Sen. Murray staffer hears local views on issues

Whitman County commissioners discussed affordable housing in the county and new water quality standards with John Culton, Eastern Washington director for U.S. senator Patty Murray during a workshop session Monday morning.

Commissioner Dean Kinzer reported there is $175 million in the Washington state Housing Trust Fund for the next biennium.

He said the fund issues grants and loans to low-income families for home improvement projects.

To qualify, the person needs to own the home, be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere and have an income below 50 percent of the area median income.

“One...