Idaho Matters

Every day, 26,000 cars drive up and over Interstate 84 on the Five Mile Overpass in Boise . The bridge was built in 1966 and has two narrow lanes that carry travelers from Overland Road to Franklin. It's the only freeway overpass in Boise that has not been rebuilt to make it safer and more bike- and pedestrian-friendly. The Ada County Highway District is planning to replace the bridge while wideni...

Kristen Beaver, Piper Bevis and Charlotte Van Orden take part in "SOARING" an Open Arms Dance Project. (Gregg Mizuta / Open Arms Dance Project) For more than a decade, the Open Arms Dance Project has been bringing people of different ages and abilities together for one purpose: to create joy through art. And this year is no different, especially as the company gears up for their end-of-season perf...

(Roam Yocham / Boise State Public Radio) Idaho is pushing back against new Title IX rules , primary races in the state are heating up , a lawsuit has been filed over the blocked sale of the Idaho Transportation Department and signatures for Idaho's open primary ballot initiative have been submitted, It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up to da...

(tatranka 7 / Flickr) Just like water managers here in Idaho, officials in the seven states that use the Colorado River are turning their eyes to the mountains to get a sense of the summer water supply. That river gets two-thirds of its water from snow in Colorado, which is just starting to melt. KUNC's Alex Hager follows the springtime flows for the Mountain West News Bureau.

Freedom of expression has been recognzsed as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights">human right</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_human_rights_law">international human rights law</a> by the <...

Every spring, students plant thousands of plants, everything from tomatoes to peppers to flowers and herbs, as part of horticulture classes at Boise area high schools. The kids grow the better known varieties of plants like Romas and Beefsteak, but they also get to experiment with tomatoes with names like Boxcar Willie, Siberian Cool Weather and Brandywine Pink. The Borah High greenhouse is full o...

( The Open Field) Have you ever asked yourself this question or something similar: What makes a good life? Well, some professors at Yale University are tackling that question in a course that's become one of the most popular on campus, and they've written a book about it. It's called " Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most ." Ryan McNally, the associate director of the Yale Center for Fa...

Wolves howl in a forest. (John Flesher / AP Images) Months after wolves were reintroduced to the Colorado landscape, they’re expanding their range and generating buzz. Thousands are tracking them on social media and wildlife photographers are planning summer excursions to see them. Could this mark the beginning of a new tourism attraction? KUNC’s Scott Franz reports for the Mountain West News Bure...

( Hannah Barefoot) For the past two years, Wyoming tourism advocates have tried to pass a film rebate incentive program through the state legislature . Filming in the state has its challenges, mainly because it does not offer financial incentives for filmmakers like other surrounding states including Montana, Utah, and Colorado. Although this year a film rebate incentive program wasn’t introduced...

An Idaho Matters couple sent us this picture from their backyard in the East End of Boise where a pair of ducks often drop by for a drink and a quick bath. (Listener photo / Idaho Matters) There's a whooping cough outbreak in North Idaho, Bird Flu is spreading and may have hit a third Idaho dairy and EMTALA arguments have been heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. David Pate , former CEO of St. Luk...

A statue of Harriet Tubman at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Maryland. (Craig James) 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 White people saw African Americans that some say helped lead to the C...

Failure on board. (contrastwerkstatt/contrastwerkstatt) 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 Matters to talk more about his new book and tour.

What do you think of when you hear " Craters of the Moon National Monument ?" Maybe a hot, rocky landscape. A gray, empty, volcanic area where nothing grows and plants can't survive. Well, it turns out a lot of plants can survive in this desert in Eastern Idaho, and Dr. Lynn Kinter knows firsthand. She's been studying plants for more than 35 years. Dr. Kinter is an adjunct graduate faculty member...

( Berkley) Readers fell in love with author Nikki Payne's debut novel, " Pride and Protest ," a retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." It got all kinds of buzz, from Ebony Magazine to Oprah Daily. Now Payne is back with her latest novel, " Sex, Lies and Sensibility ," a modern re-working of Austen's "Sense and Sensibility." She joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her new release.

( John Bieter) Throughout Idaho, there is a rich history of Basque culture, a piece of which can be found in many of the forests across Idaho in the form of tree carvings. Known as arborglyphs, these markings were commonly left by sheepherders, providing a glimpse into the past of an often overlooked population. And for years now, Boise State University professor John Bieter has made it a priority...

(timber1212 / Flickr) Though Idaho is still experiencing a bit of cold weather, the song of migrating birds is proof that spring is in the air. And as the days continue to get longer, we'll start to see more of these returning travelers in larger numbers. From cranes to swans to swallows, birds big and small are making their way back to the Gem State, some traveling thousands of miles—a journey th...

A temporary memorial featuring Deputy Tobin Bolter’s patrol vehicle is set up in front of the Ada County Sheriff's Office (7200 W. Barrister Dr in Boise). Star Police, Kuna Police and Eagle Police substations also have dedicated memorial spots. ( Ada County Sheriff's Office / Facebook) A memorial service will soon be held for Deputy Tobin Bolter , the signature deadline for open primary supporters...

(Berkley ) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on March 18, 2024. New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray is back with a look at one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, Frances Perkins. It's a name you may not be familiar with, but you should be. Dray joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her new book, " Becoming Madam Secretary ."

(Practical Cures / Flickr) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on November 16, 2023. With ADHD and other diagnoses on the rise, today's youth are experiencing chronic levels of anxiety and depression. That's why it's important to make sure these children feel supported and understood.   Dr. Sharon Saline is a licensed clinical psychologist, an award-winning author, and a top expert on A...

( Disney Hyperion) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on March 4, 2024. New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson is back with his latest installation of the Kingdom Keepers series and he joined Idaho Matters to talk about his newest book.

(Theknightcenter / Flickr) Last month, Saltzer Health officially closed their doors, leaving many employees, doctors and patients scrambling. Dr. David Pate, the former CEO of St. Luke's Health System, joined Idaho Matters to take a look at the gap this has left in the Gem State's health care, as well as the latest public health concerns that are making headlines.

(Jenna Maurice / Tor Books) Vampires, magic, faustian bargains ... author Victoria Schwab has written about it all. She's penned over 20 books and has an incredible following of readers. She joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her creative process and what readers can expect to see from her next.

(Katherine Blunt) It has been close to 9 months since the deadly fire in Maui destroyed the town of Lahaina and it’s been five years since a fire decimated the town of Paradise, California. Could an aging utility infrastructure, along with wildfire risk, be a major culprit behind these disasters? Wall Street Journal reporter and author of the book “California Burning " Katherine Blunt joined Idaho...

( Berkley) Jane Austen's classic second change romance novel, "Persuasion" is getting a modern twist in author Melodie Edwards new novel, " Once Persuaded, Twice Shy ." She joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her latest release.

( Algonquin Books) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on February 6, 2024. You may know Ayesha Rascoe from her ten years of reporting for Reuters News Agency or from her time as a White House correspondent covering three different presidents, or maybe she wakes you up on Sundays as the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday. But before she started her career as a political reporter, she...