Given the spate of headlines in recent years regarding violent crimes at universities across the country - the most recent being the Yale murder of 24-year-old graduate student Annie Le - The Daily Beast news site posted the results of its "top 25 safest colleges" survey today. Idaho State University in Pocatello ranked near the top at number five. Among other statistics factored in the...read more

Couldn't resist getting a shot of this banner on the way to work this morning. As noted by our sports editor Phil Dailey in a recent blog post, such conspicuous displays of team spirit are rare. Should be a good one tonight!

One year to the week after my move to Idaho to work at the paper, my mother and favorite aunt had finally gotten plane tickets from Seattle to come see me in my new habitat this coming weekend

And with airfare and Idaho Shakespeare Festival tickets already purchased, swine flu decides to rear its ugly head - and just when I thought all the hoopla had subsided.

Yep, my aunt found out this week that...read more

With the lease on my rental house coming to an end in less than two months and move-in costs for a new place (security, pet deposits and first month's rent) on the nearby horizon, the challenges of sticking to a tight budget have never seemed more daunting — and, surprisingly, fun.

What can I say? I like a challenge. And challenges like living and budgeting in "The Great Recession...read more

At long last, no more having to cross the boulevard for cans of Starbucks double-shots, Rockstar energy drinks or aspirin - essential dietary needs for reporters.

After months of anticipation and countless hours of building-shaking construction, Nampa's new Walgreens branch will open this Thursday at the Caldwell and Midland boulevards intersection - just three skips and a hop away from the Idaho...read more

There's not many things in this world that can get me out of bed early on a Saturday morning.

So I'm going to take this opportunity to give myself a self-righteous pat on the back for doing just that this past weekend when I strolled bleary-eyed into the Idaho Humane Society's "education room" just in time for my 9 a.m. volunteer training/orientation class. Kudos to the other...read more

I confess - I love muddy trails. And so does Oubles (pronounced Oobles) for that matter

It wasn't always this way. You see, me and Oubles - he's my dog, in case there's any confusion - were perfectly happy on our almost daily hikes in the fall before the wet, wintery fun set in, turning Boise's awesome "Rivers to Ridges" trail network into sheets of ice and then, most recently...read more

Recession certainly isn't for everyone

But after a week of talking with a few fortunate businesses, I found out that for some it's business as usual.

The Idaho Youth Ranch, for one, is thriving. January sales were up 18 percent in January, Ranch officials told me today. As a result of this success, bargain hunters should be delighted to know the nonprofit unveiled its 26th thrift store...read more

As legend has it, only Bill Cosby and the Obama family eat for free at D.C.'s renowned hotspot, Ben's Chili Bowl. Which is why I was flabbergasted when the bill came last night, and the waitress told me the chili fries — which were heavenly, by the way — were on the house.

Full disclosure: I was actually eating at the adjacent "Next Door Bar & Grill,"owned by the...read more

I left the apartment about 3 a.m. Tuesday, weary after a sleepless night and anticipating huge crowds. While I had initially planned to walk the three miles to the Capitol, I changed my mind after walking a mile in the wrong direction in freezing temperatures

So I went underground, despite all the warnings. While the train was quite crowded, I had no regrets about the decision until the last stop...read more

With about four hours to go before I have to rise for a three mile walk to the Capitol (the metro is expected to be PACKED when it opens at 4 a.m.), I really should be sleeping. But there's a party going on above the basement apartment where I'm staying, and the hoots and hollers throughout the city aren't likely to subside anytime soon.

Monday was a busy day for hundreds of Idahoans...read more

The "We Are One" inaugural concert Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial in D.C., featuring a smorgasbord of A-list entertainers, was attended by even more people than what TV viewers might surmise. Arriving about a half-hour before the concert started, I couldn't push my way any closer than nearly a mile away from the stage - closer to the Washington Monument obelisk than the Lincoln statue...read more

I was driving to the office one evening in mid-November for my night reporter shift (I now work days as the business reporter) and had a strange idea. I knew a likely unprecedented number of Idahoans would be making the trek to D.C. for the 2009 presidential inauguration, and I wanted to go. And knowing I had enough frequent flier miles to book the trip for a substantially reduced price and that I...read more