Idaho Matters

(Diverse Stock Photos/Flickr) From new CDC mask guidelines to the efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine, 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 Dr. Ryan Williams, the medical director for Direct Covid Care , a monoclonal antibody c...

Idaho is well-known as a dog-loving state, in fact we’re consistently listed as one of the most dog-friendly states in the country. So when Jody Metcalf moved to Boise from Alaska she was surprised that there were no “flyball” teams in Idaho. What is flyball? It's a dog sport where two teams of dogs relay race against each other while holding a tennis ball and jumping over obstacles! Jody decided...

Dr. Bradley Snow spent 10 years researching the history of mining in the Silver Valley. He's a teaching professor in Montana State University's Department of History & Philosophy. He'll be talking about that history at the City of Boise's Fettuccine Forum on Thursday and he joins Idaho Matters to talk about the economic and environmental effects 100 years of mining and smelting has had on town...

(University of Idaho) An experiment by students at J. Russell Elementary School in Moscow has become a research project at the University of Idaho that was sent into space. It could one day help astronauts on the International Space Station. Joining Gemma to talk about the experiment is Dr. Matt Bernards, an associate professor in Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of Idaho an...

Snow covers Kyiv's city center in December. (Efrem Lukatsky / AP) Reuters is reporting that 100,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes after Russia's invasion started on Wednesday night. While some are leaving the country, most of them are staying and trying to find any safe space away from the fighting. That’s exactly what happened to Eugene. He’s 30-years-old, works for an app company, and had to...

( Creative Commons CC0) Right now in Idaho tens of thousands of people are caring for a loved one who cannot care for themselves. The Idaho Caregiver Alliance estimates one in four Idahoans are taking care of a parent, grandparent, child, spouse, or other member of their family. It can be a heavy burden and caregivers often struggle to find the resources they need. Feb 26, the Idaho Family Caregiv...

A Ukraine army soldier walks in the town of Schastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk a day after Russia recognised east Ukraine's separatist republics and ordered the Russian army to send troops there as "peacekeepers." Overnight, Russian military forces and Russian-backed separatists invaded Ukraine using planes, missiles, helicopters and troops. Russian president Vladimir Putin authori...

(Pordee_Aomboon / Shutterstock) Friday, February 25 will mark two years to the day that health officials with the CDC said the coronavirus was heading towards pandemic status, as it had already met two of the three criteria needed to be considered a pandemic. The required factors were illness resulting in death, sustained person-to-person spread, and worldwide spread. This week, listeners want to...

(DanPink.com) Gemma talks with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink about his latest book,"The Power Of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward.

Idaho Senate (Samantha Wright / Boise State Public Radio) 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. Our journalist panel today: Betsy Russell, the Boise Bureau Chief at the Idaho Press and the voice of the Eye on Boise Blog Kelcie Moseley-Morris with the Idaho Capital Sun Margaret Carmel...

(Ed Stevenson / Flickr) As we head into the weekend our very own George Prentice is here to talk about what to watch on tv and in the theater.

(Filmed By Bike Festival) For the sixth year in a row, "Filmed By Bike", is back for a stop in Boise. This film festival showcases all things bicycle related. Nina Schaeffer, development and communication specialist for the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance and Ayleen Crotty, Filmed By Bike Festival Director, talk with host Gemma Gaudette.

BSU's Megan Cattau and her students planted 500 sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings in Boise's Military Reserve Park. (Megan Cattau) Last April, we told you about a project in the Boise Foothills to change some trails into bike paths and others into one-way walking trails. In the Military Park Reserve, one trail was split, with one path for downhill biking and the other for walkers. An assistant p...

(Ada County Landfill Facebook Page) The Ada County landfill works hard to make itself as "green" as possible. A new project will make the process cleaner while reducing greenhouse gas emissions & making more money to keep the landfill going. Ada County Commissioners Rod Beck and Kendra Kenyon are here to talk more about it.

St. Alphonsus uses Wandervans like this one as mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics to visit churches, schools, and community centers throughout southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The retrofitted vans include refrigeration to keep vaccines cold while traveling. (Saint Alphonsus Health System) Crisis standards of care have once again been deactivated in Idaho. As of Tuesday, Idaho Health and Welfare...

Idaho Education News is investigating a $3.5 million dollar state contract to create a "data dashboard" so parents and teachers could see everything from how their kids are doing in school to how the pandemic has effected their education. But the dashboard isn't up and Governor Brad Little's point person for the project has left his state job to work for the company building the new site. Idaho Ed...

As the region's population grows, so does the amount of drugs coming through the gem state and that includes the dangerous drug fentanyl. Madelyn Beck has been reporting on this story and shares how this is straining crime labs in states like Idaho.

Dr. Sarah Staller from Boise is #24 on the professional ultimate frisbee team Utah Wild (William Brody Brotman/Ultiphotos) Five Idaho players made the team this season and their first game is March 11 in Arizona. Imagine combining football, soccer, and … frisbees. It's called ultimate frisbee and Idaho is part of a team that plays across the Mountain West. Idaho is part of team “Utah Wild” and its...

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. Our journalist panel today: Joni Auden Land with the Idaho Statesman Kevin Richert, senior reporter and blogger with Idaho Ed News Melissa Davlin, host of Idaho Reports on Idaho Public Television Clark Corbin with the Idaho Capital Sun

( Photo Courtesy Primary Health) Is it time to make masks optional in schools? It’s a question being debated around the country, especially in areas where omicron has already peaked. In Idaho, masking in schools has at times been a divisive issue among parents and was even debated in the legislature this week. Idaho Matters talks about this with Dr. Peterman, the CEO of Primary Health Medical Grou...

(Matthew Wordell / Treefort Music Fest/Twitter) Treefort Music Fest is returning to its regular March timeslot this year. After the pandemic disrupted the event in 2020 and 2021, organizers are hoping for a smooth event this spring — but with added COVID-19 precautions in place. The 5-day festival begins March 23 and will take place at both indoor and outdoor venues around downtown boise. Idaho Ma...

Doctors and nurses mask up to treat COVID-19 patients at St. Luke's Health System in Boise. ( St. Luke's Health System) As parts of Idaho continue to be under crisis standards of care and the state's test positivity rate is at 34%, could we be seeing a decrease in the current surge? Idaho Matters looks at this question and more from listeners with former St. Luke's Health System CEO Dr. David Pate...

(Crystal Farris/Idaho Army National Guard / Digital) On January 31, Governor Brad Little deployed the Idaho National Guard for the third time in this pandemic. This time the guard is supporting Primary Health Medical Clinic locations in the Treasure Valley, and the Idaho Department of Corrections. Idaho Matters talks with Boise State Public host and reporter Troy Oppie to learn more about what Gua...

( City of Boise) Last week the Boise City Council unanimously approved the Pathways Masterplan. According to the proposed plan, once finished more than 75% of Boise residents will live within half a mile of a pathway. Proponents argue this will make it easier — and safer — for more people to get to work, school and grocery stores. Idaho Matters talks with Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and City Council...

(Penguin Books) Office work has changed dramatically during the pandemic. One thing that hasn’t changed? Dealing with difficult coworkers. Idaho Matters talks with social psychologist Tess West about in her new book "Jerks Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to Do about Them."