🌱 Reversing Redlining + Record Baseball Fans + Blue Zoo Announcement

Hey, everybody. It's Wednesday in Boise and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the Boise Daily. If you attended a baseball game this past weekend, you were not alone. A new zoo has been announced for Boise, and we offer some helpful tips for the tubing season. Target shooting has been determined the cause of our most recent local range fire, and due to the efforts of local students, "redlining" is no longer allowed.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 95 Low: 66.

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Here are the top stories today in Boise:

1. In addition to barbecues, fireworks and picnics, many local residents also took in a baseball game over the holiday weekend. CBS2 news staff report the Boise Hawks reported a record number of fans took in a game between Saturday and Monday. Attendance hit the 13,759 mark at the stadium. (Idaho News)
2. Boise residents will soon be able to take in seeing sharks, sting rays, lizards and other animals not typically found in our land locked area. Big Country News carries a story originally written by BoiseDev reporter Margaret Carmel of plans on opening Blue Zoo, an aquarium and water-themed play area. Where exactly the new aquarium will be is not yet decided, but other Blue Zoos typically take up 20,000 square feet. Blue Zoo lists a group of local investors with headquarters in Boise. (bigcountrynewsconnection)
3. The float season has already seen tubers needing rescue from the cold water of the Boise River. Boise Patch and Ada County present some helpful tips if you plan on taking the trip down the river from Barber Park. (Boise Patch)
4. The large plume of smoke seen south of Boise over the weekend was a wildfire, one that has been controlled and a probable cause determined. KTVB-TV's Ryan Hatten reports the Bureau of Land Management states the fire charred 114 acres and the cause was shooting-related. The wildfire did temporarily shut down the National Weather Service's radar facility. (KTVB)
5. July 1 marked a number of new laws taking effect in Idaho. One, Senate Bill 1240, reversed redlining, a practice first introduced after the Great Depression in an effort that ensured residential segregation would be kept in place. The old practice separated subdivisions and outlined many, mainly those with primarily people of color, as "risky" investments. The Idaho Capital Sun's Mia Maldonado introduces a group of local students who researched the old practice, mapping out the subdivisions and the reasons behind the redlining, before helping to write the new law outlawing the practice. (idahocapitalsun)

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Today in Boise:

• The Idaho State Museum hosts a day camp for youth Wednesday. (9 a.m.)
• The Household Hazardous Waste Collection site for Wednesday is Fire Station 14 located at 2515 S. Five Mile Road. (Noon)
• The City of Boise Public Works Commission meets Wednesday. On the agenda is the Enhance the River update. (4 p.m.)
• The Idaho Department of Transportation holds a meeting on Wednesday discussing the locations of future electric vehicle charging stations. (5 p.m.)
• The Suffers will perform Wednesday at the Alive After 5 Free Summer Concert Series in downtown Boise. (5 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Zoo Boise: "A full story in in two seconds in two photos: Which version of red panda spud are you feeling like today after a holiday weekend?" (Zoo Boise via Facebook)
• Visit Boise: "Who else is still recovering from such a great three-day weekend? Shoutout to the @city_of_boise for another amazing fireworks celebration this year. @stallings.photo #visitboise #boiseidaho #downtownboise #fireworks." (Visit Boise via Instagram)
• Idaho Botanical Garden: "A local gem in the Gem State, Hillfolk Noir is coming to the Garden for Great Garden Escape! Come out this Thursday, July 7, for live music, food, and fun." (Idaho Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• Boise State Public Radio: "Recent tree ring analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture yields evidence that the region is experiencing the worst drought in more than 1,200 years." (Boise State Public Radio via Facebook)
• Boise Art Museum: "Our hardworking volunteers play a crucial role in helping BAM to carry out our annual fundraiser, Art in the Park! We have a variety of roles to choose from, so lend a hand and sign up today. Art in the Park will take place Sept. 9." (Boise Art Museum via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! I'll see you around.

— 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