Huckleberries Best of Idaho — 8/6/07

David J. Phillip/AP Photo

Space shuttle Endeavour Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, left, smiles as he sits with fellow Mission Specialist Benjamin Drew Jr., right, during an STS-118 crew news conference Wednesday in July in Houston. Endeavor is scheduled to liftoff next month on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station Wednesday. See Item No.1. Also, Idaho journalist Marcia Franklin endeavors to tell Morgan’s story here .

1. The Shuttle Endeavour is in position at the Kennedy Space Center - awaiting Wednesday’s launch to the International Space Station. It is a historic mission that hopes to pick up where Challenger left off - this time taking McCall school teacher Barbara Morgan into outer space here .

2. Idaho remains the busiest fire state in the nation with nearly 20 fires burning right now. Recently there has been a shift in fire activity, from the grasslands to the forests, which is usual for this time of year here .

3. A recent poll shows that Larry Grant, Democratic candidate for Congress in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, has favorable ratings equal to Republican Congressman Bill Sali, but that Sali’s unfavorable ratings are a standout —Jill Kuraitis/New West here .

4. The coach of the NBA Denver Nuggets, George Karl, and his son Coby, a recent BSU graduate who just signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, will guest host the Ada County Democrats’ golf tournament here .

5. Best of Idaho Opinion: Dan Popkey /Idaho Statesman ( Mansfield deserves scrutiny ), Rachel Abrahamson /Boise Weekly ( Bourne again ), Jerry Helgeson /Idaho Statesman ( Idaho’s astronaut teacher makes us proud ), Pete Zimowsky /Idaho Statesman ( Bikes, bugs don’t mix ), Irwin Horowitz /New West Boise ( Shooting stars and eclipses ), and Tyler Wilson /Coeur d’Alene Press ( Simpsons’ Movie exxxcellent ).

6. Best of Idaho Blogs: Mountain Goat Report ( Blogging Anonymously ), Dogwalk Musings ( Blues in the Night ), Rocky Barker ( Let burn debate blazes on ), Dennis Mansfield ( Message from a bleeding heart ), and Palousitics ( Advice to WSU’s Young Republicans ).