Idaho Matters

( Idaho Department of Environmental Quality) A hundred years ago, Gilmore, Idaho was a thriving mining town in eastern Idaho, But once the silver played out, most people left, leaving behind a ghost town. The mines also left behind a deadly legacy , with high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil. In some spots, the lead level is 50 times higher than what is considered safe. Now the Idaho Departm...

Jennifer Ackerman next to an owl. ( Sofia Runarsdotter) When it comes to science, nature and birds, Jennifer Ackerman can tell you a thing or two. For over thirty years, she's been exploring mysteries of the natural world and breaking them down for people to understand. And if all that wasn't enough, she's also a New York Times bestselling author. Ackerman joined Idaho Matters to talk more about h...

Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger (R-Lewiston) during the first day of an ethics hearing into allegations he raped a volunteer staff member. (James Dawson / Boise State Public Radio) Jane Doe, the woman who was raped by former Republican State Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, has told her story to the radio program " This American Life ." In the May episode, Doe talked about her life and about what happened to her...

(Marvin Spencer / Flickr) Since the 1980s, most people who did not own a brand new car had to stop off every year at a car emission station, pay a fee and make sure their car passed a test. These tests were designed to lower the amount of pollutants coming out of your car’s tailpipe. The tests came after the Treasure Valley’s air quality dropped below federal standards. Now, the emission tests are...

(Richard Rodriguez / Boise State Public Radio) The University of Idaho's plan to purchase the for-profit University of Phoenix has been the focus of much criticism , especially from lawmakers and others who feel the process was rushed and too much of the planning went on behind closed doors. Since U of I president Scott Green got the green light from the Idaho Board of Education to sign off on the...

( G.P. Putnam's Sons) Author Annabel Monaghan is back with her newest novel, " Same Time Next Summer " and it's a wonderful summer beach read. Monaghan joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her most recent book.

(Etactics Inc / Unsplash) In Madison County, over 28 percent of adults live below the poverty level, in Ada County, more than 23 percent of adults have arthritis and in Washington County, ten percent of adults have been diagnosed with cancer. These are just some of the new health statistics that anyone can see thanks to a new tool from the University of Idaho that breaks down health data by the co...

(igor todorovic / Flickr) Two years ago, the Pacific Northwest experienced a record-breaking heat wave The extreme temperatures resulted in hundreds of fatalities and in Oregon's Multnomah County, 69 people died due to the heat. As a result, Multomah County filed a lawsuit against several fossil fuel companies, like Shell and Chevron, and coal-producing corporations, saying that their products pla...

(Mike Laren / Flickr) Gas prices in Idaho are calm at the moment, but AAA Idaho says now is just the quiet part of the movie, right before you hear the theme from "Jaws" playing in the background. Public and Government Affairs Director Matthew Conde joins Idaho Matters to explain why AAA Idaho is expecting a busy travel season this summer.

After 16 years of helping connect kids with bikes Jimmy Hallyburton is retiring from the role of director with the Boise Bicycle Project. ( Jimmy Hallyburton) Jimmy Hallyburton, the founder and director of the Boise Bicycle Project , is retiring. After 16 years of helping connect kids with bikes, Hallyburton is stepping down. He’s unsure what’s next, except for running for re-election as a Boise C...

(J. Stephen Conn / Flickr) It's been nearly one year since the overturning of Roe v. Wade , we take a look at the status of abortion in Idaho today. Also, the Idaho GOP party is gathering for a state central committee meeting, a Chubbuck woman has pleaded guilty to poisoning her husband , conservation groups are suing the U.S. Forest Service and a Boise city council member has announced he’s stepp...

Aidan Proctor stands in front a room in the cabin he's renting with roommates in downtown Ketchum. (Rachel Cohen / Boise State Public Radio ) Real estate prices in Ketchum skyrocketed during the pandemic. Now the community is trying to stop the bleed of local workers being priced out. One thing it's trying? Luring property owners with cash incentives if they start renting to locals. Rachel Cohen w...

