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After a series of confusing statements released by police on the Idaho student killings, here’s where the investigation stands | CNN

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After a series of confusing statements released by police on the Idaho student killings, here’s where the investigation stands | CNN




CNN
 — 

As many College of Idaho college students returned to campus this week, the police investigation into the stabbing deaths of 4 of their friends continued – however not with out confusion over a key case element.

Almost three weeks because the faculty college students have been discovered stabbed to demise in an off-campus dwelling on November 13, dozens of native, state and federal investigators have but to determine a suspect or discover the homicide weapon.

The unresolved deaths of the victims – Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen – proceed to hassle the neighborhood of Moscow and the college, the place college students have been given the choice to finish the semester remotely in the event that they aren’t comfy returning to its fundamental campus.

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Previously week, police and prosecutors have made irregular statements concerning the nature of the killings, which the Moscow Police Division initially described on November 15 as an “remoted, focused assault” that offered “no imminent risk to the neighborhood at giant.” Police backtracked on that assertion the subsequent day, saying they might not be certain there was no threat to the general public.

Then, on Wednesday, the Moscow police mentioned in an announcement that the prosecutor in Idaho’s Latah County erroneously mentioned this week that “the suspect(s) particularly checked out this residence,” and “that a number of of the occupants have been undoubtedly focused.”

The police assertion mentioned the prosecutor’s feedback have been a “miscommunication,” including that, “Detectives don’t at present know if the residence or any occupants have been particularly focused.” The remark contradicts a number of earlier remarks by police that characterised the assault as “focused.”

With a view to make clear the confusion, Moscow police mentioned in a launch Thursday, “we stay constant in our perception that this was a focused assault, however investigators haven’t concluded if the goal was the residence or if it was the occupants.”

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Regardless of the uncertainty blanketing the campus over the dearth of a suspect, college students gathered Wednesday night time for a vigil in honor of the slain victims.

Blaine Eckles, the college’s dean of scholars, inspired the gang to “inform the enjoyable tales, bear in mind them within the good occasions and don’t let their lives be outlined by how they died, however as a substitute bear in mind them for the enjoyment they unfold and the enjoyable occasions they shared whereas they lived.”

As detectives proceed to scour the town for info, right here’s the place the investigation stands.

The previous few days have introduced some incremental public updates within the case, together with the chance that there was a sixth roommate dwelling on the home the place the scholars have been killed.

Detectives have mentioned three of the victims – Goncalves, Kernodle and Mogen – lived on the home with their two surviving roommates, who police haven’t named. Investigators at the moment are conscious of a sixth one who is listed on the lease as a resident, however don’t consider they have been within the dwelling when the killings occurred, police mentioned in a Thursday replace.

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Police initially mentioned Chapin lived on the home however have since mentioned he was solely visiting.

On the night time of the killings, Goncalves and Mogen have been at a bar in downtown Moscow, and Chapin and Kernodle have been seen at a fraternity get together. Two surviving roommates had additionally gone out in Moscow that night time, however returned to the home by 1 a.m., police mentioned, noting they didn’t get up till later that morning. Investigators don’t consider they have been concerned within the deaths.

By 2 a.m., all 4 victims had returned to the house, in accordance with police. Detectives earlier mentioned Goncalves and Mogen returned to the house by 1:45 a.m., however they up to date the timeline final week, saying digital proof confirmed the pair returned at 1:56 a.m. after visiting a meals truck and being pushed dwelling by a “personal get together.”

Investigators have released a map depicting the movements of four University of Idaho students the night they were killed.

The subsequent morning, the 2 surviving roommates within the dwelling “summoned pals to the residence as a result of they believed one of many second-floor victims had handed out and was not waking up,” police mentioned in a launch. Anyone referred to as 911 from the home at 11:58 a.m. utilizing one of many surviving roommates’ telephones.

“The decision reported an unconscious individual,” Moscow Police Capt. Roger Lanier mentioned final week. “Throughout that decision, the dispatcher spoke to a number of individuals who have been on scene.”

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When police arrived, they discovered two victims on the second flooring and two victims on the third flooring. There was no signal of compelled entry or harm, police mentioned.

The victims have been probably asleep when the assaults started, in accordance with the Latah County coroner. Every sufferer was stabbed a number of occasions, the coroner mentioned, and a few had defensive wounds.

A flyer seeking information about the killings of four University of Idaho students who were found dead on Nov. 13, 2022, is displayed on a table along with buttons and bracelets, Wednesday, Nov. 30 during a vigil in memory of the victims in Moscow, Idaho.

Intensive proof has been collected over the course of the investigation, together with 113 piece of bodily proof, about 4,000 images of the crime scene and a number of other 3-D scans of the house, Moscow police mentioned on Thursday.

