Idaho Matters

(riverotx / Flickr) The International Climbers’ Festival was held in our region recently, and it offered an unusual clinic focused on mentally visualizing climbing routes, rather than depending on sight. It featured a champion climber who happens to be legally blind. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hannah Habermann reports for the Mountain West News Bureau.

(iStockphoto.com) Every three years, Idaho hospitals conduct an assessment to help determine the states most urgent health needs . In the past, issues like obesity, mental health, affordable housing and job availability have been the biggest concerns. This year some of those concerns have changed, while others have stayed the same. Alexis Pickering, Program Manager of the Western Idaho Community H...

(Jacquie A. / Flickr ) Hurricane Hilary hit the western coast of California over the weekend. The remnants have been bringing torrential rains and some flooding as the storm moves up the United States. As we get hit by the storms leftovers we had to ask the question, is Idaho seeing the effects of a hurricane? We asked Jay Breidenbach to join Idaho Matters to help us answer this question.

(J. Stephen Conn / Flickr Creative Commons) Advocates for the Open Primary initiative will be gathering signatures this weekend, Idaho’s law restricting transgender athletes from playing sports has been put on hold, the Idaho Patient Care Act has been ruled constitutional and we take a look at how Medicaid unwinding has impacted children in Idaho. It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporte...

A goathead plant, with its spiny fruit visible in the center of the image. The fruits break into several nutlets, each of which contains seeds and has thumbtack-sharp spines. (Murphy Woodhouse / Boise State Public Radio) Getting a flat tire on your bike from a goathead is a summer time rite of passage in Idaho. These spikey plants are public enemy number one for many outdoor enthusiasts, which is...

(Boise State University) As Idaho colleges and universities gear up for another academic school year, we're sitting down with some of the heads of those institutions to find out what's happening in Idaho higher education. First up is Boise State President Dr. Marlene Tromp, who gave her annual State of the University speech Wednesdasy. She sat down with Morning Edition host George Prentice to talk...

( inciweb.gov) Wildfire season is always tough for those who do the grueling work. This year, federal firefighters are also facing the possibility of steep pay cuts. The Mountain West News Bureau's Murphy Woodhouse has the perspectives of several firefighters on this uniquely challenging summer.

( Boise School District) Across the nation, kids are suffering from a mental health crisis, experiencing increasing levels of anxiety and depression. And when it comes to looking at groups that are most at risk, reports found that students attending high performing schools fell into this category. This is an issue that Jennifer Wallace looks at in her debut book, " Never Enough: When Achievement C...

(RLT_Images/Getty Images) COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are on the rise in the United States, Europe and Asia. Health officials are pointing to the EG.5 Coronavirus, a subvariant of the Omicron lineage that originally emerged in November 2021. So what is this variant? What are the symptoms and what do we need to know about it? Dr. David Pate , former CEO of St. Luke's Health System, joi...

(MirageC / Getty Images) As yet another heat advisory blankets the Treasure Valley and much of Idaho , a team of climate action activists who are also Boise High School students say it’s not too late to turn back the tide. Isabelle Reis and Rylee Chung are co-chairs of Boise's Youth Climate Action Council and they sat down with Morning Edition host George Prentice to say not everything is unicorns...

(Brooke Burton / Boise Contemporary Theater) Next week, the Boise Contemporary Theater will be bringing playwrights, actors and directors together for the third annual BIPOC Playwrights Festival . The six-day event will include workshops and performances from a diverse set of voices, culminating in the production of two new plays, "The Life You Gave Me" and "Bridging the Gap," as well as a one man...

(Pamela Dorman Books<br/>) The New York Times Bestselling author of "The Couple Next Door" is back with her latest domestic suspense novel, " Everyone Here Is Lying ." Shari Lapena sat down with Idaho Matters to talk more about her most recent nail-biting thriller.

