Judge clears the path for Buc-ee’s annexation vote in Palmer Lake

KRDO News

PALMER LAKE, Colo. (KRDO) — A district court judge has rejected an attempt by Integrity Matters to stop Palmer Lake’s upcoming annexation vote on a proposed Buc-ee’s.

The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, accused the town of breaking state annexation rules, the Open Meetings Law, the Colorado Open Records Act, and even constitutional protections when approving annexation eligibility for the Buc-ee’s site.

A court hearing scheduled for Tuesday on whether to block the August 28 vote has been canceled.

The judge didn’t weigh in on whether Palmer Lake actually violated any laws/protections — only that even if the groups’ allegations were true, state law does not allow the court to stop the town board from voting. He also noted that none of the plaintiffs appear to live in or own land in the annexation area, which would prevent them from bringing any legal challenge under state annexation law.

The lawsuit remains open, but this ruling clears the way for trustees to vote on the Buc-ee’s annexation on Aug. 28.

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Edison Elementary students excited to be back at school

Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Tuesday morning, students around St. Joseph returned to the classrooms after a long summer.

Lines of cars packed the street outside of Edison Elementary, and students lined up on the sidewalks with their backpacks.

The safety patrol helped fellow students cross the street on their first day of school.

Energy was high, and some kids were just as excited to start the school year compared to their parents.

Some kids were looking forward to meeting new friends.

“I want to get friends,” said PJ, an incoming Kindergartner at Edison Elementary.

Although each kid had their own motivation for the school year, educators also showed excitement about the upcoming school year.

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Local farmer weighs in on rising beef prices

Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Beef prices continue to climb across the United States, recently reaching record highs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of beef rose to $6.25 per pound in July. That’s more than 10 cents higher than the previous month and nearly a dollar more than the same time last year.

This trend shows no signs of slowing down.

In fact, rising beef prices have been a long-term issue. Over the past decade, prices have steadily increased due to a combination of environmental and economic factors.

Years of drought and dry conditions across much of the country have forced cattle farmers to rely heavily on supplemental feed like hay and corn, rather than allowing cattle to graze on pastureland.

Tim Gach, a local farmer in Buchanan County, offered insight into the growing challenges in the cattle market.

“We can’t put them out on the pasture if the pasture’s all dried up,” Gach said. “So you start feeding them hay, and hay’s expensive. When you start putting pencil to paper, you realize you’re putting more into that cow than you’ll get back at the sale barn.”

When the cost of maintaining a herd outweighs the potential profit, farmers are left with difficult decisions.

“This is what a lot of guys do — they sell the herd,” Gach explained. “Those cows go to market, which can temporarily help with meat prices. But in the long run, that cow no longer produces a calf, and that lowers the population.”

This cycle not only affects the individual farmer’s operation, but also contributes to the broader decline in cattle numbers nationwide — a trend that’s driving beef prices higher for everyone.

At the same time, demand for beef has remained strong. As the U.S. population grows and consumer appetite for beef products increases, supply has struggled to keep pace.

A July cattle inventory report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found just 94.2 million head of cattle and calves in the country—the lowest mid-year total since the USDA began releasing these reports 52 years ago.

July 2025 cattle inventory report from the USDA.

With shrinking herds, high production costs, and persistent consumer demand, beef prices are likely to remain elevated. Unless alternative protein sources become more widely adopted, or the cattle industry experiences a major turnaround, consumers should expect the cost of beef to continue rising—especially as local farmers face mounting challenges.

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Parents of missing Cabazon baby arrested; search on Hwy. 60 Sunday, Tuesday court in Riverside expected

Garrett Hottle

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) — Jake Haro and Rebecca Haro, were arrested Friday morning at their Cabazon home on suspicion of murder in the disappearance of their 7-month-old son, Emmanuel, according to sheriff’s officials. Both were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center without bail. News Channel 3 is confirming additional details, but it appears the pair are expected in court Tuesday in Riverside.

