You win some, you lose some.

On Wednesday — one day after two wolves were killed at the start of Idaho's wolf hunting season — the Times' editorial board dropped in to criticize the hunt. Part of their editorial focused on biology. Part of it is rooted in patronizing pop psychology.

It's hard to tell which of these two comments was more surprising.

Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick admitted Monday that he canceled some recent meetings at the University of Idaho to work in some fund-raising calls and keep pace on dialing for donors. Minnick raised more than $2.6 million for his 2008 election; according to the Federal Election Commission, he has raised nearly $599,000 for 2010.

Gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell has scheduled news conferences Tuesday to discuss what he calls "the 'Obama Tags' controversy."

That would be, of course, his unabashed and tasteless jokes last week about selling hunting tags targeting a president. That stuff tends to be controversial — and in this case, Rammell has drawn the scorn of just about everyone in Idaho Republican leadership.

Just eight months ago, the College of Western Idaho was looking at enrollment well short of initial projections.

The grim forecasts led one local blogger — government watchdog Dave Frazier — to declare the as yet-unopened community college a "faltering venture."

Times have changed quickly. With 3,400 students, CWI's enrollment has nearly tripled from its inaugural January total of 1,195.

Whoa, Nellie. Who saw it coming?

Perhaps the first (but sadly, unlikely the last) snarky little blog lumping Idahoans in the kooky camp with Rex "Obama tags" Rammell. (Hat tip: Thanh Tan, Idaho Public TV.)

Seattlepi.com blogger Scott Sunde had great fun regaling his readers and riling his commenters with the story of the "Obama tag" controversy — starting with Rammell's pandering appearance before a GOP gathering in Twin Falls.

UPDATED, 1:00 p.m., to reflect new statements criticizing Rammell.

In case you're wondering, the Rex Rammell story isn't going away. Or at least Rammell isn't.

And a growing roster of Republicans are criticizing Rammell for continuing to make what he calls sarcastic comments about "Obama tags," hunting permits targeting the president.

On Monday, freshmen began classes at the University of Idaho.

If statistics are any predictor of the future, 79 percent of these freshmen will return for their sophomore year. But that means over one-fifth of these new students won't be back.

U of I officials are trying to do the right thing, by looking for ways to help new students adjust to college. But they're going about it the wrong way, by requiring first-year students to live in dorms or Greek housing.

A Thursday reading roundup:

• Our Rocky Barker has an interesting saga about a group called Citizens for a Clean Idaho. Grass-roots group or a front organization? Read and decide. And, by the way, this story proves why every good reporter should spend some time on Twitter and Facebook.

Here's what Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, had to say about the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.:

UPDATED, 3 p.m., to more accurately reflect timing of Leon Smith's comments

Yes, the Idaho Transportation Department's Pam Lowe problem will get worse before it gets better.

For evidence, check out this morning's blockbuster read
from Jared S. Hopkins at The Times-News in Twin Falls.