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Made in Idaho: McU Sports

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Made in Idaho: McU Sports


BOISE, IDAHO — With big-box stores always trying to expand and online shopping bigger than ever, it’s a tough time to try and start a local business, let alone keep an existing one open. But a local sporting good store in downtown Boise has been keeping athletes moving for over 50 years, and to this day, is still known as “the cool place” to work as a teenager or young adult. For this week’s Made in Idaho, we wander into McU Sports.

“We always say we love what we sell and we sell what we do,” said McU Sports Bookkeeper Kathy Phillips.

That’s the motto at McU Sports, the sporting goods shop in Downtown Boise that’s been in business for 51 years!

“I started in 94′ and I’m not the oldest employee here,” said Phillips.

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It’s always been the “cool” place to work.

“It’s amazing the number of people you run into who have worked at McU’s. The fact that we’ve been around for so long and Boise High is right nearby so you always get a kid who, you know, wants to work at McU’s!” exclaimed Phillips.

And she has a theory on how the local business has been able to keep it’s doors open for over half a century.

“Being a family-owned business and family-run, we are more in tune and connected to the community, we’ve been involved a lot in the schools over the years doing school uniforms and sponsoring softball teams,” said Phillips.

Former co-owner John Klotz makes it even more simple.

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“You just have to take care of the customer, better than what the other people were taking care of them. A lot of time when we didn’t have what they needed, we got on the phone to somewhere else in town and sent them there, to our competitors. And people really thought that was something, they said wow you did that for me and you saw them come back because you did that. They’d come back to you,” said former McU Sports Co-Owner John Klotz.

Though McU Sports was opened in 1972, Klotz, who had been an employee there, bought into the company in 1979 and was a co-owner until 2018 when they sold to a couple other former employees. He says it’s always been a family affair.

“You know, in town, there’s gotta be a thousand people who have worked there and their kids or they did and their kids are there now. I mean, Danny Tomack, one of the owners, he had a brother who’s now a doctor, a sister, and himself all worked at the store,” said Klotz.

“We had a grandparent who came in this year who bought her grandkids their skis because she got her skis here and wanted to have that. And it’s just something that, I don’t know, it’s special,” smiled Phillips.

Another trait they’ve had since the beginning…employees who practice what they preach.

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“We have really active employees. So we have employees in the bike shop…they bike! Because our employees utilize all the resources here, they’re just this fountain of enormous knowledge,” said Phillips.

51 years and counting; McU Sports is a Made in Idaho success story that makes the several generations of those involved incredibly proud.

“I’m really proud that we took it forward and made it successful. We went through some peaks and valleys over those years and worked hard and showed up and probably worked a lot more than I should have. We succeeded and it was in good shape and we know that Chuck and Danny can take it forward and it can be there another 40 or 50 years. I think that’s what makes me feel the best,” said Klotz.

“I feel proud. I get excited when I get to share with somebody that I work at McU Sports. ‘Oh you work at McU Sports? Me too!’ It’s, I don’t know. It’s a pretty cool club,” smiled Phillips.

And for more on the massive history of McU Sports and it’s deep Idaho roots, check out their webpage here:

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Idaho

Idaho Wine: The Holiday Party Trick You Never Knew You Needed

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Idaho Wine: The Holiday Party Trick You Never Knew You Needed


A few years ago, during a visit to Idaho and the wine region that was newly taking shape there, three key takeaways took hold in my mind:

  1. Idaho has abundant sources of natural water to hydrate its vineyards. This means that, generally speaking, vineyards there do not struggle for water nor do they need to be irrigated.
  2. Idaho’s wine regions are burdened unfortunately by the political designation of “Idaho,” even though its climate and geography share similarities with its border neighbors of Oregon (and the Snake River Valley AVA, or American Viticultural Area) and Washington state (and the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA).
  3. I should buy real estate in Idaho.

Famous last words, indeed.

Some eight years later, a reassessment of the scene, pre- and post-COVID: Idaho is still blessed with abundant water, though the supply is reasonably stressed by the spike in population during and after COVID. Idaho wine is still burdened by the non-traditional (for wine) designation of “Idaho,” though plenty of positive developmental strides have been taken to position the local industry favorably in consumers’ and the media’s minds.

And I still should have bought real estate in Idaho. (See “population spike” and “abundant water” as rationale, but that’s another story.)

When the opportunity arose recently to taste through a series of wines from Idaho, I agreed enthusiastically. Then, when the shipment of wines arrived, my enthusiasm grew even more. The shipment included a sparkling wine (under a crown cap! from 2019, no less) that highlighted Idaho’s 3100 river miles in the state; a Chardonnay with a label telling exactly the kind of story your imagination wants to hear about Idaho (think Basque immigrant, sheep herders, and a fateful gulch); and a Petit Verdot “Trout Series” (because Idaho) that carried me through the food prep for the dinner I’d serve for friends who’d come to taste through the wines with us.

