Idaho Reports

As Idaho sits on a nearly billion-dollar budget surplus, Melissa Davlin sits down with Clark Corbin of the Idaho Capital Sun and Ruth Brown of Idaho Reports to break down what happened — and what didn't happen — at the first day of the annual Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee interim budget meeting. Read Ruth's coverage: https://blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2021/10/19/idaho-state-budgeting-...

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is asking Idahoans to answer an anonymous survey about how the pandemic has impacted their life and mental health. The survey is open through Oct. 31 and can be found online at coronavirus.idaho.gov/behavioral-health. Some hospitals in Idaho continue to use crisis standards of care, as unvaccinated COVID-19 patients flood hospital beds. Statewide, on Thur...

This week, producer Ruth Brown is joined by Audrey Dutton of the Idaho Capital Sun to discuss a complaint about the newest member of Central District Health’s board of health, Dr. Ryan Cole. Read Audrey's article here: https://idahocapitalsun.com/2021/10/11/it-should-be-stopped-idaho-medical-group-files-complaint-against-dr-ryan-cole/

The month of September marked a grim milestone with more coronavirus deaths in one month than any other month in the pandemic. The state of Idaho has now reported more than 3,000 coronavirus deaths statewide. In north-central Idaho, hospitals are reaching a breaking point. In Moscow, Gritman Medical Center’s COVID-19 patient care unit is at capacity, with the largest number of people with COVID-19...

This week, our producer Ruth Brown sat down Tuesday morning with reporter Ryan Suppe of the Idaho Press to discuss labor shortages across Idaho and how the pandemic has impacted those in the workforce. Then, Ruth and Logan Finney looked at workforce issues in specific sectors of state government. But first, on Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin wasted no time exercising her temporary gubernatorial...

COVID-related hospitalizations in Idaho continue to hit abnormal highs with hospitals operating under crisis care standards. On Thursday, 53 people were reported dead in one day due to COVID, setting a new single-day record, and the statewide death toll is now at more than 2,900 people. State officials continue to stress that the number of child infections is increasing. Weekly case counts are now...

This week, School Safety and Security Program Manager Mike Munger joins producer Ruth Brown to discuss a post-incident review report on the May 6 shooting at Rigby Middle School, which covers lessons learned from the incident and safety recommendations for all Idaho schools. The 11-page report can be found here: https://schoolsafety.dbs.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/106/2021/09/Rigby-MS-Lesso...

COVID-related hospitalizations in Idaho continue to reach record highs, with 760 patients hospitalized on Monday and more than 200 in the ICU. Additionally, more Idaho patients were ventilated this week than at any previous point in the pandemic, according to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare director Dave Jeppesen. Dr. Jim Souza, chief physician executive at St. Luke’s Health System, said pa...

In this half-hour special on the ripple effects of crisis standards of care, hear how the surge in COVID patients is affecting the regional trauma center and emergency department at Saint Alphonsus, and get a glimpse behind-the-scenes on the coordination it takes to transport and find beds for rural patients across Idaho.

This week, Keith Ridler of the Associated Press joined Logan Finney to discuss a central Idaho grazing lease that was purchased by a conservation group and approved by the Land Board this week. But first, the COVID-19 surge continues to flood Idaho hospitals. Idaho Reports is airing a half-hour special Friday on the implications of crisis standards of care, with an inside look at how Saint Alphons...

On Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced it had activated crisis standards of care statewide as hospitals in southwest and south central Idaho became overrun with COVID-19 patients, nearly all of whom are unvaccinated. The crisis standards of care designation allows hospitals to operate with higher nurse-to-patient ratios and helps providers prioritize which patients recei...

On Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced it had activated crisis standards of care statewide as hospitals in southwest and south central Idaho became overrun with COVID-19 patients, nearly all of whom are unvaccinated. Crisis standards for north Idaho have been in place since Sept. 6. The crisis standards of care designation allows hospitals to operate with higher nurse-to...

This week, Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press joins Melissa Davlin to discuss President Joe Biden's trip to Idaho where he visited the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise. They discuss the roundtable discussion with officials at NIFC, issues of transparency and media access, and the politics surrounding the event.

In this live special, Idaho Reports brings you up to speed as crisis standards of care have been declared for hospitals in the panhandle and north central Idaho. We are joined by healthcare representatives from across the state to discuss the statewide hospital crisis caused by surging COVID-19 cases in unvaccinated patients, and what that means for all Idaho patients in need of care.

Ten hospitals in north central Idaho and the panhandle have been authorized to operate under crisis standards of care since Monday, when Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene asked the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for the designation after weeks of being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. The crisis standards of care designation allows hospitals to operate with higher nurse-to-patient ratios...

This week, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News joins us to discuss how the spread of the Delta variant has shaped the beginning of the fall semester for K-12 students in Idaho. But first, on Tuesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced it had declared crisis standards of care for north Idaho, as mostly unvaccinated patients have overwhelmed hospitals. The declaration affects ten...

Hospital officials continue to implore Idahoans to get vaccinated as healthcare facilities are overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Staffing is stretched thin in hospitals throughout the state, and in the last week, the state has recorded more than 50 COVID-19 deaths, including multiple patients in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Nearly every ICU patient in Idaho is unvaccinated. But vaccine u...

This week, Logan Finney sat down with Idaho Capital Sun reporter Clark Corbin to preview the redistricting process that kicks off this week to draw new legislative and congressional district maps for future elections. But first, on Tuesday Gov. Brad Little announced the activation of up to 150 Idaho National Guard members to support health care facilities across the state, as hospitals are filled...

Hospitals throughout the state continue to see record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 patients, many of whom are ending up in the intensive care units. Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene has converted a classroom to a patient care space, and could request the state to declare crisis standards of care within the next few days. Crisis standards of care are declared by the state only when a region’s healt...

In this Idaho Reports special, we bring you the latest on the statewide hospital crisis caused by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. We are joined by healthcare representatives from across Idaho, so no matter where you’re listening, you’ll find out what’s happening in your part of the state.

The Idaho Supreme Court issued an opinion Monday ruling that a bill passed by the Idaho Legislature on voter ballot initiatives is unconstitutional. The high court found that initiatives and referenda are fundamental rights under the Idaho Constitution, and that the new law was a grave infringement on those rights. Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press joins Ruth Brown to break down the history and uni...

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials warned this week that hospitals are close to being overwhelmed by this current COVID-19 surge, which could lead to rationing of health care. To be clear, that could affect everyone seeking medical care in Idaho, not just those with COVID-19. The Division of Public Health warns Idaho is on track to see as many as 30,000 new cases a week by mid-Octobe...

This week, Ruth Brown is joined by Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen and Administrative Director of Idaho Courts Sara Omundson. They discuss recent recommendations made by the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, existing needs in the state behavioral health system, and what it will take to implement the recommendations moving forward.

The current COVID-19 surge has, once again, stressed the state’s hospital system. Two of Idaho’s major hospitals, St. Luke’s in southern Idaho and Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, have postponed non-emergency elective procedures that require overnight stays, and have reassigned nurses to help care for critically ill patients. COVID-19 ICU admissions are now at the same levels they were in Novembe...

Heat, drought and population growth have dominated Idaho headlines this summer. This week, the director of Boise State University's Lab for Ecohydrological Applications and Forecasting (LEAF) Dr. Alejandro "Lejo" Flores joined Melissa Davlin to discuss water's role at the intersection of those topics, ranging from agriculture, housing and land use planning to the future of climate in Idaho. Learn...