Idaho Matters

Alex Adams and Idaho Governor Brad Little after Little signed the “Promoting Families and Protecting Children Act,” on June 7, 2024. (Idaho Governor's Office) Idaho has a new Health and Welfare Director. Alex Adams faces a growing Medicaid budget and has already cut some vacant positions . On day one, he made adoption a top priority and said he wants to double the number of foster families in Idah...

FILE - In the Sept. 21, 2017, file photo, tucked in a sleeping bag, Danny, a 60-year-old homeless man who only gave his first name, lies on an overpass above the 101 Freeway, one of the nation's busiest freeways, in Los Angeles. A federal appellate court says cities can't prosecute people for sleeping on the streets if they have nowhere else to go. In a ruling handed down Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, t...

(Thanasis Zovoilis / Getty Images) Here in Idaho, there are nearly 30,000 people living with Alzheimer's, a disease that many are calling a public health crisis. And as that number continues to grow, experts are working to raise awareness. Which is why the Alzheimer's Foundation of America will be hosting an educational conference this week, providing important resources and tools for those most i...

(Snake River Stampede ) This year marks the 109th anniversary of the Snake River Stampede Rodeo ! This weeklong event brings thousands of cowboys and spectators to Nampa for everything from bull riding to barrel racing to mutton busting! The stampede is a big money-maker for Canyon County and a tradition for families that spans generations. Clint Child, the president of the Snake River Stampede, j...

(<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/43201156@N06/">cdn.slacker</a> / Flickr) Boise native Annie Carey could be heading to the Paralympics in Paris this August. She currently holds the long jump world record in her classification as well as the U.S. record in the 200 meters, and last year she competed in the Parapan American Games, bringing home bronze medals in the 100 meter, 200 m...

(Murphy Woodhouse / Mountain West News Bureau ) The Open Primary Initiative is headed to the ballot, there's a petition from the Attorney General's office to hear the Hecox v. Little case, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has voiced her support for President Biden and we a look at firework laws . It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up to date on all...

A low-intensity burn on the recent Crawford prescribed fire near Cascade, Idaho (Steve Vigil / The Nature Conservancy ) On a Thursday morning in May, Forest Service staff and crew leaders gathered in the Cascade Ranger District Office for a briefing. They were putting a plan together for the nearby, nearly 100-acre Crawford burn on the Boise National Forest. Matt Haupt, the district’s senior fuels...

(Canva ) Across the country, many parents and educators are struggling with the same question: "Should cell phones be kept out of school?" Well, for more than 200 families in the Boise School District, the answer may be yes. As more research emerges linking technology and social media to poor mental health, parents are in search of solutions, looking for ways to help their kids . Which is why one...

(Louis A Habash<br/> / Flickr) If you're hoping to stay out of the heat, a good movie or series may be the answer! Our resident movie critic, George Prentice, joined Idaho Matters to help us figure out What to Watch.

Boise, Idaho Wastewater SARS-COV-2 data. ( City of Boise) The level of COVID-19 is up in Boise, at least according to the spike of the disease found in the city's wastewater . Plus, we know bird flu is hitting Idaho's dairy cows, but what about beef cattle? Dr. David Pate , former CEO of St. Luke's Health System, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about this and answer your questions!

(Canva ) When a power line falls and sparks a wildfire that burns through homes and neighborhoods, who pays for the destruction? That’s the question being asked in several states, including Idaho, after the deadly Santiam fire in Oregon. Four years ago, the fire killed 11 people and burned more than 5,000 homes and buildings. PacifiCorp, which provides power to six states, including Idaho, was fou...

(CATCH ) With an excessive heat warning in place through Saturday, many people are trying to stay out of the sun but for people experiencing homelessness, this can be hard to do. Which is why the local nonprofit CATCH is requesting essential items to help keep this vulnerable community safe. Connor O'Hora, CATCH's outreach team lead, and Cassidy Landry, a former client of CATCH, joined Idaho Matte...

(JGI/Tom Grill / Getty Images/Tetra images RF) Last year, a new law went into effect, expanding the rights of pregnant workers across the U.S. Now, regulations for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act have been finalized, offering clearer guidelines on what protections can be expected in the workplace. Charlotte Burrows, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, joined Idaho Matters...

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean ( City of Boise) Boise Mayor Lauren McLean says she’d “like nothing more than to weigh in” on controversial rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court. But that’s not going to stop her, she says, from making clear that a number of those decisions directly impact Boise. “When I knock on doors and talk to our residents, I’ve talked to moms whose daughters have moved away and aren’...

( Opera Idaho) This weekend, Opera in the Park is returning to downtown Boise for an evening of music that you won't soon forget. Stacey Trenteseaux, the general director of Opera Idaho, and soprano Cecilia Violetta Lopez join Idaho Matters to talk more about the upcoming event.

( Roseanna Marcum) In March of 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Nampa was looking for a way to connect with the community without spending time indoors. That’s when Puptricks was born. This local dog gathering brought together neighbors and their pups, allowing people to have some fun while their dogs showed off their tricks or dressed up in costumes to show off their cuten...

( U.S. Supreme Court) It’s now legal again to give someone a ticket for sleeping or camping on public property. This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Grants Pass v. Johnson case. The city of Oregon wanted to fine people sleeping in public parks and possibly put them in jail if they refused to comply, and the court said that was not "cruel and unusual" punishment. This case has its r...

Kids at Camp Rainbow Gold partake in a food fight. ( Camp Rainbow Gold) When it comes to making memories, there's no better place to do so than summer camp. But for kids with medical conditions, this experience can feel out of reach. Which is why the work that Camp Rainbow Gold does is so important. For over 40 years, the nonprofit has been creating opportunities for kids diagnosed with pediatric...

(Larry Reis / Flickr) When you think of fast-growing industries in Idaho, you might think of tech businesses or agriculture. But one of the fastest-growing industries and job markets is fish and wildlife, which employs more than 4,000 people in Idaho. These jobs include everything from wildlife conservation to fishing guides, manufacturing jet boats, scientists, and working in fish hatcheries. Sin...

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2023 Annual Report. ( USGS) Last year, four and a half million people flocked to Yellowstone National Park: a 37% increase over 2022. They came to camp to fish, watch the wildlife, and check out the thermal geysers that spew hot water and rock out of what is a very active geologic site. While Yellowstone seems like a summer playground, it's home to a lot of seismic...

A statue of Harriet Tubman at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Maryland. (Craig James) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on April 30, 2024. When it comes to American history, especially around the 1850s, two women stand out as lightning rods for dramatic change in society. Harriet Beecher Stowe's best-selling anti-slavery novel had a profound effect on how Whi...

Failure on board. (contrastwerkstatt/contrastwerkstatt) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on April 30, 2024. You may know Patrick Hinds as one of the voices behind the tremendously successful podcast " True Crime Obsessed ." What you may not know is that Patrick is also a self professed failure, something he looks at in his new book " Failure is Not NOT an Option ." He joined Idaho Ma...

Boise Airport (Boise Airport) This summer, many U.S. citizens are planning trips aboard. In fact, more people are set to travel overseas in 2024 than any previous year. So, if you're one of the lucky ones looking to take a trip, do you know what to do in case of a medical emergency? Dr. David Pate , former CEO of St. Luke's Health System, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about what you need to kn...

(Pauline / Flickr ) With the use of technology, more people than ever are being tricked out of their money and falling victim to scams. And one of these scams involves your pets, which is why the Idaho Humane Society is encouraging people to be cautious when it comes to communicating over the phone, especially if you've recently lost an animal . Kristine Schellhass, the Public Relations Manager fo...

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are visible over Lake Washington, in Renton, Wash. (Lindsey Wasson / AP) When conditions are just right, the dark night sky can light up with a curtain or ribbon of green light waving across the sky. These are the northern lights, and they happen when solar winds from the sun crash into the atmosphere, causing an eerie and awe-inspiring green glow. Dr. Eliz...