Like Durty Nelly, I am also from Idaho. My niece and grand niece live in Couer d'Alene. Many--most--of the locals there are horrified not only by this incident but the many other racist incidents over the years that have occurred in their community. The Aryan Brotherhood (a neo-Nazi group) moved to the vicinity in the 1980s and were forced out by locals bringing lawsuits. But even with their departure, the notoriety of their former presence has inspired other hate groups to travel to northern Idaho since. For example 31 white nationalists brandishing guns at a pride event in Couer d'Alene were arrested just two years ago.
Here is an article about Idaho's fight to get these groups out. Once a region gets a reputation for being a haven for extremists, it becomes a generational battle to undo that reputation.
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/27/110682854...en-and-now
On the "why was the Utah team lodged in Couer d'Alene" question I can add this: Couer d'Alene is a beautiful tourist town with some hotels right on the lake. It might be seen as a particularly nice place to stay if Spokane was truly full with a convention or somesuch.
Here is an article about Idaho's fight to get these groups out. Once a region gets a reputation for being a haven for extremists, it becomes a generational battle to undo that reputation.
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/27/110682854...en-and-now
On the "why was the Utah team lodged in Couer d'Alene" question I can add this: Couer d'Alene is a beautiful tourist town with some hotels right on the lake. It might be seen as a particularly nice place to stay if Spokane was truly full with a convention or somesuch.