🌱 No Polar Bear + Pizzuto Denied + Famous UFO, Not Potato State

Good day, people of Boise! John Braese here with the latest copy of the Boise Daily.

Welcome to the first edition of the Boise Daily for 2022. We start the new year without jumping into the water of Lucky Peak and with our governor ordering an inmate remain on death row. We look back on the opening day of our local mall and discover Idaho is famous, not for potatoes, but for cylindrical objects at night. If you are looking for a new career, our recent snowstorms could be opening a new door.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and frigid. High: 20 Low: 10.

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Here are the top stories in Boise today:

1. 2022 will start without Boise residents jumping into the icy waters of Lucky Peak for a cause. CBS2 news staff report the Great Polar Bear Challenge has been canceled due to ice and snow concerns at the local reservoir according to representatives of Make-A-Wish. (Idaho News)
2. Gerald Pizzuto Jr. will remain on Idaho's Death Row. According KTVB-TV's staff, a request by Pizzuto to have his sentence commuted to life in prison was approved by the the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole, but was denied by Idaho Governor Brad Little. (KTVB)
3. New Year's Day is always a day to look back and BoiseDev decided to look way back to 1988. Editor Don Day digs up some vintage footage of the opening day of Boise Town Square. With Boise's population at 164,000 in 1988, opening day saw approximately 100,000 shoppers enter the new shopping mecca. (boisedev.com)
4. If you live in Idaho, a new report states you have a good chance of seeing a UFO. LITE-FM's Nikki West takes a look at a new report showing our own state is in the top ten states per capita for UFO sightings. Those reporting seeing something in the sky for 2021 is 1,569. (liteonline)
5. If you have hit the local roads recently and wondered where the snow plows are, the problem is not limited to Idaho only. Nationally, according to the Idaho Capital Sun's Jenni Bergal, state and local governments are facing a severe snowplow driver shortage. (idahocapitalsun)

Boise Fact of the Day:

IdahoState Highway 30-E, also known at U.S. Route 30, is rapidly becoming Idaho's "UFO Highway." The 455 miles contains many desolate stretches running from Idaho to the Wyoming border.

From my notebook:

• Boise Fire Department: "As we countdown to 2022, we reflect on 2021. We are so grateful to serve this community every day and we will continue to work hard for you as we move forward into the new year. Happy New Year!" (Facebook)
• Boise Parks and Recreation: "Happy New Year’s. We are grateful to be part of Boise’s beautiful parks, open spaces and recreational opportunities. Thank you for following along as we highlight #boiseparks - take a look at our top nine posts from 2021!" (Instagram)
• Boise State Public Radio: "Reporter Rachel Cohen reflects on some of the reporting she did this year: “It felt essential to talk with nurses who were bearing the brunt of the state being in crisis standards of care." (Facebook)
• Montessori Academy: "Our Montessori families and staff enjoyed the “Deck the Halls with Notes of Kindness” project during December. The community was invited to leave notes of kindness and encouragement throughout the halls for each other, and that they did!" (Facebook)
• Boise Parks and Recreation: "As this year comes to an end, we are grateful to be a part of this community and want to thank you for following us as we continue to highlight Boise’s beautiful parks, trails and recreational opportunities." (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.

— 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.