Idaho Matters

(NuScale/energy.gov) A mini-nuclear generation reactor is slated to go online in 2023 in Southeast Idaho to provide energy for Northern Utah communities. Industry officials are citing the technology as a " game changer " for nuclear power.  Idaho Matters  looks at this new technology, the impact it may have on the nuclear industry and concerns about the new plant.

(Boise State University) Boise State University researcher Kurtis Cantley wants to understand the construction of the human brain so he can  build an artificial brain . This is no Frankenstein experiment - Cantley sees clear parallels between the way the brain is designed to process information and the processes of computers. Dr. Cantley joins  Idaho Matters  to discuss the human brain, creating a...

(idfg.idaho.gov) The USDA's Wildlife Service distributes funds to ranchers in the West for wolf depredation - the killing off of predators of commercial livestock.  Questions have been raised  about the number of predatory  wolves preying on cattle  and how those funds are being divvied out.  Idaho Matters  discusses wolf depredation with the  Idaho Cattle Association  and we'll talk to a conserva...

(St. Luke's) St. Luke's Health System is investing $3.4 million in a virtual care center  - a "high tech hub" with a medical team available to provide assistance 24/7. The center will be able to connect doctors with rural Idahoans and those with mobility issues.  Idaho Matters  discusses this new trend in health care with St. Luke's and how this could be a game changer for underserved rural commun...

(BSPR / Universal Pictures / Toronto International Film Festival / Warner Bros.) Boise Weekly film critic (and Boise State Public Radio announcer)  George Prentice  joins  Idaho Matters  to preview his annual pilgrimage to the  Toronto International Film Festival , discuss the impact of net streaming on the film industry and what we can expect at the box office in the coming year.

(flickr) Idaho is bordered by four states (and one country) with some form of legalized marijuana. Addictions specialists in the state are seeing an increase of patients looking to break an  addiction to marijuana  and the increased potency of the plant is forcing researchers to re-think its addictive qualities.  Idaho Matters  discusses the subject with two treatment specialists who have witnesse...

(Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Verbal attacks on the integrity of American journalism have become the norm, even from the highest reaches of power. We'll look at the role of the press in America today, why our Founding Fathers had the foresight to protect it and how consumers can parse out real news from "fake news" and the response from Idaho journalists.

(Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic) The  Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic  celebrates nearly 30 years of festive ballooning and family activities. More than 40 balloons will lift off from Ann Morrison Park beginning on Wednesday and  Idaho Matters  speaks with the event's founder about the allure of these lighter-than-air behemoths and what goes into learning to pilot one.

Cartoonist  Luke Martin  made a name for himself by drawing comics about life in Chicago and later of his experiences as an American  living in South Korea . The Illinois native recently moved to Meridian and he is chronicling his experiences as a new Idahoan in his comic strip "I'm New Here." Martin will be a featured artist at this year's  Boise Comic Arts Festival  this weekend. Martin joins  I...

(Dmitry Naumov/iStockphoto/NPR) Eighteen states allow parents to refuse vaccinations for their children. Idaho is home to  8 of the 10 national "hotspots"  of non-vaccinated kids. Idaho Matters looks at the reasons parents have for opting out of vaccinating their kids and the potential impact this has on the child and the community.

(EMILIE RITTER SAUNDERS / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO) Recent data from the Idaho Secretary of State's office indicates that  voting rates in many Idaho counties  are below the national average and that rural voters cast ballots at a higher rate than urban Idahoans.  Idaho Matters  looks at changing voter trends in the Gem State with political analyst Justin Vaughn.

(Boise State University) Boise State University and CapEd Credit Union have partnered to provide a program to allow adults who are still carrying college credits to apply them to a degree program. The Passport to Education  program creates a pathway for adults to finish their degrees while accommodating a busy schedule. 

(Boise State University) Students and Other Broncos Enjoying Recovery (SOBER)  is a program at Boise State University that provides peer support for students coping with alcohol and drug addictions. Idaho Matters talks with one of the founders of SOBER and the current president of the organization about the challenges of identifying and treating addiction in the collegiate setting.

