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Firefighters Win Case Against City

A federal civil court jury has ruled against the City of Pullman and the estate of former Pullman Fire Chief Patrick Wilkins in a case involving a group of firefighters who claimed they were subjected to a sexually hostile environment and unlawfully retaliated against beginning in early 2009. 

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Beaten WSU faculty member in critical condition

The Washington State University faculty member who was beaten near campus early Saturday remains in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Spokeswoman Pattie Servine says David Warner is in critical condition Thursday.

Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins says investigators are checking leads and still asking possible witnesses to come forward.

Jenkins says Warner stepped in between a friend and a group of college-age people as words were being exchange. Jenkins says the friend was not hurt and can't remember what the argument was about.

Warner is Native American and teaches in the WSU Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies.

Area Schools Receive Achievement Awards

Area Schools Receive Achievement Awards

 

Local schools were notified today that they received Washington Achievement Awards for 2012. State Superintendent, Randy Dorn, and State Board of Education Chair, Jeff Vincent, notified them by email.

 

The Washington State Achievement Awards are in their fourth year and recognize schools in seven categories; Overall Excellence, Language Arts, Math, Science, Extended Graduation Rate, Closing Achievement Gaps, and High Progress. Schools are selected using the state's Achievement Index and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver.

 

These are the area schools that were selected for the honors:

Northern Illinois University names new president

Northern Illinois University is naming the provost and executive vice president at the University of Idaho as its new president.

At a meeting on Tuesday, the school's board of trustees named Douglas Baker as NIU's 12th president. Baker replaces John Peters, who announced in October that he planned to retire in June after 13 years leading the DeKalb school.

According to the University of Idaho website, the 57-year-old became provost and executive vice president in 2005. Previously, he was at Washington State University, where he was Vice-Provost for Academic Affairs and the director of the Office of Undergraduate Education.

City of Moscow passes anti-discrimination law

The Moscow City Council has passed an anti-discrimination ordinance that makes it illegal to make housing and employment decisions based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The council passed the ordinance Monday amid protests by Mayor Nancy Chaney and some residents who say they were not given a chance to comment on the proposal.

Councilman Dan Cascallen says the panel had received volumes of emails and felt it had taken enough public opinion.

Chaney says she believes the ordinance warranted discussion from all sides. She says she believes the council's action will put a blight on the city.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports the ordinance passed unanimously.

Moscow Accepting Farmers Market Commission Applicants

Moscow Accepting Farmers Market Commission Applicants

 

April 2, 2013 (Moscow, Idaho) — The City of Moscow is now accepting applications for the Farmer Market Commission, created by City Council action on March 18, 2013. The new Commission has been charged with suggesting ways to promote and improve the Farmers Market, propose and/or review Market policies, keep abreast of trends and opportunities for advancing Market interests, products, standards, and offerings, and to otherwise act in an advisory role to the Council.  Membership for the Commission will include Farmers Market vendors (3), the Chamber of Commerce (1), University of Idaho Extension (1), and four at-large community positions. 

 

Applications are being accepted for all positions.  The City invites citizens who are interested in the Market and would like to serve to consider applying.  Candidates for at-large positions may not be relatives of Market vendors, employed by the Chamber of Commerce, or employed by the University of Idaho Extension office.

 

Bilderback pleads not guilty in Stapert death cover-up

With his father passed out high on meth nearby, Donavin Stapert overdosed on meth, leading to a plan to stuff him in a safe and bury his body, according to court documents released Thursday.

Chastity Dawn Barkhuff, 38, of Malden, also known as Chastity Bilderback, and James L. Ramson, 30, of Spokane, stand accused of giving meth to Stapert, 17, and then, after he overdosed, burying his body.

While a positive identification has not been made yet, deputies from both Whitman and Spokane counties converged on a site in north Spokane County Wednesday where they found and retrieved a body, which is in the process of being identified by the Spokane Medical Examiner.

In court Thursday, Chastity Bilderback pled not guilty to charges that she participated in the cover-up of Stapert's death.

According to court documents, Bilderback was doing meth with Stapert when he overdosed. Stapert's father, Jason, was also in the Malden home but was passed out high on meth and not aware of what happened to his son.