More investigative records should be public in Idaho | Opinion

People have a right to know

Moscow police released hundreds of unsealed documents related to the Kohberger case, just hours after the sentencing. While disturbing to read, the public has a right to access such information.

In April, James Johnson was sentenced for murdering his cellmate, Milo Warnock, at Idaho State Correctional Center. Afterward, I requested investigatory reports from Idaho State Police but was denied, citing exemptions for law enforcement and correctional records. In actuality, those records may be subject to release, but will require petitioning the denial. At best, the state imposes obstacles to prevent releasing information. At worst, it hides its own incompetence, corruption and culpability. Either way, it is disrespectful to the citizens that it serves.

The right to records isn’t about sensationalizing a tragedy but ensuring transparency and accountability. Even if no one ever requests a report, the possibility encourages thorough investigations.

When individuals entrusted in the care of the state are harmed, it is of utmost importance that the public has visibility into those transgressions. Incarcerated individuals are a vulnerable population, unable to exercise choices to maximize personal safety. We cannot wholly trust that the system will do the right thing in the absence of oversight and influence of public opinion.

Hallie Johnson, Seattle

Tariffs are sales taxes

President Donald Trump’s big and beautiful tariff agreement with Europe is a 15% tax we will all have to pay on anything we purchase from Europe. Can somebody explain why we should be celebrating a 15% sales tax? Trump and rich America could care less since they received a big and beautiful tax break, an average of $66,000 for the top 1% of households — that’s $117 billion per year! With cuts to Medicaid and Food Stamps, our bottom 1% will see a net cost-of-living increase and more of our poorest Americans will die. Over 20,000 human beings die every day in our big and beautiful world due to income inequality. We should not be complaining though, this is what we voted for, a celebration for our wealthiest “Americans”. A big and beautiful MAGA World where the rich get richer, and the poor just die. Survival of the wealthiest. A great “Christian” nation.

Kurt Smith, Boise

Crapo, Risch should uphold legal ethics

The Idaho State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys Preamble: A Lawyer’s Responsibilities Section 7 states: “Many of a lawyer’s professional responsibilities are prescribed in the Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as substantive and procedural law. However, a lawyer is also guided by personal conscience and the approbation of professional peers. A lawyer should strive to attain the highest level of skill, to improve the law and the legal profession and to exemplify the legal profession’s ideals of public service.”

Sens. Risch and Crapo are members of the Idaho bar and are bound to these rules. Emil Bove was nominated and subsequently confirmed to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. Bove is a member of the New York bar and held to a similar set of rules.

However, there is both evidence and allegation that Bove has not consistently adhered to those rules. Considering the Section 7 statement “to improve the law and the legal profession and to exemplify the legal profession’s ideals of public service”, I openly request both Senators to publicly inform the residents of Idaho with their rationale to vote to confirm Bove.

Geoffrey L Beausoleil, Idaho Falls

Make Idaho roads safer for people and wildlife

Idahoans have a chance right now to make our roads safer — for both people and wildlife. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is accepting public comments through July 31 on its long-range plan — the Idaho Transportation Investment Program — which will guide nearly $6 billion in road projects over the next seven years.

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a growing problem, killing thousands of animals annually and putting drivers at risk. These accidents cost Idahoans nearly $150 million each year. Roads like I-15, US-20, and US-30 cut through vital migration corridors, blocking animal movement and fragmenting habitat.

But there’s good news — we have solutions. Wildlife overpasses, underpasses and fencing can reduce these collisions by up to 90%. Projects like the new Cervidae overpass, near Lucky Peak, have already shown success and more crossings are planned, like one on US-30 near Montpelier.

As Idaho’s population and traffic grow, solutions like these are critical—wildlife crossings projects protect animals, save lives, and save money.

If you care about making Idaho roads safer for people and wildlife, urge ITD to prioritize wildlife-friendly infrastructure. Our roads should connect communities and special places — while also ensuring our beloved wildlife can safely get where they need to go.

Jeff Abrams, McCall

GOP breaking the government

Our government can’t even do the most basic tasks under Republican control. They are pushing so many to depend on the compassion of strangers, because our government does less and less. We see veterans begging for money and relying on whatever people can give them. The very least a government should do is feed the poor and take care of veterans, and this government does neither. The Republicans cut funding for veterans, food programs, schools, and medical assistance as the national debt explodes. We will have to pay for this debt, but we will need a responsible, ethical government that respects all citizens. Maybe we’ll get a government like that after the next election.

Allen L Wenger, Boise

Crapo’s public media hypocrisy

In April, I wrote to Sen. Crapo expressing my strong support for continued federal funding for public media. On April 22, he replied: “I share your belief in the importance of public media programs, including emergency services and educational and research-based media. These programs have proven critical for Idahoans like yourself to stay informed on important developing matters.”

On July 17, he voted to rescind federal funding for public media. It seems that the enate scares more about pleasing President Trump and keeping his job than he cares about “these (public media) programs (that) have proven critical for Idahoans”. President Trump is not one of his constituents, but we Idahoans are.

I’ve not been able to find his explanation for voting to rescind public media funding anywhere. But if, at some point, he claims that he did so because he‘s a fiscal conservative, ask him why he voted for the big tax bill that is expected to add $3.4 trillion to the national debt. That was hardly a fiscally conservative vote. Clawing back $1.1 billion for public media support is a tiny drop in the bucket compared to $3.4 trillion that the tax bill will add to the deficit.

Chuck Blair, Boise