While the specific monetary amount was not disclosed, the University of Idaho and the family of a slain college student released a joint statement Thursday, again confirming a settlement regarding the coed's murder.

The Boise family of Katy Benoit had filed a $3 million tort claim against the U of I in the wake of Benoit's killing by Ernesto Bustamante in August 2011. It was learned after the tragic incident that Bustamante, a former professor of Benoit, had a violent and compulsive relationship with the 22-year-old student. Following Benoit's murder, Bustamante later took his own life.

The Benoit family, while not saying how much money would be part of the settlement, announced it would donate all of the settlement proceeds to charitable causes, through the katy Benoit Memorial Fund, established through the Idaho Community Foundation.

Additionally, the university said new policies were in place prohibiting student-faculty relationships, in addition to new reporting requirements for inappropriate activity occuring on campus, and improved sexual harassment training.

The University of Idaho has reached a financial settlement with the Boise family of Katy Benoit, who was killed by a former U of I professor in August 2011. Ernesto Bustamente, who had dated the 22-year-old Benoit and repeatedly threatened her when the relationship ended, killed himself shortly after Benoit's murder.

The Benoit family had filed a $3 million tort claim against the university in December, claiming U of I officials had "negligently and recklessly" hired and kept Bustamente on staff. The family claimed that the university knew about Bustamente's abusive sexual relationships with female students.

The Idaho Board of Education will meet today in Moscow, where it is expected to consider the settlement, but in an executive session not open to the public.

Neither the U of I nor the Benoit family has commented on the proposed settlement.

University of Idaho President Duane Nellis has turned to his legal department to consider a proposal from the U of I Faculty Senate to provide domestic partner benefits.

The Faculty Senate tried to extend benefits to domestic partners in 2010, proposing that job-placement assistance be afforded to gay and lesbian partners in addition to spouses, but Nellis rejected that plan.

"[Nellis] did the wrong thing last time," said Kathy Aiken, dean of the university's College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. "And we're asking him this time to do the right thing."

The State of Idaho currently doesn't formally recognize gay marriage or domestic partnerships, leaving it up to the discretion of the university on how to grant benefits.

The family of Katy Benoit, the 22-year-old Boise student who was murdered in August 2011 by a former University of Idaho instructor, has filed a tort claim against the U of I, paving the way for a probable lawsuit. The tort claim is asking for at least $3 million from the university. The claim was filed in early December, and a 90-day response period ended this week.

Benoit was shot and killed on August 22, 2011, by Ernesto Bustamante, a former U of I professor who killed himself shortly after Benoit's murder.

The Benoit family's claim alleges that the university failed to prevent Bustamante's sexual harassment of Benoit. The family also claims that the university did not adequately inform law enforcement of a possible danger from Bustamante.

The flagship flap isn't going away anytime soon.

Idaho's State Board of Education voted uananimously on Feb. 16 to remove "flagship" from the University of Idaho's mission satement, in spite of university President Duane Nellis' insistance that the removal could have "negative connotations."

Joe Stegner, former Lewiston Republican state senator and current special assistant to Nellis for state governmental relations, told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News that he will be meeting with state lawmakers regarding the issue on Monday.

"It's just trying to get together with a few of the people that have expressed interest in possible resolutions dealing with the flagship issue," Stegner told the Daily News. "I'm not aware of anbody who has plans to introduce anything. I know that some people are interested in it."

The website and collateral materials of the University of Idaho state that the university "is the state's flagship and land-grant research university," but as of late Thursday, that's only half right.

Idaho's State Board of Education voted unanimously to remove "flagship" from the U of I's mission statement, in spite of university President Duane Nellis' insistance that the removal could have "negative conntations."

Additionally, the school board approved a new mission statement for Boise State, nixing the university's request to use the phrase "providing leadership in academics, research and civic engagement."

The approved statement will say that Boise State offers "an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees and experiences that foster student success, lifelong learning, community engagement, innovation and creativity."

Moscow police are investigating a shooting near the campus of the University of Idaho. According to the U of I, no one was injured when the shot was fired at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 into the Targee Fine Arts residence hall that sits on the edge of the campus.

