Idaho Matters

(Darin Oswald / Idaho Statesman)   We know it’s important to bring you conversations with elected leaders making crucial and tough decisions during this time. Idaho Gov. Brad Little joins Idaho Matters today to talk about how the state is working to control the pandemic.  Read the interview ranscript here: Gemma Gaudette (host) : You're listening to Idaho Matters. I'm Gemma Gaudette. As COVID-19 c...

(Emilie Ritter Saunders / Boise State Public Radio)   In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak in Idaho, the state legislature adjourned last week after a turbulent session.  Boise State Public Radio news reporter James Dawson was there from the beginning of the session in January to when the last bill was voted on last week. He joins Idaho Matters to explain what got accomplished and what was lef...

(Boise Blues Society)   For close to three decades the Boise Blues Society, a volunteer non-profit organization, has been bringing blues music to the Treasure Valley with the main goal of inspiring and educating youth through the power of music.  Each year the BBS has a gala fundraiser, but like so many events around our state, this year’s gala was cancelled. Joining Idaho Matters remotely are Joh...

(Elaine Thompson / AP Images) Between the coronavirus and the Idaho State Legislature, this week has been one of the most news-heavy the state has seen in a while.  Joining the Reporter Roundtable to break it all down are four local reporters:  Erin Bamer (Idaho Press) Heath Druzin (Boise State Public Radio) Nicole Foy (Idaho Statesman) Scott McIntosh (Idaho Statesman) As COVID-19 cases spread thr...

  As more and more businesses close or limit hours, the impact these decisions are having on low-wage and hourly workers in our community has the potential to be financially devastating. That’s why the Idaho Community Foundation, United Ways of Idaho and the Idaho Nonprofit Center are partnering together to create the COVID-19 Response Fund for Idaho.  The charitable fund aims to provide philanthr...

(Troy Oppie / Boise State Public Radio)   Boise State Public Radio Reporters Troy Oppie and Rachel Cohen join Idaho Matters today to give us the latest on the hard-hit service industries in Idaho as restaurants and bars close, and others try to stay open for dine-in or take-out service.    We’ll learn from them about how different cities and their businesses are dealing with what looks to be a pro...

(Emilio Morenatti / AP Images)   There are now cases of coronavirus in all 50 states. With no definitive federal orders but rather recommendations, states and localities have been left to their own to decide how to handle the pandemic in their area. Idaho has made no statewide restrictions but has announced guidelines for folks.  "Shelter in place" mandates seem to be helping China flatten the cur...

(Bittercreek Alehouse / via Facebook)   NOTE: Since news broke during this interview on Idaho Matters that Boise Mayor Lauren McLean planned to announce restrictions on restaurants and bars in light of COVID-19, more details have emerged. In a press conference at 2:45 p.m.,  McLean detailed restrictions on restaurants and bars b eginning at midnight Thursday. All dine-in restaurant options will cl...

(Elaine Thompson / AP Images)   We've asked you to submit any questions you have about Coronavirus in Idaho, and you stepped up. With news (and mis-information) coming out every hour, it’s more important than ever that we provide the most up-to-date and accurate information.  Joining Idaho Matters live in studio are Dr. David Pate, retired CEO of St. Luke’s Health System and a current member of Id...

(Susan Jane Golding / Flickr Creative Commons)   Anne Helen Petersen is a senior culture writer at BuzzFeed News, She's based in Montana. Petersen has been covering the culture of the coronavirus, specifically how Americans got to this point in the crisis and why so many of us are having a hard time convincing loved ones to care about this pandemic.  Her recent articles ( How Millennials Are Talki...

(Sun Valley Film Festival / via Facebook )   Idaho Matters  considers the economic impacts Idaho is already seeing because of the spread of Coronavirus.  Joining the show to help understand the effects on small and large business so far is journalist Don Day of BoiseDev, along with reporter Alejandra Betrago of the Idaho Mountain Express.   As COVID-19 cases spread through the U.S. and Idaho, we’r...

(Lancey / Flickr Creative Commons) Private prisons are often touted as a good source of jobs and economic prosperity for communities. But how do those jobs compare to the ones in government-run facilities?    As part of the  Mountain West News Bureau  series private prisons, reporter Noah Glick took a look and found there’s no clear answer.   And: things like mental health counseling, drug treatme...