On Sunday, investigators searched an area off Highway 60 near Banning with Jake Haro present in custody clothing. Authorities said Emmanuel’s remains have not been found and the search continues.

Detectives previously said they determined the reported kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur and that they believe Emmanuel is deceased. The case began Aug. 14 when Rebecca Haro told deputies she was assaulted outside a store while changing the baby’s diaper and awoke to find him missing. Investigators later cited inconsistencies in her account; she declined to continue her interview.

Earlier in the week, investigators seized Jake Haro’s vehicle for evidence processing. Riverside County deputies also responded to the family’s Cabazon property after reports of a man walking the grounds and taking an item from the front door; deputies were unable to locate that individual. In a separate incident, CAL FIRE said a nearby house fire remains under investigation and, beyond proximity, has no known connection to the missing-child case.

In family-court developments, a domestic-violence restraining order petition was filed Aug. 19 against Jake Haro by an ex-partner; a hearing is set for Sept. 9. Court records show Haro pleaded guilty in 2023 to felony child cruelty in a 2018 case and was later charged in 2024 with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Anonymous tips: We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME or wetip.com.

Through court documents reviewed Thursday morning, KESQ News Channel 3’s confirms through court documents that Isabel Gonzalez has filed a domestic violence restraining order against her ex-husband, Jake Mitchell Haro. The request, filed Aug. 19 in Riverside family court, also seeks protection for the couple’s son. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Sept. 9.

News Channel 3 pressed investigators on reports ground search efforts for missing baby Emmanuel Haro, have been halted. We received the following response from the SBCSD:

“If investigators discover information or receive leads that necessitate a ground search in a specific area that will be done.”

Meanwhile, In a Thursday morning update, Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies say they were called to the Haro family’s Cabazon home Wednesday night after reports of a man walking the property, knocking on doors, and recording video. By the time deputies arrived, the man was gone. They searched the area but didn’t find him. In video from BYM News on Facebook, a man is seen going up to the front door of the property, taking an item. and leaving.

On Wednesday afternoon, Jake and Rebecca Haro were seen leaving juvenile court in Riverside County. News Channel 3 reached out to officials for an update, but because of privacy laws little could be released, and little was said. In fact, other than the sounds of questions being asked to Haro’s, the couple remained silent.

Meanwhile, in a Wednesday morning update, CAL FIRE said the cause of a Tuesday night structure fire remains under investigation, noting several people were seen leaving the property as the fire broke out. Both Riverside and San Bernardino County investigators are aware of the incident, but officials stress there is no connection to the search for missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro beyond the fire’s proximity to the family’s home.

On Wednesday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department told News Channel 3 it will not be providing on-camera interviews and has no press conference scheduled at this time.

As the search continues for 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, new details are emerging about his family’s history. News Channel 3 confirms that Emmanuel’s mother, Rebecca Haro, is the sister of James Beushausen – convicted in 2017 for the murder of his girlfriend, Jaylynn Amanda Keith, in Palm Springs.

At the time, Palm Springs police said Beushausen initially tried to report Keith’s death as a suicide.

Lt. Gustavo Araiza with Palm Springs Police, told News Channel 3 that detectives quickly uncovered inconsistencies that pointed to foul play.

It was initially reported as a suicide. And as we did our investigation, there were certain factors that led us to believe otherwise,” he said.

Beushausen was later sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

Their mother, Mary Beushausen, publicly defended him during the trial, even creating a “Justice for Johnny” Facebook group after his conviction.

News Channel Three’s Garrett Hottle, spoke with James Beushausen’s defense attorney in the staged suicide, real murder case that landed Beaushausen behind bars – Gregory Johnson. 

Johnson said he was unaware of the current investigation involving Jame’s  Beushausen’s sister Rebecca Haro. 

Now, with Emmanuel missing and authorities saying they cannot rule out foul play, the family’s past case is drawing renewed attention as investigators continue their search.

Meanwhile, News Channel 3 is learning a candlelight vigil for Emmanuel is planned Friday at 6 p.m. at 50008 Ramona Street in Cabazon.

