Idaho Matters

Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird, faces an ethics hearing in August after complaints alleging “conduct unbecoming” a House member. (Darin Oswald / Idaho Statesman ) The Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable gets you updated on the news that made headlines this week. Journalists featured today: Don Day, founder editor of Boise Dev Kelcie Moseley-Morris, reporter with Idaho Capital Sun Betsy Russel...

Reporters Drew Dodson and Max Silverson of the McCall Star-News sit in their McCall office just blocks from the shores of Payette Lake. Besides covering the housing shortage and skyrocketing growth the community is experiencing, they report on public lands issues, wildlife conservation, wildfires and much more in their small two-person newsroom. (Gustavo Sagrero / Boise State Public Radio) Boise S...

A "now hiring" sign hangs in a window in a downtown shop in McCall. The pandemic brought more people to the lake town, exacerbating an already existing shortage of affordable places for workers to live. That shortage is leading to a worker shortage. (Frankie Barnhill / Boise State Public Radio ) McCall is experiencing an affordable housing shortage that's affecting the workforce. Idaho Matters is...

Payette Lake is the well-used and much loved natural feature at the heart of McCall. Besides being a place boaters enjoy in the summer, it's also the source of water for everyone who lives in town. With increased boat use and exponential growth, city officials and scientists are closely monitoring 300-foot deep lake for changes. (Gustavo Sagrero / Boise State Public Radio ) On a summer day in July...

During previous summers, My Father's Place was open late into the evening. But because of a worker shortage spurred by a severe lack of affordable housing in McCall, the burger joint is only open noon-5 p.m. (Gustavo Sagrero / Boise State Public Radio) We’re spending today’s Idaho Matters in McCall, hearing from people about housing, work force shortages, affordability, transportation, lake water...

FILE — In this Nov. 24, 2020 file photo an employee gives instructions for self-administering a COVID-19 test in the parking lot at Primary Health Medical Group's clinic in Boise, Idaho. Primary Health Group CEO Dr. David Peterman announced Thursday, July 8, 2021 that all employees of Primary Health will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by September. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger, File) (O...

Smoke fills the air near the Bootleg Fire, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard) (Nathan Howard/AP / FR171771 AP) Wildfire smoke has settled into valleys across the West, including in Idaho. As air quality in Idaho has toggled from moderate to unhealthy, people are coping with smoke that’s arrived early — smoke that may stick around until the fall. Health offici...

Several high profile cases involving police related shootings and deaths sparked protests and debate nationwide about law enforcement and how police are trained to interact with people suffering from mental health issues. And with a recent police involved shooting in Boise, these same questions are now being asked here in our area. Idaho Matters checks in with two Boise State University professors...

As of Sunday, the three reservoirs that hold the water that feeds the Boise River system were at just 55% capacity. One of the three — Arrowrock Dam — is at 21%. Drought is here in Idaho and across the West, and the Ada County Soil and Water Conservation District is holding two classes on how to hold on to some of that water. For horse owners — or anyone who has a pasture — this Tuesday’s Zoom cla...

An anti-vaccine mandate rally at the Idaho Capitol Thursday drew hundreds of supporters, including some nurses and other healthcare workers. (James Dawson / Boise State Public Radio) What's next at the state capitol as some lawmakers want to return to session and take up the issue of employer vaccine mandates? Some of those lawmakers could lose seats to new election maps — and we now know the firs...

Guadalupe Serna is an unvaccinated Lyft driver in Las Vegas, Nevada where cases of COVID-19 are surging. Nevada is one of the nation's worst hotspots for COVID-19, with a high infection rate and low vaccination rate. That led to the governor requesting help from the Biden Administration's 'COVID surge response team,' a new program announced July 1. Teams have already responded to hotspots in Misso...

The BIPOC Playwrights Festival is August 2-14 in Boise. (Boise Contemporary Theater) Boise Contemporary Theater is bringing the first-ever BIPOC Playwright Festival to Idaho this August. A trio of new works from writers, directors and producers of color will be worked out beginning August 2, with readings set for the Morrison Center stage August 6 and 7. The Festival culminates with a performance...

