In brief: EWU provost named as Western Oregon president

Eastern Washington University Provost Rex Fuller was chosen Thursday as Western Oregon University’s next president.

Fuller, who was runner-up to Mary Cullinan for the top job at EWU last year, will assume his new role July 1. He replaces Western Oregon’s retiring president, Mark Weiss.

“Amid all the changes in higher education governance, we are pleased to have such an experienced and inspiring leader as Dr. Fuller,” the chairman of Western Oregon’s board of trustees said in prepared remarks.

Fuller told faculty he plans to remain at EWU through June 13.

Gun-notification bill goes to governor

A bill that aims to prevent another tragedy like the murder-suicide of Sheena Henderson and her husband, Christopher, at a Spokane hospital last summer received final approval from the Senate Thursday.

Like the House, the Senate unanimously approved a bill requiring law enforcement agencies to notify worried family members before returning firearms seized from a person involved in domestic violence or other criminal activities, or from someone being examined for mental illness. The bill was sent to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature.

Otter vetoes bill on kids’ epilepsy

Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed a bill that would have allowed parents of Idaho children with an intractable form of epilepsy to treat their kids with cannabidiol, a non-psychotropic oil that’s an extract of cannabis and can halt the children’s repeated, extended and life-threatening seizures.

The bill passed after lengthy and emotional hearings during this year’s legislative session. “Of course I sympathize with the heartbreaking dilemma facing some families trying to cope with the debilitating impacts of disease,” Otter wrote in his veto message.

But he cited concerns about federal law and worries that the bill would open the door to legalizing medical marijuana.

He added that he will authorize the Department of Health and Welfare to study and implement “an expanded access program” – approved by the Food and Drug Administration – for treatment-resistant epilepsy in children.