Idaho Matters

(Boise Parks and Recreation / Facebook)   When the coronavirus first began spreading in Idaho, the health care system was primarily focused on the physical health of folks. While those concerns continue, some are also raising alarm bells about the mental health challenges that come with a pandemic.  Especially in rural parts of the state, where there’s a lack of mental health services to begin wit...

(AP Images)   On Sunday, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted. The volcanic blast and its after effects killed 57 people and caused millions of dollars of damage, sending ash and sulphuric acid into Idaho, Oregon and across Washington.      To look back on that historic day,  Idaho Matters  called up Norm Gunning, former assignment manager at KOIN-TV in Portland. You might recogniz...

( AP Images)   Mount St. Helens erupted 40 years ago today. But what did the Treasure Valley look like millions of years ago when there was volcanic activity? Our senior producer Frankie Barnhill tells that story in an episode of Wanna Know Idaho .  For more of Wanna Know Idaho , subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.  Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using...

(The Stil / Facebook)   Today on the Reporter Roundtable: Boise State Public Radio’s  Heath Druzin and The Idaho Press’s Betsy Russell and Margaret Carmel join  Idaho Matters  to talk about stage two of reopening the state — which begins tomorrow — plus Governor Brad Little’s controversial move to open bars two weeks early.  They’ll also talk about Idaho’s Tuesday primary election .  As COVID-19 c...

( Elinor Smith)   Every year, Idaho high school students participate in Law Day , an event to help students better understand the law and our legal system. This year’s event had a special project: a podcast contest for high school students.  Joining Idaho Matters live today to talk more about this are Cary Shoufler, the Law Related Education Director at the Idaho Law Foundation, and high school st...

(Matt Cilley / AP Images)   For counties that rely on tourism as summer approaches, Gov. Brad Little’s reopening plan can mean a chance for small businesses to make much needed money. But it also presents risks for a population with limited medical resources during a pandemic. Finding the right balance between protecting the tourism economy and protecting the health of residents is a conversation...

(Jannus Economic Opportunity Facebook)   There is overwhelming demand for emergency financial assistance right now as so many people have lost jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why Jannus Economic Opportunity has created a new program to help keep Idaho families in their homes. Jannus CEO Kate Nelson joins Idaho Matters  to talk about the Sunshine Sponsor Program. As COVID-19 cases spre...

(University of Idaho / via Facebook )   With so much of our world at a standstill, it’s uplifting to hear about the amazing things people are still doing. Science and research, for example, must go on.  Just ask Mellisa Clemons and Maia Wilson, two University of Idaho student-researchers who were recently awarded fellowships from the National Science Foundation to pursue their research projects. T...

(The Flicks / via Facebook) Movie theaters across Idaho have been closed since Gov. Brad Little’s stay-at-home order was put in place in March. Even though that order expired, movie theaters are in the last category of businesses that will open. If all goes according to plan and there aren’t significant spikes in the state’s coronavirus cases, screens will be able to reopen June 13.  But even then...

(Nam Y. Huh / AP Images)   Idaho Matters is back this week with our panel of Idaho doctors to answer more of your COVID-19 questions. It seems like every week, we're learning something new about what the coronavirus does to people who get infected. But for everything we learn, there's an equal if not greater amount of incorrect information circulating.  Joining  Idaho Matters  today to help separa...

(Report for America)   A few weeks ago on the show, we talked to a northern Idaho newspaper struggling to stay afloat. Their story isn’t unique: local news outlets have been hurting for years.   Which is why, two years ago, Charles Sennot and Steven Waldman founded Report for America , a program to get young journalists into underreported areas of the country to bolster local news reporting.    An...

(via America Amplified ) On Saturday, May 9 Idaho Matters  and the Mountain West News Bureau helped produce a national call-in show in collaboration with America Amplified  as part of the series "Life, Community and COVID-19." Listen to the full show here:  In the first part of the show, Idaho Matters host Gemma Gaudette of Boise State Public Radio and Charity Nebbe of  Iowa Public Radio   take an...

(Ted S. Warren / Associated Press )   Longterm care facilities quickly became COVID-19 hotspots when the virus emerged in the United States. In Idaho, nearly one-quarter of long-term care centers have had staff or patients test positive for the coronavirus. Boise State Public Radio reporter Rachel Cohen took a closer look at one of them in northern Idaho, and joins Idaho Matters to talk about what...

