Idaho Matters

(CREDIT GEORGE PRENTICE) The American Legion is designed to help those who have served active duty in the U.S. military, and the organization has several posts across the country. On this Veterans Day,  Idaho Matters  take a special visit to an VFW post -- behind bars. Boise State Public Radio's George Prentice reports this story from the Idaho State Correctional Center. Have a question or comment...

(via Facebook / Dave Bieter for Boise ) Last week, incumbent Mayor Dave Bieter came in second with just 30% of the vote in his re-election bid to lead Boise. Now, he's headed to a runoff election with Boise City Council President Lauren McLean who took 46% of the vote. Bieter joins Idaho Matters to talk about what he learned from last week's upset, and the contrast he hopes to draw between himself...

(CREDIT JEFFREY MOSIER PHOTOGRAPHY) The Broadway hit musical 'Waitress' tells the story of a pie maker who fights to escape her small town and tumultuous marriage. The show is set to head out on tour around North America, making its first stop in Boise. George Prentice sits down with lead actress Bailey McCall to discuss the tour and the Morrison Center performance. Have a question or comment for...

(Emiliano Rodriguez Mega / AP Images) Quality sleep is essential to human beings. But so many Americans aren't getting enough of it. This lack of sleep has significant effects on cognitive function, which raises questions for parents of school-aged students.  Idaho Matters talks with a sleep specialist from Saltzer Health who treats sleep issues, and he explains how the holidays can exacerbate the...

(Ethan Webber / Boise State Public Radio) State budget cuts, sea changes in local politics after this week's elections, and a revision to the "historic" nature of Boise's mayoral race. The Reporter Roundtable digs into the impact of these results with an expert panel of Kevin Richert from Idaho EdNews, Betsy Russell from Idaho Press and James Dawson from Boise State Public Radio. Have a question o...

(via Susan Madacsi ) McCall's Lardo Bridge was recently updated with some new sculptures. These were done by local artist Susan Madacsi, who received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Madacsi joins Idaho Matters to discuss her work amd her inspiration. Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using #IdahoMatters

(SalFalko / Flickr) Veterans often receive help when it comes to healthcare, but what about legal aid? The Idaho Military Legal Alliance is working to provide aid for veterans in the form of pro-bono legal work. In advance of Veterans Day, they talk to Idaho Matters about their monthly workshops in Boise and Caldwell and how they can help our military service members. Have a question or comment fo...

(Washington State University Press) Niels Sparre Nokkentved spent decades as an environmental reporter, mostly in Idaho. Now in retirement, he's turning his attention away from daily stories in a fast-paced news cycle to longer form writing. His newest book asks readers to consider the longterm consequences of ecological decisions we make today. He joins Idaho Matters to discuss "To Think Like A M...

(via Facebook )   Money in politics is not new to statewide and federal elections in Idaho. But what is unusual is the amount of  money we’ve seen poured into Boise’s mayoral race from a variety of political action committees. After this week’s historic mayoral election leading to a runoff on December 3, Idaho Matters is taking a closer look at one of those groups -- Conservation Voters for Idaho...

Counting machine in Ada County (Samantha Wright / Boise State Public Radio) With no candidate receiving a majority of votes, Boise is planning its first mayoral runoff election. How will it work? What do you need to know to vote? How much will it cost, and who will pay for it?  Idaho Matters talks with Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane to get answers to these questions, and gets his take on the county...

(Christopher Smith / AP Images) Although Mayor Tammy de Weerd will no longer lead the City of Meridian come January, her policies could largely live on in the winner of the November 5 election. Robert Simison will take the job in January, after serving as de Weerd's longtime chief of staff. Idaho Matters talks with de Weerd, along with Boise State Public Radio reporter Rachel Cohen about Twin Fall...

(Lacey Daley / Boise State Public Radio) There will be two new faces on Boise's City Council. Jimmy Hallyburton and Patrick Bageant will join the council in January, while incumbent councilwoman Elaine Clegg retained her seat. We analyze these races, along with the results of two Boise ballot initiatives. The initiatives were passed by a significant margin, asking voters whether the city should re...

