Idaho Matters

Juliana Soltis sits in a chair playing a cello. (TeresaTam / Studio) Cellist Juliana Soltis is somewhat of a rebel. In her music she uses ‘Historical Ornamentation,’ improvising around classics written for the cello by composers like Johann Bach. She believes the notes that Bach wrote are not static instructions, but living works of art. Juliana joins Idaho Matters to demonstrate exactly what this...

Juliana Soltis sits in a chair playing a cello. (TeresaTam / Studio) Cellist Juliana Soltis is somewhat of a rebel. In her music she uses ‘Historical Ornamentation,’ improvising around classics written for the cello by composers like Johann Bach. She believes the notes that Bach wrote are not static instructions, but living works of art. Juliana joins Idaho Matters to demonstrate exactly what this...

George Prentice and Amy Poehler talk on stage at the Coffee Talk event at the Sun Valley Film Festival. (Sun Valley Film Festival ) Even though it’s spring it still feels like winter outside, which means you might be looking for new films or tv shows to occupy your evenings. Well, look no further! Idaho Matters catches up with resident critic George Prentice on what to watch and his time at the Su...

The Lantana Flower can look like the COVID-19 virus at some stages of development. (Jim & Robin Kunze / Flickr) The BA.2 variant of the omicron strain of the COVID-19 virus has become the dominant strain in more than 60 countries, including the U.S. Dr. David Pate, former CEO of St Luke's Health System and a current member of the Idaho coronavirus task force, told KTVB-TV this week that BA.2 i...

Students wear masks May 17 outside a school in the Israeli city of Modiin. Israeli students in all grades went back to school last month. (Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images) According to the Associated Press, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have been warning of a mental health crisis that will face American children. That crisis is now playing out. We are seeing increased depressio...

(After Clinic Hours / Flickr) From the BA.2 surge to kids and boosters there’s a lot to talk about on Idaho Matters with our medical expert. Joining Idaho Matters today: Dr. David Pate, former CEO of St. Luke's Health System and a current member of the state's COVID-19 task force

(Samantha Wright / Boise State Public Radio) The COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation have put a strain on many households in the Treasure Valley. Many have found some relief in the form of food distributions put together by various groups. One of those groups, WICAP , had been holding these free events in Caldwell until they lost their distribution site. After a short hiatus, they will be back...

"There are thousands and thousands of caribou moving in elegant harmony and balance with the swift-moving seasons here in the far north," says Dr. Sara Dant. ( Dan Flores) In 2019, Dr. Sara Dant took a two-week float trip on the Hulahula River north of the Arctic Circle. Here she realized what wild America once looked like and as thousands of "Porcupine Caribou" flowed around her tent she suddenly...

"There are thousands and thousands of caribou moving in elegant harmony and balance with the swift-moving seasons here in the far north," says Dr. Sara Dant. ( Dan Flores) In 2019, Dr. Sara Dant took a two-week float trip on the Hulahula River north of the Arctic Circle. Here she realized what wild America once looked like and as thousands of "Porcupine Caribou" flowed around her tent she suddenly...

Group of kindergarten kids friends arm around sitting and smiling fun (Rawpixel.com - stock.adobe.com / 157478360) The value of early childhood education continues to be debated here in Idaho. Research is showing that it's more than only preparing for a child for primary school. It aims to develop a child's social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs so a solid foundation can be built for life...

(Penguin Random House Publications) A new book called, "Generation Sleepless", uncovers one of the biggest threats to our teens physical and mental health...sleep deprivation. One of the authors, Heather Turgeon, is here to talk more about what's impacting our kids sleep and what we can do to help them get better rest.

Idaho Statehouse (Samantha Wright / Boise State Public Radio) The 2022 Idaho Legislature officially ended last week after three months in Boise. Today we are taking a deep dive into what did and didn't get done in this year's session. We're talking with three reporters who covered the action closely, Betsy Russell, the Boise bureau chief at the Idaho Press and the voice of the eye on Boise Blog, M...

