Idaho Reports

This week, Gov. Brad Little announced he is calling a special legislative session for September 1. The governor has proposed a wide-ranging piece of legislation that would provide record-setting tax cuts and investments in education. Alex Adams, the administrator for the Division of Financial Management, joins Melissa Davlin to discuss the proposal.

Ruth Brown is joined this week by Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press to discuss drafting disputes surrounding the tax effects of an education proposition set to be on the November ballot. Read the full story here: https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/claims-unfounded-why-school-funding-initiative-wouldnt-have-higher-than-advertised-price-tag/article_19a1992d-ac3a-5c20-8c8b-b64b0b26708f.html

Idaho Voices for Children director Christine Tiddens joins Melissa Davlin to talk about the new KIDS COUNT Data Book, an annual report that examines child wellbeing state-by-state in four indicator categories. This year's report shows that mental health challenges are still a struggle for Idaho youth, despite overall improvements over the past decade. View the full report here: https://www.aecf.or...

Idaho Governor Brad Little joins Melissa Davlin for a web-exclusive episode of Idaho Reports. They discuss Idaho’s abortion trigger law, the state’s ongoing budget surplus, high gas prices, the primary election system, marriage equality, education, highway safety, and much more.

COVID-19 numbers are again creeping up in Idaho and across the country, with test positivity rates above 15% in many parts of the state. Public Information Officer Katherine Hoyer from the Panhandle Health District joins Melissa Davlin to discuss the current COVID-19 wave, how it's different than previous ones, and how hospitals are coping.

Logan Finney is joined by Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner for a web-exclusive episode of Idaho Reports. They discuss INL's net-zero carbon emission goals, the lab's work in cyber security, and where nuclear power fits in global and regional energy policy.

Far-right gubernatorial candidate Ammon Bundy and his associate Diego Rodriguez did not appear in court Tuesday after failing to cooperate in a lawsuit filed by the state’s largest hospital system. Audrey Dutton of the Idaho Capital Sun joins Ruth Brown to discuss the origins of the case and the latest developments in court. St. Luke’s Health System and its providers filed a lawsuit against Bundy...

We're taking a break from the podcast this week in observation of the 4th of July holiday. In the meantime, visit idahoptv.org/idahoreports for links to all our coverage and to sign up for our weekly email newsletter.

Long-term construction projects are nothing new to Idaho residents, especially those who drive mountain roads where road engineering is a bit more complex. And the risk of rock slides makes competent engineering all the more critical. Earlier this week, Margaret Carmel and Autumn Robertson of BoiseDev.com released the results of a six-month investigation into major rockslides at a construction sit...

The Idaho Democratic Party held their annual state convention last weekend in downtown Boise. Rep. Colin Nash joins Melissa Davlin to discuss the convention, their newly adopted platform, and the health of the party.

Homeowners across the state of Idaho started receiving their property assessments last week, once again reigniting the state's conversation on property taxes. Mayor Dan Johnson of Lewiston, who is a state senator, and Mayor Kevin England of Chubbuck, who is the president of the Association of Idaho Cities, join Logan Finney this week to discuss rising property values, the taxes that come along wit...

Idaho made national news over the weekend for the Coeur d'Alene arrest of 31 men affiliated with the white nationalist group Patriot Front who law enforcement say planned to riot downtown. Logan Finney is joined by Coeur d'Alene Press reporter Kaye Thornbrugh to go over the incident and what has been learned since.

This week, Rachel Cohen of Boise State Public Radio joins Logan Finney to discuss a proposed wind farm in south-central Idaho that, if constructed, would be the largest wind facility in the state. As the federal government pushes for more domestic renewable energy production, Idahoans are mixed on supporting clean energy and job creation while voicing concerns about possible environmental and cult...

About a week after the May primary election, the Idaho Secretary of State's office announced a group of eight counties that would be examined in the first post-election integrity audit conducted by the state under a new law passed this legislative session. This week, elections directors Helena Welling from Bonneville County and Cy Lootens from Jerome County join Logan Finney to discuss what the au...

Idaho Reports is the longest-running public policy show in the West, and we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year! Many of the debates at the statehouse have stayed the same over the past five decades, but a lot has changed. Plus, Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News, and Chief Deputy Secretary of State Chad Houck discuss election audits and more.

News of a shooting this week at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX has drawn reactions across the country and the state, including protests by high school students in Boise. Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, FL in 2018, Idaho Reports talked to students protesting gun violence at the statehouse, then hosted a roundtable discussion with House Speaker Scott Bedk...

The dust settles after a long-fought primary that divided conservatives and drew national attention. Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press, Kevin Richert of Idaho Ed News, former Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, and Rep. Jason Monks discuss the factors behind Tuesday night’s wins and losses, including the seismic turnover in the Idaho House and Senate and what it means for the next legislative session.

Tuesday, May 17 was Idaho's primary election for statewide and legislative offices. Between the retirement of prominent lawmakers and defeat of multiple others, the Senate is going to be more conservative next year. No one in legislative leadership lost their primary races, though multiple committee chairs and vice chairs lost. No one section of the state was particularly worse for incumbents than...

Tonight on Idaho Reports, we take a look at the state’s booming economy and what it means for revenues. Plus, a preview of the Tuesday primary election, Republican infighting, and advice for Idaho families struggling to find baby.

This week, reporters James Dawson of Boise State Public Radio and Kelcie Moseley-Morris of the Idaho Capital Sun join Logan Finney ahead of next week's primary election for a dive into campaign finance reporting: who's raising donations, where is it all coming from, and why is it so difficult to keep track of it all? Read James's story: https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/202...

A leaked draft opinion indicates the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v Wade. If the court overturns the precedent, an Idaho trigger law would criminalize nearly all abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Rep. Brent Crane and Rep. Lauren Necochea discuss how Idaho might move forward once an opinion is finalized. Then, Marc Johnson provides a historical p...

This week, Idaho Department of Lands Fire Management Bureau Chief Josh Harvey joins Melissa Davlin to discuss the upcoming fire season, how the trends and statistics have changed in past years, and what individuals can do to avoid accidentally sparking a blaze this summer.

House Majority Caucus Chair Rep. Megan Blanksma looks back at the 2022 legislative session, and discusses how the upcoming primary election could change next year’s dynamics at the statehouse. Then, Stephanie Witt of Boise State University and Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press review the week’s statewide primary debates and heated races.

Power County Clerk Sharee Sprague and Oneida County Clerk Lon Colton join associate producer Logan Finney to discuss election security, voting policy at the legislature, and what county elections offices are doing to prepare for the 2022 spring primary. Find election information at https://voteidaho.gov/ Find candidate debates at https://www.idahoptv.org/elections/ Listen to our previous coverage...

Republican candidates for Idaho Secretary of State debate ahead of the May 17th primary election. Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane, Sen. Mary Souza, and Rep. Dorothy Moon answer questions from Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press, Ryan Suppe of the Idaho Statesman, and Kelcie Moseley-Morris of the Idaho Capital Sun, moderated by Melissa Davlin of Idaho Reports.