Politics – The Daily Evergreen

Inslee expected to sign marijuana misdemeanor forgiveness bill

LUKE HUDSON, Evergreen reporter

May 9, 2019

Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign Senate Bill 5605, which would allow Washington citizens to apply to have marijuana-related misdemeanor convictions removed from their criminal record. “Doing marijuana is now legal and the fact that 68,000-plus convictions are on the record for things that a...

PRH bond falls short of voter count to pass

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

April 25, 2019

Filed under Breaking News, Local, News, Politics, Pullman Community, Top-feature

Ballots for the Whitman County special election are no longer being accepted as of Tuesday. As of about 4 p.m. yesterday, 3,064 ballots were cast for the Pullman Regional Hospital’s (PRH) bond request to fund new facilities and equipment purchases, according to the Whitman County Auditor websit...

WSU students will advocate for climate change policies in Olympia

CODY SCHOELER, Evergreen reporter

April 11, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Politics, Top-feature

Students and environmental activist organizations will come together to lobby and rally for climate change legislation today. Jessica Hart is a WSU junior sports science major and a fellow in the Washington branch of Our Climate. She said the event will feature youth in the Seattle area who come together...

Jay Inslee talks clean energy at Foley Institute

CAMERON SHEPPARD, Evergreen reporter

April 4, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Photo of the Week, Politics, WSU Pullman campus

The Foley Institute hosted Gov. Jay Inslee, who spoke about what he believes is a necessary and economically beneficial transition to clean energy. Inslee said he has visited communities in the last few months that have experienced consequences of climate change firsthand. He mentioned Paradise, C...

Proposal could fund college of medicine

CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter

April 4, 2019

Filed under Administration, Local, News, Politics, Research, WSU Pullman campus, WSU Tri-Cities

The Washington State Legislature has released plans in the 2019-2021 budget proposals for the expansion of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL). WSU requested $14.4 million to pay for medical school operations for third- and fourth-year s...

Domestic abuse, brain injury link inspires bill

LAUREN ELLENBECKER, Evergreen reporter

April 2, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Politics, Pullman Community, Safety

Victoria records daily conversations, transcribes the recordings, refers to her notebook and studies material until it becomes a memory. “If I don’t write something down, it doesn’t exist in my world,” said Victoria, who asked that her full name not be used due to an ongoing restraining order....

Proposed bill could make studded tires illegal

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

March 28, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Politics, Safety

Washington state highways received over $20 million in repairs due to damage from tires House Bill 1309 would phase out and ultimately ban studded tires in Washington by 2025. John Shaheen, WSU Transportation Services director, said studded tires have metal studs embedded in the tires that can diminish...

Chickens could be permitted in city limits

CARMEN JARAMILLO, Evergreen reporter

March 28, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Politics, Pullman Community

The Pullman Planning Commission unanimously voted to pursue a zoning change that would allow chickens to be kept as pets within city limits at their regular meeting Wednesday. Current city code defines chickens as small domestic animals and requires they be approved by the city and only kept on pro...

New bill could raise smoking age

CAMERON SHEPPARD, Evergreen reporter

March 7, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Politics, Safety, Showcase

The Washington state House of Representatives voted 66-30 in favor of raising the minimum age required to buy tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21. The bill, HB 1074, was supported by state Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the Washington Department of Health. Lawmakers passed the bill on Feb....

New bill may allow underage students taste wine outside of classroom

CODY SCHOELER, Evergreen reporter

February 14, 2019

Filed under News, Politics, Research, Top-feature, WSU Pullman campus

An important bill for viticulture and enology students now includes allowing underage students in the major to drink at wineries. The new legislation has passed out of its house committee and is on its way to becoming a law. Chris Mulick, WSU director of state relations, said this is an extension...

Pullman district court to change location

RACHEL SUN, Evergreen reporter

January 24, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Politics, Pullman Community

A change in location for Pullman City Hall will likely affect where Pullman residents go for district court hearings. Currently, Whitman County holds district court hearings two days a week in Pullman City Hall. With the planned move to a new location, city officials have yet to determine where those...

Local GOP officials dismiss voting privilege from PCO

ANGELICA RELENTE, Evergreen news editor

January 7, 2019

Filed under Local, News, Politics, Showcase, Top-feature

Whitman County Republican Central Committee officials unanimously voted to withdraw James Allsup’s voting seat as a precinct committee officer (PCO) on Saturday during the WCRCC meeting. A precinct committee officer participates and assists during political campaigns. Allsup initially gained the...