Cows stand in a pen at a dairy farm. (Trevor Hagan / Bloomberg via Getty Images) Animal agriculture produces more methane than any other human activity in the United States. Climate experts say we need to cut those down now, but the science on livestock emissions is just emerging so it's not clear how to do that. KUNC's Rae Solomon reports for the Mountain West News Bureau on a group of researcher...

This month, the Senior Produce Program returned to the Caldwell Farm to Fork Market - providing fresh produce for free to seniors. Vegetables, fruits and eggs aren't the only perks for those participating: the community is too. Lindsey McConnell-Soong, the Health Equity Director for the University of Idaho and coordinator for the Senior Produce Program joined Idaho Matters to talk more.

( Kelsey Thomson) It's time for summer blockbusters, including a new Indiana Jones movie and another installment of Mission: Impossible. And if you want a more intimate movie experience, we've got a couple of documentaries to talk about. Resident movie critic and Morning Edition host George Prentice joined Idaho Matters for What to Watch.

(iStockphoto.com) A new study is showing that the COVID-19 infection can result in a new onset of hypertension, better known as high blood pressure. What does this mean for your health? Dr. David Pate , former CEO of St. Luke's Health System, joined Idaho Matters to help answer this question.

Arlie Sommer, 2022 (Arlie Sommer / Arlie Sommer) When storyteller Arlie Sommer was young, her grandmother would regale tales of Harriet “Babe” Hanson, dubbed the “Annie Oakley of Idaho.” Sommer crafted a short documentary called “Idaho Babe” and it was a minor sensation at this year’s Sun Valley Film Festival. It will be showcased in a free screening at the Idaho State Archives on June 24. Sommer...

( G.P. Putnam's Sons) Steven Rowley is the bestselling author of four novels. You may know him for his NPR best book of 2019, " The Editor " or " The Guncle ,” a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor and Goodreads finalist for novel of the year. He’s back with his latest novel, " The Celebrant s.” As one critic wrote, "The Big Chill, but make it Gen X and at least 30 percent more gay."...

States are taking an out provided by Congress to avoid cutting food stamp benefits to families, many of whom already depend on food banks like the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, Calif. (Antonio Mena / Courtesy of Alameda County Community Food Bank) Back in January, some food bank officials started warning about the end of a COVID-era program that sent extra support to food stamp re...

(SamPac / Flickr) Since 2006, C ATCH Idaho has been working to provide housing for families that are experiencing homelessness . However, when it comes to helping people get back on their feet housing is just part of the equation. Many people in these situations are also experiencing mental and physical challenges, which is why C A TCH is working to connect families with the health care they need....

"Cynthia Richards shows off her newly repaired juicer, which had given some 30 years of loyal service before an orange-heavy recipe brought it to a halt." ( Murphy Woodhouse / Boise State Public Radio) Repair Cafés have a simple goal: pairing people and their broken household belongings with tinkerers and tools to fix them, shrinking the flow of waste to landfills. The idea started in Europe but h...

Two grey parking meters sit side by side. ( Flickr Creative Commons) You’ve heard of road rage, but have you ever had an emotional reaction to losing a parking spot? Parking can evoke a visceral reaction in ordinary people, despite the fact there is more housing for each car in the United States than there is housing for each person. This is why the New York Times bestseller, " Paved Paradise: How...

(DanPink.com) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on February 22, 2022. Gemma spoke with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink about his book, "The Power Of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward."

( Penguin Books) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on February 7, 2022. Idaho Matters spoke with author Lizzie Damilola Blackburn whose novel "Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?" tells the story of a Nigerian British woman living in London. Along the way, the protagonist grapples with society’s standards of beauty and colorism, along with the and the ever-present pressure for women to sett...

(JB / TarcherPerigee) This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired in February 2022. Julie Bogart, author of " Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent's Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age " joined Idaho Matters to share some advice on how parents can help foster skills that will encourage their kids to think for themselves.