Skip to content

Whitman County Watch

Menu
  • Mission
  • How to Help
  • Civic calendar
  • News tips/Contact
  • Citizen Guides
    • Obtaining public records
    • 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
  • Subscribe
Menu

Category: Local News

Bridge inspectors closely monitor structural details and deficiencies throughout county

Posted on February 25, 2020February 26, 2020 by Jacob Jones

Whitman County Watch recently obtained a snapshot of inspection data for the 439 bridges located throughout the county. We followed the county’s bridge crew under some local structures and created an interactive map of bridge locations and inspection ratings.

Former WSU provost emails describe sexist feedback, administrative power struggles

Posted on February 10, 2020August 19, 2020 by Jacob Jones

“I learned that there are major concerns about me,” Montoya wrote to WSU President Kirk Schulz four days before stepping down in September. “I need a personality transplant, I need to be more feminine and conforming in my communication style, and I need to be less intelligent.”

Improper food storage and temp controls top violations in 2019 restaurant inspections

Posted on January 29, 2020January 30, 2020 by Jacob Jones

Whitman County Public Health officials inspected approximately 130 restaurants and school cafeterias last year. Of the 149 total inspections or re-inspections, just five resulted in failing scores — mostly for contamination risks during storage or improper cooling.

Voters Guide: A look at the Lincoln Middle School bond and Pullman school levies

Posted on January 27, 2020January 30, 2020 by Jacob Jones

Voters living within the Pullman School District will see three propositions for consideration — a $15 million bond to expand and remodel Lincoln Middle School, a $5.3 million educational enrichment (maintenance & operation) levy, and a $200,000 technology levy.

Newly released $10,000 settlement details resolution of Pullman public records lawsuit

Posted on January 23, 2020January 23, 2020 by Jacob Jones

A Dec. 31 settlement, obtained via a public records request, indicates city officials agreed to pay $10,000 for a permanent dismissal of the case. “Such payment does not constitute an admission by the City of liability, wrongdoing, or damages,” the settlement states.

Pullman facing lawsuit over public records practices from open government litigator

Posted on January 21, 2020May 18, 2020 by Jacob Jones

Update, Jan. 22: Pullman City Attorney Laura McAloon, in an email this afternoon, wrote the Whitman County Superior Court dismissed this case earlier this month. She explained previous emails for comment went missed in her spam folder. “The City is unable to comment further,” she wrote.

State disclosure officials dismiss complaints against Pullman City Council campaigns

Posted on January 17, 2020January 19, 2020 by Jacob Jones

Conservative activist Glen Morgan, who has “weaponized” disclosure laws by filing hundreds of similar complaints, alleged Benjamin and Parks missed deadlines for filing their 2019 campaign statements. Officials recently issued both candidates letters and closed the cases.

Delayed ballots from 2019 General Election saw 15-point decrease in voter turnout rate

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

Whitman County voting returns show 1,300 ballots mailed late had a voter turnout of 30 percent, compared to 45.2 percent for the on-time ballots. “We did the best we could,” the county auditor said. “I was pleased it was that high, frankly.”

Local lawmakers share priorities on taxes, transportation going into 2020 session

Posted on January 7, 2020January 8, 2020 by Jacob Jones

State lawmakers representing Whitman County expect to take on transportation funding, affordable housing and transparency practices when the 2020 legislative session opens Monday. Read local priorities and watch video discussions with legislators. 

Misconduct, ballots and paper trails: A look back at our most impactful stories of 2019

Posted on December 19, 2019December 21, 2019 by Jacob Jones

To end the year, we wanted to share a look back at our work and provide some additional background for transparency. Whitman County Watch has published 45 individual stories this year, many offering in-depth or exclusive coverage on matters of broad community interest. Here are the numbers.

Posts pagination

Previous 1 … 3 4 5 … 9 Next

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.

News tips & questions:

whitmancowatch@gmail.com

©2025 Whitman County Watch | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme