Idaho Matters

(SalFalko / Flickr) The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down some big decisions in the past few weeks. We told you about the case involving Idaho’s abortion law last week, and next week we’ll take a deep dive into their decision on camping and homelessness, a case that has its roots in Boise. Now we want to look at a couple of cases that will have profound effects on the presidency and federal rules...

(Elvert Barnes / Flickr) This year, Optimist Youth Football will be celebrating its 75th anniversary. As a nonprofit, the organization has helped to coach more than 70,000 young athletes, and this month they'll be adding to that number as they kick off their Kids Skills Camp . Jerrone Moore, president of Optimist Youth Football, joined Idaho Matters to talk more.

(Idaho Transportation Department ) Every day, thousands of people drive Highway 55, which connects the Treasure Valley to places like McCall, Cascade, and Garden Valley. And on summer weekends, the number of cars traveling the road can double as folks head up into and back out of the mountains. Construction projects on the roadway, including replacing the Rainbow Bridge , will slow things down thi...

(Ada County Elections ) In Ada County alone, the Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives got just 186 votes over his primary challenger in May. Another race in Ada County was even closer. Republican Chris Bruce was just 47 votes away from Melissa Durrant in the larger race for the District 23 state representative seat. And now, thanks to the new Ada County Ballot Verifier , anyone can inspec...

The federal government is sending billions of dollars to farms, cities, and tribes to help cut back on demand for water from the Colorado River, which is shrinking due to climate change. It set aside $157 million to pay cities in Arizona that offered to leave water in the nation’s largest reservoir. KUNC’s Alex Hager reports for the Mountain West News Bureau.

Members of the Caldwell High School cross-country and track team after a trail run at Bogus Basin. ( Alex Martinez) Following May's failed levy , the Caldwell School District has been left to make some big cuts, one of which includes the budget for Caldwell High Schools cross country and track teams. This means that starting next year, kids who wish to participate in the sport will now have to pay...

(Murphy Woodhouse / Boise State Public Radio) Western Display – which will put on Boise’s 4 th of July fireworks show again this year – is one of North America’s most successful pyrotechnics experts. “We put on approximately 300 shows throughout the year – about 200 of them for Independence Day,” said Heather Gobet, co-owner of Western Display. “Most of our shows, of late, are in Idaho, Oregon and...

Protestors stand in front of the Supreme Court while Idaho v. United States is argued. (Victoria Pickering / Flickr) The U.S. Supreme Court decided Thursday to send a lawsuit over Idaho's abortion ban back to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and said, for now, Idaho hospitals can perform abortions in medical emergencies . It's known as the EMTALA Case, and the justices did not rule on the merits o...

Construction takes place on the Teton Pass near Jackson, Wyo. (Natalie Behring / AP) The Teton Pass has reopened, there's a divide over education issues , U of I and Phoenix have requested an extension in their negotiations and we take a look at the latest on the Daybells . It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up to date on all the news that ma...

Downtown Boise ( Kelsey Thomson) It's no secret that the city of Boise has some ambitious climate goals as they work to make the community carbon neutral by 2050. Which is why they are enlisting the help of some of Idaho's most passionate activists, our youth. With $50,000 to invest in youth-led projects, the city is looking for proposals that will help make a difference in our community. Climate...

(John M Jarvey / Flickr ) If there’s a more controversial environmental subject than wolves in Idaho, we haven’t found it yet. When wolves were reintroduced into the Gem State almost 30 years ago, there were two very distinct sides: those who wanted them back and those who didn’t. Anger, prejudice, myths, truths, and above all, very strong feelings on both sides, have often made it feel like commo...

(<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/marydalloway/">Mary Dalloway</a> / Flickr) A few years ago, a Boise State University student uploaded a video on TikTok. He took what he called a cocoa bomb, put it in a cup, and poured hot water over it. As he did, the little ball of chocolate sprang open, and marshmallows and hot chocolate mix popped out, filling the cup with yummy goodness. Th...

(<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35175693@N07/">lennycarl08</a> / Flickr) Summertime means flowers, and flowers mean bumblebees! Big ones, tiny ones, black, white, and yellow — these insects play a huge role in our natural environment and in Idaho's agricultural industry. But how much do we really know about bumblebees? And how are they doing in Idaho? Armando Falcon , assistant...

An electron microscope view of the bird flu virus. (PR Newswire) Bird flu continues to be a problem in Idaho and around the country, where at least 20 dairy operations have been hit. Meanwhile, Finland is the first country to start handing out vaccines for the virus. The CDC has issued a health advisory for dengue fever in the U.S. And there’s a new, deadlier strain of Mpox spreading in the Democr...

The author of "Rive Ask Me Why," Shaun Griffin. ( Shaun Griffin) For some folks approaching their 65th birthday, it might be time to retire, slow down a bit, and spend time closer to home. But for Nevada writer Shaun Griffin, heading for his 70th decade meant jumping on his bike and taking a 1,000-mile ride from Portland, Oregon, to Jackson, Wyoming, with his two sons. The ride took them through t...

( HarperCollins) Many people may remember Lady Jane Grey as England's shortest ruling monarch, but a new television series, My Lady Jane , is giving history a bit of a rewrite. Asking the question: why can't the damsel-in-distress save herself? Cynthia Hand, co-author of " My Lady Jane ," joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the premiere of the series.

(Colby K. Neal / Bureau of Land Management) Those who try to stop or manage devastating wildland fires spend most of their time trying to adapt the forest using things like controlled burns or cutting down trees. But a new study says we should be spending our time and money making homes in these areas harder to burn down . That's a controversial idea for many who don't want to be told what to do w...

(Dante Filpula Ankne / KHOL) Just before 6 a.m., as the sun crested the Teton Mountains, a street sweeper rolled through empty roads in Driggs, Idaho. Two women — one dressed business chic, the other in a hoody — were getting onto the START commuter bus. Wendy Herrera settled into her seat for another three-hour commute. She casually chatted with the bus driver about the previous day’s delays. The...

(Idaho Department Of Lands / Idaho Statesman) Caldwell is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Since 2000, the city's population has almost tripled. As new residents pour in, decisions have to be made about everything from where to build new housing and businesses to transportation to how land should be zoned and used. These decisions are guided by a comprehensive plan that provides a...

(Idaho Transportation Department / Screenshot ) Next week is the Fourth of July holiday weekend, which means lots of people will be hitting the road in anticipation of their favorite fireworks shows. And while lower gas prices might make the drive more pleasant for some, people should keep in mind that temperatures will be on the rise, which can mean more hazards. Matthew Conde, Public and Governm...

The campus of Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho. (Charlie Litchfield / ASSOCIATED PRESS) Out in Southeast Boise, 11 cranes and hundreds of workers are building Micron's new computer chip fabrication plant. The project itself is huge and will employ 4,000 construction workers. They're making their own concrete at the site and crushing tons of rock. We wanted an update on the $15 billion expans...

Sabrina Sherwood offers a dog a treat. (Idaho Barkery / Genesis Photography) Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, pharmacist Sabrina Sherwood was standing in her kitchen, trying to come up with a treat for her dog Rocky. Rocky had allergies and couldn't tolerate commercial, store-bought treats, so Sabrina started cooking up peanut butter, applesauce and rice flour to find the perfect, preservative-fr...

This weekend, one historic home will be making a big move. Built in 1895, the John C. Rice House has had many people pass through its door, serving first as a home and then as a parsonage and Sunday school until being left vacant. Now, the Caldwell Housing Authority is breathing new life into the property, once again establishing the building as an important part of the community as it's relocated...

People beat the heat by floating the Boise River. (Sarah A. Miller / Idaho Statesman) As temperatures heat up, people are looking for ways to cool down and what better way to do that than on the Boise River . The river officially opens Thursday, June 27 for the 2024 float season. Doug Holloway, Director of Boise Parks and Recreation, and Bonnie Shelton, Communication and Marketing Superintendent f...

( Ashley Ahearn) Dorothy Moon was reelected as Idaho's Republican Party chairwoman, the Gem State is using a new business system , certain areas of the state are at higher risk of wildfire and construction on the College of Western Idaho's new expansion is underway. It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up to date on all the news that made headl...