Often you'll hear stories in the national news about how someone in a big city who's hit by a car or suffers some sort of medical condition lies for hours before getting help.

That's clearly not the case here in Canyon County.

As I was walking through downtown Nampa before work today, a man walking with his wife on the other side of 2nd Street began to have trouble standing. She struggled...read more

I had the pleasure of attending the Utah-Idaho-Spokane Associated Press Association's awards banquet last week, and the IPT brought home 13 awards.

Multimedia editor Greg Kreller won several for his excellent photography, and other top honors included online breaking news and graphic design.

Greg's a great professional to work with. He, I and other editors confer regularly about the mix...read more

In these tough economic times, it's always great to read stories of hope and inspiration. We've had several of those in recent days, and I want to make sure folks don't overlook them.

• Darla Dennis' courageous battle to survive breast cancer

• Through the work of the Hope's Door shelter, a local family is now safe

• Two local students who won prestigious Gates Scholarships

•...read more

The rapid spread of a flu outbreak through Mexico and parts of the United States immediately became a big news story, and we were no exception.

In the early days of the coverage, officials referred to the illness as "swine flu" and that's what the media used. But then, after the term had already become a household name, the Agriculture Secretary and other officials wanted everyone to...read more

IPT photographer Charlie Litchfield took a day off Saturday. But it was still a tough job.

Charlie joined nearly 2,600 diehards in the 32nd annual Race to Robie Creek, the toughest half-marathon in the Northwest. For the unfamiliar, the race is a 13.1-mile trek from northeast Boise eight miles up to 4,797-foot Aldape Summit and a steep, five-mile descent to the Robie Creek picnic grounds on the backwaters...read more

As far as I can remember, I've never filled out a NCAA Tournament bracket before. While folks around me at three different newspapers buzzed with excitement each spring for two decades, I avoided the fray. Why? I've never been a big basketball fan, and although I understand the mechanics of the game, I know absolutely nothing about any of the teams. I can't recall the last time I watched...read more

Saturday night's Local Legends performance at Caldwell's O'Connor Field House looks like it was a lot of fun.

If you couldn't make it to the event, multimedia editor Greg Kreller and photographer Charlie Litchfield have put together a great video and audio slideshow with super highlights.

To watch the video, click here

To watch the slideshow, click here

I loved this story from the AP in Spokane. It seems the local officials have passed a law that restricts the sale of dishwasher detergent that contains phosphates. But the green alternatives don't work as well. So folks are heading across the border into Idaho to buy the strong stuff.

It says a lot about the difficulties we face in choosing to be kinder to the environment and getting the results...read more

IPT intern Tovah Garcia — a big fan of the hit vampire flick "Twilight," wants fellow fans to know about DVD release parties that will take place in a few hours. She sent in this report:

The movie "Twilight," based on Stephenie Meyers's novel, will be released on DVD at midnight. Both Nampa Wal-Mart stores and the Caldwell location will hold release parties where shoppers...read more

I live just off downtown Nampa, and spring always brings a big change.

As I drove into work today along 2nd Street, a crowd of folks appeared out on the sidewalks between 15th and 11th avenues, talking, window-shopping and hanging out at the coffee shops.

Warm weather draws folks to the neighborhood it seems, particularly when the farmer's market revs up and kids flock to the fountain at the...read more

The recent road rage incident in Boise reminded me of something that happened when I was in my early 20s as a reporter in Little Rock, Ark.

I had been out with friends at a couple of night spots and passed through the Hillcrest neighborhood, which is a lot like the North End of Boise except that it's set on rolling hills and the streets sort of wind around them. I was stopped at a traffic light...read more

At last, my French pays off

In high school, I decided to forge into French language. I kept it up in college and even spent some time at the University of Caen on the Normandy Coast.

But unlike my co-workers who speak Spanish, there are few opportunities to actually put the language into practice here in the Intermountain West.

So, I was naturally curious when I came across an e-mail with "Bonjour"...read more

Idaho senators wasted no time to react to the Senate's passage of a nearly $840 billion stimulus package today by a 61-37 vote.

Here's what they had to say in prepared statements e-mailed to media outlets:

"Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo voted against the Senate version of the economic stimulus bill today, concerned that the legislation may become a 'long-term problem that could plunge...read more

In the summer of 2007, I switched jobs for a week with the assistant managing editor of a sister paper, the Bozeman Chronicle. I enjoyed meeting the staff and bringing home some good ideas from the Bozeman folks. Ever since, I've also made it a point to check in on the happenings there from the online version of the Chronicle.

In Sunday's paper, I found one article particularly interesting...read more

I like virtually anything with pasta, so I was intrigued with this AP story.

By the way, you can find many ways to use pasta here

By David Twiddy

AP Business Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As struggling consumers turn to casseroles, soup, pasta salad and good old macaroni and cheese to stretch their food dollars, the nation's pasta makers are returning to a rolling boil after many years...read more

Many of you are probably familiar with Caldwell native Nora Carpenter. She was the longtime voice of the local Better Business Bureau and helped countless Idahoans avoid schemes and scams.

Now, she is working in the Washington, D.C. area, after getting a promotion. She sent this e-mail describing the atmosphere in the nation's capital, along with some photos.

I thought I'd share them here...read more

Some readers may wonder why we didn't have a large front-page story about the jet that survived the emergency landing in the Hudson River Thursday. It's clearly an amazing story of heroism and survival. So I thought I'd explain our rationale.

Each afternoon, a group of editors meet and discuss the potential stories for the front page. Thursday, the meeting included Jenessa Farnsworth...read more

Congratulations to the Idaho Press-Tribune photo staff, who swept the top Idaho photos submitted to The Associated Press in December.

Photographer Mike Vogt won News Photo of the Month and $150 for an uplifting shot of Sydney Irizarry, 7, geting a kiss from her father, Idaho National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Christopher Irizarry, as he arrived home from Afghanistan after finishing a nine-month assignment...read more

If you're heading into work at 8 a.m. Mountain Time Tuesday when the inaugural festivities start on the U.S. Capitol steps, you can still catch the historic event online. The Idaho Press-Tribune will have live AP coverage of the inauguration at idahopress.com

In a respite from the bad economic news - locally and across the country - Cost Plus World Market is keeping its Nampa store open even as it closes 26 elsewhere in the nation. Read about it here.

If you think it's hard to remember the new year when you write checks, imagine if you're a reporter who types dates all the time or a proofreader who checks the dates on the page numbers and section fronts of the paper every day.

Last year, we had a spate of problems with '08, so Managing Editor Vickie Holbrook came up with the idea of placing small signs on everybody's computer monitors...read more

We'll, it looks like it's going to be foggy for several days to come. Looking out the newsroom door, it's hard to see past the new Walgreen's going up as our new neighbor at Midland and Nampa-Caldwell boulevards.

Some places, like the western part of the county, seem to be especially bad.

Do you know of any trouble spots to avoid - or have tricks on how to make foggy driving easier...read more