Inland Northwest News

10/21/2021

10/20/2021

Moscow Target store open for business

Moscow’s long-awaited new Target store opened late Tuesday afternoon.

The retailer held a soft opening event, by invitation, with employees and invitees gathering to celebrate the culmination of months of work to get the store ready for business.

Originally slated for a Sunday grand opening (the ceremony for which will still take place), the store now appears on the Target website as open and ready for business, with hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The store occupies the space of the former Macy’s at the west of the mall, with Target expanding the space to 60,000 square feet.

(Photo: Target)

10/20/2021

Rolovich to sue WSU, Chun for discrimination

An attorney for former WSU head football coach Nick Rolovich announced he will sue both the university and those involved in his firing.

The news came in a statement released this morning by Brian Fahling, a Seattle-area attorney with experience arguing First Amendment-based cases.

In the statement Fahling called the firing of Rolovich “unjust and unlawful,” as well as illegal.

The statement also singles out the university’s athletic director, Pat Chun, alleging “discriminatory and vindictive behavior” from Chun toward Rolovich due to the former coach’s religious beliefs.

Fahling also asserted that the writing had been on the wall regarding Rolovich’s dismissal “since at least early April, characterizing the “animus” Chun held toward Rolovich as “damning” and promising a thorough detailing in court documents.

As well, the statement confirms that Rolovich’s religious exemption request had been denied, and also alleges WSU “indicated that even if the exemption had been granted, no accommodation would have been made.”

Finally, it accuses university of "deceitfulness" regarding a possible accommodation, writing that Chun required Rolovich to attend a secret donor's trip in July 2020, where the AD and others contracted COVID.

We'll update this story throughout the day, especially if and when the university responds. In the meantime, the statement in full below:

10/19/2021

127 Washington State Patrol employees will leave service due to the state’s COVID vaccine mandate.

WSP gave the figures in a press release early this morning, with the number marking just shy of 6 percent of the patrol’s workforce.

Those “separated from employment” include 74 commissioned officers: a captain, six sergeants and 67 troopers.

53 of the patrol’s civil servants, anywhere from office staff to dispatchers, also will depart.

In the release Patrol Chief John Batiste thanked those departing, saying that the patrol “will miss every one of them” and that they “will forever have respect for your courage and your commitment in all you have done for the agency.”

Batiste also thanked those staying on the job, saying that he and WSP leaders will work quickly to both fill the now-vacant jobs and to make sure current staff don’t get overburdened in the meantime.

10/19/2021

UPDATE 5:47 PM: Added to the post is the official announcement of the move, with defensive coordinator Jake Dickert made interim head coach.

Assistant coaches fired:
-Defensive tackles coach Ricky Logo
-Assistant head coach/CBs/recruiting coordinator John Richardson
-Quarterbacks coach/co-offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann
-Offensive line coach Mark Weber

BREAKING: According to multiple reports, first from John Canzano of The Oregonian, WSU head football coach Nick Rolovich has been fired by the university for not meeting the terms of Gov. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccination mandate for state workers.

An unspecified number of assistant coaches have been fired for the same reason.

More information to come.

10/14/2021

UPDATE 12:20 PM - SR 195 fully reopened, as of 9:15a.

UPDATE 9:12 AM - WSDOT has also reported crashes on southbound US 195 in the area north of Spangle.

Trooper Jeff Sevigney, PIO for the Washington State Patrol's District 4 says he doesn't expect an "extended closure" for the highway, with it fully reopening once the collisions have been cleared.

UPDATE 8:25 AM - The blockage is NORTHBOUND on SR 195, just north of Spangle.

BREAKING: The Washington State Patrol reports "multiple collisions" on SR 195 at MP 79, just north of Spangle, with either full or partial blockage of the highway.

If you're headed north currently/this morning, expect delays. WSP says icy and foggy conditions in the area may have contributed to the collisions.

10/14/2021

Candidates for both a city council and school board seat in Pullman will make their cases virtually tonight.

The League of Women Voters of Pullman will hold a forum via Zoom for the city’s Ward 1 council race between incumbent Al Sorensen and challenger Francis Benjamin, and the District 4 Pullman School Board race between incumbent Nathan Roberts and challenger Carolina Silva.

Information on how to view at the post below:

This candidate forum will be held over zoom. Candidates will be present to answer questions. Please send in your questions to Deb Olson olsonbones@aol.com by Oct 13th.

Thursday October 14, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Two candidates for the Pullman City Council Ward 1:
Francis Benjamin
Al Sorensen

Two candidates from Pullman School Board District 4:
Nathan Roberts
Carolina Silva

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86865460571?pwd=VmlqVEd2VC82U0JjNmk3V29VaDZndz09

Zoom Meeting ID: 868 6546 0571
Passcode: 891627
One tap mobile
tel:+12532158782,,86865460571 #) US (Tacoma)

10/13/2021

Light snow here in Moscow, with an expected turnover to rain this morning.

