🌱 Banning Books + Pronto Pup History + Boise Record Heat

Hey, Boise! It's me, John Braese, your host of the Boise Daily. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

Our reader question of the day is very simple for Friday, the opening day of the Western Idaho Fair. What is the one food you cannot leave the fair without grabbing?

Welcome to the Friday edition of the Boise Daily. A library board meeting drew a crowd leads our stories and imagine turning on your faucet only to find your well has run dry. Take a look at the history of a favorite fair food, and Boise has a hot new record. Finally, we invite you to debate the NFL team that should make a showing on the blue.

First, today's weather:

Very warm with clouds and sun. High: 93 Low: 70.

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Here are the top stories today in Boise:

1. A normally mundane meeting attended in the past by very few was packed Wednesday evening. CBS2 news staff were among the crowd as the Meridian Public Library board took public testimony over an effort to remove some books that some are calling pornographic and explicit. A conservative group, the Idaho Liberty Dogs, used social media to call upon their members to attend the meeting and ask age-inappropriate books to be taken away from the reach of children. (Idaho News)
2. On Thursday, the Boise Daily published a story of neighbors' concerns over wells running dry in the area of the Boise Airport. We have since discovered water problems are not an isolated incident. The Idaho Capital Sun's Anteia McCollum writes our rising population in Ada County is translating to water being used faster than it can be replenished. Homes in Eagle are already being forced to dig new wells as older ones go dry and a neighborhood in southwest Boise is asking for land development to stop due to shallow wells drying up. A study in 2015 found Idaho residents use an average of 184 gallons of water per day, the highest water usage per person in the nation. (idahocapitalsun)
3. The Western Idaho Fair, celebrating its 125th Anniversary, opens Friday with the most important part being food. A favorite among fair goers is the Pronto Pup, that hot dog on a stick wrapped in dough and deep fried. LITE-FM's Michelle Heart tells the "7 Shocking Truths No One Tells You About Boise's Beloved Pronto Pups." Sadly, Boise is not home to a Pronto Pup you can ride — Rockaway Beach holds that distinction. (liteonline)
4. Here is a record we could do without. KIVI-TV's Geneva Zoltek reports Boise officially rose above 100 degrees for the 20th time this summer. The heat ties the 2003 heat surplus, and we still have summer days ahead. Each year, extreme heat kills more Americans than any other weather event, taking the lives of 702 people on average. The average summer temperature in Boise has warmed 5.6 degrees since 1970. (Idaho News 6 Boise Twin Falls)
5. Big time hockey recently sold out a preseason game coming to Boise. KIDO-AM's Kevin Miller takes it one step further, presenting the NFL teams that should schedule a preseason game on the blue at Boise State University. As you will guess, both the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos lead the list, and a number of players would return home if the Dallas Cowboys flew into Boise for a game. Although not quite as popular among Boise residents, the Boise Daily takes offense Justin Fields and "Da Bears" failed to make Miller's listing. For one game only, Boise residents could enjoy "Budlong Chicken," "Buona Beef," and "Churros."(kidotalkradio)

Today in Boise:

• Take the short drive to McCall and enjoy a weekend of getting pampered, enjoying delicious food, wine tasting and joining in on Girl Scout traditions at Camp Alice Pittenger. (3 p.m.)
• Everyone is invited to Fridays on 34th, hosted by the 34th Street Market. (4 p.m.)
• The Festival of India occurs Friday with dance, music, drama and food. (6:30 p.m.)
• The Barbarian Brewing Beer Bar presents Connor Jay & The Chuckwagons live on stage Friday evening. (7:30 p.m.)
• The Boise State Recreation Center hosts "Bronco Night" Friday evening. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Boise Police Department: "Sgt. Kevin Holtry (Ret.), Sgt. Chris Davis and Cpl. Steve Bonas received the state's highest honor today, the Idaho Medal of Honor, in a ceremony at the State Capitol." (Boise Police Department via Facebook)
• Boise Fire Department: "It has been a busy summer for firefighters, and we appreciate all the hard work they do in helping our community. We also wanted to send out a huge thank you to our logistics team: Dan, Kevin, Brian, Jason, and Chief Carbone." (Boise Fire Department via Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Smoke from several large fires in central #Idaho including the #FourCornersFire near Cascade and #RossForkFire near Atlanta, Idaho has brought hazy conditions today. We are still expecting to reach near record temperatures." (US National Weather Service Boise Idaho via Facebook)
• Boise Weekly: "Fourth mural in Climate-Focused Mural Series revealed. On Aug. 5, Treasure Valley expressionistic landscape and wildlife artist Mary Arnold revealed a new mural, 'Live & Let Live,' as part of the Garden City Climate Action Art Walk." (Boise Weekly via Instagram)
• Zoo Boise: "Registration is now open for fall zoo camps and programs! There are programs for homeschoolers, preschoolers, school break day camps, adult nights, and more!" (Zoo Boise via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll see you soon.

— John Braese

About me: Welcome to the Boise edition of patch.com. I am the community editor in this exciting endeavor for the Boise area. I was born and grew up in Boise, attending Bishop Kelly High School before graduating from Borah High School more than a few years ago. I have seen Boise grow substantially in the last few years, but still maintain my hometown appeal. I want to hear about what is important to you and the stories you wish to see on patch.com. Feel free to reach out to me via email at john.braese@patch.com or drop me a phone call or text at 208 954-9585.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Boise Daily? Contact me at john.braese@patch.com