( Darren Parry)   It was January 1863 when a Shoshone Tribe woke up to find U.S. Army troops outside their camp. By the end of the day, more than 350 Shoshone people were massacred in what is now southeast Idaho.  In the 1920s, Darren Parry’s grandmother started writing down the oral history of the tribe. Parry is the former chairman of the northwestern band of the Shoshone Nation.    With the hel...

(Zoo Boise) There are many places in our communities that we cannot visit right now. One of them in the Treasure Valley is Zoo Boise. How are the animals doing? What about the staff that takes care of the creatures? And when might we get to visit the giraffes, tigers and African dogs that live there? Our Morning Edition host George Prentice checked in with Gene Peacock, the director of Zoo Boise. ...

(Idaho Department of Transportation)   The federal law requiring special identification to board flights or enter federal buildings was supposed to go into effect this October. But due to coronavirus, which closed DMVs across the country, the deadline for obtaining this type of ID card has been pushed until October of 2021.  Idahoans now have over a year to get Idaho’s federally compliant card, th...

(Madelyn Beck / Mountain West New Bureau)   Between widespread layoffs and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, a record number of people are facing housing insecurity. Interfaith Sanctuary in Boise is one organization that supports those experiencing homelessness. Another local nonprofit, Jesse Tree is working to avoid homelessness in the first place, by preventing eviction across the state.  Joinin...

(Chobani )   The Idaho Foodbank is facing unprecedented demand due to widespread layoffs and uncertainty amidst coronavirus. Through a recent grant provided by Chobani, the Idaho Foodbank purchased a new refrigerated food truck specifically to serve South Central Idaho.  Joining Idaho Matters today to talk about what the new truck will provide is Karen Vaulk, the President and CEO of the Idaho Foo...

(Molly Messick / Boise State Public Radio)   One of the effects of coronavirus is extreme uncertainty about the upcoming elections. Idaho will be conducting its May 19 primary entirely by mail , but what about getting people to vote? Especially young people, who will make up 40% of the voting population by November?  An organization called What The Vote Idaho is tackling this challenge head on by...

(Darin Oswald / Idaho Statesman )   Today on the Reporter Roundtable: Boise State Public Radio’s James Dawson , The Idaho Statesman’s Nicole Foy , and KIVI’s Mike Sharp join Idaho Matters to talk about reopening Idaho, a huge dip in state revenue, loans for farmers and much more.  As COVID-19 cases spread through the U.S. and Idaho, we’re committed to keeping you updated and informed. You can get...

(John Kelly / Boise State University)   Boise State University will put on its first ever virtual graduation tomorrow. Although students will miss out on a typical rite of passage, they’re still doing what they can to celebrate their achievements and prepare for their future. Our Morning Edition host George Prentice spoke with three of the grads — Austin Lamb of Fargo, North Dakota; Daniele Moro o...

( National Institute for Civil Discourse)   We’ve had several stories on Idaho Matters about people and organizations that have become everyday heroes during the coronavirus pandemic. But as some people have come together, others seek to divide — or profit — on the crisis.  From stimulus check scams to price gouging for critical medical equipment, to political attacks, many are seeking to exploit...

(IdahoGives.org)   The Idaho Gives campaign is usually a one-day campaign to collect donations in support of organizations across the state.  This year, due to the circumstances caused by COVID-19 and increased need across sectors, the Idaho Nonprofit Center decided to stretch out the giving period over two weeks.   Today is the last day of Idaho Gives. Joining Idaho Matters live is Amy Little, CE...

  When college classes moved online almost two months ago, students were nervous about how they’d be able to learn with this new format. But their professors were also struggling with the same thought: how to effectively teach their students remotely.  Professors across the state got to work, coming up with innovative solutions to bridging the expanse of distance learning.    Joining Idaho Matters...

(fiftyflowers.com)   In a time where so much of the news is negative, one local flower company is doing what it can to spread joy through flowers. Between an initiative to keep the flower growers in business and donating flowers to a hospital and low-income senior homes in Boise,  FiftyFlowers  is trying to do its part. Joining Idaho Matters live today to talk more about this is CEO Liza Roeser. A...