Detectives have obtained testing and evaluation of the crime scene proof from Idaho State Police Forensic Providers, and they’re going to proceed to obtain the outcomes of extra assessments, in accordance with police.

“To guard the investigation’s integrity, particular outcomes won’t be launched,” police mentioned.

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Detectives additionally collected the contents of three dumpsters on the road the place the home is situated and seized 5 close by automobiles to be processed for proof, in accordance with police.

In an effort to find the weapon – believed to be a fixed-blade knife – detectives contacted native companies to see if an identical knife had been bought not too long ago.

Investigators are additionally counting on a trove of public suggestions, images and movies of the night time the scholars died, together with greater than 260 digital media submissions that folks have submitted by way of an FBI type, police mentioned. Authorities have processed greater than 1,000 suggestions and performed a minimum of 150 interviews in an effort to advance the case.

However even with the piles of proof at their fingertips, authorities are asking for the general public to submit any surveillance video or recommendations on uncommon conduct within the related areas, even when it seems there isn’t a motion or content material in them.

Within the absence of great advances within the case, rumors have spun across the case relating to the victims, potential suspects and weird happenings within the space. Police have tried to tamp down on misinformation by addressing just a few of the problems straight.

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Investigators say they consider the next folks weren’t concerned within the killings:

  • Two surviving roommates.
  • Different folks in the home when 911 was referred to as.
  • The one that drove Goncalves and Mogen dwelling.
  • A person seen in surveillance video from a meals truck visited by Goncalves and Mogen.
  • A person Goncalves and Mogen referred to as “quite a few occasions” within the hours earlier than their demise.

Police additionally dismissed on-line experiences that the victims have been tied and gagged as inaccurate.



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Idaho

'This is a game-changer.' New indoor soccer facility set to open in east Idaho – East Idaho News

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'This is a game-changer.' New indoor soccer facility set to open in east Idaho – East Idaho News


The following is a news release from Portneuf Valley Soccer Club.

POCATELLO — Portneuf Valley Soccer Club is proud to announce the finalization of a four-field indoor soccer facility in Pocatello.

At just over 120,000 square feet, this facility will be the largest of its kind in Idaho. Beyond housing four fields, the complex will serve as the new headquarters for PVSC, featuring administrative offices, a merchandise store, classrooms, and more.

“This facility is a game-changer for soccer in Eastern Idaho,” said Cristie Stone, President of PVSC. “It’s a testament to the vision and commitment of our club, our partners, and the community. We’re investing in our players and are determined to raise the bar of soccer in Idaho.”

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PVSC is making a significant investment to enhance the facility’s infrastructure which includes installation of high-quality turf on all four fields, procurement of equipment and technology, upgrades to restrooms, office spaces, and other amenities.

“This facility is phase 1 of a 3-phase strategic development program that will see PVSC become the Number 1 club in the state,” said Paul Baker, who led the development efforts. “We are focused on building a community where our athletes can thrive, families can connect, and the sport we love can continue to grow in eastern Idaho.”

PVSC’s growth ambitions don’t stop here. In addition to the facility, the club will be investing in the professional development of 5 full-time professional coaching staff who will focus on enhancing Youth Development and Competitive programs.

The facility is set to open its doors for a soft opening in January with an official opening ceremony scheduled for early February, offering a transformative space for the soccer community to participate in events, tournaments and leagues.

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As PVSC is a 501C3 Non Profit, the club is asking local businesses and families to support the clubs efforts through advertising and sponsorships. Information is available on their website: www.pvscunited.com.

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Project Pinecone aims to recover Idaho’s forests after Wapiti Fire • Utah News Dispatch

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Project Pinecone aims to recover Idaho’s forests after Wapiti Fire • Utah News Dispatch


One organization is aiming to help forest managers recover the trees lost in one of Idaho’s most devastating fires this summer.

On Nov. 3, the nonprofit Daughters of the American Revolution launched a fundraising campaign to raise money to help restore scorched south and central Idaho forests.

The Wapiti Fire, which began on July 24 by a lightning strike two miles southwest of Grandjean, spanned about 130,000 acres across the Boise National Forest, Sawtooth National Forest and the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

Coined Project Pinecone, the funds raised will be used to hire professional tree climbers for the Sawtooth National Forest who will pick pinecones off trees to harvest mature seeds that will be used to grow and eventually replant trees back into the Sawtooth National Forest.

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As of Monday, the Project Pinecone had raised a total of $11,500, including cash and check donations outside of the PayPal fundraiser, lead organizer Janice Beller said.

Beller is the Idaho state leader of the nonprofit. Like others in the organization, she is a descendant of someone who participated in the American Revolution. Conservation is important to the organization and important to her as a fifth generation Idahoan, she told the Idaho Capital Sun.