What’s the weather doing where you are? Let us know in the comments, if you’d like.

10/11/2021

Whitman County’s health department reported two new COVID-19 related deaths Monday.

The deaths move the county’s COVID death toll to 64, with three deaths total in the county’s last two reports.

WCHD also reported 15 new cases today, with total hospitalizations at an even 200.

Public Health Idaho North Central District had no report Monday, due to the statewide holiday.

10/11/2021

112521: Juvenile has been located and is no longer considered a runaway.

Runaway Juvenile Rosalia, Wa

Update: 101121, 1220 pm, Liliahna is still listed as a runaway and the Sheriff’s Office is currently following up on information that has been provided to them.

Liliahna Stone is a 14 year female from Rosalia, Washington that left her residence at approximately 9pm last night and has not returned home.

If you have seen Liliahna or know her current location contact the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office at 509 397 6266.

10/08/2021

Washington State University will receive $1.3 million dollars to study the different h**p varieties and the economic opportunities of the crop the WSU insider reports.

This is apart of a $10 million grant from the U.S Department of Agriculture to find the economic opportunities for H**p in the western United states. WSU will be partnering with eight other institutions and native American tribes in the west to find ways to incorporate h**p and h**p products into the market and see which plants have the best genetics suited for the job.

WSU researchers will study different h**p varieties and do chemical analysis of them as part of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.

10/08/2021

Fire Marshall Charles LeBlanc has not gotten the vaccine because his doctor recommended to not get vaccinated due to his medical history of bad reactions, he didn’t want to take the risk.

LeBlanc says he has already survived COVID and applied for medical exemption, which was approved, but was not given an accommodation because he works with people

The state Fire Marshal knows his days in that position are numbered since he is refusing the governor’s mandate to get vaccinated. Charles LeBlanc says he is not anti-vaccine. He just believes it is just too dangerous for him. In his first interview, LeBlanc said he is speaking as an individua...

10/08/2021

Washington State University’s Soil to Society project, which seeks to take a comprehensive approach to increase the nutrient value in food made from crops such as wheat, barley, peas, lentils, buckwheat, and quinoa, recently received a five year $10 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The Soil to Society project seeks to increase nutrition from the ground up, integrating soil quality, plant breeding, food science and health research.

10/08/2021

Over the past couple of days, Idaho Governor Brad Little and Idaho Lt Gov Janice McGeachin have been butting heads over executive orders, but their conflict has been going on for a while.

McGeachin, who has been very vocal about her opposition to COVID19 restrictions, her antigovernment beliefs and critical of Idaho Governor Brad Little, has proven to be very popular with those on the extreme right wants to be the state’s governor next year, and that worries the GOP

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho’s Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin wants to be the state’s governor after next year's November elections. But when the man currently holding the job left town this week on official business, she decided not to wait.

10/08/2021

Washington State Parks Director Peter Mayer has resigned less than a year after he was appointed to lead the agency.

A news release reported that Mayer had voluntarily submitted his resignation to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. The commission had held a special meeting Wednesday afternoon regarding complaints brought against a public officer or employee but it wasn’t immediately clear whether the two events were related.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington State Parks Director Peter Mayer has resigned less than a year after he was appointed to lead the agency, officials said. In a news release sent Wednesday night, an agency spokesperson said Mayer had voluntarily submitted his resignation to the Washington State Par...

10/08/2021

Pullman regional hospital has opened up a COVID19 testing center after partnering up with Incyte Diagnostics.

The testing center was created to meet the demand of COVID19 testing in the area. The testing center was able to open thanks to a leased space and $20000 in funding from the Whitman County Health Network. The testing center is open from 8:30a, to 5pm Monday through Friday.

Pullman Regional Hospital has partnered with Incyte Diagnostics to open a COVID-19 testing center.

10/08/2021

Recently MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell claimed that election fraud occurred in Idaho. Idaho Secretary of Sate officials audited three counties and disproved his claims, now the state plans to send him a bill.

Mike Lindell falsely claimed votes in all 44 counties in Idaho were electronically manipulated to switch votes to Biden. At least seven don’t use machines.

10/07/2021

Kootenai Health in Kootenai county has seen a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations ever since crisis standards of care went into effect a month ago.

As of Wednesday Oct 6, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has climbed to 150, the highest the hospital has ever seen.

The COVID-19 positivity rate at Kootenai Health is 27 percent and continues to climb higher than hospitals in the Treasure Valley.