Idaho
Idaho high school students looking to decrease teen nicotine use speak with state lawmakers
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BOISE, Idaho — The American Heart Association and local teens teamed up and encouraged state legislators to support smoke-free air laws and licensed retailer enforcement to help establish a tobacco-free Idaho.
“So we’re looking to increase funding for education of tobacco and nicotine prevention,” said a Meridian High School student.
About a dozen high school students took on the challenge Thursday morning of connecting with busy lawmakers to make a change for their futures. “As a high school student I can definitely say that I see nicotine being used in my school very often,” said Abigail Wallace, a local high school student.
The decrease in the traditional cigarettes has made way for nicotine intake via vape and new chewing tobacco style products like ‘Zyn.’
Bebeto Matthews/AP
Nearly 18% of Idaho high schoolers report regularly using nicotine in some way.
“It’s common to go into the bathrooms and you would smell it. It’s just always like a constant thing that you’re surrounded by, especially with the new nicotine pouches, it’s like people put them in like gum,” said Lydia Kamann, a local high school student.
The American Heart Association is helping coordinate and educate these passionate teens to encourage their representatives and senators to keep nicotine and tobacco laws and regulations top of mind.
“And they want to hear from us. No better way to do it than be here and share with them real-life instances and stories,” said Angela Creason, a cardiac arrest survivor and advocate, who volunteers with the American Heart Association.
The association aims to have e-cigarette smoke included in the Idaho Clean Indoor Air Act and increase taxes and costs on new popular flavored and smokeless tobacco products, potentially using that money to fund impactful prevention education
“[We’re] just trying to up the education level on that and getting teens more focused on why they should not do it,” said another local high school student while speaking with Democratic Senator Melissa Wintrow.
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Idaho
Idaho town hall turns chaotic as woman forcibly removed by plainclothes security | World News – The Times of India
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A Republican-led town hall in Coeur d’Alene turned chaotic after plainclothes security officers forcibly removed a woman from the event, prompting legal action and scrutiny of the security firm involved.
The incident occurred Saturday at Coeur d’Alene High School during a legislative town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC). Videos of the altercation circulated widely online, leading to public outrage and raising over $120,000 for the legal costs of Teresa Borrenpohl, the woman removed from the meeting. In response, Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White announced the revocation request of the security company’s business license and the dismissal of a misdemeanor battery citation against Borrenpohl.
The town hall, attended by roughly 450 people, featured heated exchanges between audience members and speakers, particularly when a lawmaker discussed legislation protecting doctors from being “forced to do abortions.” The discussion sparked outbursts from attendees, with some shouting, “Women are dying,” and, “And doctors are leaving our state!” A moderator attempted to calm the crowd, warning against “popping off with stupid remarks.”
Borrenpohl, a Democratic legislative candidate, questioned the structure of the event, shouting, “Is this a town hall, or a lecture?” KCRCC chairman Brent Regan stated that she had been warned multiple times before security intervened. “We’re trying to respect the rights of the 450 people that were there to listen. One person can’t stand up to bring a halt to the whole event,” Regan said.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, who was attending in plain clothes but wearing his badge, approached Borrenpohl and warned her to leave or be escorted out. He then stepped back and began recording as three plainclothes security officers from LEAR Asset Management forcibly removed her. Witnesses described the removal as aggressive, with one onlooker, Tonya Coppedge, saying, “They were not very kind to her — it was pretty violent and traumatic.”
Borrenpohl resisted the removal, at one point biting one of the security guards. Coppedge, who filmed the incident, said the men refused multiple requests to identify themselves. The city’s ordinance requires security officers to wear uniforms clearly marked with “Security,” which the men reportedly did not.
Alicia Abbott, a friend of Borrenpohl’s, raised concerns over the security firm’s actions, questioning their authority. “Who were these people to detain Teresa in the first place?” she asked. “If they’re going to be detaining people, do they even have knowledge of the law? Are they trained to safely remove people?”
The police department is now reviewing the incident, and White confirmed that he had requested the revocation of LEAR Asset Management’s business and security licenses for those involved. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office also announced an independent investigation into the matter.
Regan explained that additional security was arranged due to recent threats against one of the attending lawmakers. Rep. Jordan Redman had reportedly been the target of bomb threats, prompting the involvement of law enforcement and private security at the event.
Kootenai County Undersheriff Brett Nelson assured that the agency would conduct a “complete and independent investigation of the incident” through an external body.
Idaho
Idaho Republican town hall descends into chaos as unidentified men remove activist
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An Idaho Republican town hall descended into chaos when a protestor was pulled from her seat, wrestled to the ground and dragged out of a packed auditorium by three unidentified private security guards.
Teresa Borrenpohl of Post Falls was asked to leave the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee meeting at Coeur d’Alene High School on Saturday after she and other activists heckled state GOP lawmakers on stage about several bills working their way through the state’s legislature.
Borrenpohl, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Idaho House as a Democrat in November, said she was “seized” after speaking against state Representative Ron Mendive, she told the Couer d’Alene/Post Falls Press.
“Please get up, or you will be escorted out,” Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris can be heard saying in a video circulating on social media. Borrenpohl said she didn’t recognize Norris at first when he approached her in the dimly lit room wearing jeans and a baseball cap.
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“Who the f*** are you?,” Borrenpohl repeatedly asked Norris as he filmed the encounter in the background.
Meanwhile, the event’s emcee Ed Bejarana taunted the woman over the tannoy system.
