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Bryan Kohberger asks court for change of venue after delays in Idaho student murders trial

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Bryan Kohberger asks court for change of venue after delays in Idaho student murders trial

Idaho student murders suspect Bryan Kohberger has filed for a change of venue, asking the court to allow his trial to be held elsewhere from the college town where he is accused of massacring a group of undergrads, some of whom were asleep.

“A fair and impartial jury cannot be found in Latah County owing to the extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity, allegations made about Mr. Kohberger to the public by media that will be inadmissible at his trial, the small size of the community, the salacious nature of the alleged crimes, and the severity of the charges Mr. Kohberger faces,” Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s lead defense attorney, wrote in a Tuesday court filing made public Wednesday evening. 

Kohberger, a 29-year-old Pennsylvania criminology Ph.D. student, was attending Washington State University in the neighboring town of Pullman, across the state line, where prosecutors allege he entered an off-campus home around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, and killed four University of Idaho students with a large knife in Moscow, Idaho.

IDAHO MURDERS CASE: JUDGE TO CONSIDER BRYAN KOHBERGER ATTORNEY’S REQUEST FOR SUMMER 2025 TRIAL START DATE

Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho, on Aug. 18, 2023. (August Frank/Pool via REUTERS)

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Moscow is the seat of Latah County and home to about half of its population of roughly 40,000, not including students at the school.

“Enlarging the jury pool will not do anything to overcome that pervasive prejudicial publicity because Latah County does not have a large enough population center to avoid the bias in the community,” Taylor wrote. “Further, the size of the community and the interconnectedness of its citizenry is problematic and will prevent a fair and impartial pool of potential jurors.”

“A change of venue seems entirely appropriate in this case.” 

— Edwina Elcox, Boise, Idaho-based defense attorney

BRYAN KOHBERGER TRIAL: IDAHO PROSECUTORS REQUEST PREFERRED DATES, SCHEDULE

Much of the case has been conducted behind closed doors, with numerous filings made under seal and a restrictive gag order.

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Bryan Kohberger’s defense attorneys Elissa Massoth, left, Anne Taylor and Jay Logsdon depart the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho, on June 27, 2023. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

New Jersey defense attorney David Gelman, who has been following the case, called it the latest move in Kohberger’s “kitchen sink defense,” which has involved a number of procedural attempts to have the case thrown out or delayed.

Last week, Taylor asked the court to delay Kohberger’s trial until at least 2025, arguing she had not had enough time to complete discovery or interview more than a fraction of the witnesses. Latah District Judge John Judge held off on scheduling a trial date but denied Taylor’s efforts to have the indictment against her client dismissed.

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“If I was his attorney I would do the same thing, and I would have done it a while ago,” Gelman told Fox News Digital. “Forty thousand people is not a lot of people. Problem is, they are in a state that doesn’t have a lot of people to begin with, and this case has caught such national publicity that they will make that argument even if it’s in a densely populated area.”

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From left: University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. All four were stabbed to death in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. (Jazzmin Kernodle via AP/Instagram/@kayleegoncalves)

Changes of venue can be rare but can happen in high-profile cases, such as the double murder trials of Idaho’s “cult mom” Lori Vallow and California’s Scott Peterson.

“This was to be expected, 100%,” said Edwina Elcox, a prominent Idaho defense attorney who previously represented Vallow.

“What is remarkable is that the prosecution has already mounted an opposition to this motion by the comments made in court,” she told Fox News Digital. “A change in venue seems entirely appropriate in this case.”

Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson told the judge during a hearing last week that the case has already received global attention and media coverage and that a change of venue would not be necessary.

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The home in Moscow, Idaho, where a quadruple homicide took place. The landlord later donated it to the University of Idaho, which had the structure torn down a year later. (Hunter Richards for Fox News Digital)

The murders of Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, scandalized the country in November 2022. 

A surviving housemate witnessed a masked man walk out the back door after overhearing sounds of a struggle minutes into the attack, but police were not called until around noon the next day.

