In brief: Release of UI killer’s records awaited

The Spokesman-Review is awaiting the release today from the University of Idaho personnel records of a psychology professor who police say killed a 22-year-old graduate student before killing himself.

The newspaper was part of a coalition of news organizations that requested the documents after the Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 deaths in Moscow, Idaho, of Katy Benoit, a graduate student, and Ernesto Bustamante, her professor who was ousted from the university.

 Benoit complained to the university that Bustamante threatened her life repeatedly after their relationship ended. 

 Idaho Judge John R. Stegner ruled earlier this month that the mandatory confidentiality of public employee personnel records ends with the employee’s death.

 UI President M. Duane Nellis will speak at 1 p.m. today about the records release.

Burglars moving into Bonner County

A recent increase in daytime burglaries in Kootenai County seems to be spreading north.

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of people checking out homes under the guise of selling firewood or offering dog-walking services, a news release said.

That’s the same pattern the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department has noted in relation to 91 residential burglaries reported over the past two months. There were 21 during the same period last year.

The Bonner County sheriff recommends neighbors watch out for each other, keep their doors and windows locked and lock their vehicles. Anyone who observes suspicious activity is encouraged to call Bonner County Dispatch at (208) 265-5525.

Unused meds to be collected in CdA

The city of Coeur d’Alene and its police department are encouraging people to turn in unused prescription medications on Saturday as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s third National Pharmaceutical Drug Take Back Day.

The drug turn-in will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave. Police will be available to destroy outdated or unused medications.

Safe disposal of unused medications keeps them out of the hands of young people. It also prevents them from being flushed into the wastewater system, where they constitute a “growing concern” of “poisoning aquatic life in our rivers,” said city Wastewater Superintendent Sid Fredrickson.

Syringes and needles will not be accepted, the release said. For information, call (208) 769-2320.

Betty White named honorary Cougar

Actress Betty White is now an honorary alumna of Washington State University.

Earlier this month, White received the honor and a white doctor’s coat at the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association’s centennial gala in Yakima.

White has a long relationship with the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine thanks to her friendship with alumnus Bob Olds, who practiced for decades in Southern California. She became a donor to the college and has visited several times.

After donning the white coat, White offered to spay or neuter anyone in the audience.

Evening commute congestion grows

SEATTLE – A Washington Transportation Department spokesman said Tuesday evening rush hour congestion in the Seattle area has been “much more intense” than Monday’s first weeknight commute with the Alaskan Way Viaduct closed.

Spokesman Jeff Switzer said traffic backed up in the same spots as on Monday evening – such as southbound Interstate 5 – but the congestion started earlier and ran longer than it typically does. Tuesday morning commuters faced slightly heavier traffic, but not massive gridlock.