According to a statement from the university, law enforcement "found no evidence of a continuing threat." An initial investigation by the Moscow Police Department suggests that the shot may have been fired from Blake Avenue. Residents told law enforcement that a white SUV was spotted near the scene of the shooting.

The U of I campus was rocked in August 2011 when 22-year-old grad student Kathryn Benoit was shot and killed at her off-campus residence by former U of I professor Ernesto Bustamante, who was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot.

In a Jan. 25 interview Joe Stegner, the university's new Boise-based lobbyist, told Boise Weekly that the U of I "has made safety the highest priority possible."

"There's a heightened awareness that campuses play on safety," said Stegner. "We have efforts that go above and beyond the safety that you would normally see in the general population."

Republican Sen. Joe Stegner of Lewiston will be hanging around the Idaho Capitol for many years to come. He just won't need to go back to voters every two years to punch his ticket.

Stegner was announced late Friday as the University of Idaho's new lobbyist, beating out nearly 100 candidates. U of I president Duane Nellis announced that Stegner would become his special assistant for state government relations on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Stegner is an alum of the U of I.

In the wake of last week's disclosure of detailed communications involving the murder-suicide of a slain student and former professor at the University of Idaho, the family of the student has hired an attorney.

As disclosed in hundreds of files earlier this week, 22-year-old Katy Benoit complained to the university that psychology professor Ernesto Bustamante had threatend her with a firearm three separate times during a relationship. Moscow Police Chief David Duke had told the Associated Press that police were unaware of the gun threats until after Bustamante shot and killed Benoit and then committed suicide. But University of Idaho officials said Wednesday that at least one Moscow police officer was made aware of the threats.

"Our question all along has been, 'What did the university know, when did they know it and how did they respond?'" read a statement from Benoit's family. "Our intention is to bring as much good from this situation as possible and to ensure that positive changes are made so that future students are safe and respected, and that this kind of tragedy never happens again."

University of Idaho officials released a huge cache of school records today, relating to the murder of graduate student Katy Benoit and subsequent suicide of former U of I professor Ernesto Bustamante. The records provide a detailed timeline of Bustamante's employment at the university (Aug. 12, 2007) through his first encounter with Benoit (when she enrolled in his Psychology 218 class on Aug. 23, 2010) through the tragic series of events that led to her murder on Aug. 22 and his suicide on Aug. 23.

Among the highlights:

Jan. 28, 2008-Bustamante receives high marks from students praising him for "trying to be the best teacher he can be."
Jan. 20, 2008-Bustamante receives annual performance review, which said he "meets expectations."
Dec. 4, 2009-Memo from department chair, noting Bustamanete's "exemplary levels of productivity and engagement."
Dec. 7, 2010-University's Ethics and Compliance Hotline receives anonymous call claiming Bustamanete is having sexual relationships with students, including claims of abuse and coercive relationship with one student.
Dec. 9, 2010-Purported victim denies any improper behavior on Bustamante's part and will not make formal complaint.
Dec. 13, 2010-Bustamante warned of university's intollerance for sexual harassment or retaliation. Bustamante denies any violation of policy.
Feb. 15, 2011-Bustamante receives annual performance evaluation that he "meets expectations."
May 1, 2011-Bustamante emails chair of Psychology Department that he is experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms due to a change in medication. Chair encourages Bustamante to seek medical attention.
June 10, 2011-Benoit first contacts university with complaint against Bustamante.
June 12, 2011-Benoit sends complaint in writing. Benoit is encouraged to access Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse.
July 5, 2011-Benoit gives permission to university to deliver complaint to Bustamante. University says it will direct Bustamante to have no contact with Benoit.
July 19, 2011-University officials conduct in-person interview with Bestamante. He admits to sexual relationship, denies he threatened Benoit with weapon, denies that he carries a firearm, admits to having sexual relationships with other students.
July 20, 2011-Bustamante states his resignation in emails to students and colleagues.
Aug. 5, 2011-Bustamante agrees to separation from university.
Aug. 22, 2011-University officials tell Benoit that Beustamante's contract with the university formally concluded.
Aug. 22, 2011-Benoit is murdered
Aug. 23, 2011-Bustamante commits suicide.