“Just look at this. This little girl is afraid to leave. She spoke up and now she doesn’t want to suffer the consequences,” he said. Bejarana accused Borrenpohl and others of “filibustering” as he discussed Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
After Borrenpohl eventually appeared to recognize the sheriff, one of the men walked towards the woman.
“Excuse me Sheriff Norris… this guy is assaulting me,” she said.
“You, out now. Get her out” Norris replied pointing at Borrenpohl, leading to a second man approaching her.
“Is this your deputy?,” Borrenpohl continued to ask with no response. “Who the f*** are these men? Who are you?”
A third unidentified man then rushed to support as Borrenpohl was dragged to the floor by the wrists and ankles.
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Shouts of “step away from her” and “you’re hurting her” can be heard coming from the crowd in the video. Other women are seen holding signs in silent protest, displaying messages such as “Save Voter-Approved Medicaid.”
“Just cooperate, it’ll be 100 times better,” one of the men told Borrenpohl.
After refusing, she was again pulled from her seat before one of the men flopped on her.
Borrepohl was later cited and released for misdemeanor battery after allegedly biting one of the plain-clothed security guards, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
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Police Chief Lee White confirmed Sunday that the three men who dragged Borrenpohl from the meeting worked for LEAR Asset Management, a private security firm. Coeur d’Alene city code requires security personnel to wear uniforms “clearly marked” with the word “security”.
Norris, along with town hall organizers, claimed they had no knowledge of the security personnel or who hired them, according to the Couer d’Alene/Post Falls Press
The sheriff said he was invited to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the town hall and remained onsite due to a recent threat against state Representative Jordan Redman.
The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee condemned the woman’s actions, and in a statement released Sunday, said: “The group vocally cheered any mention of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, erupting in applause and chants, while loudly booing every reference to the Bible or President Donald Trump, drawing sharp rebukes from attendees.”
The Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea also issued a statement Sunday.
“Our Democracy rests on our First Amendment rights. If we can’t question leaders elected to represent us without fear of reprisal, we are not free,” she said.
Necochea said that Kootenai County Republicans “did not intend to allow dialogue between legislators and constituents they serve,” adding that it was a “very sad day” watching Borrenpohl being dragged out by the guards and taunted by the moderator.
The Independent has contacted the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, Kootenai County Sherriff’s Office and LEAR Asset Management for more information.
Idaho
Idaho murders case: Bryan Kohberger’s likelihood of firing squad execution if convicted increases
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Idaho is one step closer to becoming the first state to use a firing squad as its primary execution method, months ahead of the start of college murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s trial.
So far, only Idaho, Utah, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Mississippi allow firing squads for executions. However, the firing squad is not the primary death penalty method used in any of those states, according to data received from the Death Penalty Information Center by the Idaho Capital Sun.
House Bill 37 moved to the Senate floor for a vote after passing the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on Wednesday, the outlet reported.
As of now, lethal injection is the primary execution method in Idaho as nine people are currently on death row in the state.
BRYAN KOHBERGER CASE: IDAHO MAKES KEY MOVE ON FIRING SQUAD EXECUTIONS
Bryan Kohberger, right, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, is escorted into a courtroom for a hearing in Latah County District Court, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren/Pool)
Bill sponsor Rep. Bruce Skaug, who previously pushed for legislation that restored the firing squad as a backup option to lethal injection, argued that the botched lethal injection of condemned serial killer Thomas Eugene Creech last year highlights problems with that method.
“I, along with many others, believe the firing squad is more certain, has less appellate issues, and is more humane than other forms of execution,” Skaug previously told Fox News Digital.
Creech was the fourth condemned inmate in the U.S. to survive his scheduled lethal injection in just a few years.
IDAHO SUSPECT BRYAN KOHBERGER’S BLOODY NEW DEFENSE CLAIM COULD FALL APART UNDER SIMPLE THEORY, PROFILER SAYS
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The execution chamber at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution is shown as Security Institution Warden Randy Blades look on in Boise, Idaho, on Oct. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Jessie L. Bonner, File)
While discussions of using firing squads have become more common in recent years, one Republican lawmaker is opposed to the bill passing.
“It’s cruel, and it’s inhumane,” Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, told the committee, according to the Capital Sun. “I think, quite frankly, it’s beneath the dignity of the state of Idaho. I say that with no animosity directed at anybody, but since I’m sitting here, I have an obligation to tell you how I feel on any given bill.”
IDAHO MURDERS SUSPECT BRYAN KOHBERGER’S MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS GIVEN TO PROSECUTORS AS HE FIGHTS DEATH PENALTY
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Map showing Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s movement on the morning of Nov. 13 after four University of Idaho students were stabbed in their home. (Latah County Sheriff’s Office/Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Foreman was the only Republican on the committee to oppose the bill, according to the outlet.
House Bill 37 must pass the Idaho House and Senate and avoid the governor’s veto to become law.
The bill advances as prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Kohberger, who is accused in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students: 21-year-olds Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves and 20-year-olds Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
A Boise-based defense attorney, Edwina Elcox, who has been following the case closely, previously told Fox News Digital that Kohberger’s mental health could also be a potential mitigating factor that spares his life, if convicted.
“I would imagine those records were given to the prosecution because there is something the defense wants them to consider. Obviously, there is no insanity defense in Idaho. So, whatever those records show is likely as some sort of mitigation,” Elcox explained.
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The court documents show the mental health records were initially handed over on Jan. 9, almost two months after Ada County Judge Steven Hippler ruled Kohberger can face the death penalty if convicted.
The trial is scheduled for later this year. Kohberger faces four charges of first-degree murder and another charge of felony burglary.
A judge entered not-guilty pleas on his behalf at his arraignment.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
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