News Channel 3 will have live coverage, and continue to update you on this developing story. 

On Tuesday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to News Channel 3 investigators are aware of a reported sighting of Emmanuel Haro in Kern County.

“Investigators are aware of the reporting of a sighting in Kern County. No information on where in Kern County was provided,” the department said via email.

News Channel 3 also received new information from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, about a visit by a pair of deputies to the Haro family home in Cabazon on Monday around 12:20pm. Video captured by News Channel 3 shows deputies knocking on the doors of the residence before leaving. Here’s what the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office tells us:

“On August 18, 2025, at 12:22 p.m., deputies from the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the 50000 block of Ramona Street in Cabazon per the request of Child Protective Services (CPS). CPS asked deputies to check if the family was at the residence, but deputies were not able to contact anyone. Deputies advised CPS of their findings.”

SBCSD also confirmed with News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle on Tuesday, Jake Haro’s vehicle has been collected for evidence processing.

We also asked the department about reports that baby clothing was recovered from a nearby dumpster, and if so, whether they being processed as potential evidence connected to Emmanuel. On Tuesday morning, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded via email, stating: “This is an ongoing investigation, and information is not available for release,” the department said.

Meanwhile, defense attorney Vincent Hughes confirmed to News Channel 3 that he represented 32-year-old Jake Mitchell Haro in a 2018 child-cruelty case and is again representing him now as detectives investigate the disappearance of Haro’s 7-month-old son, Emmanuel.

As of Monday night, outside the Haro home in Cabazon, Hughes told News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle he is not representing Haro’s wife, Rebecca.

“The parents of the 7-month-old infant reported kidnapped Aug. 14 in Yucaipa seek answers about their missing child, Emmanuel Haro. Jake Haro is fully cooperating with law enforcement and investigators.”

On Monday evening, Aug. 18, Rebecca and Jake met with Emmanuel’s grandmother, Mary Beushausen, at the family’s home on Ramona Street in Cabazon. Around 7:30 p.m., a car pulled into the driveway; Hughes said it was Jake’s mother.

Criminal background

Court records obtained by News Channel 3 from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office show Haro and his former partner, Vanessa Avina (also known as Vanessa Haro), were charged in 2018 with felony child cruelty, alleging the pair endangered a child under conditions likely to cause great bodily harm or death.

Haro pleaded guilty in June 2023. He was placed on four years of felony probation and ordered to serve 180 days in jail on a work-release program. A six-year prison term was suspended as part of the plea.

In a separate case filed in July 2024 in Banning, Haro was charged with:

Felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1))

Felon in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)(1))

Prosecutors allege deputies found him with a Palmetto State Armory handgun and ammunition despite his felony record.

He posted $10,000 bail in August 2024, according to records obtained by KESQ News Channel 3. 

Meanwhile, The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, which previously withdrew its $5,000 reward and search support in the case of missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, is now directly challenging the child’s parents to rejoin search efforts. On Tuesday, the nonprofit says it’s willing to provide protection and volunteer support if the family steps forward, urging them to prove their commitment to finding Emmanuel, according to a press release sent to News Channel 3.

In a statement released Tuesday from James Earle, National team captain of the foundations, STOPNOW Volunteer Safety Patrols, addressing the Foundation’s potentially renewed engagement reads in part:

“The attorney representative for the father in this case has stated the family has stopped searching and removed their names from the fliers due to threats. According to a statement released today, the family has in fact cooperated with police during this investigation. So here is our challenge – Join our search and you will be protected. A community seeks answers. You say that you do. Prove it, and our foundation and most assuredly a community will follow.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, News Channel 3’s has received no response from Jake Haro’s attorney or the Haro family on the non-profits statement.

In an email sent to News Channel 3 on Wednesday, the Uvalde Foundation for Kids says their efforts to re-engage the family have been met with silence. In statement, Daniel Chapin with the foundation, called the ordeal ‘baffling’ and stating ‘we are running out of patience’

“During this entire debacle, a baby boy is gone….. If it was me, just as a parent myself, you could take my phone, car, and lock me up, but I would find a way to look for my child. And I’d be the first in line of a polygraph or any line of questioning so as to prove my innocence and refocus the direction on finding my son and who actually took him. 

