Idaho
Judge to weigh genetic evidence and search warrants in University of Idaho quadruple murder case
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Attorneys for a man charged with murder in connection with the killings of four University of Idaho students are asking a judge to throw out most of the evidence in the case because they say it all hinges on an unconstitutional genetic investigation process.
Bryan Kohberger’s defense team also contends that the search warrants in the case were tainted by police misconduct. They will make their arguments during a two-day hearing starting Thursday morning, part of which will be closed to the public. If they are successful, it could throw a major wrench in the prosecution’s case before trial starts in August.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, who were killed in the early morning of Nov. 13, 2022, at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho. When asked to enter a plea last year, Kohberger stood silent, prompting a judge to enter a not-guilty plea on his behalf. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.
Kohberger’s attorneys say law enforcement violated his constitutional rights when they used a process called Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or IGG, to identify possible suspects.
“There would be no investigation into him without that original constitutional violation,” attorneys Jay Weston Logsdon and Ann Taylor wrote in a court filing. They later continued, “Without IGG, there is no case, no request for his phone records, surveillance of his parents’ home, no DNA taken from the garbage out front. Because the IGG analysis is the origin of this matter, everything in the affidavit should be excised.”
The IGG process often starts when DNA found at the scene of a crime doesn’t yield any results through standard law enforcement databases. When that happens, investigators may look at all the variations, or single nucleotide polymorphisms, that are in the DNA sample. Those SNPs, or “snips,” are then uploaded to a genealogy database like GEDmatch or FamilyTreeDNA to look for possible relatives of the person whose DNA was found at the scene.
In Kohberger’s case, investigators said they found “touch DNA,” or trace DNA, on the sheath of a knife that was found in the home where the students were fatally stabbed. The FBI used the IGG process on that DNA and the information identified Kohberger as a possible suspect.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson and the rest of the prosecution team say there is nothing unconstitutional about the use of IGG, noting that Kohberger’s relatives voluntarily provided their own DNA to a genetic genealogy service. They’ve also argued in court filings that case law is clear: Defendants have no reasonable right to privacy for DNA that is left at the scene of a crime.
The defense team also says that once Kohberger was identified as a possible suspect, law enforcement officers either purposely or recklessly lied or omitted crucial information when they asked the court to issue search warrants for his apartment, his parents’ house, his car, his cellphone and even for his own DNA. They want all of that evidence kept out of the trial as well.
Specific details about the alleged police misconduct are hidden from public view, however; 4th District Judge Steven Hippler has kept most of those court filings, along with many of the court documents on the IGG evidence, under seal. Part of the hearing starting Thursday will be held behind closed doors because the judge says he doesn’t want potential jurors “tainted” by hearing about any evidence that might not be allowed in trial.
On Wednesday, a coalition of news organizations including The Associated Press asked the judge to reconsider the secrecy.
“In any criminal case, I would submit that it’s of extreme public interest to know whether a law enforcement officer sworn to tell the truth … made reckless or false statements” during an investigation, the news organizations’ attorney, Wendy Olson, said during a hearing on Wednesday. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that the public and the press have a First Amendment right to open court proceedings, she said, and that open courts also help to protect the rights of the accused.
“Openness and transparency are more important than ever in maintaining and restoring confidence in our government institutions,” Olson said.
The judge was unswayed.
“I don’t think much has changed in terms of the need to protect the jury pool here, given the intense media scrutiny that has and continues to follow this case,” Hippler said. “We will be challenged under the best of circumstances in obtaining a jury that has not been overly exposed to this … and in particular, exposed to evidence that may not come into this trial.”
The judge said no one would be allowed into the courtroom but that the open portions of the hearing would be livestreamed from the court’s YouTube page.

Idaho
When and Where is Baby Animal Days Happening Near Southern Idaho?

