Politics – The Daily Evergreen

New bill could raise smoking age

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...

Ferguson warns of ‘ghost guns’

ANGELICA RELENTE, Evergreen reporter

November 30, 2018

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

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson discussed his team’s efforts in opposing the concept of 3D-printed guns at a Thomas S. Foley Institute talk Thursday. Ferguson said his office has filed 32 lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration so far. He said they file lawsuits based...

Foley panelists discuss election

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

November 8, 2018

Filed under Local, Local elections, News, Politics, Pullman Community, Showcase, WSU Pullman campus

At a three-person panel Wednesday, speakers discussed the early results of Tuesday’s midterm election and political shifts seen since the 2016 general election. President Donald Trump had a large role in this year’s midterms, said John Wilkerson, University of Washington political science professor....

Vote for Whitman County treasurer remains unclear

CODY SCHOELER, Evergreen reporter

November 8, 2018

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

As Whitman County tabulates more votes for the midterm election, challenger Christina Nelson has maintained her slight lead over incumbent Mark Clinton. Nelson has now received about 51.8 percent of the 10,239 votes counted as of 5 p.m. Wednesday and Clinton has received about 49.2 percent. The...

Hart wins judicial race in landslide

RACHEL SUN, Evergreen news editor

November 7, 2018

Filed under Local, Local elections, News, Politics, Pullman Community, Showcase

In the race for Whitman County District Court judge, Colfax Municipal Court Judge John Hart beat challenger Rob Rembert, Pro Tem Whitman County District Court judge, by nearly twice the number of votes based on initial voter tabulations Tuesday night. Hart earned 65.7 percent of the vote and Remb...

Deadly force Initiative 940 seems to have passed in early returns

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

November 7, 2018

Filed under Local, News, Politics

Initiative 940, which targets the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers, seems to have passed as of Tuesday night's voter returns. About 53.7 percent of the vote in Whitman County was in favor of I-940 compared to 46.3 percent against. Statewide, the initiative was approved by 59.2 percent...

State voters pass gun safety initiative

CARMEN JARAMILLO, Evergreen reporter

November 7, 2018

Filed under News, Politics

Washington voters passed Initiative 1639, which would make the state’s gun laws some of the strictest in the nation, in Tuesday night’s count. The “Safe Schools, Safe Communities” initiative passed statewide with 60.4 percent voting yes and 39.65 percent voting no as of Tuesday night. In Whitman...

Schmick holds on to 9th district seat against Sutherland

CARMEN JARAMILLO, Evergreen reporter

November 7, 2018

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

Incumbent Joe Schmick (R) beat out Democratic challenger Matthew Sutherland in Tuesday’s election to continue representing Washington’s 9th District in the state House of Representatives. Sutherland, a WSU graduate student, was Schmick’s first Democratic challenger since 2008. He won with 64.4...

Jamison takes decisive lead in county auditor race

CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter

November 7, 2018

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

Republican Sandy Jamison is expected to win the election for Whitman County auditor after initial tabulations Tuesday night showed her leading at 63.6 percent, while Democratic challenger Eric Fejeran trailed behind at 36.4 percent. Jamison said the first thing she will do in office is individually...