Bryan Kohberger is accused of killing Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. (Latah County Sheriff’s Office)

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It was more than six weeks before police captured a suspect. They arrested Kohberger at his parents’ house in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains after a lengthy investigation that included help from the FBI and police across multiple states.

Judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger’s behalf at his arraignment in May. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

The trial was initially expected to last six weeks, but lawyers now expect it to go on for 12 to 15. Judge has not yet set a start date.

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Hawaii

Bench in Honokaʻa to Hilo storefront: Knickknackery Hawaii brings old-time island charm to Hilo

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Bench in Honokaʻa to Hilo storefront: Knickknackery Hawaii brings old-time island charm to Hilo


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – You are invited to take a step into Hawaii’s past with a unique collection of antiques and collectables.

Let’s go holoholo to The Knickknackery Hawaii in Hilo.

Every morning, Keli’I Wilson sets up antiques right outside his shop, the Knickknackery Hawaii, which he co-owns and is a curator for.

“About 11 years ago, me and my partner started collecting a lot of antiques, and we visited this little store in Honoka’a, and we started on a bench outside selling antiques in Honoka’a 11 years ago,” said Wilson. “The lady that we bought from told us that we have a lot, we should try and sell it and see what happens. About 9 months later, we rented the spot next to her shop, and we had a store for the first time in Honoka’a.”

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Wilson said they moved to the corner of Haili and Kapiolani Street.

And now, they’re along Ponohawai St. in Hilo.

“So, when we decided we’re going to open up a shop, we wanted to come up with a very cool name, so I scanned through this old Webster’s dictionary from 1913, and I found the meaning of antiques, it was called knickknackery,” said Wilson. “Collecting knickknacks, whatnots, and thingamabobs, things worthy of collecting, that was the meaning in the Webster’s dictionary, and I said, there’s the name right there.”

Wilson said he loves vintage wares, old furniture, and its history.

“It reminds me of my grandma, my aunties that had beautiful Hawaiian things in their old homes,” said Wilson.

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In the shop, there are hula animatronics that dance hula, which Wilson said were made for the Kona Seaside Hotel in the 1950s and were displayed outside of their luau show.

There’s lots to see.

Look at Hawaii in the 1900’s through postcards or a trip down memory lane in the 90s.

There are all kinds of collectibles, from books, cameras, and old records.

“Well, it’s immaculate, for one thing, and it’s just beautiful the way everything is displayed,” said Vashti McMurray, who was visiting from Canada.

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“I would say it’s like quirky, has like a lot of like life and personality, said Ivy McMurray, who was also visiting from Canada.,

“A lot of the visitors that I get is from off-island, or they’ve lived in the mainland for 20, 30 years, and they come here, and they see all the things that remind them of Hawaii and that’s what I think matters to me, that I put that back out in the world, the hospitality, the beauty, the nostalgia of vintage Hawaii,” said Wilson.

Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.



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Idaho

Idaho ranks last in per pupil spending, again – Local News 8

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Idaho ranks last in per pupil spending, again – Local News 8


By: Emma Epperly

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on April 22, 2026

IDAHO — Idaho spends the least in the country per student in K-12 public schools, according to newly released data from the National Center for Educational Statistics.

The Gem State spent $11,167 per pupil during the 2024 fiscal year, the most recent data available from NCES.

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That makes Idaho last in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, schools spent on average $17,499 per child.

The closest state to Idaho is Utah, which spent $11,299. After that, the per-pupil expenditure jumps up by about $1,000.

In 2022 and 2023, Idaho ranked second-to-last, behind Utah, in per-pupil spending. In 2021, Idaho ranked last. Idaho has occupied a similar bottom-of-the-pile spot for more than a decade.

But even in Idaho, there’s a huge range in the amount spent per child. For example, in Avery, one of the state’s smallest K-8 school districts, about $91,030 was spent per student in 2025, the most in the state. Three Creek, Prairie and Pleasant Valley Elementary school districts — also small — round out the top four.

Some large districts spend more than the state average. Boise spent $14,639 per student in fiscal year 2025. The state’s largest district West Ada spent $8,875, so well under the state average.