If someone threw me a lifeline as we have done for them, I’d reach for it before it ever hit the water. And yet here, silence…..”

Current investigation

Detectives say they “cannot rule out foul play” in Emmanuel’s disappearance after finding inconsistencies in statements from Rebecca Haro. Investigators have searched multiple locations in Yucaipa and Cabazon, including the homes of Jake’s relatives. No arrests have been made.

Missing Cabazon Baby Case: Timeline of Key Events (August 2025)

Seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro was reported missing on Thursday, August 14, 2025, after his mother claimed she was attacked outside a retail store in Yucaipa, California, while changing his diaper . Around 7:47 PM, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 34000 block of Yucaipa Boulevard, where the mother, 31-year-old Rebecca Haro, said she had been knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant and awoke to find baby Emmanuel gone . K-9 scent-tracking units from both San Bernardino and Riverside counties were deployed in an exhaustive search of the area that night, but no trace of the infant was found . Emmanuel’s family is from Cabazon in Riverside County, making this a multi-jurisdictional case between Riverside and San Bernardino authorities . The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division assumed the case due to the critical nature of the child’s disappearance that same night.

August 15, 2025 (Friday)

The search for Emmanuel continued into Friday with investigators pursuing leads in both Yucaipa and Cabazon . No suspect information had emerged by this point, and authorities appealed to the public for any tips, sharing Emmanuel’s description (21 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes, last seen in a black Nike onesie) and urging anyone with information to call 911 or the Sheriff’s dispatch line . 

That day, Emmanuel’s parents spoke out publicly. Rebecca Haro recounted the alleged attack to reporters and pleaded through tears for her son’s safe return, and the baby’s father Jake Haro likewise begged, “Whoever took our son, please give him back”.

Both parents emphasized how healthy and happy Emmanuel was, directing emotional appeals to whoever might have him.

August 16, 2025 (Saturday)

By Saturday, there was still no sign of Emmanuel. Investigators interviewed multiple people connected to the case, including Jake and Rebecca Haro, as they worked to verify the parents’ accounts . During an interview with Rebecca, detectives found inconsistencies in her story; when confronted about those discrepancies, Rebecca abruptly stopped cooperating with investigators and declined to continue the interview . Following this development, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced it “cannot rule out foul play” in the baby’s disappearance given the unresolved inconsistencies in the mother’s statements . This marked a turning point in the investigation, shifting it from a pure abduction search to a potential criminal investigation.

August 17, 2025 (Sunday)

Search efforts expanded to the Haro family’s home in Cabazon over the weekend. Investigators, including crime detectives and K-9 teams, served search warrants at the Haro residence and scoured multiple locations in Cabazon and Yucaipa for any evidence of Emmanuel’s whereabouts . 

Authorities also collected a “large amount” of surveillance video from areas of interest, which was being reviewed for clues.

That evening, concerned community members held a candlelight vigil in the Big 5 parking lot in Yucaipa, the site of the reported abduction, to pray for Emmanuel’s safe return and show support for the family 

By the end of the weekend, no arrests had been made, and Emmanuel remained missing, but the investigation was intensifying.

August 18, 2025 (Monday)

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department issued an update on Monday confirming that the investigation was ongoing and vowing that detectives were working around the clock to locate the missing infant . Officials noted that over the past few days they had conducted extensive searches in both Yucaipa and Cabazon, and obtained numerous security videos which were under analysis for any leads . Amid growing public scrutiny, a volunteer organization that had initially offered to assist including a $5,000 reward for information withdrew its reward and search teams on Monday, citing the “inconsistencies” in the case and the mother’s sudden lack of cooperation as reasons. 

In a statement explaining the decision, the foundation’s director wrote, “We cannot in good conscience utilize our team and resources when so much is missing in this case… Something is not right in this whole picture.” 

