A lawsuit over the Forest Service’s approval of the use of helicopters in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is no surprise.

But the widespread opposition by environmentalists shows that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s management of wolves is not drawing high marks even from groups that support delisting. Western Watersheds and the Wolf Recovery Foundation had already filed a lawsuit challenging the Forest Service’s decision to allow Fish and Game to use the helicopters for monitoring and research.

The three Democrats representing District 17 will discuss the legislative session and take questions for two hours Wednesday evening.

Sen. Elliot Werk and Reps. Bill Killen and Sue Chew will meet with constituents in the library at South Junior High School, 805 Shoshone St., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The trio also hold office hours on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Borah High School's Career Center, except once a month, when they host the public forum.

It's a piece of gear you'll need next ski season - the Bogus season pass.

Well, I got a postcard in the mail from Bogus Basin and it's already time for the $199 season pass (Alpine and Nordic) sale Feb. 15-21.

The Alpine/Nordic family season pass sells for $800 during that time. The Nordic-only pass is $69.

Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is skeptical about state school superintendent Tom Luna's plan to use $52.8 million in reserves to offset cuts to public education.

But in an interview Monday, Wasden would not say how he will vote on the proposal.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," he said.

Luna has touted the plan as a short-term buffer to a K-12 budget that could otherwise face at least $135 million in cuts. While Wasden conceded the schools are in the midst of a budget crisis, he also said the state's Land Board must consider the long-term needs of Idaho students.

I wrote earlier about Boise mountain biker Geoff Baker's project to get a mountain bike specialty plate that you could buy for your car or truck to support trails. Here's an update:

The proposed mountain bike license plate is now known as House Bill 486. The plate would feature a mountain biker and proceeds of the plate would go to Parks and Recreation or other groups doing work that benefits trails open to mountain biking.

New Age pianist John Tesh will perform Saturday, April 10, at the Morrison Center in Boise. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 15 for $34 reserved, $59.50 VIP, at Select-a-Seat. VIPs will sit in the first two rows and get a free copy of Tesh’s book, "Intelligence for Your Life: Powerful Lessons for Personal Growth," and an invitation to participate in a meet-and-greet. Yes, you can shake John Tesh's hand after the show.

Here's the latest installment of athletes of the week. Please e-mail me your nominations at jzentz@idahostatesman.com.

Any Democrat who will be 18 by Nov. 2 may participate in the caucus, set for 7 p.m. at the Nampa Civic Center, 311 Third St. S.

Christine Allred, wife of gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred, will be the featured speaker, and the program will include information on volunteer and leadership roles in the party.

Participants will elect 29 delegates to represent Canyon County at the state Democratic convention June 10-12 in Worley.

For more information, e-mail idadem@yahoo.com, call 454-8742 or go online to www.canyon-democrats.org.

"The Other Studio," a weekly discussion of all things music, airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM "The River." Here's what co-host Tim Johnstone and I spun Sunday night:

—Phoenix, "Lisztomania"
—Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
—Grizzly Bear featuring Michael McDonald, "While You Wait for the Others"
—Midlake, "Acts of Man"
—Ratt, "Best of Me/Lay It Down"
—Jimi Hendrix, "Valley of Neptune"
—Goldfrapp, "Rocket"
—Spoon, "Written in Reverse"
—Bowling for Soup, "Girl All the Bad Guys Want"