Court Rules Against Boise City In Records Case

BOISE GUARDIAN editor David R. Frazier has a right to a copy of security video showing a game of “strip hockey” at Boise City’s Ice World, despite Boise City’s denial of a public records request.

Senior Judge George D. Carey issued a judgement following a Tuesday trial in Fourth District Court overturning the City’s [...]

Sweet Offer From G-BAD Boys

The Center on the Grove, operated by the Greater Boise Auditorium District (G-BAD) sent a bunch of decorated cakes to newsrooms throughout the Valley today in an effort to garner good news reports about the convention center’s 20th anniversary.
At least they haven’t claimed their so-called birthday party is a “public out reach” or an [...]

Simplot Threatens To Leave Canyon County

J.R. Simplot Company’s environmental director threatened to “go somewhere else” in testimony before the Idaho Senate last week.
The legislature has pretty much decided to allow the DEQ to implement plans for vehicle emission testing in Canyon County as the valley comes closer to “non attainment” of federal regulations…which will potentially affect how the [...]

“Non-Partisan” Think Tank Issues Pork Report

An outfit called the Idaho Freedom Foundation is gaining traction billing itself as a “think tank” and offering the public a variety of “reports” and op-ed pieces.
While they call themselves non-partisan, it is fair to say there probably aren’t too many liberal Democrats within the ranks. Wayne Hoffman, an able journalist and former [...]

Broncos Win, Now Its On To Legislature

Now that BSU has won another Fiesta Bowl, there won’t be much to talk about until the legislature comes back to town to figure how to keep government afloat with less money. Oh sure, we will have a few days of news about how Boise still gets no respect, but the media pundits are [...]

Fox 12 Reporter Wins Dope Award

A reader has nominated Reporter Mike Vogel for a GUARDIAN ” TV Dope Reporter Award.”
Vogel has been in, out, and back in the news game and probably didn’t even think about winning a GUARDIAN dope award when he touched his tongue to a metal pole at temperatures well below freezing on camera. He was [...]

More On “Desire Named Street Car” (sorry)

EDITOR NOTE–We hate to keep beating this Trolley Horse, but the politicos and press just won’t let it die.
Team Dave Just won’t quit
Pushing this streetcar bit
There is no way they can
Cover this crazy plan
They’ll just put a LID on it!
–Poet Paul
Both the DAILY PAPER and the BOISE WEEKLY have published stories about the Desire [...]

Poll Supports GUARDIAN Transit Plan

According to a poll commissioned by the Daily Paper, 63% of folks in the city of trees agree with the GUARDIAN position that we should upgrade the bus system and forget about the “Desire NAmed Street Car.”

OK, they didn’t exactly say they supported the GUARDIAN position, but we have indeed advocated bus improvements over a [...]

Trolley PR Transparency Not So Clear

FROM POET PAUL–
The streetcar bid was Cronin’s wish
Now there seems to be something amiss
The facts are apparent
And may not be transparent
But we can certainly see through this!
Chalk one up for the DAILY PAPER! Using the public records law and some good old fashioned reporting skills, Cynthia Sewell raises some good questions about Team Dave’s [...]

Government, WAC, Bend Minds With PR Dollars

The use of Public Relations firms to build support for everything from jails to street cars and now football bowl bids is reaching the level of absurdity.
Does anyone really believe ADVERTISING and promotion will influence coaches and sports writers to grant BSU a bowl game bid?
The most prominent [...]

Items Of Little Interest, But Important To Pols

Here is a list of current news topics with a typically cynical GUARDIAN SLANT.
–The Park Center Bridge that Harris Ranch Developers stuck taxpayers to build so they would benefit is about to open with great fanfare from Ada County Highway District.
–Micron is still slurping at the public trough. This time they got $5 million [...]

Stabbing Suspect Has No Driver’s License!

We have to admit to making a visit to the Daily Paper’s web site today where we noticed a headline about a fatal stabbing in the parking lot of a bikini bar.
The Daily–and apparently coppers–found it noteworthy the suspect was driving without a license.
“An Idaho City man accused of stabbing 30-year-old Jason Robert Tipton to [...]

Team Dave Tries Brainwashing Public

We have long been unhappy with the efforts of Team Dave to shape public opinion on the “Trolley Folly.” Now it looks like the mayor and staff are following in the mold of the infamous Brent Coles
Coles spent public funds to influence the outcome of the Foothills Tax Levy election, but it was only [...]

“Wolf Sighting” Prompts Prediction

After observing the massive media coverage on Idaho’s wolf hunt the GUARDIAN will offer this prediction: BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER THERE WILL BE A TRAGIC SHOOTING DEATH OF A PET DOG, no doubt prompting an entirely new controversy.
When we ran across Nate and his beloved “Pakua” siberian husky sitting outside our favorite bistro [...]

Statesman Revelations In Missing Kid Case

Reporters Cynthia Sewell and Patrick Orr of the Idaho Statesman offer up a BLOCKBUSTER STORY on Wednesday’s front page, detailing an unsavory past of the adults involved in the disappearance of Robert Manwill, the 8-year-old tot last seen in the area of Vista and Cherry Lane.
Their detailed account took a lot of effort sifting through [...]

Coppers To Increase Scrutiny Of Bike Laws

The Boise Depot became a motion picture set Wednesday when as many as 200 cyclists showed up as extras for a a public service announcement (PSA) produced by Cable One.
The big name of course was local Olympian Kristin Armstrong. Along with a cast including a politico, paramedic, fireman, construction worker, and others, she made [...]

Spell Check Can’t Replace Proofreaders

We have to admit we like the idea of a daily newspaper on the doorstep. We also have to lament “it ain’t what it used to be”–especially with the Daily Paper. Hope springs eternal and we still subscribe.
Sunday morning page one–they call it the “cover” these days–had a full page-wide headline proclaiming “SEXTING [...]

Daily Paper Wins Dope Award For Bad Taste

When a couple of inhumane lowlifes relieved themselves on a “sleeping man in the area of 6th and Main in downtown Boise, it was more than the Daily paper could resist on their website.
Complete with a mug shot of one of the offensive offenders, the Daily offered the DETAILS of the police arrests which generated [...]

“Kill The Messenger” Is New Message

 
As the economy continues to sour, the use and proliferation of public relations people to spin the messages of governments and agencies is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of many folks.
When the Boise School District announced layoffs, we had immediate comments and suggestions from GUARDIAN readers about getting rid of the District PR [...]

GUARDIAN Asks Reader Support For Citizen Journalists

With the blessing and encouragement of some loyal GUARDIAN readers, we have decided to provide you with an “investment opportunity.”
As part of the brave new world of publishing, we will accept contributions from one and all for any amount you care to toss into the pot. Click on the “DONATE” icon for details. [...]