( Flick/NPS Climate Change Response) The Idaho Department of Corrections facilitates a program allowing inmates to be trained as firefighters and deployed on the lines of some of the most intense wildfires in the West. This is a voluntary program and participants are eager to break up the monotony of prison life by making a difference in a community by battling wildfires. We'll meet with the warde...

(INCIWEB - TINYURL.COM/Y9LBVUYC/KUOW) The proliferation of wildfires throughout the West are forcing researchers to look at the health of American woodlands.  Idaho Matters  examines the future of the region's forests with Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands, Hilary Franz.

(stock) We review the week's headlines with our team of regional journalists. This week our roundtable is Bill Manny of the  Idaho Statesman , Kevin Richert of  Idaho Education News ,  and Betsy Russell of the  Idaho Press . We start the program talking about an FBI raid in the Treasure Valley against a group facing charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and dealing in counterfeit mobile p...

(CHEEKY'S / VIA FACEBOOK) Cheeky's  Boutique retails their brand of western wear for women on their website and in multiple brick-and-mortar stores. The company, which operates out of New Plymouth, has enjoyed explosive growth in recent years - enough so that  Inc. magazine recognized them  as one of the  5,000 fastest growing private companies  in the country.  Idaho Matters  speaks with the foun...

(darkmoneyfilm.com) In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling  in favor of the conservative organization Citizens United allowed American corporations to contribute unlimited funds to political campaigns, claiming that those donations constitute free speech. Since then, political campaigns on both sides of the aisle have been flooded with large donations - funds whose contributors can remain anonymou...

(JON C. HANCOCK/AP/WBUR) As youth sports leagues become increasingly competitive, so too does the intensity of the athlete. Most athletes learn to live through injuries, but concussions can prove to be dangerous, especially for younger participants.  Idaho Matters  discusses the dangers of concussions and head injuries for youths with Saint Alphonsus sports medicine specialist  Dr. Derek Kunz.

(idahosgem.com) The Idaho Department of Labor released numbers indicating a  slight increase in unemployment claims  in Southern Idaho, many of those in the manufacturing sector.  Idaho Matters  looks at the numbers to determine if this is an ongoing trend for Idaho manufacturers or if the one-tenth percent increase is just a minor blip.

(thecabinidaho.org) Song: Writers in the Attic  is an anthology of prose and poetry compiled by  The Cabin , a center for Idaho readers and writers in Boise. The works are compiled from 40 area writers. A launch party will be held  Thursday evening at the Linen Building .  Idaho Matters  speaks with members of The Cabin about the book, the poetic "voice" of Idaho, and how people can partake in The...

(Credit Will Reid / Boise State Public Radio) State officials have issued warnings  regarding  high blue-green algae content  in multiple ponds and lakes throughout Idaho. The excessive growth of the water plant creates an oxygen imbalance and puts off a toxic byproduct that poisons aquatic life.  Idaho Matters  examines the threat to the state's wildlife, the danger it poses to recreationalists,...

(iStockphoto/NPR) With school in session, many people shift their daily schedules to accommodate the school calendar. Recent studies show that these shifts in routine have a more significant impact on children than was earlier thought.  Idaho Matters  looks into the changes in mood, rhythm, and body clocks that occur in children when their daily schedule is altered.

(Boise State Public Radio) Earlier this year, more than 60,000 Idahoans signed a petition to put Medicaid expansion on the November ballot. Now the group  Reclaim Idaho  wants to convince a majority of voters to support the expansion. The organization has  repurposed a 30-year-old bus  to spread the message.  Idaho Matters  speaks with the organization's co-founder about the role an expanded Medic...

(physiciancrossroads.com) AMEN,  the Adventist Medical Evangelical Network, brings together physicians, dentists and healthcare professionals to provide free services for homeless and low-income patients. AMEN comes to  Boise on September 12-14  to work with uninsured residents. Its clinic director and community outreach coordinator join  Idaho Matters  to talk about their health services.