Scott Leadingham, Author at Northwest Public Broadcasting

3 Things The U.S. Can Do Right Now To Slow Coronavirus Spread

By Scott Leadingham July 13, 2020

The Care19 mobile app, which the governors of North Dakota and South Dakota have asked residents to download to assist in contact tracing during the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is seen on a phone in April 24, 2020. CREDIT: Paresh Dave/Reuters

BY LARA SANTHANAM Seven months since cases of the coronavirus were first reported, some countries have effectively combatted the virus and brought the spread under control. The United States is not one of them. But experts say it’s not too late. Americans account for roughly a quarter of the more than 551,000 global deaths from… Read More

University Of Idaho Plans For In-Person Classes This Fall. WSU May, But Still Not Finalized

By Scott Leadingham May 22, 2020

In a school-wide announcement Friday, Green said UI, with its main campus in Moscow, will have in-person instruction beginning August 24. But, he said to prepare for big changes to how things have looked on campus before the pandemic. Read More

Bernie Sanders Will ‘Assess’ His Campaign Following More Big Primary Losses

By Scott Leadingham March 18, 2020

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders will "assess" his campaign in the coming days and weeks, according to his campaign manager. He suffered another string of big defeats in primaries on Tuesday. CREDIT: Scott Eisen/Getty Images

For the third week in a row, former Vice President Joe Biden scored lopsided wins against the Vermont senator and extended a delegate lead that may be impossible for Sanders to surmount. Continue Reading Bernie Sanders Will Read More

Dow Plunges 2,300 Points, Market Moves Into Bear Territory With Biggest One-Day Drop Since ’87

By Scott Leadingham March 12, 2020

After weeks of turmoil over the economic toll of the coronavirus, U.S. stock indexes entered a bear market, signaling an end to their 11-year winning streak. CREDIT: Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 10% — its biggest one-day drop since 1987 — as the coronavirus pandemic continued to rattle markets. Trading was temporarily halted earlier in the day. Continue Reading Dow Read More

Bundyville, Cattle Deaths, Salmon Return: Looking Back On Uniquely Northwest News In 2019

By Scott Leadingham December 31, 2019

The crumpled carcass of a once vibrant bull lays on Forest Service ground. It was killed along with several others in a strange way at Silvies Valley Ranch in eastern Oregon, and detectives have few leads. CREDIT: ANNA KING/N3

As 2019 comes to a close, and 2020 is upon us, we look back on a few Northwest stories we’ve discussed this year. Indeed, there are many, and many worth highlighting again. Here are three we’d like to revisit as we say goodbye to 2019. Read More

Pullman Police Identify 19-Year-Old WSU Student Who Died At Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity

By Scott Leadingham November 12, 2019

File photo of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity chapter house at Washington State University.

Pullman Police are investigating after a Washington State University student died at a fraternity Tuesday morning. The investigation is ongoing, but officials believe alcohol was a factor. Police identified the student late Tuesday night as Samuel Martinez of Bellevue. Read More

Update: Progressive-Leaning Moscow, Idaho City Council Candidates Pick Up Decisive Win

By Scott Leadingham November 5, 2019

Yard signs Anne Zabala, Sandra Kelly and Maureen Laflin in Moscow before the Nov. 5, 2019 election. CREDIT: Scott A. Leadingham/NWPB

In this year’s city council race being decided Tuesday, Nov. 5, there’s a distinct split between candidates viewed as more progressive and those seen as more conservative – both socially and fiscally. Continue Reading Read More

Moscow Voter Forum Is 7 PM Wednesday; See 6 Candidates For 3 City Council Seats

By Scott Leadingham October 22, 2019

Election officials across the country have worked hard to prioritize security ahead of November's midterms, but some strategies could have the unintended effect of sometimes making voting harder. CREDIT: JUSTIN SULLIVAN

Moscow voters will have the opportunity to hear from candidates running for city council Wednesday, Oct. 23. The civic group League of Women Voters is sponsoring a forum for the six candidates running for three city council seats. The format will include questions asked of candidates by a moderator. Read More

Whitman County Prosecutor Won’t Re-Try Former Pullman Police Officer On Sexual Assault Charge

By Scott Leadingham October 10, 2019

Pullman Police Sgt. Dan Hargraves resigned Nov. 26, 2018. He was arrested Oct. 30 on charges of sexually assaulting a WSU student. COURTESY PULLMAN POLICE

The announcement came Thursday from Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy in the case of Daniel Hargraves. The case ended in a mistrial Sept. 18 when the jury failed to reach a verdict. Continue Reading Whitman Read More

2 Rudy Giuliani Associates Arrested On Campaign Finance Violations

By Scott Leadingham October 10, 2019

Associates of President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, pictured in May 2018, have been arrested on campaign finance charges. CREDIT: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman are associates of President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and reportedly aided Giuliani's efforts to have Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden. Continue Reading 2 Rudy Giuliani Associates Read More

