Idaho Matters

Legos and other interlocking toys are only one kind of blocks that remain popular with kids. (iStockphoto.com) One in every 36 kids is on the autism spectrum, and the Centers for Disease Control says boys are four times more likely to be identified with autism spectrum disorder than girls. The CDC has found that the earlier kids can be diagnosed, the sooner they can get the treatment they need to...

(Jens Alfke / Flickr) Early voting is underway in Idaho and will continue into November. Its a popular way to cast your ballot, but what are the rules? Because it’s a presidential election year there’s been a lot of focus on not just who gets elected but also on how our election system works at both a national and local level. To answer the questions that have come up this election season, particu...

( Canva) In November, voters will be faced with Proposition 1. It’s a citizen initiative that will do two things if passed: it would open up all primaries in Idaho and it would create a new voting system known as ranked choice voting . Last week, we looked at the open primary side of Prop 1 , and this week we’ll tackle ranked choice voting, diving into how it works as well as the possible pros and...

Antonio Espinoza, a supervisor with the Gras Lawn landscaping company, uses a gasoline-powered leaf blower to clean up around a housing development in Brick, N.J. on June 18, 2024. New Jersey is one of many states either considering or already having banned gasoline-powered leaf blowers on environmental and health grounds, but the landscaping industry says the battery-powered devices favored by en...

(Linda Owen / Flickr) For the past three years, the Center for Native American Youth has been offering kids the Brave Heart Fellowship . It’s a chance for native youth voices to be heard as they look for ways to help preserve our environment. Ten kids in the Pacific Northwest will get grant money and support to make their own climate projects a reality. Katy Stewart with the Center for Native Amer...

One of the beaver ponds along Bear Creek, with signs of the 2020 Mullen Fire clear on the horizon. (Murphy Woodhouse / Boise State Public Radio ) Increasingly destructive wildfires are a major issue in the American West. However, some researchers say that land managers have an unlikely ally in their efforts to confront the crisis: the beaver. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Murphy Woodhouse travel...

The MFA Reading Series presents renowned poet and translator Peter Cole, winner of a MacArthur Fellowship. ( Boise State Creative Writing MFA Program) Honored as a “major poet-translator,” Peter Cole’s scholarship includes the translations of medieval and modern Hebrew and Arabic. His honors and awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, plus a...

A prison officer patrols near the entrance to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution near Kuna, Idaho on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (Kyle Green / Associated Press) An update on the Thomas Creech case , how Proposition 1 would change Idaho's elections, the District 15 race could have a statewide impact and a proposed expressway has received disapproval from hundreds of east Idaho residents. It’s Fri...

(PAULA RHODES / Flickr) Are you hungry? Because Boisedev Eats is serving up some great recommendations on where to get your next meal! Whether you're looking for dinner, snacks or drinks, they've got a spot for you to try. Boisedev Eats editor Kara Jackson joins Idaho Matters to set the table for Idaho's local food scene.

(MarkCoffeyPhoto / Getty Images) October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month , a time dedicated to the issue of abuse and creating change. Which is something that the Ada County Victim Services Center is focused on all year round. The center offers 24/7 assistance to those impacted by interpersonal violence, providing access to crucial resources like forensic medical exams, safety planning, couns...

( Kelsey Thomson) As the weather turns colder, it's the perfect time to curl up with a good film or TV show. Resident movie critic George Prentice joins Idaho Matters to give us some recommendations on what to watch this fall. Plus, we take a look at some of the best scary movies to watch on Halloween.

This combination of photos shows Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Alex Brandon / AP) With just 20 days to go until this year’s presidential election, questions are swirling about t...

Gem State Joggers and the Pace for Peace team. ( Pace for Peace) Many of the refugees who have come to Idaho in the past few years came from the Congo, a war-torn African country facing a humanitarian crisis caused by violence and natural disasters that have forced millions of people out of their homes. After fleeing their home country, these refugees still face challenges as they adjust to a very...

( Samantha Wright) Bees are all around us during the summer months, but we don’t always pay much attention to them. However, as pollinators , they’re essential when it comes to the food we eat. They’re in trouble though, both in Idaho and around the world, and everyone from scientists to backyard gardeners are trying to help them. Idaho Public Television is taking a close-up look at bees in their...

The Shared Stories bookstore. (Michael Martin / George Decker) We’ve done a lot of stories at Boise State Public Radio about local bookstores closing down. Independent bookstores have struggled in recent years and had to close their doors, including three in Nampa and one in Caldwell. And as each store closed, local authors lost another space where they could find new readers, making it harder to...

( Ada County Elections) For more than 20 years, when a Florida recount full of hanging chads led a U.S. Supreme Court battle over who would be president, questions have been raised about the security of our election system . Since then, accusations of Russian interference and computer hacking have not increased confidence in the security of how we vote, and according to Boise State’s Public Policy...

(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images) Since 2011, political parties in Idaho have been able to choose to close their primary to voters who are not affiliated with their party. For example, only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. The Constitution Party and libertarian primaries are also closed; only the Democratic primary is open to any voter. Some say that disenfranchises a lot o...

(<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/crozefeet/">Pauline</a> / Flickr) For years, Meridian Canine Rescue has been working to help at-risk dogs, providing important community education and resources to caregivers. Like many animal nonprofits though they're in need of support, which is why they've partnered with the Boise Bully Breed Rescue to host an evening of music bingo that will...

(DT / Flickr) A new community radio station recently joined Boise's airwaves. It is Tropico FM and their mission is to uplift diverse voices through music, where you can find everything from salsa, samba, disco and Tejano music on the dial. Kyle Scheffler is the founder and president of Tropico FM and he joined Idaho Matters to talk more.

( Boise Contemporary Theater) In 2019, a new play opened in New York called "What the Constitution Means to Me," and it was a hit. Now it’s coming to Boise Contemporary Theater . Jessica Morris is the star of the show, and she sat down with our Morning Edition host George Prentice for a preview.

An artist rendering of the Ponderosa Center (The Ponderosa Center) McCall, like the rest of Idaho, has seen skyrocketing growth, and open parcels of land are being snapped up at record prices for future development. But one piece of lakefront real estate remains undeveloped between the marina and hotel McCall. The property is potentially worth millions, and a group of residents is hoping to turn t...

(<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures/">Roadsidepictures</a> / Flickr) Community is important, particularly when it comes to our neighborhoods. Which is why each year the Boise Neighborhood Interactive Conference brings people together to connect and discuss the future of our home. Nicole Carr, Energize Program Manager with the city of Boise, joined Idaho Matters to...

( Canva) A break down of the Proposition 1 ballot initiative , people will vote on whether or not to amend Idaho's constitution , schools are still dealing with staffing shortages , we get an update on how officials are managing quagga mussels in the Snake River and a look at how legislative races could impact education in the state. It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable w...

The new education building covers 6,000 square feet and cost $6.4 million to build. ( The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights) Nestled between the Anne Frank Memorial and the library in downtown Boise sits the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. It was founded 22 years ago to build the only memorial on U.S. soil dedicated to Anne Frank. Since then, the Memorial has continued to expand, and Thursday it...

The mural "Defenders of Dignity" by Addie Boswell is one of the artwork featured at the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. In the center, with arm raised, is the late Marilyn Schuler, a prominent human rights activist in Idaho. (Julie Luchetta / Boise State Public Radio) The education nonprofit behind Boise’s Anne Frank Memorial is getting its own building in downtown Boise. The Wassmuth Center for...