Idaho Matters

There's some confusion regarding the legality of aerial fireworks in the Gem State and on Thursday's Idaho Matters we parse out what you can buy and where you can set it off.

(MGM/Columbia) There are discussions about creating a new rating system for films with excessive violence. Boise Weekly film critic George Prentice talks about this and why a film about a 30-year-long game of tag might be the movie of the summer.

(t4america.org) The explosive population growth in the Treasure Valley necessitates expansion of mass transit services. We talk about the options being discussed to help tie the valley together from Caldwell to Boise with transit services.

The X-Games qualifiers are in Boise this weekend and we talk to a doctor about just how dangerous some of those events are and the safety precautions daredevils across the valley should heed.

(VIA TWITTER / BLM IDAHO) Ed Delgado, a meteorologist with predictive services at the National Interagency Fire Center, and Boise State Public Radio's Frankie Barnhill discuss the outlook for the 2018 wildfire season.

(CREDIT DESTINYSAGENT / FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS) Idaho has one of the highest rates of overdose deaths related to opioid narcotics and on Wednesday's  Idaho Matters  we discuss various approaches to dealing with the opioid epidemic.

(SADIE BABITS / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO) Idaho prisons are so overcrowded the Idaho Department of Corrections is forced to send state prisoners to other states for incarceration. Idaho officials are discussing the possibility of a new half-billion dollar prison to accommodate the prison population. Idaho Press Boise Bureau Chief Betsy Russell joins Idaho Matters to talk about her coverage of the...

(U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Immigration holds in the Canyon County jail are on the rise, indicating an uptick in local immigration enforcement.  The Idaho Press's Nicole Foy chronicled the county's immigration hold process . She joins Idaho Matters to parse out the coverage.

( boisepridefest.org) 35,000 people gathered last year to celebrate  Boise PrideFest , more are expected this year to promote unity and celebrate the diversity of sexual orientations and identities in Boise year round. We talk with Alex Milles and Sally Hobbs of the pride festival about this year's events.

(© 2009 Idaho Department of Commerce-Tourism Division/Chad Case) The Idaho wine industry has enjoyed explosive growth in recent years with more than 50 vineyards operating in the Snake River Valley alone. On Tuesday's Idaho Matters, we speak with the Idaho Wine Commission about the market forces motivating this growth.

(CNN) America saw the passing of two cultural icons by suicide and on Monday's  Idaho Matters  we look at how to start the discussion about suicide and resources to turn to with St. Joseph's counselor  Christy Porter .

We assemble our team of Idaho journalists to discuss the week's events in Boise, the Treasure Valley and beyond. This week we'll have Kimberlee Kruesi of the  Associated Press-Idaho , Scott McIntosh of the  Idaho Press  and Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press   join host Gemma Gaudette.

Advance care planning allows people to make choices about their healthcare should they become unable to do so in the future. We discuss the options and advantages of advance care planning with  Honoring Choices Idaho , a nonprofit organization that promotes discussions about the importance of planning.

(visitsunvalley.com) Light pollution is the presence of artificial light in the night sky and as development has increased throughout the west, astronomers lament the lack clean, dark skies to observe the heavens. Fortunately, Idaho is home to some of the darkest skies in America and we talk about efforts to create a  "dark sky reserve"  with Stanley mayor Steve Botti and former Ketchum mayor Nina...

(CREDIT MALATE269 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS) The funding formula for K-12 education in Idaho is a complicated equation that was established 24 years ago. Idaho Education Association president Kari Overall joins us to discuss the stability of the funding mechanism and how it can be improved.

(stock) The  average cost of childcare in Idaho  in 2017 was just above $7,000 a year and the price of care will increase with the population of the Treasure Valley.  Idaho Matters  discusses the burden childcare costs place on Idaho's working families and efforts to bring down those costs.

(ERIN COLONNA / FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS) Hops are the bitter, piney flower of the hop plant, and when fermented with malted barley and water, they create beer. Ninety-eight percent of hop cultivation takes place in the Northwest and  Idaho just surpassed Oregon  to become the second-largest producer of hops. Idaho Matters  speaks with a hop farmer and the  Idaho Brewers United  about how this litt...

(KALW) The Kingston Trio  have been performing as a folk and pop group for more than 60 years. Channeling the spirits of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, they crafted a sound that set the bar for contemporary folk music by fusing accoustic instrumentation, harmonized vocals and socially relevent subject matter into their songs. The Kingston Trio is scheduled to  perform at the Morrison Center  Thurs...

(youthempowermentservices.idaho.gov) Youth Empowerment Services (YES)  provides mental health care for youths in Idaho by coordinating the services of multiple agencies, including the Department of Health and Welfare, State Department of Education and Idaho Department of Juvenile Correction.  On Wednesday's  Idaho Matters , we look at efforts to provide mental health aid for youths in need.

(MOLLY MESSICK / STATEIMPACT IDAHO) A study by the Association of American Medical Colleges found that only 53% of medical residents stay in the Gem State to practice medicine at the conclusion of their residency. While this is above the national average for in-state retention of doctors, this still makes it difficult to lure licensed medical professionals to Idaho's rural communities. Idaho Matte...

(idaho48.org) The i48 Film Festival  is a competition that has filmmakers use only 48 hours to write, pre-produce, cast, shoot and edit an original short film three to six minutes long. The festival, now in its 14th year, will take place at The Flicks this Saturday and we speak with festival co-director Andrew Ellis about what makes a great (quickly shot) short film.

(Tom Michael / Boise State Public Radio) The United States Supreme Court ruled on the case of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, citing acknowledging the same-sex union violated his religious belief.  The 7-2 ruling addressed the baker's conflict with the Colorado Human Rights Commission, specifically, but the overall message of the ruling could be far more damag...

(OPB) From Longreads and Oregon Public Broadcasting,  "Bundyville" is a seven-part series chronicling the rise, fall and resurgence of the Bundy family, the armed uprisings they inspired and the fight over the future of the American West. We talk to OPB's Ryan Haas about the occupation and how it foretold of deeper divisions in American communities.

(thecentenariandiet.com) University of Idaho nutrition professor SeAnne Waite has researched what behaviors allow centanarians to live past 100 years. She joins  Idaho Matters  to talk about how diet and lifestyle can extend our life expectancy.