W-S-U
Police and Fire
Stop by the campus police department office in the Public Safety
Building on the east end of Terrell Mall and look at the "Public
and Media Information" folder on the front desk every day.
Read about the police and fire calls from the previous day.
Make
notes about each event that seems significant. If multiple "units"
(police cars) are listed, the event might be worth investigating
further. The records show the name and date of birth of individuals
who the police arrested.
For
more information about specific events, ask to speak with Linda
Jascha-Schaff or an officer. It is always a good idea to write a
short 35-45 second reader story to use in your newscast based on
your reporting.
Glenn
Johnson serves as Public Information Officer for the W-S-U Fire
Department. You should contact him at least once during the week
to find out if he has any news or releases. Contact Glenn Johnson
at 5-3068, Murrow Hall 205. The WSU Police Web
site occasionally has fresh information.
Pullman
Police
Check the Pullman
Police Web site (www.ci.pullman.wa.us--click on the Police link
on the left, then view "latest news" and "records")
.
When
reading the police log for the day, note calls that required multiple
"units" to respond. This is an indication of a significant
event. The log also lists the name and date of birth of any individuals
who have been arrested. Names may be blacked out if the person filing
the complaint requested to have their name off the record.
To
get more information about any specific call, go to the police station
and fill out a "Public Record Disclosure Request." Billie
Shinall will review the request and release the information if the
case has been ajudicated in the case of an arrest. You will be charged
15 cents for each copy.
Moscow
Police
Daily activity log is linked here.
Pullman
Fire
The
Pullman
Fire Web site (www.ci.pullman.wa.us--click on the Fire link on the
left, then view "latest news")
Call
Pullman Fire Department Administrative Assistant Debbie Kelly at
332-8172 to find out if there were any significant calls during
the past day.
The
Pullman and W-S-U Fire Department Public Information Officer is
Glenn Johnson, 5-3068, Murrow Hall 205. You should contact him at
least once during your beat to find out if either fire department
has planned any special events or if he has any new press releases.
Washington
State Patrol
The
W-S-P media
release page page has some curent information, but is mostly
fluff, and mostly very badly written. As with all releases, use
the information as a starting point for your story. Contact an officer
for updated information.
If
you need to contact someone about an accident that is outside of
city limits, try the public
information officers for the Spokane district. There is also
a local detachment at 300 N Mill St, Colfax, WA 99111-1826 (509)
397-3600
Eastern Washington U.S. Marshals Service
This Web
site lists former W-S-U student Frederick Russell as among its
most wanted.
Eastern Washington U.S. District Court
Occasionally,
high profle cases from Pullman are tried in federal court. Schedules
and verdicts are printed
here.
Sex
Offender Registries
You
can see a list of level three sex offenders in any community or
county in Washington by following this link at the Washington
State Sex Offender Information Center. or this link to the Idaho
State Sex Offender Registry.
Whitman
County Sheriff
The
Whitman County Sheriff's office publishes press
releases concerning crimes, arrests, and DARE program activities.
Latah
County Sheriff
The
Latah County Sheriff's office also publishes press releases,
as well as a "most wanted" list.
Latah
County Health Inspection Reports
Enter
the Idaho city or county in the search
box to see a list of inspection reports from the past year.
Pullman
Regional Hospital
For
one word descriptions of the condition of accident victims, call
Public Relations Director Matt Strange at 336-0267. You must know
the name of the victim, and the victim must have "opted in"
to the release of information. Mr. Strange may release more than
a one word description of the condition, but only if the patient
has agreed to release the additional information. The
Guide for Cooperation describes the policies for release of
information in Washington hospitals.
Whitman
County District Court
Stop by the Colfax or Pullman branches of the Whitman County District
Court to see what is on the court docket that day. For scheduled
hearings in Pullman and Colfax, consult the Whitman
County District Court Web site. You may also look up dates of
specific casesif you know the name of the defendent using this
site.
Generally, the Pullman branch holds court on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
beginning at nine a-m. The first cases to be heard each day are
arraignment hearings, in which the judge reads the charges, and
a sworn statement from the arresting officer. This is the defendent's
first appearance in court.
At
eleven in the morning on Tuesdays in Pullman, and four in the afternoon
on Thursdays, the court hears the D-U-I cases.
Most
of the criminal cases in Pullman are on Thursdays. Cases involving
warrants are often at eleven a-m.
Small
claims court is held in Pullman on the second Tuesday of the month
at two-thirty. The
court provides useful information to help you understand the small
claims court process.
You
may also contact the court administrators listed here.
Please
note that if you attend a hearing, you must follow the rules of
the court, including:
1.
No cell phones
2.
No hats.
3.
No interruption of the proceedings -- you may not ask questions
or speak during the proceedings. The courtroom microphones are very
sensitive: avoid all unnecessary noises.
4.
Dress professionally -- no shorts, revealing clothing, torn jeans,
etc. You may be asked to leave the courtroom if you are not dressed
appropriately.
Washington
State Court opinions
Alternatively,
you may write a story about a recent opinion from the Washington
State Supreme Court, State Court of Appeals, which are listed here:
recent
Washington State court opinions
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