Idaho Reports

U.S. Fire Administration head Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell and principals of America’s national fire service organizations traveled to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, ID as part of a western tour acknowledging America’s fire problem. During the visit, Idaho Reports producer Ruth Brown sat down with Moore-Merrell to discuss her agency's work and what can be done to reduce fire risk and imp...

This past fiscal year, just like for everyone else, expenses rose for Idaho agriculture, up 20 percent. But good news: the industry saw even higher cash receipts and total revenues, with cash receipts up 28 percent, a record 11 billion dollars. University of Idaho associate professor Garth Taylor from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences joined Melissa Davlin in March at KUID in Moscow to...

National news has focused recently on federal court action regarding mifeprisone, a medication that can be used to facilitate abortion in early pregnancies. Reproductive rights reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris from States Newsroom joins Logan Finney this week to lay out the arguments in the cases, as well as how Idaho and our neighboring states are involved. Articles referenced in this episode: "In...

Election security and voter integrity have been at the top of lawmakers’ minds for several years now, and this session was no different. Secretary of State Phil McGrane joins Logan Finney to review which voting changes passed and which failed, and what voters need to know the next time they head to the polls. Plus, Bob Collier from the University of Idaho joins Melissa Davlin to discuss the state...

In March, lead producer Melissa Davlin sat down with Bob Collier from the University of Idaho’s Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences to discuss the state of veterinary medicine in Idaho, how our needs reflect the national trends, and what can be done to address the issue.

The legislature has adjourned for the year, but not before failing to override a veto on a controversial bill concerning content in libraries. But that isn’t the end of the conversation around materials deemed “harmful to minors” or obscene. This week, we take a look at the months-long debates over collection policies in Idaho libraries, and what more, if anything, those libraries should do to pre...

Melissa Davlin sat down in late March with the University of Idaho’s Markie McBrayer at KUID in Moscow to discuss the history of morality politics, as well as laws that use civilians to enforce policy in civil court.

The state of Idaho has become a thriving place for surrogacy, largely due to the fact that it did not have any laws governing the practice and allowed the industry to operate without any regulation. Last week, Gov. Brad Little signed a bill by Rep. Brooke Green, D-Boise, Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, which sets out legal processes and recognition of parental rights unde...

This week, lawmakers wrapped up their remaining work at the capitol and recessed to allow for any remaining vetoes. Dr. Jaclyn Kettler and Dr. Stephanie Witt from Boise State University’s School of Public Service and Kevin Richert from Idaho Education News join the pundits to discuss the politics of the week and the closing days of the legislative session.

Gov. Brad Little issued a surprising veto on Monday, rejecting the property tax bill that lawmakers have been working on all session. Specifically, Little pointed to how the bill would have changed the way Idaho handles its sales tax revenue, potentially jeopardizing millions of dollars in transportation bonding. It's a highly technical concern, so Margaret Carmel of BoiseDev joins Logan Finney to...

House party caucus chairmen Rep. Ned Burns and Rep. Dustin Manwaring talk about their new leadership roles and the end-of-session debates. Then, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News and Dr. Jaclyn Kettler of Boise State University’s School of Public Service discuss education budgets and debates, as well as a legal fight between the attorney general and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Lawmakers are eyeing the calendar to adjourn soon, but there are still issues and budgets to tackle. Logan Finney discusses the implications of a property tax relief bill with Quinn Perry from the Idaho School Boards Association. Ruth Brown talks to Ritchie Eppink from the ACLU of Idaho and Seth Grigg from the Idaho Association of Counties about a proposal to overhaul public defense in Idaho.

This week, the House passed a massive property tax proposal that sets aside more than $300 million for two projects: helping school districts pay down their existing bonds and levies, and providing tax credits for property tax payers who qualify for the homeowners exemption. The bill is a combination of three prior proposals from the House and Senate. The Senate Local Government and Taxation commi...

Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, has spent several years trying to bring a Clean Slate Act - legislation that allows for minor criminal offenses to be sealed or expunged - to Idaho. She sat down this week with producer Ruth Brown to talk about a bill that passed this year with overwhelming bipartisan support and the compromises it took to achieve it.

What happens when people decide to stop arguing and start listening? Philanthropist Greg Carr and Boise State University wanted to find a way to encourage people to engage in respectful listening, to get to know each other beyond labels or superficial impressions. Eleven ordinary Idahoans came to the BSU campus in fall 2022 to share stories about their lives in Idaho, and the audience had to agree...

This week, we take a look at the life and career of Gov. Phil Batt, who died Saturday, March 4th, on his 96th birthday. Then, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, Sen. Jim Risch, Gov. Butch Otter, and Gov. Brad Little join the show to share memories of their friend and mentor. Plus, Republican and Democratic leadership review the progress - or lack thereof - made so far this legislative session.

Former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt passed away this week, and will lie in state at the capitol before a public funeral. His former chief of staff Jeff Malmen joined Melissa Davlin to remember the former governor.

Idaho Reports examines a proposal to provide driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants. Then, Sen. Ben Adams, Sen. Scott Herndon, Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, and Rep. Lance Clow discuss what might be next in the school choice debate, and whether this is the year the Idaho Legislature will find a compromise.

The Idaho Senate rejected a high-profile education savings account proposal on a 12-23 vote after a lengthy debate on Monday. CEO Terry Ryan from the charter school nonprofit Bluum sat down with Logan Finney last week to talk about some of the issues he saw with the bill, the lessons he has learned from his career in the school choice policy arena, and what lawmakers should keep in mind as they ne...

According to the calendar set by legislative leadership, the lawmaking session is just over halfway done. This week, Governor Brad Little addresses reporters’ questions about the session so far. Then, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Abby Lee discusses removing ineligible participants from Medicaid and a bill she is sponsoring regarding mistreatment of vulnerable adults.

Election bills are surfacing this legislative session on many topics, from voter identification and absentee ballots to safety at the polls. Secretary of State Phil McGrane sat down with producer Ruth Brown on Tuesday afternoon to walk through some of the bills moving around the statehouse, and his priorities as the state's chief elections officer.

The Senate Education Committee has passed a bill to create education savings accounts. It's been described as school choice, education freedom, and of course, vouchers. Chairman Sen. Dave Lent and Sen. Lori Den Hartog join Logan Finney this week to talk about the $45 million proposal. Then, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News and Kaye Thornbrugh of the CDA Press discuss a recent request that Nor...

You're used to filling out liability waivers regularly in your everyday life, but thanks to a quirk in case law, those waivers are not enforceable in an Idaho court if they come from an outdoor recreation guide or outfitter. The Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee this week took up a piece of legislation that seeks to remedy the situation.

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel is the co-chair of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, which currently oversees the Office of Performance Evaluations. Associate Producer Logan Finney sat down with Rep. Rubel on Friday morning to discuss her opposition to a bill that would eliminate the committee, as well as her views on the Idaho Launch program and the Democrats’ impact on important House...

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel shares her concerns over some of this session’s proposals, including bills to change oversight of the Office of Performance Evaluations and to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Then, Rep. Wendy Horman and Sen. C. Scott Grow, co-chairs of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, discuss changes to how the committee will vote in the future.