—Canadian crooner Michael Buble has released 20 concert dates in 2010. He's hitting Salt Lake City (March 31), Portland (April 2) and Seattle (April 3), but Boise is not on the list. It's possible that could change. More dates are expected to be announced early next year.

—Resurrected grunge-rockers Alice in Chains also released tour dates this week. Again, no Boise stop was included. However, there's a gap between Salem, Ore. (Feb. 6) and Oakland, Calif. (Feb. 11.) My super-secret double-agent inside sources indicate there could be a Boise date lurking in there to be confirmed in the next few days. Stay tuned.

Boise State caravan

Boise State is encouraging fans traveling to Logan for the Utah State game to meet in the Bronco Stadium parking lot at 8:30 a.m. The “Bronco Fan Caravan” will leave at 9 a.m. with a police escort.

The Broncos are encouraging fans to adorn their vehicles with Boise State paraphernalia and the stadium Bronco Shop will be open at 7 a.m. and have specials. Fans are encouraged to wear orange to the game.

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By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
© 2009 Idaho Statesman

One of the two longest home winning streaks in the nation likely will need to end to prevent Boise State from claiming a Bowl Championship Series berth this year.

Oklahoma has the nation’s longest home streak at 28 games. The Broncos need the Sooners to beat Oklahoma State on Nov. 28 in Norman to eliminate the team that is perceived as the last legitimate threat to the Broncos for the last at-large BCS spot.

The classic school house roof (minus the school bell tower) of Cole Elementary in Boise holds strong as demolition crews gradually disintegrate the structure Thursday.

U.S. District Judge James Redden has choreographed his Portland hearing Monday on the Obama administration’s salmon and dam plan right down to the introductions.

You might remember that Redden changed the date of the hearing so Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could be there. Hearings like this don’t have testimony so there is no obvious way for her to interact with the judge. But

A funny item from Wednesday's mailbag.

Got a letter to the editor addressed to the Statesman, "Somewhere on Curtis, Boise, Idaho."

The proper address, BTW, is 1200 N. Curtis Road.

And yes, skeptics, your government is at work. This letter still managed to arrive at our office — just two days after it was postmarked in Canyon County — and even though the envelope didn't have a zip code. (The zip for our street address, BTW, is 83706).

A snowshoeing clinic for women is planned at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at REI in Boise.

Expert snowshoer Edna Ray Vizgirdas will talk about the sport, offering tips on winter backcountry travel, how to dress for snowshoeing and where to go during the clinic that is free.

REI is located at 8300 W. Emerald St.

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By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State junior tailback Jeremy Avery quietly is approaching the 1,000-yard milestone.

Avery has rushed for 892 yards. At his current pace, he will finish the year with 1,249 yards — the sixth-highest total in school history.

And he’s done it while playing on a team that has had three other tailbacks rush for 100 yards in a game.

“It means a lot,” Avery said. “That’s what any running back wants to do — gain 1,000 yards. I don’t too much dwell about it, though.”

How wide open is the Fiesta Bowl when it comes to finding teams for this year’s game?

Consider that the bowl is not sending representatives to any football games this weekend. Part of the reason is because there are very few good games to attend. But uncertainty is the other reason.

“Things are up in the air. In this case probably more so than any other year,” said Fiesta Bowl spokesman Tony Alba. “It doesn’t make sense to go out and do anything. We’ll regroup on Sunday.”