Join Us! Plowing Fresh Ground: A Discussion Of Women In Agriculture, Oct. 2 In Palouse

By Scott Leadingham October 1, 2019

Join Northwest Public Broadcasting’s Gillian Coldsnow and Anna King and the American Association of University Women Palouse-Garfield Branch for a lively discussion of women in agriculture and STEM fields. WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 7 PM WHERE: Palouse Community Center Palouse, Washington LIVESTREAM: Can’t make it in person? The event will be live streamed via Read More

Mistrial Declared In Case Of Former Pullman Officer Charged With Sexual Assault Of WSU Student

By Scott Leadingham September 19, 2019

A Whitman County judge has declared a mistrial in the sexual assault case of a former Pullman Police officer. Daniel Hargraves was accused of assaulting a Washington State University student. Continue Reading Read More

Justice Department Sues Edward Snowden, Seeking Profits From His Book

By Scott Leadingham September 17, 2019

The Justice Department says Edward Snowden, seen here via video feed, breached nondisclosure agreements he signed with the National Security Agency and CIA with the publication of his new memoir, Permanent Record. Juliet Linderman /AP

DOJ lawyers want all of Snowden's profits and royalties from Permanent Record, and all of the publisher's assets related to the memoir, to be placed in a special fund benefiting the U.S. government. Continue Reading Justice Read More

Campus Police Will No Longer Store Guns For WSU Students After New Legal Interpretation

By Scott Leadingham August 15, 2019

Reflecting on the glass door of the WSU Public Safety Building, a sign on the door announces the gun storage policy change Aug. 14, 2019. CREDIT: SCOTT LEADINGHAM/NWPB

Firearms are not allowed on the Washington State University campus in Pullman. But now students will no longer have that option, due to a new interpretation of state law applying to university police forces like WSU’s. Continue Read More

Jeffrey Epstein Dead From Apparent Suicide At Manhattan Jail

By Scott Leadingham August 10, 2019

This March 28, 2017, photo, provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry, shows Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein has died while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. AP

At approximately 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the wealthy financier accused of sex trafficking was found unresponsive in his jail cell from an apparent suicide. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Continue Reading Jeffrey Epstein Dead From Read More

Pullman Family Files $56M Lawsuit In Shooting Death Of Lauren McCluskey At University Of Utah

By Scott Leadingham June 27, 2019

In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, a photograph of University of Utah student and track athlete Lauren McCluskey, who was fatally shot on campus, is projected on the video board before the start of an NCAA college football game between Oregon and Utah in Salt Lake City. The family of a University of Lauren McCluskey sued the institution on Thursday, June 27, 2019, saying officials have refused to take responsibility for missing chances to prevent her death despite multiple reports to police.

A Pullman, Wash., family is suing the University of Utah following the murder of their daughter on campus in Salt Lake City last year. Jill and Matthew McCluskey announced the $56 million lawsuit Thursday, June 27 in a press conference. Lauren McCluskey was murdered Oct. 22, 2018 by a man she had dated. Read More

Opioid Maker Insys Admits To Bribing Doctors, Agrees To Pay $225 Million Settlement

By Scott Leadingham June 5, 2019

Insys, the maker of fentanyl-based Subsys, agreed to a $225 million settlement with the federal government to resolve criminal and civil investigations of the company's role in the opioid crisis. Reuters

The company agreed to make the payments to resolve federal criminal and civil investigations of its marketing practices. Five of its executives were convicted separately for the same practices. Continue Reading Opioid Maker Read More

WSDOT To Close Highway 20 Twisp-Okanogan Section For 2nd Washout Repair Since 2017

By Scott Leadingham May 24, 2019

Small section of Highway 20 east of Loup Loup washed out in April 2019, and will cause a complete closure beginning Tuesday, May 28.

Drivers and cyclists have this Memorial Day weekend to get in a full trip over Washington’s Highway 20 before a temporary closure on the east side. The state Transportation Dept. will close the full 30-mile stretch connecting Twisp and Okanogan for nine days beginning Tuesday, May 28. Read More

Ford To Cut 10 Percent Of Its Global Salaried, White-Collar Workforce

By Scott Leadingham May 20, 2019

About 7,000 white-collar jobs are being eliminated as part of Ford's massive organizational restructuring. The automaker says it will save $600 million per year as a result. Continue Reading Ford To Cut 10 Percent Of Its Global Salaried, Read More

To Improve Health, Cut Costs, Walmart Pushes For Better Medical Imaging For Workers

