Idaho Reports

The House Transportation & Defense Committee passed a bill last week that would give the state authority over any long-term changes made to the block of streets around the capitol building. BoiseDev senior reporter Margaret Carmel joins Logan Finney this week to discuss why the bill has caught the attention and ire of local officials in Boise and Ada County. Read Margaret's story: https://boisedev...

After serving as the Idaho House Majority Leader for 16 years, Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, became Speaker of the House in December. Already, he’s trying to make some big changes, both in public policy and in how the legislature runs. He sat down with Melissa Davlin this week to discuss his vision for the legislature and the state in a wide-ranging interview covering property taxes, budgets, education...

Things are finally picking up at the legislature, with new proposals introduced on property tax relief, education savings accounts, and absentee voting. Plus, Idaho’s new House Speaker Mike Moyle discusses his vision for the legislature and the state in a wide-ranging interview covering property taxes, budgets, education, Medicaid, and much more.

The Idaho Division of Veterans Services operates several skilled nursing homes across the state and helps Idaho veterans access resources and services. Chief administrator Mark Tschampl joins Logan Finney this week to discuss the staffing challenges faced by his agency, and plans to renovate Idaho's state-run veterans homes.

It was education week at the statehouse, with budget pitches for K-12 and higher education. We look at some heated debates around funding needs across the state, including recruiting and retaining employees. Then, Idaho State University President Kevin Satterlee, College of Eastern Idaho President Rick Aman and College of Western Idaho President Gordon Jones discuss challenges in higher education.

Idaho's newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield joins host Melissa Davlin to discuss her budget presentation to JFAC this week, priorities for the legislative session, combatting pandemic learning loss, and the ongoing school choice debate.

Power substations across the U.S. have sustained attacks recently, leaving thousands without power. How vulnerable is Idaho and what’s being done to prepare for the future? Plus, Senate Majority Caucus Chair Mark Harris discusses administrative rules, and Kelcie Moseley-Morris of the Idaho Capital Sun talks about how Idaho GOP leaders’ priorities may differ from those of some Republican lawmakers.

Producer Ruth Brown sits down with Rep. Bruce Skaug, the new chairman of the House Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee, to discuss the issues that will come before the committee this session, which range from execution procedures and judicial appointments to gender-affirming care for transgender minors and mandatory minimums for drug crimes.

This week, producer Ruth Brown examines a report regarding abuse endured by Idahoans with disabilities and what the state could do to remedy the situation. Then, Chris Cargill of the Mountain States Policy Center and Alex LaBeau of the Idaho Association for Commerce and Industry join Melissa Davlin to discuss Gov. Brad Little’s legislative priorities.

It's the first week of the legislative session in Boise, and lawmakers are hitting the ground running. Associate producer Logan Finney speaks with Jayson Ronk, vice president for public affairs at Blue Cross of Idaho, about the different kinds of lobbyists at the statehouse and what the job entails.

Governor Brad Little lays out his priorities for the 2023 legislative session in the first state of the state and budget address of his second term. Melissa Davlin is joined by pundits Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News, Dr. Stephanie DeWitt of Boise State University and Alex Adams of the Division of Financial Management.

Idaho’s statewide officers are sworn in and lawmakers are busy gearing up for the session. This week, we get a preview of the governor’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session, as well as how well those goals mesh with what House and Senate leaders have in mind. Ruth Brown sits down with freshmen Reps. Jaron Crane and Soñia Galaviz, then David Leroy and Andy Brunelle discuss the historica...

Idaho's constitutional officers are sworn in, including Gov. Brad Little, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, Controller Brandon Woolf, and Treasurer Julie Ellsworth. Melissa Davlin discusses the significance of public inaugurations with former Lt. Gov. David Leroy and former Gov. Andrus staffer Andy Brunelle.

Just before the end of the year, the newly formed Mountain States Policy Center released the results of a public policy survey they conducted shortly after the November election. MSPC President Chris Cargill joins Melissa Davlin this week to discuss those results, as well as the think tank’s priorities for the legislative session that starts next week.

For decades, much of the discussion around higher education has focused on universities. But the Idaho Department of Labor is trying to show kids that there are other options, like apprenticeships, and they’re using a unique way to reach them. Kevin Richert joins us to discuss the latest news from North Idaho College, plus more about what the conversation around school choice might look like this...

Idaho is one of the only states that provides no general funds for local domestic violence services, and providers rely almost entirely on federal funding. This week, producer Ruth Brown explores funding challenges for rural domestic violence programs. Then, outgoing attorney general Lawrence Wasden joins Melissa Davlin to discuss his career and the transition to the incoming Raúl Labrador adminis...

Last week on the Friday show, we featured a segment about the environmental cleanup in the Bunker Hill Superfund site, which stretches all the way from the Montana state border in Shoshone County past the Washington state border in Kootenai County. To dig a little deeper into North Idaho’s Silver Valley this week, associate producer Logan Finney is joined by Idaho Public Television executive produ...

For the first time in a decade, the Idaho House of Representatives has a new speaker, and the rest of the lawmakers have their new committee assignments. Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News and Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press break down what that means for Idahoans. Plus, a new chapter in the decades-long effort to clean up historic mining waste in the Bunker Hill Superfund site.

This week, the Idaho Legislature convened in Boise for an organizational session at the state capitol in preparation for the 2023 session. Associate producer Logan Finney spoke with several newly elected members about their experiences transitioning from candidate to legislator, what they learned this week at orientation, and what they expect to see during the session in January.

It’s no surprise that if you’re in rural Idaho and get hurt, it may take a while for first responders to get you to a hospital. But some EMS directors say Idaho’s policies on funding emergency medical services are making it even more difficult for them to help Idahoans. This week, we explore funding for emergency medical services in rural Idaho, and what policy changes might help those communities...

This week, producer Ruth Brown is joined by Director Lee Flinn of the Idaho Crisis & Suicide Hotline to discuss the state's transition from the existing suicide hotline to the new nationwide crisis number 9-8-8. They discuss the resources available for Idahoans who call the new behavioral health crisis line, the increased call volume seen since the launch of the new number, and the next steps for...

This week, Betty Richardson, Ken Burgess, and Jaclyn Kettler of Boise State University join Melissa Davlin to break down congressional, statewide and legislative election results. Our panelists look at Tuesday’s election outcome and what those results say about the political climate in Idaho. We’ll also hear from winning statewide candidates about their visions for the state in the next few years.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little addresses supporters at the Idaho Republican Party election night celebration Nov. 8, 2022 in downtown Boise.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo addresses supporters at the Idaho Republican Party election night celebration Nov. 8, 2022 in downtown Boise.

Tuesday, November 8th, follow Idaho Reports online for live coverage of the general election.  The Idaho Reports team will be on the ground throughout the day bringing you updates online. Plus, statewide and legislative results after the polls close, and political analysis of what it means for our state.