Here, tucked amidst the inescapable bureaucratic jargon, is an interesting little tidbit from The Times-News in Twin Falls.

The City Council Monday voted to amend a land swap agreement with a local developer — a new deal that could give the city ownership of the Evel Knievel jump site.

My "maybe the public debate is coarsening" observation from the weekend.

During a grocery run, my wife and I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that read "Learn English or get the **** out." Or words, profanity included, to that effect.

I was tempted to tell the guy that if a shopper indeed didn't speak English, he or she would be unable to read his shirt. But I didn't think that discussion was likely to end well.

Aside from noticing his shirt, I also couldn't help notice that my fellow shopper had a case of an item called Smart Water. I can only hope it was the fast-acting variety.

Back when Idaho politicians were railing about — and voting against — the $787 billion economic stimulus plan, they suggested the staggering sum of taxpayer money would wind up in a black hole.

Turns out that a disproportionate chunk is heading right here.

Idaho ranks No. 5 per capita in stimulus fund receipts, according to ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative journalism website tracking the stimulus dollars.

When Idaho's peregrine falcon quarter was released — to widespread and unfair criticism — many Idahoans wanted a coin that celebrated Idaho's wild and rugged scenery.

They'll get their wish. In 2019.

The U.S Mint will release 56 "America the Beautiful" quarters, commemorating one park, national forest or national historic site in every U.S. State territory, plus the District of Columbia.

You've probably seen most of this, but a good quick clip from President Obama's health care reform speech Wednesday night:

A short-attention-span viewer's guide:

For three years, some Idaho Republicans have been pushing to close their primary elections.

And yet, in a way, we might be better off forgetting everything we think we know about this issue.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill wants the GOP to basically go back to square one, and demonstrate how an open primary is affecting party politics. To me, that is the most startling point from Winmill's 17-page non-ruling on the primary issue, released Friday.

The 2009 city elections are two months away (the filing deadline was Friday, and in case you missed it last weekend, here's the rundown of who's running.)

So the focus on this blog will turn to municipal races. I'll try to post news as it comes in, and insights from our candidate interviews and endorsement process.

Boise City Council candidate TJ Thomson has secured another big-name Democratic endorsement, from 1st Congressional District Rep. Walt Minnick.

There's a right way to object to Idaho's wolf hunt, and there's a wrong way.

And the wrong way is to call or e-mail a hunter who is just following the rules.

Hours after shooting a wolf on the opening day of the Idaho hunting season, Robert Millage of Kamiah found himself the target of about 50 irate phone messages and hundreds of angry e-mails.

Since Millage probably won't be the last hunter to bag an Idaho wolf this year, let's apply some fair chase rules to the debate.

Idaho get $173 million worth of bad budget news today.

Tax collections are now expected to come in $173 million below initial projections for 2009-10, wiping out a state surplus and leaving a $151.4 million shortfall.

Gov. Butch Otter isn't ruling out options — including budget cuts and raids on the state's budget reserves. No word on when Otter will decide how to address the shortfall

Here's the press release from Otter:

A group of Idahoans showed up at Sen. Jim Risch's Washington, D.C., office to demand health-care reform.

Risch asked the group why they wanted reform. They told him reform would bring down health care costs. Pointing to his desk, and one of the health care reform bills now before the House, Risch asked the group to show him where the bill would actually bring down health care costs.