If you're a fan of Treasure Valley area high school sports, please check out the new look. We think you'll like it.

The left-hand side is much the same - you can find different fall sports by category. We've added a lot of items to the right-hand side of the page. You'll see a pulldown menu of all the Treasure Valley area schools where you'll find stories throughout the school year. Below that is a menu of sports pages so you can see other news stories sorted by sport.

The end of summer isn’t when most of us think about income taxes, but accounting firms are quietly making plans for the 2009 tax season — and that includes finding workers to help with the crush.

The high school football season begins in earnest Friday with 12 games featuring teams from the Treasure Valley. Saturday, Bishop Kelly debuts its renovated stadium at 1 p.m. with a showdown against Portland's Central Catholic (KGEM 1140 AM).

While 5A teams don't play for another week, Friday's schedule offers football fans a unique opportunity to catch some of the best small schools in action.

If John McCain could pick anybody as his running mate, he'd probably pick a longtime colleague, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson said this morning.

The Republican Simpson said he'd have no problem with a McCain-Lieberman ticket. But Simpson knows Lieberman, Al Gore's running mate from 2000, would rankle many conservatives.

So, in talking presidential politics with the Statesman editorial board Thursday, Simpson's speculation centered on two of the trendy names in the GOP veepstakes: Minnesota Gov. Tom Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Boise State senior tailback Ian Johnson is one of 43 candidates for the Doak Walker Award, the school announced Thursday.

Johnson leads active NCAA players in touchdowns (46) and rushing touchdowns (45). He is second in rushing yards (3,417 yards) and carries (602). Johnson needs 1,058 yards to become the Broncos' all-time leading rusher.

Boise's best and most consistent beer bar — Bittercreek Alehouse — got a nice shout out in the latest issue of Imbibe Magazine.

The magazine rates Bittercreek one of the 100 best places to drink beer in America in the "Best Locally Brewed Offerings" category.

There are three bylines on the whole package — which is pretty cool, by the way — and this is what the reporters say about Bittercreek.

For many reasons — some rather personal — I'm glad to see the Joseph Edward Duncan III sentencing reach its conclusion.

Here's a second-day roundup on the story, starting with Associated Press video coverage of the sentencing:

A few links:

The Oregon Trail Fire burned only a mile away from my home. Having such an event so close to home helps to focus your attention especially when in my case, I was only a few feet away from the flames Monday night covering the story at Homestead Rim.

The fire that destroyed 10 houses, damaged nine more and killed Mary Ellen Ryder had almost nothing to do with the fire debates that politicians and interest groups fight about and I spend a lot of time writing about. All the logging in the world wouldn’t have had any impact on this fire.

The choice is wide open this weekend and the opening of grouse and dove seasons Monday even complicates it more.

But an announcement by Brundage Mountain near McCall caught my attention.

Brundage Mountain Resort is heading into its last weekend of summer lift operations with extended hours for Labor Day. You can take the lift to the top of the mountain and mountain bike or hike the resort's trails. You can also just go to the top of the mountain and hang out. The views are incredible.

Solange Knowles hates on Idaho • Unemployment as low as anywhere in Idaho Falls • State sues car dealership • Sidewalk biking on the agenda • Obama preps for Denver in Billings • Talkin' nukes in Idaho Falls