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The lowest per student spending in the state is often from hybrid or virtual schools. Idaho Home Learning spent $6,408 last year. The statewide average for 2025 was $13,020.

While Idaho’s statewide average has gone up since 2024, it’s likely that Idaho will continue to fall at the bottom nationally, if the last decade of data is any indicator.

Here’s the data for Idaho’s neighboring states:

  • Wyoming $20,542
  • Washington $18,639
  • Oregon $18,052
  • Nevada $14,247
  • Montana $14,202
  • Utah 11,299
  • Idaho $11,167

Ed News Data Analyst Randy Schrader contributed to this story.



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Montana

Montana Class AA girls track and field leaders ahead of Optimist Invite

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Montana Class AA girls track and field leaders ahead of Optimist Invite


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The Great Falls High and C.M. Russell High girls’ track and field teams are set to host the Optimist Club Invitational on Saturday, April 25, at Memorial Stadium.

The annual meet serves as a midseason state-meet preview of sorts as the top athletes from across Class AA all come together to see how the field is stacking up head-to-head.

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The meet begins at 11:15 a.m. with pole vault, long jump, javelin and shot put, while the 100-meter hurdles kick off the running events at noon. For a full schedule, visit the Optimist Meet page at athletic.net.

Here’s a look at the top competitors in each event heading into the Optimist, as well as where Great Falls athletes stack up.

Montana Class AA Girls Track and Field Leaders (as of April 23)

*Numbers in parentheses next to the event indicate AA automatic state-qualifying marks

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100 (13.00)

1. Emery Peel, Billings Senior, 12.18; 2. Quinlyn Simmons, Helena High, 12.37; 3. Carleigh Mahn, Billings West, 12.47; 4. Nora Allen, Billings West, 12.61; 5. Isabella Donaghey, Gallatin, 12.62.

200 (26.70)

1. Carleigh Mann, Billings West, 25.53; 2. Emery Peel, Billings Senior, 25.63; 3. Cora Carahassen, Billings Senior, 25.95; 4. Quinlyn Simmons, Helena High, 26.01; 5. Nora Allen, Billings West, 26.02.

400 (1:01.00)

1. Aliyah Vogel, Billings West, 58.81; 2. Emery Peel, Billings Senior, 58.94; 3. Leah Roberts, Billings Skyview, 1:00.60; 5. Nya Myers, Missoula Big Sky, 1:00.81.

800 (2:24.00)

1. Hazel Cooper, Gallatin, 2:16.34; 2. Aliyah Vogel, Billings West, 2:18.75; 3. Phoebe Maixner, Bozeman High, 2:19.42; 4. Kylee Neil, Bozeman High, 2:20.71; 5. Dacia Benkelman, 2:22.28.

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1600 (5:23.00)

1. Ada Thiel, Glacier, 4:53.63; 2. Phoebe Maixner, Bozeman High, 5:15.62; 3. Lauren Bissen, Glacier, 5:15.98; 4. Dacia Benkelman, Glacier, 5:18.73; 5. Hazel Cooper, Gallatin, 5:19.13.

3200 (11:50.00)

1. Phoebe Maixner, Bozeman High, 10:56.82; 2. Lauren Bissen, Glacier, 10:59.91; 3. Kylee Neil, Bozeman High, 11:16.50; 4. Reed Stromberg, Missoula Hellgate, 11:27.40; 5. Jane Allen, Billings West, 11:40.32.

100 hurdles (16.30)

1. Bristol Lenz, Flathead, 14.95; 2. Anita Black, Gallatin, 15.40; 3. Scarlet Harris, Great Falls High, 15.45; 4. Aizalyn Flaten, Gallatin, 15.66; Paisley Johnson, Missoula Hellgate, 15.71.

-Scarlet Harris, GFH: The junior was second in the event at the state meet last season (15.39) and has a personal best in her career of 15.14, which she ran as a freshman.