Many people are animal lovers, especially in Idaho. It is rare to find someone in the Magic Valley who doesn’t have a dog, isn’t at least feeding a stray cat, or doesn’t have a horse, goat, chicken, cow, or pig. It seems like everyone has pets in the Gem State, and when it comes to animals in the area, most want to help and take care of them. When it comes to having a pet, the most enjoyable time is when they are babies, but sadly, this time doesn’t last long enough. Puppies and kittens grow up too fast, and you blink and miss it and your baby pig or goat is fully grown. This spring you have the chance to be surrounded by baby animals and interact with some of the cutest creatures on the planet.
Baby Animal Days in Utah
If you enjoy adorable baby animals, then make sure to make the short drive down to Northern Utah and enjoy Baby Animal Days when it happens the first and second week of April. It will be taking place at the American West Heritage Center, located at 4025 HWY 89-91 in Wellsville, Utah. The first week will be April 2 through April 5 and the second week will be April 10 through April 12. The cost is $12 per guest, and each week will offer something a little bit different.
What is Baby Animal Days in Utah?
Which week you attend Baby Animal Days will dictate what animals you will see and what you can do. Many animals will be there both weeks, such as piglets, ducks, chicks, turtles, bunnies, and more. Both weeks will offer train rides, pony rides, and bison tours. The first week will offer a chance to see baby bears, while the second weekend will offer exotic animals. Depending on what works with your schedule, or which animals you rather see and potentially interact with, may determine which weekend you would prefer to go. If you get hungry while seeing all the cuteness, concessions will be open.
For more on Baby Animal Days or to get your tickets, make sure to click the link above. Make sure to check the calendar on what is offered during what week, and plan accordingly so you are not surprised that a certain animal is not available when you go. If you love adorable baby animals, this is an event you are not going to want to miss, and while a little bit of a drive, when you see those cute baby faces, it’ll be worth it.
Animals You Can Legally Own In Idaho
Gallery Credit: Chris Cruise
3 Idaho Animals You Can Milk and 13 Animals That You Shouldn’t
Let’s take a look at the three animals Idaho law says you can milk and thirteen animals that you should never milk…
Gallery Credit: Chris Cardenas
Idaho
Idaho Fish and Game highlights quality Steelhead numbers on the Salmon this Spring

SALMON, Idaho — An early spring report from Idaho Fish and Game shows that Steelhead fishing in the Upper Salmon River watershed is ramping up, with quality catch numbers reported these past two weeks of March.
Idaho Steelhead numbers reach a seven-year high along the Salmon River
Following the onset of warmer, spring-like temps in the mountains of central Idaho, fishing activity increased significantly, especially near Ellis, Idaho, and upstream of the East Fork. According to angler reports, “catch rates were good to excellent.”
River conditions are favorable, with clear visibility and stable flows.
Water temperatures are moving upward but remain frigid near Stanley, where the water is in the 30s to the mid-40s. Expect those temps to rise slightly as runoff begins.
Idaho Fish and Game
Idaho Fish and Game also noted an increase in PIT-tagged steelhead detected near Salmon, Idaho. Hatchery operations are also kicking off their spawning operations. As of March 21, the Pahsimeroi Hatchery had trapped 527 adipose-clipped steelhead, and the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery trapped about 390 adult steelhead beginning March 24.
Idaho
Idaho donations through Love, Idaho support California wildfire victims

NAMPA, Idaho — To support Southern California homeowners still recovering from the devastating wildfires that plagued the state back in January, Nate Morris is working tirelessly to continue delivering crucial donations such as clothing, diapers, and even dog treats as part of the Love, Idaho charity campaign.
“The reception was very warm, and they were thankful. They thought it was amazing that the ‘State of Idaho’ would do something like this,” said Morris, the owner of Resto Clean, of the charitable effort. The donations were sent two months after the fires had been contained, thanks to a partnership with the LA Dream Center in Los Angeles.
Sid’s Garage is joining the mission to support those impacted by the Southern California Wildfires
Kelli Bradley, the executive director of programs at LA Dream Center, highlighted the ongoing challenges victims face as they begin the rebuilding process.
“You’re looking at tens of thousands of people [who were] impacted by this [disaster]. Every story is just gut-wrenching,” explained Bradley. “Many of [the victims] not only lost their homes, but their kids lost their schools.”
Significant cleanup efforts are projected to last months if not years. “We’ve been doing ash-outs every day in the community— meaning that we’re going to the burned properties at the request of homeowners and helping them sift through the ashes to try to find anything of value or sentiment that they might be looking for,” Bradley said.
Nate Morris shared photos of ash and debris infiltrating homes that were not directly affected by the flames. In April, the LA Dream Center will host an event focusing on recovery and rebuilding, with Morris and his team from Resto Clean participating. “They want us to come down and do a smoke and ash cleanup class for them,” Morris added.
Looking ahead to the future of Love, Idaho, Nate Morris is optimistic. “We’ve already got a couple of other businesses that would like to use the branding and the name, and I’m all about it. I think they can still funnel the proceeds through the Grace Center and use it for whatever they would like to use it for,” Morris says.
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
-
News1 week ago
How a Major Democratic Law Firm Ended Up Bowing to Trump
-
Education1 week ago
ICE Tells a Cornell Student Activist to Turn Himself In
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Film Review: Rachel Zegler is the Best Part of an Otherwise Dull Remake of ‘Snow White’ – Awards Radar
-
Politics1 week ago
EXCLUSIVE: Groundbreaking new prayer book designed for demographic most targeted for abortion
-
News1 week ago
Shooting at Park in New Mexico Leaves at At Least 3 Dead and 16 Injured
-
News5 days ago
Trump Is Trying to Gain More Power Over Elections. Is His Effort Legal?
-
News6 days ago
Washington Bends to RFK Jr.’s ‘MAHA’ Agenda on Measles, Baby Formula and French Fries
-
News1 week ago
Dismantling the Department of Education will strip resources from disabled children, parents and advocates say | CNN