NEWS SHORTS

SOBODO?

The force of nature known as Mark Rivers has a new neighborhood in mind, to expand on his BoDo development: Call it "SoBoDo." Rivers now wants to build Boise a new library on the same site as the existing main branch, and develop several blocks around the area.

But now Rivers has competition for development of a key part of that area. The Capital City Development Corporation has asked for, and received, proposals from three developers, including Rivers, to redevelop a site the agency owns on 9th Street.

Rivers, Hosac Company and C2 Squared all hope to remake the old warehouse on the CCDC-owned site. While Hosac and C2 aren't whistling Dixie-both have what the CCDC terms "serious" applications for mixed-use buildings on the site-it's Rivers that has the bigger plans. He's been planning the development for six months, he said, going about acquiring options and stakes in various properties in the Library area.

"He did what he was supposed to do: Describe the pie in the sky," said City Councilor David Eberle who also serves on the board of CCDC.

River's key slice: the library. He wants to rebuild a $42 million modern library with all manner of energy-efficient technologies, then sell it to CCDC, who would lease it to the city for about $2 million per year, he said.

But no one seems to agree on just how the city would benefit from, and pay for, the snazzy new library.

"Those are huge questions," Eberle said. He suspects that new property tax valuations received off Rivers' project would go to CCDC, not the city. The machinations have alerted David Frazier, who earlier this year successfully sued Boise for trying to finance a parking garage without a public vote. Frazier, who said he's not ready to sue on this one yet, said any plan that results in Boise City owning the new library should get voted on by the people.

CHENEY ON THE STUMP, ROCK ON THE GROVE

We're officially not envious of any Secret Service agents who have to manage security for Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to the Grove Centre today. That's because right as the Veep's motorcade makes its way to the Boise Centre on the Grove for a fundraiser for Republican Congressional candidate Bill Sali, the opening chords of Alive After Five will be starting right out front at the plaza. Hey, beer for the serious guys in suits with wires in their ears?

"I think we're going to have an eclectic bunch of Idahoans there," said Geoffrey Hunt, events coordinator for the Downtown Business Association, which puts together the Alive After Five events. "It should be good people-watching."

Cheney's Sali stop is part of a trip to boost other embattled Republicans-in the morning, he'll have been with Sen. Conrad Bums of Montana, who is facing a tough challenge now that he's been so explicitly tied to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Sali doesn't know Abramoff, but national analysts have begun to eye his race against Democrat Larry Grant of Fruitland a little more closely. Although Idaho traditionally gets a "safe Republican" rating nationally, that hasn't stopped the national GOP from stepping up its efforts on behalf of Sali. Wednesday's shindig with Cheney isn't cheap: guests paid $125 just to get in, and $2,100 per couple for a photo with the country's second-in-command.

IDAHO OFFICIALLY BUGGED

Feeling feverish? Got a little ache in the bones? Welcome to the West Nile Virus club, where you'll join dozens of Idahoans who are feeling down because of what looks like the country's largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne illness.

Gov. Jim Risch has already declared county-wide disasters in Ada and Canyon counties, and if things don't improve we might expect some more.

As of Tuesday, Ada County had 21 people down with West Nile, but 22 horses showed signs of the virus. So far, 38 mosquito test pools the county maintains have shown positive signs of West Nile.

The emergency declarations mean the counties get to use state cash to help knock down mosquitoes-read: spray possible areas with insecticide-and Risch authorized the Canyon County declaration Monday morning.

Ada County Commissioner Fred Tillman said in a prepared statement last week that the situation was bad, and getting worse. "We have reached epidemic proportions for West Nile in Ada County," Tillman said.

Yet to come is a final decision as to whether or not Ada will engage in aerial spraying to knock back mosquito populations. The county commissioners have begun to investigate that option, however: they have instructed the Ada County Mosquito Abatement District to research the costs and processes associated with an air war against the insects.

In all, about 188 people in Idaho have tested positive for West Nile Virus so far, according to the Idaho State Department of Health and Welfare.

CRAPO HUNTS FOR OWYHEE WILDERNESS

It's deja vu all over again: a wilderness bill that stipulates a giveaway of wilderness, that has broad support from many sides, that may or may not make it through an embattled U.S. Congress.

This time, it's the Owyhees, not the Boulder-White Clouds. The backer is U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, a Republican who introduced the complex bill in the Senate Aug. 3. The measure has picked up all the right backers: Gov. Jim Risch, Democratic governor candidate Jerry Brady, several local officials in the Owyhees area, and some highly laudatory coverage in the Idaho Statesman.

The Owyhee Initiative will designate 517,000 acres of public land as the Owyhee-Bruneau Wilderness, in six units, and release 199,000 acres of wilderness study areas to non-wilderness multiple use management, and designate 384 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, according to Crapo's office.

The bill's backers include a broad spectrum of Idaho conservation groups, Including the Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United and The Wilderness Society. Representatives from Owyhee County say they're on board, and so is the Owyhee Cattleman's Association. Now the Idaho State Land Board has jumped on board; the group includes Risch, as well as Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, Superintendent of Public Instruction Marilyn Howard, State Controller Keith Johnson and Secretary of State Ben Ysursa.

You might settle in on this issue, because time is not exactly on its side just now; Congress is in recess until this fall, and with elections set to stir up the majorities in both the House and Senate nationwide, a wilderness bill from Idaho's junior senator will need a lot more momentum.

war in Iraq

U.S. CASUALTIES: As of Tuesday, August 15, 2,604 U.S. service members (including 14 Idahoans) have died since the war in Iraq began in March 2003: 2,066 in combat and 538 from non-combat related incidents and accidents. Injured service members total 10,625. In the last week, 13 U.S. soldiers died.

Since President George W. Bush declared "mission accomplished" aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, 2,458 soldiers have died.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Defense

IRAQI CIVILIAN DEATHS: Estimated between 40,094 and 44,621.

Source: www.iraqbodycount.net

COST OF IRAQ WAR:

$307,017,941,578

Source: www.costofwar.com

-Shea Andersen