300 hurdles (48.50)

1. Aizalyn Flaten, Gallatin, 45.37; 2. Nya Myers, Missoula Big Sky, 45.99; 3. June Lay, Helena Capital, 46.92; 4. Paisley Johnson, Missoula Hellgate, 46.95; 5. Addison Brisendine, Glacier, 47.55.

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-Aizalyn Flaten, Gallatin: Flaten, who was an All-State cross-country runner for CMR as a freshman and sophomore and was sixth at state last year in the triple jump while attending Great Falls High, was All-State (third, 46.59) in the event for the Rustlers as a freshman.

-Harris, GFH: Harris just missed the state podium last year in seventh. Her career-best time in the 300 came last year at the Optimist (45.58). She is just off the state-qualifying time this year at 48.62.

4×100 relay (50.60)

1. Billings West, 48.54; 2. Billings Senior, 49.23; 3. Big Sky, 49.33; 4. Helena High, 49.54; 5. Flathead, 49.87.

4×400 (4:12.00)

1. Billings West, 4:03.22; 2. Billings Senior, 4:07.62; 3. Gallatin, 4:09.73; 4. Glacier, 4:10.41; 5. Flathead, 4:14.17.

Shot put (35’3”)

1. Kate Breeding, Gallatin, 43-01; 2. Mena Kamps, Gallatin, 38-00; 3. Fayth Smith, Billings Senior, 37-07; 4. Allie Krueger, Glacier, 37-01; 5. Brittyn Boyce, Billings West, 35-10.

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Discus (113’)

1. Brittyn Boyce, Billings West, 131-04; 2. Rylee Bigelow, Glacier, 125-08; 3. Laktynn Johnson, Billings West, 123-08; 4. Lowe LeFeber, Bozeman High, 121-10; 5. Brooklyn Kopp, Hellgate, 121-08.

Javelin (113’)

1. Elsa Johnson, Billings West, 137-08; 2. Kate Breeding, Gallatin, 132-08; 3. Remi Osler, Glacier, 124-02; 4. Kaelyn Saari, Helena Capital, 119-01; 5. Lucy Holloway, Glacier, 118-05.

-Aila Wood, GFH: The senior is ranked seventh in the event this season and has qualified for state (114-09).

High jump (5’2”)

1. Elly Reed, Hellgate, 5-06; 2. Kate Lindsay, Gallatin, 5-04; T3. (All 5-02) Tayah Osier, CMR; Hayden Wiening, Belgrade; Ruby Roscoe, Hellgate, Brooklyn Metcalf, Billings West; Paisley Johnson, Hellgate.

-Osier, CMR: The junior, also a volleyball star for the Rustlers, was a state-qualifier in the event last year and was eighth.

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Pole vault (10’)

1. Addison Smith, Great Falls High, 12-00; 2. Naomi Lee, Sentinel, 11-06; T3. Nevaeh Varner, Billings West; Knoelle Ferguson, Helena Capital, 11-00; T5. Madison Armeding, Big Sky; Clara Randall, Billings West, 10-00.

-Smith, GFH: The senior was second at state last season at 11-03 when competing for CMR and has cleared 12-00 twice this season.

Long jump (16’6”)

1. Calla Sprecher, Bozeman High, 18-04; 2. Kate Lindsay, Gallatin, 17-06.5; 3. Zeila Wagner, Glacier, 17-03; Aizalyn Flaten, Gallatin, 17-02; 5. Tayah Osier, CMR, 17-01.5

Harris and Osier: Harris was All-State in the long last year in sixth at 16-11.25 and has a personal best of 17-04.5. She is ranked ninth this spring at 16-11.5 and has qualified for state. Osier was a state qualifier in the event as a sophomore.

Triple jump (34’)

1. Calla Sprecher, Bozeman High, 36-07.5; 2. Gabby Alec-Rebolledo, Big Sky, 36-06; 3. Aizalyn Flaten, Gallatin, 36-05; 4. Teagan Hegdal, CMR, 34-09.5; 5. Rachel Brannan, Glacier, 34-08.25.

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Hegdal, CMR: The sophomore is coming off a freshman year in which she qualified for state in both the long and triple jumps.



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