Meanwhile, at one parent, retained legal counsel as the case gained complexity. 

Defense attorney Vincent Hughes, who had represented 32-year-old Jake Haro in a prior case, confirmed he was now representing Jake in the investigation and said that Jake is fully cooperating with law enforcement inquiries . Hughes clarified that he does not represent Rebecca Haro on Monday evening. 

No suspect or person of interest was publicly named at this stage, but investigators stated they were pursuing multiple leads and again asked anyone with information to come forward.

August 19, 2025 (Tuesday)

As of Tuesday, one week since Emmanuel’s disappearance, the 7-month-old baby remains missing. Investigators have not announced any significant breakthroughs, and no arrests have been made so far . On Tuesday morning, Jake Haro’s attorney released a further statement on the family’s behalf, emphasizing that the parents “seek answers” about their missing child and reiterating that Jake is cooperating fully with investigators . The attorney also addressed Jake’s background, acknowledging that Jake Haro had a prior 2018 child-cruelty case in Riverside County – in which he pleaded guilty in 2023 and received a probation sentence – but urged the focus to remain on finding Emmanuel . Detectives from multiple agencies continue to follow leads and have not ruled out foul play, given the unanswered questions surrounding the case . Authorities say the search is ongoing, and they are working tirelessly to locate baby Emmanuel, urging anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division or an anonymous tip line.

Tuesday afternoon, a structure fire reported just after 6pm ended up destroying 1 home. News Channel 3 had a crew on scene, bringing you the latest.

August 20, 2025 (Wednesday)

In a Wednesday morning update, received from CAL FIRE, officials say the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, noting several people were seen leaving the property as the fire broke out. Both Riverside and San Bernardino County investigators are aware of the incident, but officials stress there is no connection to the search for missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro beyond the fire’s proximity to the family’s home.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department told News Channel 3 it will not be providing on-camera interviews and has no press conference scheduled at this time.

August 21, 2025 (Thursday)

Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies say they were called to the Haro family’s Cabazon home Wednesday night after reports of a man walking the property, knocking on doors, and recording video. By the time deputies arrived, the man was gone. They searched the area but didn’t find him. In video from BYM News on Facebook, a man is seen going up to the front door of the property, taking an item. and leaving.

KESQ News Channel 3’s confirms through court documents that Isabel Gonzalez has filed a domestic violence restraining order against her ex-husband, Jake Mitchell Haro. The request, filed Aug. 19 in Riverside family court, also seeks protection for the couple’s son. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Sept. 9.

According to court filings, Haro and Gonzalez married in 2016 before divorcing later that year. From 2016 through 2019, the two were involved in ongoing custody disputes

August 22, 2025 (Friday)

Rebecca and Jake Haro arrested by San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputies on Suspicion of murder

August 24, 2025 (Sunday)

Investigators confirm they search an area off Hwy. 60 near Banning with Jake Haro present in an orange jumpsuit. Investigators confirm Emmanuel Haro’s remains have not been discovered, the search continues.

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Nickerson-Rossi Dance awards 88 scholarships to PSUSD students

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Eighty eight students are getting a new opportunity to dance in the Valley as Nickerson-Rossi Dance awards Palm Springs Unified School District students with scholarships. 

Nickerson-Rossi Dance is a professional contemporary and modern touring dance company. The company presents the Palm Springs International Dance Festival. They’ve been partnering with the PSUSD for over 10 years providing a free eight-week session for dance.

“Being in the desert, we know we have limited opportunities and it’s expensive,” Amber Gascoigne, the PSUSD director of expanded learning said. “And our families are struggling to even make ends meet just at home. It’s giving them a glimmer into their futures.”

The program with Nickerson-Rossi Dance is supported through $21 million in funding for expanded learning programs, allowing free lessons for families who could otherwise not afford them. PSUSD and Nickerson-Rossi Dance noticed the need in the community and the dance company worked to provide scholarships as their programs can be expensive.

