Wildfires dominated the summer months, as did a surprise plea deal in a murder case involving the deaths of four University of Idaho students.

Below are a few of the stories that captured the headlines third quarter of the year. Additional stories will be featured in later editions of the paper.

JULY

Suspected shooter’s North Idaho connections emerge

After two firefighters were killed in Kootenai County in late June 2025 in what police described as an ambush, details about the suspected shooter’s connections to North Idaho began to emerge.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52, and Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, were fatally shot Sunday while responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain that authorities said was set intentionally.

Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Wess Roley and said he died by suicide after the shootout. Roley did not leave a manifesto, authorities said, and the motive for the killings remains under investigation.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this week that Roley had been living in North Idaho, apparently out of his vehicle, since 2024. Though he had family in Priest River, police said his ties to Coeur d’Alene are unclear.

BGH expands exoskeleton program

Since a successful fundraising effort allowed Bonner General Health to add the EksoNR exoskeleton to its therapy programs, officials said the hospital has seen a major shift in how it supports patients recovering from neurologic injury and illness.

The device helps individuals stand and walk with assistance — often earlier in their recovery journey than traditional therapy would allow, BGH officials said.

Therapists also benefit from Ekso’s real-time feedback tools, helping them customize patient care and clearly track progress over time.

County revises rural code, eliminates RV park conditional usage

Developers and entrepreneurs will no longer be allowed to establish recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds in rural Bonner County.

During a July 23 land-use hearing, county commissioners voted 2-1 to approve amendments to Bonner County Revised Code, Title 12, removing RV parks and campgrounds as a conditional use for Rural Agricultural/Forestry and Rural Service Center zoning districts.

Commissioners Asia Williams and Brian Domke approved the removal, citing concerns that high-density developments such as RV parks do not preserve rural characteristics. The move follows concerns raised by the Spirit Lake Fire District, which noted that “with limited resources in our county, RV parks/campgrounds pose a tactical challenge and require fire districts to be more attentive to fire prevention features, conditions and designs.” The agency also stated that RV parks and campgrounds pose a “unique risk,” as RVs “burn more rapidly than structures and spread to other neighboring RVs rapidly.”

School districts see reading score increases

The Lake Pend Oreille and West Bonner County school districts both saw significant improvement in their Idaho Reading Indicator scores over the past year.

The test is administered twice every school year to all kindergarten through third-grade students who attend public schools in the state. This is the seventh year of the test, which helps educators better understand student needs.

Students are divided into three categories: those who can read at grade level, near grade level or below grade level. The state average of students reading at grade level increased more than 5% since last spring, with both districts seeing similar improvements.

AUGUST

Prosecutors: ‘You will not be forgotten’

There is satisfaction in knowing that the man responsible for killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin will spend the rest of his life in prison.

A week after Bryan Kohberger, 30, was sentenced to four life sentences without parole for the murders of the four college students, longtime Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings reflected on the case that consumed much of their time for nearly three years.

Judge Steven Hippler ordered the former Washington State University criminal justice graduate student to serve the sentences consecutively, imposing a $50,000 fine and $5,000 civil penalty for each death. The Ada County judge also ordered Kohberger to serve 10 years in prison on a related burglary charge.

The sentencing capped a legal marathon that began when the victims were discovered stabbed to death in their Moscow home.

As the prosecution finalized preparations for trial, they were approached by defense attorney Anne Taylor with a request for a plea deal.  

The prosecution was ready to take the case to trial. Thousands of investigative hours had gone into the case, hundreds of witnesses. It was a strong case, Thompson said, and he is confident of the outcome: a guilty verdict. 

"There's no doubt the evidence would have convicted him," the prosecutor said. "There's no doubt about him being the murderer."  

After being approached by Kohberger's defense team, Thompson, Jennings and the rest of the legal team met with the families in a series of Zoom calls to outline the case. They explained the options, including the request for a plea deal. Some were in favor; others were, and remain, adamantly in favor of a death penalty.  

Thompson said everyone involved in the case respects both sides.  

"We were able to save the victims, families and the community decades of appeals and I realize that some of the family members have different feelings and we recognize that and we respect their feelings," the Latah County prosecutor said. "Not everybody is going to grieve the same. We really hope that this does, down the road, give some closure and some peace to everyone."  

Major fires impact county residents

Two fires — the Sunset Fire in southern Bonner County and the Lightning Creek Fire near Clark Fork — had major impacts on county residents in August.

Reported Aug. 13, the Sunset Fire northeast of Athol quickly grew to more than 3,200 acres and forced evacuations in the Sagle, Careywood and Cocolalla areas. Approximately 295 personnel were deployed, including Idaho Panhandle Hotshots, wildland engines, helicopters, air tankers and water scoopers.

The Lightning Creek Fire, reported July 30, spread rapidly due to heavy dead fuels left from the 2018 Cougar Fire scar. Within 24 hours, it had grown to 1,600 acres, fueled by rugged terrain and erratic winds.

Bonner County commissioners declared a local disaster emergency in mid-August. Days earlier, the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized federal funds to aid firefighting costs for the Sunset Fire.

Sandpoint announces plans for $130 million wastewater treatment plant bond

The Sandpoint City Council voted in late August to pursue a $130 million bond to fully renovate the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The bond was placed on the November ballot. City officials said the amount was needed to fund a modern renovation bringing the plant up to Clean Water Act standards. The council chose the full project amount over an $80 million phased approach.

According to the staff report, the project will be funded through phased utility rate increases, a bond, low-interest loans and state and federal grants. With the full bond, utility rate increases could reach approximately 106%, according to the report.

Public Works Director Holly Ellis said the city will continue to pursue grants to ease costs for residents. Mayor Jeremy Grimm noted Sandpoint ranked third in Idaho for State Revolving Fund funding, qualifying for a $38 million loan and $3 million in loan forgiveness.