freezes pay rates for elected officials amid COVID-19 uncertainty
“Of course, everything has changed with COVID and the economy and the financial woes that have hit our nation,” the commission chair said, adding, “I’m kind of thinking it will be a zero percent [increase] from me this year just because of the COVID situation.”
Public records litigator who received Pullman settlement files similar claim against Tekoa
Acting as his own attorney, Eric Hood, of Langley, Wash., has filed more than 30 lawsuits against public agencies in recent years over Public Records Act or open government compliance issues. Pullman paid Hood $10,000 in late December to resolve a previous claim.
Colfax man’s lawsuit challenging COVID-19 closures re-filed to avoid federal court
Kevin Akesson, of Colfax, filed two complaints last week in Whitman County Superior Court seeking to block enforcement of the governor’s emergency proclamations. His 17-page filing argues the immediate threat of overwhelming the health care system has passed and local officials should take over any restrictions.
County’s Phase 2 request outlines COVID-19 surge capacity, new WSU testing program
Public health officials described a local ventilator capacity of up to 10 patients as well as plans to roll out a high-volume testing program at Washington State University among the details in the county’s recent Phase 2 variance request.
Several county, legislative positions up for election as candidate filing opens May 11-15
Just three local races will be up for election: Dist. 1 County Commissioner, Dist. 2 County Commissioner and Superior Court Judge. Voters will also cast ballots this fall on the Fifth U.S. Congressional Dist. position as well as the state Ninth Legislative District positions.
Sheriff’s office down $200,000, other depts cut 5 percent in COVID-19 budget plan
County officials expect they will have to continue adjusting the budget as the revenue impacts of COVID-19 closures become clearer in the coming months. “There are absolutely going to be impacts at each and every office here at the county,” the sheriff said.
County officials preparing for spending cuts in response to COVID-19 budget impacts
Based on early numbers, officials have started preparing to lose approximately $600,000 from the previously projected $3.2 million in sales tax revenue in the county’s 2020 budget. Those figures could still go up or down depending on the length of the COVID-19 closures.
Colfax settlement over police chief’s firing includes resignation, $435,000 payment
The agreement settled the approximately 18-month battle over Rick McNannay’s disputed termination in January of 2019 that resulted in his reinstatement last summer. Former Mayor Todd Vanek had fired McNannay over hiring practices from 2016. McNannay alleged his termination was retaliation for pushing back on budget limitations.
Former student files lawsuit against WSU alleging inaction on warnings prior to rape
The plaintiff, who graduated in 2019, filed the lawsuit last month, alleging the university had direct knowledge of multiple complaints against a WSU Vancouver student for sexual harassment, groping and stalking prior to his transfer to Pullman where he was convicted of raping her soon after.