“It’s about $600 total,” Chad Ortiz, the executive director of Nickerson-Rossi Dance said. “We do break it down into monthly payments but scholarships, it depends on what part of our program you’re in, but they could be anywhere to $600 per student to all the way to $6,000 per student.”

Nickerson-Rossi Dance has given out $70,000 worth of scholarships this year, with PSUSD’s coming with support from the Anderson Children’s Foundation and the Grace Helen Spearman Foundation.

Now dancers in the Coachella Valley youth have new opportunities to be a part of the dance company with 60 scholarships covering 50% of tuition for PSUSD students and 8 scholarships supporting pre-professional students with 25-50% tuition coverage.

The remaining 20 scholarships go to support one of the initiative of the dance company for boys dance programs, providing full tuition.

“They didn’t have the knowledge that it was something that was attainable. We have a lot of male faculty that lead this program as well,” Ortiz said. “And so seeing August who’s been with us about three year four years now grow within our program — we really hope to build that lineage along the way.”

August Havel is a third-grader at Katherine Finchy Elementary School, and he loves hip-hop. He is one of the full tuition scholarship recipients, and he will start the program at the end of this month.

“I like how [dance] motivates me and it mostly makes me feel like entertained and educated,” Havel said. “I just want to say, for people that are like me, make sure to keep following your dreams.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from PSUSD’s director of expanded learning, Nickerson-Rossi Dance officials and a third-grade student recipient.

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‘Splash Day for the Dogs’ returns to McCowin Park Saturday August 23

News Team

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Ammon is inviting your four-legged friends to make a splash before the end of summer. The ‘Splash Day for the Dogs’ returns to the Ammon Swimming Pool at McCowin Park Saturday, August 23, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

With the lifeguard staff returning to school, the Ammon Pool is now closed for the season. But before they drain the water for the winter, they’re allowing local dogs to take a dip. The Snake River Animal Shelter will be on-site, providing free microchipping.

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SJFD working with 139th Airlift Wing to develop new joint training facility

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local officials are joining efforts to take fire training to the next level in St. Joseph.

Members of the St. Joseph Fire Department and the 139th Airlift Wing are working to develop a new joint training facility that will be utilized by both city firefighters and firefighters with the 139th.

“The opportunity for training new recruits and our current firefighters is going to be huge,” said Kurt Fuehrer, chief training officer with SJFD. “And the air base is a big part of this community.”

The plan is for the facility to be located at the Air National Guard base pending the outcome of a grant submitted by the city this July. City Councilmembers approved a resolution on Monday, Aug. 4, to apply for the Military Community Reinvestment Grant through the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

If awarded, the city intends to contribute $120,000 in matching funds to purchase a $240,000 modular fire training simulator, a large structure that provides realistic live fire training scenarios for firefighters.

Often built with durable, weather-resistant materials like steel and concrete, modular training systems can be configured in various layouts and sizes to simulate different fire scenarios and building types, often incorporating features like adjustable burn rooms, interior and exterior access points and safety systems to ensure a controlled and effective training environment.

“The (139th) brings in an aircraft training prop, and it probably costs them about $20,000 every time they do it,” Fuehrer said. “To get something permanent over there that they could use and we could use would be big.”

The entrance to the Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing is shown in 2024 in St. Joseph.

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Bryan Kohberger described as creepy, domineering by college peers in months before Idaho killings, newly released files show

CNN Newsource

By Danya Gainor, CNN

(CNN) — In the days and weeks after Bryan Kohberger was arrested in connection with the brutal killings of four undergrads at the University of Idaho, students and instructors at nearby Washington State University told investigators the suspect seemed creepy and intense, with one predicting Kohberger could become the type of professor that harassed and stalked students, according to a trove of newly released documents.

Kohberger pleaded guilty to the killings in July and has been sentenced life in prison without parole.

One student who was in a class with Kohberger in the fall of 2022, when he worked on his PhD in criminology, told police he would act aggressively, staring at his classmates when he wasn’t dominating group discussions.