By Scott Leadingham May 18, 2019

To cut down on unnecessary procedures — and health costs — Walmart is pushing its workers to get more accurate diagnoses by using diagnostic imaging centers known for high quality, not low price. Continue Reading To Improve Read More

Police Defuse Potentially Explosive Device In Pullman Following Similar Incident In Moscow

By Scott Leadingham May 5, 2019

Police in Pullman say a Spokane explosives team diffused a device Sunday, May 5 at the City Playfields near the WSU campuse. CREDIT: GOOGLE MAPS

Pullman Police say they defused a possible explosive device Sunday morning. It follows the discovery and disposal of a similar incident in Moscow, Idaho last week. Continue Reading Police Defuse Potentially Read More

Famed Washington Climber Jess Roskelley, 2 Others Missing And Presumed Dead After Avalanche

By Scott Leadingham April 18, 2019

Jess Roskelley climbing on Alaska's Wake Mountain in 2012. Courtesy of Spokesman Review

The Northwest and worldwide mountaineering community is mourning the presumed loss of a well-known climber from Spokane. Jess Roskelley was climbing Howse Peak on the Alberta-British Columbia border with two others Tuesday. Read More

UPDATES: Flooding Closes Roads, Prompts Emergency Response In Moscow-Pullman Area

By Scott Leadingham April 10, 2019

Flooding in Pullman closed Grand Avenue/SR 27 at Stadium Way, Tuesday, April 9, 2019. CREDIT: Matt Haugen/WSU News

Residents of the Palouse region of southeastern Washington and north-central Idaho experienced flood conditions Tuesday. The localized flooding from heavy rain was expected to persist into Wednesday. Continue Reading UPDATES: Flooding Read More

Journalists Raise Money, Post Jobs And Buy Beers For Peers After A Week Of Layoffs

By Scott Leadingham January 26, 2019

After Buzzfeed, Gannett and Verizon's media group announced job losses this week, journalists across the country banded together to offer support. Continue Reading Journalists Raise Money, Post Jobs And Buy Beers For Peers Read More

Bernie Sanders Responds To Allegations Of Sexism, Harassment By Aides During 2016 Race

By Scott Leadingham January 3, 2019

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., offered an apology on Wednesday after allegations were made public of sexual harassment and discrimination on his 2016 campaign. CREDIT: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

"We will do better next time," the U.S. senator from Vermont and former presidential candidate said. As Sanders considers whether to run in 2020, new allegations from his 2016 campaign have emerged. Continue Reading Bernie Read More

‘Bundyville’ Tells A Story Of Anti-Government Extremism Set In The Rural West, Says Podcast Host

By Scott Leadingham December 11, 2018

'Bundyville' is a seven-part podcast from Longreads and Oregon Public Boradcasting, hosted by Leah Sottile. CREDIT: Illustration by Zoë van Dijk for Longreads

Journalist Leah Sottile covered the 2016 Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation and its aftermath with the Bundy family. This year she released a deeply reported podcast about the Bundys – called 'Bundyville,' a collaboration between Longreads and Oregon Public Broadcasting. Read More

A New Thanksgiving Week Ritual: Eat Turkey; #OptOutside; Share Your #UniqueNW Photos

By Scott Leadingham November 22, 2018

Mount Rainier seen from the Ryegrass area between Vantage and Ellensburg near I-90. CREDIT: RON LARIN via NWPBROADCASTING.TUMBLR.COM

Show us your favorite outdoor scene – from a hike, from your cross-state road trip, from your backyard. Whatever inspiring or relaxing view you have, show us with #UniqueNW. Continue Reading A New Thanksgiving Week Ritual: Eat Read More

Betsy Devos Proposes New Education Dept. Rules To Protect Students Accused Of Sexual Assault

By Scott Leadingham November 16, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos speaks with the media after a series of listening sessions about campus sexual violence in July 2017. Among the significant changes is that schools can make it harder to prove allegations. Alex Brandon/AP

Among the significant changes is that schools could make it harder to prove allegations. Instead of only a "preponderance of the evidence," schools could demand "clear and convincing evidence." Continue Reading Betsy Read More

Cyber Tests Showed ‘Nearly All’ New Pentagon Weapons Vulnerable To Attack, GAO Says

By Scott Leadingham October 9, 2018

The Pentagon only recently made cybersecurity a priority, the Government Accountability Office says in a new report, which found vulnerabilities in weapons that are under development. CREDIT: Yuri Gripas/Reuters

"One test report indicated that the test team was able to guess an administrator password in nine seconds," the Government Accountability Office says. Continue Reading Cyber Tests Showed ‘Nearly All’ New Pentagon Read More

UPDATES: I-90 Back Open At Vantage After Fast-Moving Fire Forces Evacuations

By Scott Leadingham July 10, 2018

The Ryegrass Coulee Fire began late Monday, July 9 and quickly spread between Ellensburg and Vantage, closing Interstate 90. CREDIT: WASHINGTON STATE DOT