(Roam Yocham / Boise State Public Radio)   When life begins to get back to normal and we as a community resume regular activities, many folks around the Treasure Valley are going to hop back on an electric scooter to easily get around town.  Joining Idaho Matters live in studio is St. Luke’s Dr. Michael McMartin to talk about the health risks of this transportation method.    Note: St. Lukes is a...

  Treefort Music Fest was set to kick off next week. The 5-day multi-genre festival usually happens right after SXSW in Austin and brings 20,000 fans of music, technology, film, yoga and more to downtown Boise.  But last week, the festival announced it would postpone the events until September. Organizers cited concerns over coronavirus, and promised to be back in full force in the fall.    Joinin...

(Idaho Department of Transportation)   Come October 1, Idaho residents will need extra identification in order to board a flight or access a federal building.  The Idaho Star Card is an easy form of this documentation. Joining Idaho Matters live to talk more about this are Alberto Gonzalez and Vince Trimboli with the Idaho Department of Transportation.    Have a question or comment for the show? T...

(Brynn Anderson / AP Images)    UPDATE: March 13, 4:45 p.m. Since this segment aired, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced the first case of COVID-19 in Idaho. Click here to learn more .  Between Coronavirus and the Idaho Legislature, there's lots to discuss on this week's Reporter Roundtable. Listen to hear reporter Don Day from BoiseDev , Scott McIntosh and Cynthia Sewell from th...

(Wikimedia Commons)   Over the next few days, the Mountain West News Bureau is exploring the private prison industry in our region.  Across the country, about eight percent of inmates are held in private prisons and 60% of detainees are held in for-profit immigration detention centers.    But in many parts of the Mountain West, those numbers are even higher. And there are competing political narra...

(Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesman)   Transgender Idahoans have come under fire at the State Capitol this year — and in particular — transgender athletes.  The House has approved a bill banning transgender girls and women from competing on teams with which they identify. It’s currently awaiting action in the senate.   Boise State Public Radio reporter James Dawson joins Idaho Matters to talk about...

( City of Boise)   Boise city officials told residents they could recycle certain plastics for repurposing as diesel fuel as part of the EnergyBag program.  But it turns out that the plant in Salt Lake City that was supposed to process the plastic has been non-functioning since 2018. What’s been going on? What should we be doing with those plastics?   City of Boise's Colin Hickman and Haley Falcon...

(The House That Rob Built)   Beginning in 1978, in the wake of Title IX, the notion of young women competing in college basketball at a high level was barely a blip on anyone’s radar. That was when Robin Selvig at the University of Montana took the women’s basketball team and made it his life’s work.  For 38 years until 2016 he coached the Lady Griz team to an amazing number of wins.    Now, a new...

(Matt Rourke / AP Images) Former Vice President Joe Biden scored a surprising victory last night in Idaho’s Democratic presidential primary.  This was the first year Idaho Democrats voted at the polls in a primary as opposed to caucusing. In 2016, Sen. Bernie Sanders dominated in the caucus against Hillary Clinton.    Jesse Maldonado is the political director for the Idaho Democratic Party and joi...

(Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesman) Boise State Athletics isn’t a stranger to dramatic moments that make history. Just a few days ago, history was made once again at Boise State when the Bronco Women’s Basketball team took home its historic fourth straight Mountain West title in a nail biter of a game.  Now the Broncos wait until March 16 to find out its first round NCAA tournament opponent and de...

(woodleywonderworks / Flickr Creative Commons) One in five students has a learning or attention challenge, and Idaho sixth grader Jacob is one of those students.  Jacob has dyslexia and dysgraphia, which can make it hard for teachers to understand what Jacob needs to be successful in and out of the classroom.   Thankfully Jacob and his mom found the Lee Pesky Learning Center, and along with his te...

(Janet Pritchard) This interview originally aired Dec. 18, 2019.    Most people today will walk around with a smartphone in their pocket, giving people access to worldwide communication, internet access, and computing power that was unfathomable even 20 years ago. However, smartphones have also given access to high quality cameras to everyone.  Mountain West News Bureau  reporter Madelyn Beck inve...

(Clyde Robinson / Flickr Creative Commons) Idaho may soon increase the minimum age that a person can get married in our state. Currently, children under the age of 16 can get married in Idaho with a judge's sign-off. Sixteen and 17-year-olds just need parental consent to get married underage. Critics say that allows young people to get taken advantage of, sometimes even abused. Idaho lawmakers are...