Idaho Matters

The World Center for Birds of Prey  is expanding with its new "Global Stem Classroom," that will connect students with biologists in the field. We visit with the  Power Foundation  and the  Peregrine Fund , and Phoenix, a red-tailed hawk, drops by the  Idaho Matters  studio.

(Darin Oswald / Idaho Statesman) This segment originally aired on May 17, 2019 The  National Institute for Civil Discourse  was established in 2011 following the shooting in Tucson that killed six and injured 13, including former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Today, the Institute is creating 50 advisory boards to be positioned in each state. Idaho is the first state to establish such a bo...

(Idaho Joint Democratic Caucus) Idaho marked the start of its fiscal year on July 1. This year we have new laws that affect  first responders ,  dogs and cats,   sexual assault victims , historic theaters and E-Bikes, just to name a few. Gemma Gaudette sits down with lawmakers to talk about some of the new laws now in effect.

(HGTV) This segment originally aired on April 30, 2019 The Boise Boys  are Clint Robertson and Luke Caldwell, masters of renovation and real estate with a program on HGTV. The two are total opposites whose traits complement each other perfectly and on Tuesday's Idaho Matters, we meet the pair now entering their second season of real estate reality TV.

(Jim Cole / AP Photos) Here in Idaho prisoners have been used to help fight fires, but did you know they are also helping out on farms ? We talk with  Stian Rice  about farm-labor shortages and the history of “convict leasing.” We also talk with the Division Chief of Idaho Correctional Industries about his organization's use of inmate labor.

(Jeffery Goh / Flickr) On the first Friday of every month, Boise State holds an event for astronomy lovers, inviting the public to stargaze and perhaps learn something new. This month's guest speaker Maki Jackson, from the Japanese-American Citizens League, will host the event discussing the astronomy and legend of  Tanabata: The Star Festival.

(Trident University / Flickr) IDeal , Idaho’s 529 College Savings Program, is putting on a month-long social media promotion in an effort to inspire a larger discussion around higher education and the many different reasons people decided to pursue it. Idaho’s leaders are taking part in this conversation and sharing their “light bulb” moment, the moment they decided to pursue higher education.

(Terry Kearny / Flickr) A trail crossing some private land  connecting a road to Redfish Lake and Stanley has been given the go-ahead by a federal judge. Landowner David Boren brought a lawsuit with his concerns about the proposed  four-mile trail , saying that additional studies on the trail's environmental impact were needed. We talk to him about these possible impacts.

This weekend the  Mustang Mania Incentive Program  will give trainers the chance to show off their skills. The competition  challenges youths  and adults to adopt and train a  wild horse  in just 90 days. Veteran horse trainers  Matt and Stacie Zimmerman  tell us about this experience and how it’s helping to find homes for hundreds of  wild horses .

(Knar Bedian / Flickr) As the temperature increases, so does the number of teen car accidents. Though summer may be the unofficial season of relaxation, it is important not to relax safe driving habits. We talk roadway safety and the  100 deadliest days of summer .

(Aran Burton / Flickr) The Emmett Cherry Festival is an iconic event that happens every year in Idaho. Two weeks ago during this year's festival, Boise State Public Radio's Laramie Lavala and Lexi Smith dropped by the festival and talked to Krista Cole, the Executive Director of the Gem County Chamber of Commerce and some festival-goers.    

(cobalt123 / Flickr) This weekend marked a sad anniversary in Boise. One year ago, a man  allegedly stabbed nine people  at a birthday party.  A three-year-old girl was killed .  We take a look back  at the crime and find out how the  refugees in Boise  are responding a year later.

(Idaho Conservation League) A lot of sewage treatment plants in Idaho got a failing grade in the latest  Idaho Conservation League study . Gemma Gaudette talks to the  League  about why they scored so low and how the ICL wants to help change that trend.

(St. Luke's Health System) One local sprinter talks about his journey from active guy, to heart attack patient, to getting back on the track. We talk to Jim Lucker about  a special program  that got him running again in the Senior Games.

(Babak Fakhamzadeh / Flickr) It’s Friday and time for our Reporter Roundtable, where we get you up to date on all the news that made headlines around our region. Joining  Idaho Matters  this week are Don Day from  BoiseDev ,  Betsy Russell  with the Idaho Press and Mike Sharp from  KIVI Six On Your Side Television .

(Maya Duratovic / Boise State University) A group of young African leaders is at Boise State for more than a month of intensive training. This is the  Mandela Washington Fellowship , where they take college courses and leadership training while networking at colleges around the country. We talk to a pair of fellows in the program about what they are learning.

(Tom Michael / Boise State Public Radio) On Friday,  two para-athletes  from the  Road to X Games: Boise Park Qualifier  will show their skills in specially designed wheelchairs and hold a clinic for athletes with disabilities in downtown Boise.  Christiaan “Otter” Bailey  drops by  Idaho Matters  to chat.

(Scott Graf / Boise State Public Radio) Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan joins us to speak about the anniversary of the Foothills Fire , started by illegal fireworks. He also talks about how the  Boise Fire Department,  after 143 years, has its first female captain.

(Hannah Gardoski / Boise State Public Radio) The  Idaho Business For Education  and HP Inc. have released the results of their “Statewide Study on Education and the Economy.” The study took in feedback from more than 1,800 Idaho teachers, businesses, politicians and school administrators. We hear from Rod Gramer of Idaho Business for Education, Gus Schmelden from HP Inc. and Marcela Escobari from...

(Seth Randal) In the mid-1950s, investigators arrested three men on charges of having sex with teenage boys. Further, they claimed it was part of a child sex ring. There was no such ring, but it led to an episode in Boise history that some considered to be a witch hunt. We speak with Alan Virta, retired archivist at Boise State University, and Seth Randal, director of the film,  The Fall of ’55.

(Hannah Gardoski / Boise State Public Radio) The  Foote Park Center  opens with a focus on the early pioneers of the Treasure Valley. Mary Hallock Foote and Arthur DeWint Foote came to Boise in the late 19th century to create farms across the valley. Mary Ann Arnold and Janet Worthington join the program to talk about the history of this public space.

(Glen Bledsoe / Flickr) A number of Oregon state senators  left the Salem capitol  last week rather than vote on a climate change bill in the statehouse. Some of them have claimed to be holed up in Idaho, under the protection of The Real Three Percent of Idaho. On Wednesday's  Idaho Matters , we talk with Boise State Public Radio's  Guns & America  reporter, Heath Druzin, about this strange ep...

(Jasn / Flickr) Each year,  The Advocate  chooses two people from each state who excel in advancing equality for LGBTQ communities. This year, the magazine selected Idaho State Representative John McCrostie and student activist Liam Neupert as Idaho recipients of the 2019 award. McCrostie and Neupert join  Idaho Matters  to talk about elevating the rights of LGBTQ in the state.

(Boise State University) Earlier this month,  Boise State's Allie Ostrander  blew away the competition in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas. This was her third straight championship in this event. Ostrander slows down to join  Idaho Matters  to discuss this achievement and her award as the Mountain West Conference's Women’s O...

(Panonian) On Saturday, the  5th Annual Bosnian and Herzegovinian Heritage Day  will be held at Kleiner Park in Meridian.  Idaho Matters  talks about the history and traditions of the region's Bosnian and Herzegovinian communities. George Prentice visits with Maya Duratovic and Patty Miller from the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise on the role of the city's Basques in helping these Europ...