Idaho Matters

(Brandie B. Minchew / Flickr) It’s always been a challenge for musicians to get their songs played on the radio, especially if their music doesn’t fall into a handful of popular categories that dominate the radio dial. But the internet has opened up new avenues for artists who couldn’t find a home in the past. Jake Santiago wanted to find a way to showcase artists, especially Idaho musicians. So h...

(Lacey Daley / Boise State Public Radio) The Boise Police Chief is asked to resign, a former Boise Police captain is confirmed to have made numerous racist comments along with participating in a conference for white supremacists, prompting an investigation into those allegations. Now, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has put the Director of Police Accountability on administrative leave . BoiseDev.com has...

It’s the first week of December and we’ve already have some pretty good snowstorms, which have caused havoc with driving conditions. The Nampa Street Division has a fleet of snowplows ready to take on the white stuff this year and for the very first time, those snow plows have names. Nampa held a name-that-snowplow contest and elementary students from around the city got to pick names like “Frosty...

(Frankie Barnhill / Boise State Public Radio) As temperatures drop and Idaho starts to see more snow, some trails are being closed to help protect popular recreation spots within the Boise Foothills. Boise Parks and Recreation Director, Doug Holloway, joins Idaho Matters to talk more about the closures and why they're important.

Julia Tai is one of the most dynamic young conductors on stages across the planet, conducting in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico and here in the Northwest – Seattle. Plus, she's the music director of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and much more. Tai will be conducting the Boise Philharmonic for this year's holiday performances of Messiah. She sat down with our Morning Edition host G...

( J. Stephen Conn / Flickr) Next year’s session of the Idaho legislature will look very different after November's election replaced almost half of the 105 legislators at the Idaho statehouse. That could make for a very dynamic legislative session, at a time when lawmakers will be looking at a variety of issues that will affect all Idahoans. Boise State Public Radio News Reporter James Dawson join...

( Brian Myrick / Idaho Press) For anyone who follows the Idaho Legislature, the Eye on Boise blog is an invaluable tool for keeping up with Idaho politics. The blog can be found online at the Idaho Press and the reporter behind it, Betsy Russell, often writes dozens of blog posts each day when the legislature is in session. The rest of the year, she keeps up on every aspect of Idaho news. Last mon...

On flight day 11, NASA’S Orion spacecraft captured imagery looking back at the Earth from a camera mounted on one of its solar arrays. The spacecraft is currently in a distant retrograde orbit around the Moon. ( NASA Office of Communications) Back in August, NASA launched its first flight of the Artemis I mission , hoping to re-establish the presence of American astronauts on the moon so they can...

For 16 years, the Boise Bicycle Project has been making dreams come true through the Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway . This year, they still need your help to make sure each child who is dreaming of a bicycle this holiday season gets one. Jimmy Hallyburton and Devin McComas of the Boise Bicycle Project joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the giveaway.

Bouquets of flowers sit on the ground in front of the University of Idaho sign after four students were found dead. (Richard Rodriguez / Boise State Public Radio) An update in the Michael Vaughan case , welfare checks increase at the University of Idaho, Gem state moves to dismiss Satanic Temple abortion lawsuit and an anti-SLAPP law may be necessary to help protect free speech. It’s Friday - whic...

Every year, more than 3,000 birds get a second chance at the Ruth Melichar Bird Center in Boise. The bird rescue and rehabilitation center takes in injured birds and nurses them back to health so they can be released back into the wild. Baby birds who end up at the large renovated barn are raised by volunteers who must feed them every 30 minutes, 12 hours a day! These baby western kingbirds were r...

( Jenna Damron) Last year in Idaho, over 152,000 people were experiencing food insecurity according to the Idaho Food b ank . Unfortunately, many of those same people do not qualify for government programs, like food stamps, due to their income. Groups like the Boise Kitchen Collective are working to help fill that gap. Jenna and Seth Damron joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the importance o...

