Buffalo Chip to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. for endorsing authoritarianism over common sense in Utah high schools. On Friday, Huntsman signed the anti-gay clubs bill (HB 236) carried by Rep. Aaron Tilton of Springville and Sen. Chris (who else?) Buttars of West Jordan. Tilton protests unconvincingly that the bill was not anti-gay. Sorry, sir, that was the underlying purpose of HB 236 from the get go -- to stanch the controversial formation of gay-straight alliance clubs. Failing in a frontal assault last year, Tilton and Buttars have now resorted to subterfuge by creating a gauntlet of regulations and administrative approvals for all clubs that they think will get the job done. No sacrifice is too great for these guys.

Beehive to the Boy Scouts of America's Great Salt Lake Council for agreeing to pay $330,000 for a fire Scouts were accused of starting in the Uintas in 2002. Scouts working on their wilderness survival badge lit campfires while the area was under a fire ban. The campfires theoretically sparked a wildfire that scorched 14,200 acres and destroyed several buildings. Utah and the federal government sued the Scouts to recoup firefighting expenses. Under the settlement, the Scouts will also plant 9,000 tree seedlings. The Great Salt Lake Council also agreed to provide fire safety training for Scouts in the future.

Buffalo Chip to Hector Gonzalez, Peter Sanchez and Daniel Garcia for thinking Utahns are stupid. The Bronx trio flew to Utah with the plan to steal as many iPods as they could from area Target stores. Their modus operandi involved distracting a store employee while one of the gang shoved the music players down his pants, which contained anti-magnetic materials to fool the electronic theft detectors. They managed to make off with 39 iPods from Target in Riverdale but failed in Centerville. They were caught when they tried to get away on Interstate 15. For thinking they could pull a fast one on Utahns, these guys get to spend five years here admiring the scenery from behind prison bars. Let's give them a Bronx cheer along with a Buffalo Chip.

Beehive to Lone Peak High School's jazz band for getting a chance to strut its stuff. The band will be performing at the Next Generation Festival in Monterey, Calif., later this month. The band will be one of 40 from around the country to participate in the jazz festival. The band is only the second Utah group to play in the festival. Curtis McKendrick, Lone Peak's band teacher, took Skyline High School's band to the festival before coming to Lone Peak.