(jon.hayes / Flickr) This month, the first human case of West Nile virus was reported in Idaho. The infection is most commonly passed along by mosquitos and while some bites only lead to flu like symptoms, others can lead to serious illness. Dr. Leslie Tengelsen, the State Public Health Veterinarian, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the infection and how to help prevent it.

(Frankie Barnhill / Boise State Public Radio) School is starting all over Idaho and kids and teachers are getting ready for classes. The Boise School District kicks off their year on Aug. 16. Our Morning Edition host George Prentice sat down with two new principals from the district, Eva Meyerhoeffer, the new principal at Mountain View Elementary and Trevor McKenna, the new principal at Riverglen...

Brian "Fan Airnation" Dunn plays the air guitar. ( Photo courtesy of Brian Dunn) Back in May, we told you about Idaho's Air Guitar Champion and now he's heading to Finland to compete in the Air Guitar World Championships. Brian "Fan Airnation" Dunn has been competing with his invisible guitar on stage for eight years now and he's won the last two regional competitions. He's trying to raise enough...

( Riverhead Books) New York Times Bestselling author James McBride is back with a powerful and engaging new novel, " The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store ." He sat down with Idaho Matters to talk more.

Opening day at the Yellowstone National Park northern entrance on June 1, 2020. (Jacob W. Frank / National Park Service) For years, national parks have been running into the same issue: overcrowding. Now many other places, like wildlife refuges, state parks and shorelines are also experiencing this problem . And as people gear up for the last few weeks of summer recreation we wanted to find out mo...

The 2022 Albertsons Boise Open. ( Photo courtesy of the Albertsons Boise Open) It's almost time for the annual Albertsons Boise Open golf tournament, which draws a big crowd for folks who like to swing a club. But the event isn't just about golf, it's become well known for bringing big name musical acts to the Hillcrest Country Club and it set a new record last year for charitable giving . Idaho M...

The "Hidden Gems: Sun Valley Collects" exhibit at the newly renovated Sun Valley Museum of Art.<br/> (Dev Khalsa / Photo courtesy of the Sun Valley Museum of Art) The new head of the Sun Valley Museum of Art is making changes to the institution after a big renovation opened a new chapter at the museum. Jennifer Wells Green came to the Wood River Valley a year ago from the Hammer Museum in Lo...

(Tamanoeconomico / Wikimedia Commons) A look at the open primary ballot initiative , the Ada County jail is overcrowded, there's a growing divide in the Idaho Republican Party and an update on the Perpetua-Nez Perce lawsuit settlement. 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 headlines this past week. Our journa...

( Berkley) Just over a year ago people had a constitutional right to abortion in this country – a right that had been in effect for almost 50 years, until June 24, 2022 when that right was taken away. But this isn't a new chapter in our American history and just as people are fighting to get that right back today, so were a secret group of women back in the 1970s. Author Kerri Maher has returned w...

(Idaho Statesman) Readers of the Idaho Statesman found out today, August 4 that the newspaper is cutting back it's print edition to three days a week. Morning Edition host George Prentice sat down with Statesman Editor Chadd Cripe to find out more.

(Anna Wu / Flickr) Does this sound familiar: An adjuster knocks on your door, maybe after a big thunderstorm, they say they just replaced your neighbor's roof absolutely free. And they can do the same for you if you sign a contract right now, before their special deal expires, and without any references or proof they're insured. These are all roofing red flags that Idaho's Department of Insurance...

Gray Wolves in Idaho. (John M Jarvey<br/> / Flickr) Two years ago, the Idaho legislature passed a new law that makes changes to the way the state manages wolves. These changes are sparking controversy among many conservationists. In April, J. Dallas Gudgell made a plea to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to put wolves back on the endangered species list — citing the hundreds of wolves killed i...

( Kelsey Thomson) As Hollywood writers and actors remain on strike, the movie "Barbie" is breaking records around the world at the box office. Resident movie critic George Prentice joined Idaho Matters to give us the latest on the movie industry and help us figure out what to watch.