( Lauren McLean ) In a surprising turn of events, incumbent Boise Mayor Dave Bieter took just 30% of the vote in Tuesday's election, while City Council President Lauren McLean took 46%. Since neither gained a majority, Boise is preparing for its first mayoral runoff on December 3. We talk with McLean to find out what her next steps will be.  Note: Idaho Matters reached out to Mayor Bieter for an i...

(Joel Wayne / Boise State Public Radio) Boise State Public Radio's You Know The Place podcast explores some of the lesser known businesses and locations in Idaho. In the most recent episode, hosts Lacey and Joel visit Steele Apiaries, a bee farm in Eagle. Idaho Matters presents a special broadcast of the podcast, which you can find wherever you find your streaming audio.  Have a question or commen...

(Idaho Shakespeare Festival - Facebook) The Idaho Shakespeare Festival has become a staple of summer time in the Boise area. But as we get ready for the long dark days of winter, festival planners are already preparing for summer entertainment. We talk with the festival leadership about their upcoming slate of five plays that will run from May through September of 2020. Have a question or comment...

(Elaine Thompson / AP Images) Wildfires have taken place across the West for centuries. But as climate change and explosive growth create dangerous conditions for folks who live in Idaho, how does wildfire smoke factor in? Turns out, smoke has a more widespread effect. But according to a new study  people in the Treasure Valley do not percieve this danger in the same way. Idaho Matters talks with...

(Ethan Webber / Boise State Public Radio)   If you have a teen living in your home, you might be familiar with New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand. She has written several bestselling books, including the "Unearthly Trilogy" and "The Last Time We Say Goodbye." Hand also happens to be an Idaho native; she was raised in Idaho Falls and now lives in Boise, where she received her MFA from B...

(Emilie Ritter Saunders / StateImpact Idaho) Eating disorders are the second deadliest of the mental health disorders according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Recently, the Treasure Valley has seen a rise in these eating disorders among students in elementary school, with schools and parents trying to identify a cause. Idaho Matters talks with a dietitian to learn about the causes o...

(Jessie L. Bonner / AP Images)   The number of Latino students in Idaho schools has almost doubled in the past two decades, making up 18 percent of the population in public school enrollment. But, that same population is consistently falling behind state averages. We talk with two reporters who are investigating the significant achievement gap between white and Latino students, and what they might...

(John Bazemore / AP Images) Last weekend, a 16-year-old e-scooter rider in Boise was struck and killed by a truck while riding through a crosswalk. The other teen rider on the scooter was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries. The accident has reignited conversations about who is responsible for the safety of riders. Idaho Matters is joined by a University of Washington pediatrician about w...

(Ethan Webber / Boise State Public Radio) In 1600, a Basque-born nun named Catalina de Erauso escaped the nunnery in Spain where they lived and began to dress as a man. They boarded a ship to South America where they spent 17 years fighting as a male conquistador. De Erauso returned to Spain where both the king and the pope gave them permission to live openly as a transgender man. This unbelievabl...

(Ethan Webber / Boise State Public Radio) On tap this week on the Reporter Roundtable: next week's Boise mayoral election, Medicaid enrollment opens, a settlement involving the University of Idaho and a dust-up over office space between the State Treasurer and legislative leaders. James Dawson of Boise State Public Radio joins BoiseDev's Don Day and Rebecca Boone of the Associated Press to break d...

(Courtesy Dave Bieter) Mayor Dave Bieter is already Boise's longest-serving chief executive. But he says his public service is far from over. That's why he's running for a precedent-setting term of office. In a wide-ranging conversation, Bieter talked with Morning Edition host George Prentice about the surprises and non-suprises from his opponents, public safety in the City of Trees, and the best...

(Charlie Litchfield / AP Images)   Valley County, which encompasses McCall, Donnelly, Cascade and plenty of rural and Forest Service land in Idaho's West Central Mountains, is struggling to maintain its roads. Years of lower budgets coupled with a threat of a sunsetting federal funds has forced county leaders to look at other ways to make up the difference. Their solution? A new tax on homeowners,...

(Courtesy Lauren McLean) Boise City Councilwoman Lauren McLean said people had encouraged her for years to "step into the arena." But it wasn't until this past May that she formally decided to challenge Boise Mayor Dave Bieter in this year's general election. McLean talked about what ultimately drove her decision to mount a campaign and her high hopes for Boise's future with Morning Edition host G...