Idaho Matters

(ADAM COTTERELL / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO) This interview was originally broadcast July 10, 2018. As the population swells in the Treasure Valley, so too will the homeless population. We look at efforts to develop housing options for the valley's homeless.

(ohio.edu) This interview was originally broadcast August 9, 2018. For years,  Kelly Sundberg  endured horrific domestic battery at the hands of her husband.  After being found guilty of assault, her husband's only sentence was to write a letter of apology.   Sundberg writes about her experience in  Goodbye, Sweet Girl: A Story of Domestic Violence and Survival   and she joins Idaho Matters to sha...

(Bethany Mollenkof for NPR) This interview was originally broadcast August 7, 2018. The United States  leads the developed world  in the rate of deaths among pregnant, delivering and post-natal women. We'll talk about why Americans are struggling with this statistic.

(STOCK) This interview was originally broadcast Wednesday, May 9, 2018. A recent report from Wallethub  found Idaho to be ranked the worst state in the nation to be a working mom. Metrics including quality, cost and availability of child care, school quality, number of pediatricians and gender pay gap found the Gem State dead last; Vermont ranked first. Boise State University associate professor o...

(City of Nampa) This interview was originally broadcast Monday, July 23, 2018.    The   Healthy Impact Nampa Coalition   is looking at growth in their region in terms of cultivating the healthiest community it can. The council is looking at housing, transportation, and especially food access that can impact both the well being of the indivdual resident and the health of the community. We speak wit...

(St. Luke's) This interview was originally broadcast Monday, June 11, 2018. Dr. Dan Zuckerman, executive medical director for  St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute , joins us in studio to discuss new advances in breast cancer research.

(Iowa Public Radio / BOYS TOWN NATIONAL RESEARCH HOSPITAL / SKIP KENNEDY) Private insurance does not cover the costs for most hearing aids for youths. Efforts to change that are afoot in the state legislature and Idaho Matters speaks with a representative spearheading the initiative and the mother of three children who require hearing aids.

(Getty) The Ottoman Empire was responsible for the genocide of about 1.5 million Armenians between 1914 and 1923. Because the tragedy often slips under the radar of history books, many Armenian-Americans are committed to memorializing the event, lest it become forgotten in time. We talk with two men behind the dedication of a memorial in Boise to the Armenian Genocide.

(St. Luke's FitOne) The largest single-day running event in Idaho is scheduled for this Saturday; the St. Luke's FitOne 5K, 10K and half-marathon will allow runners to enjoy the Boise community while bringing awareness to health, fitness and education. Idaho Matters speaks with FitOne's director and race coordinator about the events.

Authors Ron Price and Stacy Ennis deliver a guide for better leadership in the unconventional guise of a novel, Growing Influence . Price and Ennis join Idaho Matters to discuss what constitutes great leadership skills.

(Getty/BBC) Host Gemma Gaudette leads a roundtable discussion of the week's headlines with Betsy Russell with the Idaho Press , Mike Sharp with KIVI TV and Scott McIntosh with the Idaho Press .

(Credit: August McLaughlin/Linkedin) Author August McLaughlin is unafraid to take a head-on approach to discussing human sexuality and body positivity. Her book Girl Boner  advocates for open discussions and full education about the sexual condition. McLaughlin joins us to discuss her book and the importance of a healthy sexual outlook.

(Virginia Commonwealth University) This fall's program at Boise State University's  Visual Arts Center  examines the juxtaposition of images from printed instructional manuals and their real-life counterparts and the space they share. We speak with the Center's director about the 'Swimming and Diving' and 'Pulped Under Pressure'  exhibit s showing now through the end of October.

(Spitfire1313/imgur) Many college students find the challenge of eating responsibly while managing classes, extracurriculars and jobs on a tight budget nearly impossible. Ramen, pizza and assorted junk food usually fill the role as "nutritional intake" for prolonged periods of time. Idaho Matters  speaks with University of Idaho associate professor of nutrition and dietetics  SeAnne Waite  about f...

(JAMES DAWSON / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO) The  Idaho State Museum  closed for renovations in 2014. After a multi-million dollar investment, the museum is scheduled to open October 13 with exhibits highlighting the state's legacy and uniqueness, as well as new exhibits accentuating the heritage of Native Americans from the region. Executive Director Janet Gallimore joins  Idaho Matters  to talk abo...

Arik Grant  was serving a tour of duty in the early years of the Iraq War when he started sketching cartoons of life on the base and posting them in the chow hall. A decade later, Arik pulled out his comics and re-inked them in color. Today, he uses this medium to share his and his fellow soldiers' experiences at war and coming home with a wry humor influenced by M*A*S*H.  Arik Grant joins  Idaho...

(Eric Westrom) In 1897, the U.S. Army wanted to see if bicycles might serve a practical purpose for soldiers. To test the mettle of both the bike and the rider, a trek was organized from Missoula to St. Louis. Lieutenant James Moss led a platoon of Buffalo Soldiers through the wilderness and today, Idaho filmmaker  Eric Westrom  captures the journey in the  documentary   Following the Lieutenant:...

(canopywatch.com) Canopy Watch  is a guided tree climb at the  Idaho Botanical Garden  that allows people to learn how to use eco-friendly climbing equipment and get a bird's eye view from the flora of Boise. We meet with the organizers and learn how to swing through the trees.

(giraffelaugh.org) The  Giraffe Laugh  daycare facilities in Boise provide "early care and education to young children by ensuring school readiness, empowering families and building strong futures" and refuse to see economic status as an obstacle to quality child care. Giraffe Laugh joins us to discuss the importance of early childhood education and how to make it available to everyone.

(Smithsonian Institution) Each year, millions of people around the world depend on the postal service to deliver our letters and packages to loved ones everywhere. As long as you’ve got the right amount of postage on your letter or package, the postal workers will see it to its final destination. As you’ll hear in this episode, a family living in Idaho during the early 20th century tested the limi...

(CREDIT: Idaho Statesman) A ruling by the 9th circuit Court of Appeals last week determined  the prosecution of homeless people  for sleeping in public constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. We drill down into the issue of homeless rights and public safety.

(Credit: LED) LED  is a multi-media artistic collaborative that marries dance, music and film to create narrative performances. Founded by the husband-and-wife team of Lauren Edson and Andrew Stensaas in 2015, they have performed at Treefort and venues throughout the Northwest with filmmaker Kyle Morck. LED joins  Idaho Matters  in studio to discuss their upcoming show at The Egyptian.    

(Rita Dixon) Some bats tested positive  for rabies last month and for better or worse, this seems to be the only time bats are in the news. Animal resuers are concerned this type of publicity gives bats a bad image. We talk with wildlife and health officials about why we shouldn't fear bats and we meet L'il Wayne, a female silver-haired bat. And Idaho Fish and Game has a video for anyone who finds...

(VIA IDAHO OFFICE FOR REFUGEES) Federal immigration policies have slowed the flow of refugees to the United States for resettlement. The Treasure Valley has a history of being a welcoming community to refugees, but this contraction in resettlement numbers has created a  worker shortage  for some industries in the Gem State. Idaho Matters  talks with Megan Schwab of the  International Rescue Commit...

Wanna Know Idaho  begins its second season, answering the un-Google-able questions you have about the Gem State. What's that red stuff planes drop on wildfires? Why are there so many Abe Lincoln statues in Boise? What would happen if the F-35 program came to Boise? Listeners are encouraged to submit questions and the  Wanna Know Idaho  team will get answers from the experts.