In a December 2022 interview conducted on the day of Kohberger’s arrest at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, the student said the class often sat through his hours-long verbal sparring with professors as he tried to come across as the “strongest, smartest, most important person in the room,” according to the records.

The student described having a “bad feeling” about Kohberger from the moment they met at orientation in the fall of 2022, months before the November 13 murders of Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen.

Over the distressing semester that followed, she told investigators, Kohberger would trail her after class, block her path when she tried to leave conversations and stare with such intensity that she kept a tally of the encounters.

Her account is one of many in the latest release of investigative files from the Idaho State Police around the murders, where classmates, professors and other university staff describe alarming interactions with Kohberger to police before he was apprehended.

The accounts, scattered across classrooms, offices and hangout spots, carried the same refrain: Kohberger’s presence often set people on edge. They captured the reflex in his peers to become shields for one another against a man who would soon be accused of murder.

He was known to ‘aggressively’ stare at women, peers said

Kohberger appeared to be well known on campus for his silent, unblinking stares, which several of his colleagues described as his attempt to assert “dominance.”

One WSU faculty member described Kohberger’s “keen interest” in her fall 2022 undergraduate assistant, whom he watched fiercely.

She said Kohberger would stand at the assistant’s desk, even directly behind her at times, looking over her shoulder as she worked. Another professor was asked to escort the assistant to her car after work because of Kohberger’s behavior, according to the documents.

One student said whenever she looked up, Kohberger, who was a teaching assistant in her class, was “always” staring, according to the records. He rarely spoke to students, she told police. She felt he would time his exit to leave when she did and then follow her to her car.

The graduate student who met Kohberger during orientation said she caught him “aggressively” staring at her as many as nine times in one class and said she was also followed after class.

“Kohberger always seems to want to be in the general area of her and others in the program that did not want to have anything to do with him,” the student told police, according to the documents.

CNN has reached out to WSU for comment.

Kohberger confronted peers, blocked exits, documents say

Professors and faculty were troubled by Kohberger’s behavior, according to the documents, and had fielded several complaints from students and colleagues.

Multiple WSU staff members told police that faculty met before Christmas 2022, days before Kohberger’s arrest, to discuss each of their students, but discussions about Kohberger dominated because he was “highly problematic.”

The files show that faculty swapped stories about Kohberger and debated pulling his funding and TA position, citing unnerving classroom conduct.

“Mark my word, I work with predators, if we give him a PhD, that’s the guy that in many years when he is a professor, we will hear is harassing, stalking, and sexually abusing … his students,” one of Kohberger’s teachers told her colleagues during the meeting, according to the documents.

One professor said Kohberger tried to keep him from leaving his office, an act he described as “power tripping,” according to the files.

Kohberger would show up late in the day and keep talking as the professor tried to go home. When the professor pushed back, Kohberger called him ‘snarky,’ the documents said. Kohberger then refused to leave when the professor asked, following him down the hall when the professor decided to walk away.

“Preventing him from leaving his office was a way of controlling,” the documents said.

Students described to police how Kohberger stood close enough to trap them at their desks.

In an office used by female students, one of his professors said Kohberger would position himself in the doorway, physically blocking it until she stepped in, “allowing the female students to leave.”

Peers shielded each other from Kohberger

In several separate interviews, students and professors described stepping between Kohberger and others – intercepting him in hallways and inserting themselves in conversations for others’ security.

One WSU faculty member said her “maternal instinct” wouldn’t allow her to leave a female student alone in an office on campus with Kohberger, so she kept herself busy until he left. She didn’t say any specific behavior of his prompted her to feel this way, the documents said.

When he left, she told the student to email her with the subject line “911” if she ever needed help.

In August 2022, a University of Idaho student said she met Kohberger in an apartment lobby and pointed him toward a pool party. She said she became uncomfortable with his staring and awkward conversation.

During the party, “Kohberger made very direct eye contact with her and made a bee line towards her” and a friend “got up to intercept him” after realizing the student was uncomfortable, according to documents.