Idaho Senate (Samantha Wright / Boise State Public Radio) The Idaho Legislature wraps up , library funding , harassment of elected officials , school employee insurance , retiring lawmakers and a new report on a high profile shooting in Boise - it’s Friday - which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up-to-date on all the news that made headlines this past week....

(W.W. Norton & Company) Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers' new novel, "Bewilderment", looks at climate change and animal extinction through the eyes of a widowed father and his nine-year-old son. Powers is coming to the Egyptian Theater in Boise on April 18th as part of The Cabin's Readings and Conversations Series and he joins Gemma now.

Michael Fong, Region X Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration ( U.S. Small Business Association) The new regional head of the U.S. Small Business Administration has been traveling around the Pacific Northwest listening to small business owners to find out what teir struggling with during the pandemic recovery. Mike Fong is in Boise today to hear from women business owners and others.

Idaho's new abortion law is facing a lawsuit. Wednesday, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, filed a petition in Idaho Supreme Court to block the law which is set to go into effect April 22nd. The Idaho Legislation bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, before most women are aware they're pregnant. It also allows family members of what the law calls a...

(Diverse Stock Photos / Flickr) From the rapidly spreading BA.2 variant to approval for a second booster, there’s a lot to talk about on Idaho Matters with our medical experts. Joining Idaho Matters today are: Dr. David Pate, former CEO of St. Luke's Health System and a current member of the state's COVID-19 task force Copyright 2022 Boise State Public Radio

This quilt by Deana Steele was the 2020 Grand Prize Winner in the Art & Soul of the Magic Valley Festival and Contest. (Art & Soul of the Magic Valley) There are only a few days left to enter the 12th Annual "Art and Soul of the Magic Valley" art festival. This festival is a little different from most because any artist from anywhere in the world can enter. Joining us are Melissa Crane, th...

(ortolina/Flickr) The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of tragedy and turmoil dominated by stories of death, anger and fear. But at times that uncertainty and confusion caused some people to pull together to solve the problems that the coronavirus created. We wanted to tell one of those stories so we asked Amy Bowman with the Nampa mayor's office, Mitch Minnette, CEO of the Nampa Chamber of Comm...

Adrean Cavener, Executive Director of the Greater Idaho Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association (Bell Photography) This segment we'll break down some of the numbers from a new report by the Alzheimer's Association and talk about what they mean for people and their families affected by the disease. Our guest is Adrean Cavener, the executive director of the Greater Idaho Chapter of the Alzheimer's As...

(NY times) With rising interest rates, inflation and high gas prices many folks are nervous about finances as we head into the second quarter of 2022. Jason Norris with Ferguson Wellman will walk us through what we need to know.

(Dark Aperture Photography) Idaho musician Charlie Sutton tackles the theme of fishing and fish with his new album "Trout Takes". It features everything from the peace that comes with fishing to a song that's sung from a trout's perspective. Charlie joins Gemma to talk about his new collection of songs.

Reclaim Idaho Volunteer Coordinator Sam Sandmire talks to a potential petition signer in Wallace, Idaho. (Luke Mayville, Reclaim Idaho Co-founder) Reclaim Idaho has just over a month to collect enough signatures to get their "Quality Education Act" initiative on the ballot. Their goal is to pass the initiative which would raise taxes for some tax brackets and invest that money into the state's K-1...

Idaho Statehouse (Samantha Wright / Boise State Public Radio) The Idaho legislature made big investments this year in the state's K-12 education system. They approved an eleven percent increase to the K-12 budget, bumping it up to $2.3 billion dollars. Kevin Richert, senior reporter and blogger with Idaho Education News, has an update on where that money will go.

Micron's Boise headquarters. ( Micron Technology) Libraries , an abortion bill , Caldwell Police and the FBI , Micron , Chad Daybell , Ammon Bundy , shipping containers in Garden City , the rising cost of rent , and a public records lawsuit over a school shooting in Idaho … - it’s Friday - which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up-to-date on all the news that...