Pullman Radio News

11/26/2025

Port Of Whitman County Commissioners Approve Next Budget & Strategic Plan

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

The Port of Whitman County Commissioners have approved the agency’s next budget and long range strategic plan.

The board approved the documents on Thursday. According to a press release from the port, the government agency’s next budget is balanced at 21.6 million dollars. It includes 16.5 million dollars in capital spending. Those items include improvements for the Oakesdale Mill and the Port of Whitman Business Air Center which is the airport outside Colfax. Other spending involves developing the new Tekoa Industrial Park and construction of the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Center at the Pullman Industrial Park. Funding for cleaning up property in St. John for a new clinic is also in the next budget. The spending plan also services debt for infrastructure improvements at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, the Ports of Wilma and Central Ferry and broadband expansion around the county.

The port’s 2026-2030 strategic plan and scheme of harbor improvements was also approved by the commissioners. The plan outlines strategic priorities for the port for the next five years.

The Port of Whitman County Commissioners have approved the agency’s next budget and long range strategic plan. The board approved the documents on Thursday. According to a press release from the p…

11/26/2025

Small Business Saturday This Weekend

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

It’s Small Business Saturday this weekend as shoppers are encouraged to shop local for Christmas gifts.

The Moscow Chamber of Commerce is hosting a scavenger hunt. Pick up a card from the chamber and collect six stamps from participating business to earn the chance for a 100 dollar Moscow gift card.

It’s Small Business Saturday this weekend as shoppers are encouraged to shop local for Christmas gifts. The Moscow Chamber of Commerce is hosting a scavenger hunt. Pick up a card from the chamber …

11/26/2025

Former WSU Kicker Dean Janikowski Returns To Pullman Saturday To Raise Money For Local Cancer Patients

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

Former Washington State University kicker Dean Janikowski is back in Pullman on Saturday to raise money to support local cancer patients.

Dean’s brother Jack still plays for the Cougars and the boys continue to raise money for their family’s foundation. The Janikowski’s foundation is in honor of their mother Heather who lost her battle with cancer. Dean will be raising money at Zeppoz in Pullman Saturday morning from 11:00 to 2:00 before his brother and teammates host Oregon State on Saturday afternoon.

11/26/2025

Fundraiser Breakfast Saturday In Washtucna To Benefit Community Center & Museum

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

There’s a breakfast fundraiser in Washtucna on Saturday morning.

The breakfast starts at 8:00 at Sonny’s. Money raised will benefit the Washtucna Museum and Community Center.

There’s a breakfast fundraiser in Washtucna on Saturday morning. The breakfast starts at 8:00 at Sonny’s. Money raised will benefit the Washtucna Museum and Community Center.

11/26/2025

Free Community Thanksgiving Meal In Pullman Friday Hosted By United Church Of Christ & Whitman Recovery Community Center

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

The United Church of Christ and Whitman Recovery Community Center are hosting a free community Thanksgiving dinner on Friday in Pullman.

The meal is at 4:00 at the church on College Hill. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by emailing [email protected]

11/26/2025

New Pullman City Councilmembers To Take Oath Of Office Today-Bryan MacDonald To Fill The Empty Ward 1 Post Immediately

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

Pullman’s three new city councilmembers will be sworn in this afternoon.

Bryan MacDonald, Trevor Vance and Tawny Szumlas won open seats during this month’s general election. They will be sworn in during a public ceremony at 3:00 today in city hall. MacDonald will immediately fill the vacant Ward 1 post on city council. That seat has been empty since former City Councilman Trymaine Gaither resigned in July. Vance and Szumlas will take their posts in January after Councilwomen Megan Guido and Carla De Lira finish their terms at the end of the year.

The new councilmembers have sent an open letter to the mayor and city administrator about joining Pullman City Council. Vance, MacDonald and Szumlas requested that Pullman Radio News post the message for the community.

An Open Letter to our Mayor and City Administrator:

We write this letter as the incoming City Council representatives. We each ran for different reasons, but we share a deep love for Pullman and a commitment to “getting to yes” and “figuring out what we can do”, working collaboratively, and moving our city forward.

Mayor Benjamin, your focus on supporting businesses was a major reason for your win. Administrator Wells , we were encouraged by your commitment to a citywide culture of “getting to yes” during the hiring process and in your early remarks as City Administrator.

As we begin this next chapter, 2026 looks bright. We have a business-focused Mayor, a newly selected City Administrator, and a City Council, both new and returning members, aligned around shared goals and a positive vision for Pullman. We are grateful for the amazing and talented professionals working throughout our city, and we are eager to partner with them in the work ahead.

