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Category: Local News

Local COVID-19 vaccination details, how to check your eligibility and reopening rules

Posted on January 9, 2021January 11, 2021 by Jacob Jones

As initial vaccinations topped 1,050 people countywide, read about the plans for expanding those efforts and find out how to check when you may be eligible. The state also announced new reopening rules this week.

Resignations, ballot boxes and COVID-19: Our most-read and impactful stories of 2020

Posted on December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 by Jacob Jones

As we did last year, we again want to review some of our more impactful reporting from the past 12 (long) months and share some operational background for transparency. Our local coverage found a wider audience this year as other regional news media picked up on stories we first published here.

About 250 local ballots rejected, no fraud found in look back at challenging election

Posted on December 16, 2020December 16, 2020 by Jacob Jones

The county auditor disputes a recent claim of election observer obstruction. Local officials rejected 249 ballots with questionable signatures, late postmarks or other issues. Some impatient voters resubmitted ballots amid national anxiety over the election process.

Officials praise ‘smooth’ local election, voters can still cure ballots for final count

Posted on November 10, 2020November 10, 2020 by Jacob Jones

As tensions have continued over national election outcomes, the county auditor noted her office has received numerous calls from people questioning the integrity of the results. Election staff will continue counting ballots this week and contacting voters who may need to “cure” ballots that have missing signatures or other issues.

Voters can still register through Election Day, details on local election services and turnout

Posted on October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 by Jacob Jones

County Auditor Sandy Jamison wrote in an email today that election staff will be available for in-person registrations from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until Nov. 3 at the Elections Center at 304 N. Main Street in Colfax. The office will be open until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Healthcare staff say WSU unprepared for fall COVID-19 response, endangering workers

Posted on September 28, 2020December 16, 2021 by Jacob Jones

Multiple employees with WSU’s medical care service, Cougar Health, say university officials failed to adequately prepare over the summer for the return of thousands of students to Pullman — leaving staff scrambling to provide campus-based COVID-19 care with insufficient equipment or guidance.

New lawsuit alleges county, clerk violated rights by issuing arrest warrant in 2018

Posted on July 23, 2020January 13, 2021 by Jacob Jones

The lawsuit accuses county officials of failing to adhere to state law on arrest warrants, alleging negligence and violations of a woman’s rights. “I believe the clerk’s actions were proper,” the county prosecutor responded.

Whitcom director resigned amid 911 dispatch staffing ‘crisis,’ union no-confidence votes

Posted on June 5, 2020June 5, 2020 by Jacob Jones

“Whitcom is in a dire situation,” the dispatch union wrote in December. “Dispatchers worry that Whitcom will soon no longer continue to exist and that their employment will cease. Services offered to our user agencies continue to deteriorate at a rapid pace. Our ability to uphold public safety is at risk.”

Economic nonprofit ‘overwhelmed’ by role in distributing COVID-19 relief money

Posted on May 22, 2020May 22, 2020 by Jacob Jones

As COVID-19 shuttered businesses this spring, SEWEDA Director Dawn Smith fired the nonprofit’s Whitman County representative and sent confrontational emails. The messages, obtained via public records request, include criticism of her own staff, multiple references to “losing it” with partners and abundant gallows humor. 

Pullman business surveys describe early COVID-19 effects on staffing, operations

Posted on May 22, 2020May 22, 2020 by Jacob Jones

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.”

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