A fast-moving fire in sagebrush closed Interstate 90 between Ellensburg and Vantage in Central Washington. The Washington State DOT and State Patrol say an estimated time to reopen I-90 is noon today, July 10. Continue Reading UPDATES: I-90 Read More

WSU Outlines Plan To Reduce Projected $85 Million Athletics Deficit

By Scott Leadingham June 8, 2018

Fans and players celebrate Washington State's 30-27 win over Southern California in an NCAA college football game in Pullman, Wash., Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) ORG XMIT: WAYK111

Washington State University’s athletics department is currently facing a nearly $67 million budget deficit as the 2018 fiscal year comes to close. Now, WSU leaders are outlining a plan to get the department back to fiscal stability. But the deficit is projected to grow much larger before it goes down. Read More

Flooding Hits Okanogan And Ferry Counties As Melting Canadian Snowpack Fills Rivers

By Scott Leadingham May 10, 2018

The Okanogan River in Omak on May 7, 2018. CREDIT: OKANOGAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

It’s a record year for flooding in northeastern Washington as spring runoff makes its way into rivers. At least eight are at or above flood stage. Nearly all of them cross the U.S.-Canada border. Continue Reading Flooding Read More

Live From NWPB: News, Classical And Northwest Fun On Facebook

By Scott Leadingham March 8, 2018

What’s going on in the Northwest this week? Want to hear from the people who help bring you the news and music you hear every day? Join NWPB on Facebook every Friday at noon for a look at what’s happening around the Northwest with the issues that affect you most – from updates at Hanford to how the Rattlesnake Ridge landslide near Yakima is an ongoing story. Read More

Rattlesnake Ridge: An Ongoing Slide Means Ongoing Coverage

By Scott Leadingham February 6, 2018

Rattlesnake Ridge Risk Map - Google Maps

It started with a crack. Then it got bigger. Then video footage from a drone let everyone have a bird’s eye view of how the Rattlesnake Ridge slide outside of Union Gap, Washington, was coming – or sliding – along. Continue Reading Rattlesnake Ridge: Read More

Northwest Cities See Big Women’s March Crowds As #MeToo Looms Large

By Scott Leadingham January 21, 2018

Womens March - SEATTLE - by Megan Farmer

Across the Northwest, thousands of people attended Women’s March events over the weekend. Marches happened in the region's biggest cities and much smaller towns and college campuses. Continue Reading Northwest Cities See Big Women’s March Read More

WSU Quarterback Tyler Hilinski Dies, Remembered As Team Leader

By Scott Leadingham January 16, 2018

Washington State University quarterback Tyler Hilinski has died. He was 21. Police in Pullman, Washington, confirmed they were called to an apartment Tuesday afternoon where they found Hilinski. Continue Reading WSU Quarterback Tyler Hilinski Dies, Read More

Keith Jackson, Sports Broadcasting Legend And WSU Alumnus, Dies At 89

By Scott Leadingham January 13, 2018

Keith Jackson, the man whose popular phrase “Whoa, Nellie” became as much a well-known sports saying as it was his own moniker, died Friday, Jan. 12. He was 89. Continue Reading Keith Jackson, Sports Broadcasting Legend And WSU Alumnus, Dies At Read More

WSU Student Journalists Say They’ll Keep Fighting Amid Proposed Cuts

By Scott Leadingham January 12, 2018

Daily Evergreen newspaper fronts - No Retreat

Washington State University’s student newspaper, The Daily Evergreen, is facing a big budget deficit, and cuts to its print days. NWPB host Thom Kokegne sat down with Evergreen editor-in-chief Madison Jackson to talk about the proposed cuts, and how they’ll keep doing their work as a watchdog on the university administration. Read More

NWPB’s Newest News Correspondent: Esmy Jimenez In Yakima

By Scott Leadingham January 12, 2018

Northwest Public Broadcasting is pleased to welcome the newest addition to our news staff: Esmy Jimenez. Esmy is our Yakima Valley correspondent, covering the important stories of Central Washington’s farm economy and the people who make it tick. She began reporting last spring, but recently became our official full-time reporter. Born in Mexico but raised… Read More

UPDATES: I-5 Amtrak Train Derailment Brings Investigation, Lawsuits And Many Questions

By Scott Leadingham January 2, 2018

Amtrak train derails onto Interstate 5, December 18, 2017

An Amtrak train on its inaugural run from Seattle to Portland derailed Monday morning, Dec. 18, 2017, sending at least one train car off an overpass and onto a busy Interstate 5 below. The derailment happened in DuPont, about 40 miles south of Seattle near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, before 8 a.m. during morning rush hour. Read More

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