What may look like a regular printer is actually a 3D bioprinter, with the ability to print live cells. It's helping Idaho State University researchers and students test new drug treatments for various cancers. ( Idaho State University) Scientists at Idaho State University are using a new kind of 3-D printer to print living cells. The technology could help cancer patients find the exact drug they...

(Adam Cotterell / Boise State Public Radio) The COVID-19 pandemic forced major changes to events - if they happened at all. Boise's Goathead Fest was no different, powering through major changes in 2020 but back in top gear this August. Boise Bicycle Project's Jimmy Hallyburton and Lost Grove Brewing's Jacob Black join Idaho Matters to talk about this year's celebration of all things bicycle.

Doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine are seen being prepared on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Decatur, Ga. Hundreds of children, ages 12 to 15, received the Pfizer vaccine at the DeKalb Pediatric Center, just days after it was approved for use within their age group. (AP Photo/Ron Harris) (Ron Harris/AP / AP) Boise Schools announced teachers and students aren't required to wear masks in the fall....

FILE - In this July 9, 2011 file photo, Facebook president and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, right, walks to morning sessions with Priscilla Chan during the Allen and Co. Sun Valley Conference, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File) (Julie Jacobson/AP / AP) Did you know that some of the most important deals in tech and business may stem from a conference right her in the Gem State? Specifica...

(Idaho Statesman ) To say that Idaho’s housing market has been on fire is a bit of an understatement. Is the housing market slowing down or just taking a moment to breathe? Idaho Matters talks with Boise Dev founder and editor Don Day and Sally Krutzig with the Idaho Statesman about the most recent numbers, and why it's too early to say what's coming next.

( Idaho Statesman ) Idaho youth activists are making their voices heard once again, this time in regards to Rep. Mike Simpson’s (R-Idaho) Columbia Basin initiative that would ensure funding is set aside in the federal infrastructure bill to breach the four lower Snake River dams in order to save the state's dwindling wild salmon population. About two weeks ago, 14 members of the Youth Salmon Prote...

(Simon & Schuster Publishing) If you love true crime podcasts, there's a new book to check out called "Lost Girls." The novel centers on a woman whose true crime podcast may help her find her sister who’s been missing for almost 20 years. Author Jessica Chiarella wrote this novel that is filled with twists and turns, and she spoke with Idaho Matters about her story that may keep you on the edg...

(Beth Pendergrass / Twin Falls School District) From how the Delta COVID-19 variant might affect the re-opening of Idaho schools to the return of the summer camp for billionaires in Sun Valley, we'll take the full hour to discuss the top regional news stories on Idaho Matters . This week's journalist panel: Kevin Richert, reporter/blogger for Idaho Education News Audrey Dutton, senior investigativ...

This young bear crashed a picnic and closed down Deer Flat Park at Lucky Peak Reservoir in June. He seems to prefer watermelon! (Boise County Sheriff) On Tuesday... a grizzly bear attacked and killed a woman camping in Montana . This spring, bears have wandered through campsites, broken into chicken coops and one even broke up a picnic at a campground at Lucky Peak Reservoir scattering panicked ca...

Ballet Sun Valley is back next week with four nights of live dancing and completely unique programs each evening. The performances will be in person at the iconic open air Sun Valley Pavilion. Joining Idaho Matters to talk more about the July Festival are Kelli Quinlan, executive director of Ballet Sun Valley… and Matthew Bledsoe… executive vice president of IMG artists.

National French Fry Day is next Tuesday July 13th. Since we live in Idaho we can’t let this holiday go unnoticed. Sandee Price with Lamb Weston is joining Idaho Matters today to talk about how we can celebrate in the Gem state.

(Idaho Tourism) Boise's food scene is growing up and it’s hard to keep up with all the new restaurants, food trucks, and bars that open around the Treasure Valley. That’s where Boise's top food influencer and blogger Alex Milles comes in. Many of you may know him as BOIFOOD from his blog. He talks with Gemma about "All Things Food" in the greater Treasure Valley.

(Pordee_Aomboon / Shutterstock) Two Idaho doctors, who had public-facing roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, have written a book about their experiences. Dr. David Pate and Dr. Ted Epperly spent the last part of 2020 and the first half of this year writing their book, Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Lessons, Stories and Recommendations . They included many behind-the-scenes insights on how the pa...