Chess huge in Idaho schools? Check, mate. • U of I football fans complain about risqué uniforms • Big brother is watching students at North Idaho College • Idaho Falls city magazine on the up and up • Comparing "sister" cities • Rolling down the Bighorn Highway

Chess huge in Idaho schools? Check, mate.

Say what you will about kids these days. They're overweight, they spend too much time with the video games, they're just growing up too darned fast ...

Maybe elsewhere, but in Idaho, prepare to learn a thing or two about tactical play from second- and third-graders across the state who are learning chess as part of a state-sponsored program.

The Associated Press profiles the program was tested in 100 schools last year and expanded this fall to 100 more.

The state Department of Education has now invested $120,000 into the project.

The program being taught in Idaho public schools — called First Move — was developed by the America's Foundation for Chess, and was first tested in Seattle-area schools, said foundation Vice President Wendi Fischer.

First Move is now taught in 26 states, with Idaho public schools Superintendent Tom Luna the first to adopt it on such a large scale.

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U of I football fans complain about risqué uniforms

The University of Idaho athletic department is having to shell out more money for different uniforms. Only this time, it is for cheerleaders, not football players.

Vandal fans complained that the two-piece outfits unveiled during the team's second game of the season against Idaho State were too revealing.

For the record, the team won that game, after getting demolished by Arizona in the season opener.

After fans complained, the cheerleaders changed unis last weekend for the team's loss to Western Michigan.

They'll have more permanent uniforms for this Saturday's game against Utah State.

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Big brother is watching students at North Idaho College

North Idaho College is requiring any student even suspected of drinking in the dorms to submit an alcohol test.

Paula Czirr, NIC Residence Manager, says, "We test people who are in altercations, test people who are in room with containers who say they aren't drinking."

It may sound a bit draconian, but the program appears to be working: Last year, the residence hall had 20 to 25 alcohol related offenses each semester. In the past month, just two students tested positive for alcohol.

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Idaho Falls city magazine on the up and up

Idaho Falls Magazine, which started in 2001 as a community service publication, is turning to a subscription model as demand for the city magazine grows.

Currently, 15,000 magazines are printed every other month and there are 2,500 subscribers.

The magazine is expanding its press run to meet demand, and the operators decided to turn to subscriptions instead of raising ad rates.

Subscription rates will be $12.95 for six issues a year. Expect to see the magazine on newsstands in Pocatello, Boise and Jackson, among others cities.

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Comparing "sister" cities

Eastern Wake News, a newspaper covering small communities in eastern North Carolina including Wendell, N.C., is profiling other towns named Wendell across the country.

This week, the paper focuses on Wendell, Idaho.

"Tucked away in the Magic Valley of Idaho, along the Snake River, you'll find the second largest Wendell in the United States, behind only our own hometown."

"Like our Wendell," the article says, "the Idaho town is experiencing substantial growth as people try to flee the urban areas of Twin Falls, 20 miles away."

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Rolling down the Bighorn Highway

Idaho's Bighorn Highway, which is actually the nickname for parts of two roads near Salmon and Challis, has a new viewing station for bighorn sheep and another one in the works.

The Mtn. Express reports that Fish & Game set up the viewing station at the Redrock sportsman's access area north of Salmon to help visitors appreciate one of the state's iconic animals.

A second bighorn sheep viewing station is in the works for an area near Challis.

Fish and Game says the "Bighorn Highway" encompasses U.S. Highway 93 from the small community of North Fork, located due north of Salmon, south nearly to Mackay, as well as state Highway 75 from Challis east towards Clayton.