Pullman faces economic uncertainty, city finance director says
SYDNEY BROWN, Evergreen reporter
July 29, 2020
The City of Pullman may face a 12 percent drop in revenue in the coming months, but city officials said they expected worse after months of economic slowdown. Financial update 2020 Pullman Finance Director Mike Urban gave a presentation during Tuesday’s virtual city council meeting on the fi...
University officials express importance of international students feeling welcome at WSU
CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter
July 22, 2020
WSU doubled down on its support for international students amidst Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s reversal of its policy to force international students to take in-person coursework or leave the country. Many universities and colleges filed lawsuits because of ICE’s guidelines, said Kate H...
‘I am Ana Karen Betancourt Macias, and I’m undocumented’
LOREN NEGRON, Evergreen reporter
July 20, 2020
When Ana Karen Betancourt Macias introduces herself, she openly identifies herself as undocumented. “I introduce myself all the time as ‘I am Ana Karen Betancourt Macias, and I'm undocumented.’” Betancourt Macias, WSU Vancouver graduating senior, said. “That was to make the people in the r...
Mural in solidarity with BLM movement draws support from residents
LUKE HUDSON, Evergreen reporter
July 15, 2020
A proposal from the Palouse in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter for a mural in downtown Pullman received support from several city officials though no vote was made on the topic. Jason Kennedy, Pullman resident and activist, said the mural is intended to express support for the Black Lives Matt...
WSU officials, students speak out against international student immigration policy
CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter
July 13, 2020
International students will not be able to stay in the country if they do not take at least one in-person course in fall 2020, according to a statement by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, part of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. WSU will be following a hybrid model this fall, so as long as WS...
Residents call for action from local legislators
SYDNEY BROWN, Evergreen reporter
July 6, 2020
A group of Pullman activists will present how city council can support the Black Lives Matter movements to local legislators. One proposed project is a street-wide mural in Pullman reading “Black Lives Matter.” Seven-year Pullman resident Jason Kennedy helped organize the Palouse in Solidari...
City officials describe temporary changes to Main Street
ANDREA GONZALEZ, Evergreen reporter
June 26, 2020
Temporary pop-up trials of back-in angled parking spots and a bike lane are on Main Street until the end of September. The trial cost the city less than $5,000. Clayton Forsmann, Pullman deputy public works director, said the city will keep the pop-up trial going as long as it is functioning wit...
City council plans for bus surveillance improvements, in-person meetings
SYDNEY BROWN, Evergreen reporter
June 24, 2020
The Pullman City Council rejected a bid 6-1 that would resurface streets near Pioneer Hill because the bid did not satisfy requirements to hire more construction firms owned by members of underserved communities to work on local projects. The naysayer was councilmember Al Sorensen. Before the...
City Council discusses Pullman reopening
BRADLEY GAMBLE, Evergreen reporter
May 13, 2020
Councilmembers addressed the effects of COVID-19 on the city and the possibility of Pullman moving to Phase 2 of reopening during the city council meeting Tuesday. Mayor Glenn Johnson said the Whitman County Health Department, Whitman County commissioners, and mayors of each city within Whitman C...
Moscow peaceful protesters call for an end to stay-at-home order
JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter
April 22, 2020
A white van with the words “CRUSH COVID” written on its windows parked outside Moscow City Hall as part of a demonstration against Idaho’s statewide stay-home order. Around 100 people gathered in front of the building for the “Liberate Moscow Peaceful Protest” around 6 p.m. on Monday. ...
Scholars discuss voting politics in a pandemic
LAUREN ELLENBECKER, Evergreen reporter
April 17, 2020
Political scientists discussed the politics of voting in a pandemic and possible voter suppression during a Thomas S. Foley Institute online forum Thursday. Cornell Clayton, WSU Foley Institute director, said recent Wisconsin elections presented both technical and political challenges posed by the ...
Second provost candidate presents to university community
JAKOB THORINGTON, Evergreen reporter
April 15, 2020
The second presentation during WSU’s provost search featured a variety of color-coordinated maps from a geography professor seeking to become the university’s next provost. “As a geographer I felt I had to throw in at least one or two maps in,” provost candidate Robert McMaster said. M...
Whitman County received 19 more reports of positive COVID-19 tests this week, which brings the county’s total case count to 114. Nine cases were...