In another instance, a male worker at a bookstore on WSU’s campus described acting “as a buffer” between his female coworker and Kohberger as he frequented the store, the documents show. The man believed Kohberger “was attempting to flirt” with the woman “and was absolutely zeroing in on her.”

The man started “telling Kohberger she was on the phone when he would come in so she wouldn’t have to interact with him,” according to the documents.

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CNN’s Jean Casarez, Lauren del Valle, Dakin Andone, Andy Rose, Nicquel Terry Ellis and Nicki Brown contributed to this report.

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Diane Shober Awarded 2025 State Tourism Director of the Year 

News Release

The following is a press release from the Wyoming Office of Tourism:

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Diane Shober, executive director for the Wyoming Office of Tourism, was announced August 18th as the 2025 State Tourism Director of the Year by her industry peers. The award recognizes excellence in marketing, promotion and individual leadership within the honoree’s state.

“Diane’s decades-long commitment to travel shows her passion for the state of Wyoming and the entire industry,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Transforming the state’s tourism landscape with visionary leadership, Diane has fostered a legacy of innovation, economic growth and a deeper appreciation for Wyoming’s wonders and Western hospitality.”

Shober was announced as the honoree before a thousand destination marketing professionals at the U.S. Travel Association’s annual ESTO conference—the premier annual gathering for destination and travel leaders, held this year in Phoenix, Arizona. She was selected by her peers on U.S. Travel’s National Council of State Tourism Directors—a body representing tourism offices from all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Shober has led the state’s tourism strategy since June 2003. After 22 years of dedicated service, Shober is set to retire from her role at the end of 2025, leaving an enduring legacy of growth and innovation. Under her guidance, the Wyoming Office of Tourism has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its budget from less than $3 million per year to nearly $20 million per year. In 2024, direct visitor spending in Wyoming was $4.9 billion—and Shober has seen consistent increase in year-over-year spending in her local economy.

Earlier in 2025 Shober was honored with the esteemed Big WYO Award, presented by Governor Mark Gordon on behalf of the Wyoming Hospitality and Travel Coalition (WHTC). This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on Wyoming’s tourism and hospitality industries, acknowledging her two decades of exceptional leadership and vision.

Shober serves multiple boards with distinction, including those of the Western States Tourism Policy Council, the National Council of State Tourism Directors, the Wyoming State Fair Board and the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative, where she proudly led the establishment and funding of degree programs at the University of Wyoming and community colleges, aimed at building a skilled workforce for tomorrow. She was appointed to U.S. Travel Association’s Executive Board in 2024 and served on the inaugural board for Brand USA—also serving with numerous professional and civic organizations throughout her life.

Shober was announced as this year’s State Tourism Director by 2024 honoree Mike Mangeot, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism and newly appointed National Council of State Tourism Directors Chair.

Candidates for State Tourism Director of the Year are nominated by state and territory tourism directors. A slate of three finalists is presented annually for selection by ballot. This year’s finalists also included Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers and North Dakota Department of Commerce Director of Tourism and Marketing Sara Otte Coleman.

ESTO 2026 will be held in Philadelphia, August 25-27, 2026.

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From jitters to joy: SJSD welcomes students for first day of school

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The first day of school always brings a mix of emotions—some kids are excited to be back with friends, while others feel nervous or unsure about what the new year will bring. 

Teachers were all smiles Tuesday morning, welcoming students into their classrooms and embracing the busy start to the day. 

It’s not just students getting used to new routines—school leaders are setting fresh goals and expectations for both staff and students as they kick off another academic year. 

“I just hope they have a great day, get to know your teachers because they really want to get to know you and we are excited to get the kids back,” said Ashly McGinnis, the superintendent of the St. Joseph School District.

McGinnis said the district is excited to kick off another academic year and is eager to see how things unfold for both students and staff.  

“Today is day one and we had a great convocation yesterday so today will all be about getting kids to those classes where they need to be and making sure schedules are a good fit for them,” McGinnis said.  

The hope is for students not only to learn but also enjoy the experience—walking out at the end of the day feeling confident, happy and ready for what’s ahead. 

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