The scene was set, and bolstered in Idaho’s favor even further by the guest who’d grown up in Idaho as a boy and was ready and more than willing to give Idaho wine the benefit of the doubt. (See “unfortunate political designation,” above.) Let me cut to the chase, though, with three new takeaways that took hold in my mind that night:

  1. The wines we tried did Idaho proud.
  2. These wines would stand on their own, whether they’re labeled “Idaho” or not, and whether or not that prejudices consumers. I’d encourage consumers to take (and taste) them at face value, so to speak. This Chardonnay right here in my glass. That Tempranillo in its own right. This other Petit Verdot that is simply delicious, not to mention versatile. They measure up. Period.
  3. I would still buy real estate in Idaho. More to the point, I would buy real estate in Idaho that would turn into vineyards.

The truth is that I have no idea how easy it will be for readers of this column to find or buy or taste wines from Idaho. Believe me, I wish it were EASIER than whatever your answer is to that likelihood. Which means that readers are now officially assigned the task of ASKING for wines from Idaho from their favorite local bottle shop. You will most likely be looked at strangely — get ready for it — but I strongly encourage you to hold your ground. These wines are good. They are reasonably priced. They are unusual. They will start a conversation. You can put them in brown paper bags for a holiday party and pour them blind in comparison to a more common expression of any of these grapes, and the Idaho wines will win. And then you get to be victorious, and you’ll be known as the person who brought the most interesting wine to the table.

Who wouldn’t want to come to THAT holiday party this season?

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Count me in. Especially if you’re pouring any of these favorites, all from the Snake River Valley AVA of Idaho.

2019 3100 Cellars “Whitewater” Sparkling Wine

2023 Dude DeWalt Cellars Chardonnay

2021 Hat Ranch Winery Tempranillo

2020 Trout Series Petit Verdot by Sawtooth Winery

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How Zoo Idaho prepares for the winter – Local News 8

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How Zoo Idaho prepares for the winter – Local News 8


POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Unlike other zoos, Zoo Idaho’s native species need little preparation for the harsh cold of Idaho’s winters.

Zoo staff prepare most animals to spend the season outdoors–they will put a de-icing agent in the animals’ water supplies and straw bedding on concrete flooring in buildings.

“For the most part, they’re made for this type of weather,” said Peter Pruitt, superintendent of Zoo Idaho. “We’re not dealing with exotic animals from other locales.”

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Some migratory birds will be kept indoors during the coldest days, but animals like bears, bison, and elk will brave the elements outside.

Zoo Idaho is closed for the season, but they will be holding some winter holiday events. To learn more you can visit Zoo Idaho’s website.

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Bryan Kohberger’s request in Idaho murder case sparks criticism from judge

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Bryan Kohberger’s request in Idaho murder case sparks criticism from judge


The judge presiding over Bryan Kohberger’s murder trial chastised the defense on Friday for asking the court to push back a deadline in the case.

Kohberger, 29, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. He is accused of fatally stabbing University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus residence in 2022.

Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s attorney, asked District Judge Steven Hippler to extend the deadline for filing motions related to discovery. The deadline was Thursday, and the defense filed a “Motion for Leave” on Wednesday.

Bryan Kohberger (L) and his attorney, Anne Taylor. Taylor filed a motion to extend the deadline for filing discovery motions, which the judge overseeing the case denied.

August Frank/Lewiston Tribune via AP

“Defendant asserts his counsel and investigators are still reviewing ‘the vast amount of discovery in this case’ and, therefore, he needs additional time to file motions related to discovery. Motions to enlarge deadline filed on the eve of the deadline are not well taken,” Hippler wrote in an order on Friday.

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Hippler denied the motion. He also pointed out that the prosecution’s discovery deadline was September 6.

“Defendant could have ascertained far sooner whether the discovery motions deadline would pose difficulty and brought it to the Court’s attention,” Hippler said. “Further, and importantly, Defendant has not demonstrated with his filing good cause to enlarge the deadline. He has not set forth what efforts have been made to review the discovery, what portion of discovery has not yet been reviewed, why it has not been reviewed or how long it will take to complete such review.”

The defense asked for a hearing on the motion so they could present oral arguments, evidence and testimony to support their request.

Hippler has yet to make a ruling on a series of motions the defense has filed objecting to the state’s intent to seek the death penalty.

The prosecution and defense presented arguments on the matter to Hippler on November 7. After listening to both sides, Hippler said he would take the matter under advisement and issue a ruling at a later date.

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In the state of Idaho, defendants convicted of first-degree murder are eligible for the death penalty if the crime meets any of 11 aggravating factors.

Prosecutors have identified four aggravating factors in Kohberger’s case, which are “at the time the murder was committed, the defendant also committed another murder;” “the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity;” “by the murder, or circumstances surrounding its commission, the defendant exhibited utter disregard for human life;” and “the defendant, by his conduct, whether such conduct was before, during or after the commission of the murder at hand, has exhibited a propensity to commit murder which will probably constitute a continuing threat to society.”

The trial is scheduled to start on August 11, 2025, with jury selection beginning on July 31.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com

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