Our community is full of residents who care deeply, invest in Pullman’s success, and work hard to make this a wonderful place to live. We know the people serving in our city government share that same dedication. As we look ahead together, we hope we can all challenge ourselves to align our efforts and keep asking, “How do we get to yes?”

We are ready to roll up our sleeves to help ensure Pullman is a place where people want to live, build homes, open businesses, and invest in the future, a place where the city is not a hurdle but a partner. Together, we can move efficiently and collaboratively with a shared mindset of “how do we get to yes?”

A final theme shared across our campaigns was the importance of meaningful public engagement. As we begin this work, we are committed to keeping our community informed, listening actively, and sharing our progress with the people of Pullman.

Bryan MacDonald Tawny Szumlas Trevor Vance

Pullman’s three new city councilmembers will be sworn in this afternoon. Bryan MacDonald, Trevor Vance and Tawny Szumlas won open seats during this month’s general election. They will be sworn in …

11/26/2025

3 Small Taxing District Levies In Whitman County Failed

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

Three local small taxing district levies from this month’s general election in Whitman County failed.

The street levies in Farmington and Tekoa failed along with the splash pad levy in St. John. Those tax measures failed to garner the super majority approval needed for passage. There were dozens of small taxing district levies on this month’s ballot in Whitman County. Nearly all of them passed.

The final roughly 150 vote by mail ballots were tabulated by the Whitman County Auditor’s Office on Tuesday.

Three local small taxing district levies from this month’s general election in Whitman County failed. The street levies in Farmington and Tekoa failed along with the splash pad levy in St. John. T…

11/26/2025

2 Tight Races In Whitman County Will Be Recounted By Hand

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

There will be two hand recounts of close races in Whitman County from this month’s vote by mail general election.

The Whitman County Auditor’s Office tabulated the remaining roughly 150 ballots on Tuesday. Diana Totten appears to have won the Malden Mayor’s race over Larry Frick by one vote. In LaCrosse a town council race between Desiree Chappell and Shawn Mills is tied.

Auditor Sandy Jamison says the hand recount process for those races will begin on December 1st and will take about four days. The recounts will be certified on December 5th at 1:00 in the elections office in Colfax. Any tied races would then be decided by a coin toss.

11/26/2025

City Of Moscow Volunteer Firefighters Respond To Apartment Fire

November 26, 2025 Evan Ellis News

City of Moscow Volunteer Firefighters responded to an apartment fire on Monday night.

Volunteers were on scene of the fire on North Main Street within four minutes. The fire was extinguished by a sprinkler system before volunteers arrived. No one was home when the fire started. Moscow’s fire investigator determined that thermal runaway of a portable lithium battery sparked the fire.

City of Moscow Volunteer Firefighters responded to an apartment fire on Monday night. Volunteers were on scene of the fire on North Main Street within four minutes. The fire was extinguished by a …

11/26/2025

Traffic Delays On US12 Near Arrow Bridge On Clearwater River Today

There are delays of up to 20 minutes on U.S. Highway 12 on the Clearwater River today near the Arrow Bridge. Flaggers will direct a lane of traffic where crews are conducting emergency rock scaling work.

11/25/2025

ISP Ready For Busy Holiday Travel Weekend

November 25, 2025 Evan Ellis News

Idaho State Troopers will be working to help keep local highways safe during the busy Thanksgiving travel weekend.

Troopers will be focusing their patrols on U.S. Highways 95 and 12 locally in North Central Idaho. The agency is also reminding the public to be prepared for snow on the Camas Prairie and over mountain passes.

11/25/2025

Thanksgiving Closures

November 25, 2025 Evan Ellis News

All government offices are closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving. There’s no mail, trash will not be picked up banks are closed and buses will not run on Thursday.

Some closures will continue on Friday. The Whitman and Latah County Courthouses will remain closed on Friday. Washington state offices are closed Friday. Pullman and Moscow City Halls are still closed Friday. All 14 branches of the Whitman County Rural Library system are closed both Thursday and Friday. Buses in Moscow will not run Thursday through Saturday.

Federal and Idaho state offices are open on Friday. There is mail on Friday. Pullman Transit will run a reduced bus route service on Friday. Banks reopen on Friday. Trash will be picked up on the day after Thanksgiving.

All government offices are closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving. There’s no mail, trash will not be picked up banks are closed and buses will not run on Thursday. Some closures will continue on Fri…