“Stanley is one of my favorite places in the world, and it has been in my family for years —  literally generations,” she said. “When Stanley burned this summer, it just broke my heart and really had a kind of a profound impact on many members within Daughters of the American Revolution.”

‘We have a lot of need for seed’: Sawtooth forester says 

Beller said a member of her leadership team reached out to a Stanley forest ranger to ask how they could help restore the forest. That’s when she learned about the shortage in seeds at Lucky Peak Nursery, located off Highway 21 outside of Boise.

Nelson Mills, the timber and silviculture program manager for the Sawtooth National Forest, said his biggest challenge is that forest staff hasn’t collected enough its seeds to replenish its seed bank at Lucky Peak Nursery.

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Pinecones are collected by professional tree climbers who use harnesses and spurred boots to climb trees between 75 and 120 feet tall. The pinecones are then transferred to Lucky Peak Nursery for seed processing. (Courtesy of Bill Josey)

Forest service staff right now have enough seeds to cover 50 to 80 acres of trees suitable for the Stanley area at its nursery, Mills said. However, that is not nearly enough to recover the forest from the Wapiti Fire.

Mills said that wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem, but catastrophic wildfires like the Wapiti Fire will require artificial tree restoration. Of the 130,000 acres that were burned in the Wapiti Fire, 485 acres have been identified as requiring immediate reforestation need because the seed bed was completely burnt, Mills said. When a more formal assessment is done this winter, forest staff will likely find more acres in need of seedling planting, he said.

In addition to the seed shortage, harvesting pinecones is a complicated, risky and expensive process, Mills said.

The main way to collect pinecone seeds is by hiring professional tree climbers for $2,500 a day. Equipped with harnesses and spurred boots, they climb trees between 75 and 120 feet tall to collect pinecones at the perfect ripeness.

Timing is crucial, as ripeness varies by species and elevation, typically occurring between mid-August to mid-September, Mills said. An unripe pinecone won’t have a viable embryo, an overripe pinecone opens and releases its seeds, and pinecones that have fallen on the ground have been exposed to mold — making the seeds unsuitable for use, he said.

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The pinecones are then transferred to Lucky Peak Nursery where they are tested, processed, cleaned and sown to make baby lodgepole pines, ponderosa pines and Douglas firs.

Mills said Project Pinecone creates flexibility for foresters because it is not congressionally appropriated. If it’s not a good pinecone producing year, he said foresters can wait until the next year, or look at other species in a different area.

“Everybody is stepping up through all phases of this reforestation issue to make a solution and grow forests back specifically in the Stanley basin that was affected by the Wapiti Fire,” Mills said. “It is an amazing collaborative effort, and I am just so thankful that people want to get together and grow a forest ecosystem.”

Fundraiser to last until spring 2025

Beller said the fundraiser will last until May, when she plans to hold a ceremony to present the funds to the Stanley community and forest officials. She said she is encouraging individuals to donate, as it is tax deductible, and people who donate more than $10 will receive a wooden magnet with the project’s logo.

The total goal of the project is to raise $15,000, which would pay for six days of pinecone picking.

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The fundraiser is partnering with Boise Cascade, which committed to a day’s worth of pinecone picking to the project.

“Boise Cascade’s roots run deep in the state of Idaho, and we are honored to contribute to this incredible project to help restore some of Idaho’s most cherished forest lands that were burned during the brutal fire season of summer 2024,” Boise Cascade Vice President of Human Resources and contributions committee chair Angella Broesch, told the Sun. “As one of the largest producers of wood products in North America and a leading wholesale distributor of building products in the U.S., our company is committed to contributing to responsible forestry practices and protecting our environment.”

Having surpassed the halfway point of its goal, Beller said the successful donations show how much people from Idaho and outside of Idaho care about the Stanley area.

“We’ve heard so many people say that it’s truly the heart of Idaho, and it means a great deal to them and their families,” Beller said. “So to see everybody come together and contribute even just a little to bring it back is very humbling.”

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: [email protected].

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A very wet holiday week lies ahead

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A very wet holiday week lies ahead


After a short dry spell this past week, Idaho is gearing up for a wet holiday week ahead with plenty of precipitation to come.

It started off today with light snow falling in the mountains but not much making it to the valley floor in terms of rain. Tomorrow the Magic Valley will see some rain sweep through the region as a stray pattern will bring in early rain separate from the main systems later this week.

Monday night into Tuesday morning is wave #1, which will deliver precipitation to almost all of Idaho. Tuesday will see another wave pass through before things clear out just in time for Christmas Day.

Wednesday’s clear weather only lasts for a moment as more rain arrives on Thursday & Friday, with more to come next Saturday.

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Happy Holidays everyone! Enjoy the season and stay dry this week!





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