Washington State University’s Board of Regents on Friday approved the university’s capital and operating budget requests, which will be considered by the State Legislature in 2009.

The capital requests include $7.4 million in design funding for a veterinary medical research building in Pullman, $15.75 million for a wastewater reclamation project and $16.1 million to turn the Bookie building in Pullman into classroom space. The Bookie will vacate its current building and move to the
renovated Compton Union Building, which will open this fall.

Included in the operating budget is $18 million to overhaul the university’s core computer systems; $5 million in funding for the School of Global Animal Health; $3 million for public safety and emergency management funding; money to fund salary increases for faculty, staff and graduate students, and funding to support higher enrollments.

The regents also approved several fee increases for the upcoming academic year. Generally, service and activities fees and health fees were raised by five percent. The regents approved a 6.64 percent increase in the per semester fees for Pullman students for use of the Student Recreation Center.

In other action, the board approved the creation of a bi-state School of Food Science, in collaboration with the University of Idaho. The action merges food science faculty and programs from the WSU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition with those from the UI Department of Food Science and Toxicology.

Some Washington college presidents are halting most new hires as a hedge against layoffs and other cuts, given projections of a state revenue shortfall of more than $2 billion.

Eastern Washington University implemented a “soft hiring freeze” in mid-April, saying the school is facing the possibility of significant cuts in the next legislative session.

Washington State University President Elson Floyd last week ordered a similar strategy for administrative hires – but not faculty jobs – asking administrators to fill only “essential” or emergency positions.

Floyd also told administrators he was imposing a moratorium on new programs or courses until a campuswide re-evaluation of programs and areas of focus is complete.

As part of that process, WSU’s undergraduate forestry program is in danger of being axed. The major has only about 20 students, and might be slashed as part of a general reform of the school’s less-popular offerings.

Floyd has told deans to evaluate the strength of their programs, with a goal of focusing scarce resources on majors where WAZZU is a leader or has the potential to lead. Academic departments were also asked to cut 1.5 percent from their budgets, and the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences is considering doing that by cutting forestry.

Officials stress that no final decision has been made.

The universities of Idaho, Montana and Oregon State have large forestry programs, as do many other colleges around the country.

(The Spokesman-Review & AP)

The Houston Texans selected Washington State quarterback Alex Brink in the seventh round of the NFL draft on Sunday , making him the state’s only college player drafted. Washington State has had at least one player selected in each of the last 14 drafts.

Meanwhile, Idaho had three state players drafted. Boise State tackle Ryan Clady went 12th overall to Denver, becoming the first BSU player to be drafted in the first round. Boise State cornerback Orlando Scandrick was drafted in the fifth round by Dallas.

The last pick of the draft — known tongue-in-cheek as the league’s “Mr. Irrelevant” — was Idaho linebacker David Vobora, whom St. Louis selected 252nd overall.

After the draft, the Seattle Seahawks agreed to free-agent terms Sunday evening with former Cougars wide receiver Michael Bumpus.

Washington State University researchers will spend nearly $200,000 over the next two years to study causes and possible treatments of a bee disease called Colony Collapse Disorder.

The Washington State Beekeepers Association estimates that between 35 percent and 50 percent of the state’s beehives have been lost to the disease in recent years - bees help pollinate eight of the state’s top 10 crops.

Money for the research is coming from donations from Northwest beekeepers and associations, as well as dedicated funds from the WSU Agricultural Research Center. One Yakima beekeeper contributed to the WSU research after losing 4,000 hives worth more than $1 million this spring.

(AP)

Two Washington State University students arrested in connection with a string of small fires on the WSU campus early Monday morning have been released on their own recognizance.

David Miner, 21, of Tacoma, Washington and Ian Coplan, 18, of Aberdeen, Washington, were arrested in connection with the blazes, which did little damage but prompted the evacuation of one dormitory. No injuries were reported.

Miner and Coplan were taken into custody for suspicion of arson and reckless burning.  Both appeared in court for a bail hearing Monday in Colfax, Washington and were released. Prosecutors say neither suspect has a criminal history and they are not considered to be flight risks.

Copland is the son of Grays Harbor District Court Judge Thomas A. Copland.

(AP)

Pullman mayor, Washington State University professor and “voice of the Cougs” Glenn Johnson was hospitalized, but has been released.

City officials say Johnson was taken to Pullman Regional Sunday night for treatment of a high blood pressure spike. Hospital staff say Johnson has had some short-term memory loss, but suffered no paralysis, and his wife says he is recovering and regaining his memory.

Johnson was scheduled to go to a Spokane hospital Monday for more tests, but improved enough that those plans were canceled.

In addition to his duties as mayor, Johnson is a WSU communications professor and public address announcer for Cougar football and basketball games.

Two Washington State University students have been arrested in connection with a series of small arson fires that were set on the Pullman campus early Monday morning.

Starting at 1 a.m., public safety officers from Pullman and WSU responded to four fires in and around the Stephenson Complex, one at the Fine Arts structure and one outside near College Avenue. Most of the fires caused no significant damage; however a section of the wall in the Stephenson lobby was charred. That fire set off fire alarms and forced the evacuation of Stephenson Hall. All fires were put out quickly and there were no reported injuries.

Pullman police arrested 21-year-old David Miner for obstructing officers as he was leaving the area of the fires. WSU Police later arrested him and 18-year old Ian Copland in connection with the fires.

Authorities say both would be charged with five counts of arson in the first degree and four counts of reckless burning in the second degree. They are expected to be arraigned later Monday or Tuesday in Colfax.

A Washington State University student is listed in critical condition at the intensive care unit of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington after an apparent assault Friday morning. According to Pullman Police, the unidentified 21-year old man was discovered in the street unconscious by a passerby near Opal and Colorado at approximately 2:00 a.m. Authorities say the student appeared to have been punched in the face and cracked his skull when he fell to the ground. Police are seeking the public’s help in locating the suspect, who is described as a white male in his 20’s and about 5′ 11” to 6-feet tall. Any one with information is asked to contact the Pullman Police Department at (509) 334-0802.