A female Cassia Crossbill in the South Hills (Craig Benkman / Courtesy of Craig Benkman ) A bird that only lives in Idaho was already thought to be heading toward extinction when a large wildfire burned much of its territory a few years ago. As Rachel Cohen reports , researchers are now trying to assess the damage.

Thousands of birds have flown over our region as they migrate south but bird watchers are noticing fewer species and fewer birds than last year. Emma Vandeneinde of the Mountain West News Bureau looks into the trend, she started by joining bird watchers on a recent hike.

(Boise Police Department / Facebook) We want to bring you an update on a story we brought you last week about racist rhetoric from retired Boise Police captain Matthew Bryngelson. He recently spoke at the American Renaissance Conference in Burns, Tennessee. The organization’s website is part of the New Century Foundation which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls “a self-styled think tank that pr...

A health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. (Lynne Sladky / AP) Central District Health says a local high school student has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Health officials say the student attends Centennial High School, and the department is investigating and sending letters to anyone who may have had close contact. According to officials, there is no on-going risk f...

(Lucia / Flickr) With Thanksgiving behind us, many people’s thoughts turn to Christmas and putting up the tree. Lindsay Schramm, the owner of the North End Organic Nursery, says that gone are the days of buying your tree on Christmas Eve as she expects all her trees to be long gone by then. Schramm spoke with our Morning Edition host George Prentice about the Christmas tree industry and how sustai...

(Sean Gallup / Getty Images) The holidays are fast approaching which means gift shopping is in full swing. During this season many local businesses desperately depend on this time of year and the earnings they make, which often helps them into the next year. Cary Fortin and Cara Oppenheimer, Co-founders of goodbuy joined Idaho Matters to talk more about some innovative ways to support local throug...

( David Seibold / Flickr) It’s one of those topics nobody likes to talk about, but millions of Americans have issues like urinary incontinence or an overactive bladder. November has been dubbed “Bladder Health Month” to try to get more people to talk about these common problems, and find resources to fix them. Dr. Jennifer Gruenenfelder is a urologist with St. Luke's in Boise, Meridian and the Woo...

The Great Salt Lake is drying out, the lake reached record lows this year and Utah lawmakers are scrambling for solutions. One key factor in protecting the water will be preserving the largest river that feeds the lake. The Great Salt Lake isn't the only one drying up though, so is the Colorado River. Communities that rely on the river are already feeling the pinch. Many large cities throughout th...

( City of Good) Since 2020, the nonprofit City of Good has provided over 80,000 meals to Idaho residents experiencing food insecurity. Today they are continuing to support community needs with a sustainable food system . Britt Udesen, Executive Director of City of Good joined Idaho Matters to talk more about their work.

(Amanda Peacher / Boise State Public Radio) Last week the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the latest arguments in a case involving Idaho's law that bans trans athletes from competing on sex-segregated teams . The law was passed in 2020 but a Federal District Court judge put it on hold that same year after a Boise State University student filed a suit against it. The case has devolved into an...

( One Refugee) So far this year, over 1,200 refugees have resettled here in Idaho according to the Idaho Office for Refugees . Among those resettling are students. When it comes to pursuing a higher education many students run into similar challenges, from student debt to the cost of living. But for students resettling into a new country and culture, there are often even more barriers. That's wher...

( Owyhee Motorcycle Club) The Owyhee Motorcycle Club has been around since 1935 helping develop the sport of off-road motorcycle racing in Idaho. Since 1946 riders have trained and competed on a track in the Boise Foothills, yes the foothills, providing 80 acres of land for pro-racers and up-and-comers alike. Now the club has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places , the first one...

( Chelsea Harada) Story Story Night returns on Nov. 29 with a feast for the senses. The show's 13th season will kick off with an exploration of taste , from finger-licking good food to cocktails. Head chef of KIN, Kris Komoro along with Craft Bartender Aisling Gammill and Artistic Director of Story Story Night Jodi Eichelberger joins Idaho Matters to talk more about the upcoming show and what we c...