I was raised on a small farm, grew up hunting with my dad and grandpa, and generally consider myself a pretty outdoorsy person. But that didn't stop me from doing a double take when I saw a raccoon looking up at me from my cat's dish in the corner of my living room a couple weeks ago

I've seen the animals from time to time in the woods, on the side of roads and crawling in and out of...read more

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

Before I begin, let me first start off with an important disclaimer. Just like everybody else, we here in the word trade dont claim to be perfect. There are time's when I come remarkably close, but even I make no claim's to perfection.

There are occation's when our publication has error's — both in print and online — and we have some loyal reader's who occationally...read more

One of the most evil terrorists in the world arrived in New York today ahead of his scheduled address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. That's right. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, a man Ronald Reagan called the "Mad Dog of the Middle East," is in the United States.

That the United Nations would give this animal any credibility by receiving him at all is beyond me...read more

With all my coworkers mourning the last days of Idaho summer, I'm personally not losing too much sleep about it

Even with a somewhat mild summer - I only remember being outside on assignment in temperatures around 100 a select number of times - I still have a problem with the heat.

And even two years into my tenure, I don't seem to have acclimatized much to the Gem State.

See, in the part...read more

Ponderosa State Park just outside of McCall remains a favorite camping spot for many. Although crowded, the park's wooded campground sits right on Payette Lake with access to hiking paths and beaches.

Last week I spent two nights in one of the park's newest additions: four small cabins right on the lake — a short walk to one of the lake's best beaches.

The cabins are not cheap...read more

I'm one of those people who drives down Idaho 55 every day when I go to work. And like many who use that route, I do get concerned when I hear about traffic fatalities on that road.

Granted, traffic accidents happen everywhere, and transportation officials estimate that, nationwide, about 90 percent of all traffic fatalities are the result of careless or aggressive driving and could easily be...read more

We at the Press-Tribune had to say goodbye this week a few people we have worked with — a couple for a few months, one for several years. Call them casualties of a tough economy.

It's difficult knowing how to say goodbye to people in that situation. You feel badly for them, and striking the right tone can be challenging. You don't want to seem too cheerful when you wish them well because...read more

Admittedly, I used to be an absolute television and movie addict. Growing up, my Dad and I would venture to the movie store every night to pick up a couple $1 new releases. As soon as I got my first job, I bought a cheap cable subscription so I could watch all the shows I heard all my friends talk about at school

It grew from there.

Once I got into college, it got worse. About 40 channels came standard...read more

OK, so I have two disclaimers to get off my chest before I comment on last night's game and the aftermath.

First, I'm a huge Bronco fan. This is my first football season since graduating from BSU (I spent the last four fall semester's planning my classes around the game schedule and counting the days between each game.). As a result, I was super excited for our season opener yesterday...read more

I won't cheer "Go Big Blue" or "Boise! State!" But neither will I assume my usual faux-dejected attitude if Boise State does well this season.

We're in a bleak time, for our state and in our nation. Our governor just announced Idaho's got a projected $150 million deficit to work out. Canyon County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state at over 11 percent...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!

Of all the words in the English language I love to hear, I can't think of many that are better than these two: It's fall.

OK, I realize the first day of autumn isn't technically till Sept. 22. But as far as I'm concerned, when the kiddies start going back to school, the temperatures begin to drop and Bronco Stadium starts filling up, that's close enough for me.

Fall is, quite...read more