Idaho Reports

Break: Happy Thanksgiving! by Idaho Public Television

In this extended conversation, Braden Jensen from the Idaho Farm Bureau and Rick Naerebout from the Idaho Dairymen’s Association discuss challenges facing agriculture producers in Idaho.

This week, we explore Idaho’s veterinarian shortage and how it affects Idaho’s ranchers. Braden Jensen from the Idaho Farm Bureau and Rick Naerebout from the Idaho Dairymen’s Association discuss other challenges facing ag producers, and Irene Ruiz of the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils shares how discussions of mass deportations are affecting farmworkers and their families.

Robin Fox, a service hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane, lays out how ongoing drought conditions up north have impacted regional agriculture and the winter recreation season. U.S. Drought Monitor for Idaho: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx? ID

Idaho has 44 counties, and where you die can have a big impact on the investigation into your death. Audrey Dutton of ProPublica and Casey Petti from the Office of Performance Evaluations discuss Idaho’s coroner system, the lack of oversight, and how that can sometimes adversely affect families. Then, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News brings us up to date on school bonds and levies and more.

Newly named director Ryan Langrill of the Office of Performance Evaluations discusses taking over the helm of the legislature's independent watchdog agency, and recent policy changes that have resulted from their work.

This week’s election saw big wins for Republicans across the nation, and Idaho was no exception. That includes a huge defeat for Proposition One. Latah County Republican precinct committeewoman Cindy Agidius, Latah County Treasurer BJ Swanson, and University of Idaho professor Markie McBrayer discuss the results, as well as the implications for public policy moving forward.

Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane reviews our 2024 general election administration from the Idaho GOP watch party in Meridian.

Tuesday’s election isn’t all about the race for the White House. We review a handful of competitive legislative districts with pundits Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News and Stephanie Witt and Jaclyn Kettler from Boise State University’s School of Public Service. Then, Secretary of State Phil McGrane joins us to discuss early voting, and preparations for an anticipated massive election turnout.

Fire Bureau Chief Josh Harvey from the Idaho Department of Lands joins associate producer Logan Finney to discuss this year in wildfire and the long term trends as Idaho's population continues to grow.

Melissa Davlin sits down with Luke Mayville, spokesperson for Idahoans for Open Primaries, and Rep. Brent Crane, House State Affairs Committee chairman, to discuss their philosophical stances regarding Proposition One.

We dive deep this week into Proposition One – what it would do, what it might cost, and what supporters and opponents are saying.

With the 2024 election less than three weeks away, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane explains a constitutional amendment appearing on the ballot. Then, we sit down with Idaho’s Democratic congressional candidates Kaylee Peterson and David Roth. Plus, we visit Twin Falls where the Idaho State Department of Agriculture is working to eradicate invasive quagga mussels from the Snake River.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture returned to Twin Falls this October to continue treating the Snake River after detecting quagga mussels last year. Associate producer Logan Finney speaks with ISDA Director Chanel Tewalt about the eradication campaign, Idaho's multi-agency approach to managing quagga mussels, and impacts on the rest of the river.

With less than 30 days to go until the 2024 election, associate producer Logan Finney spoke with Ada County Clerk Trent Tripple about absentee voter turnout, election integrity measures, and an innovative new tool that makes every ballot in the county publicly visible.

Idaho legislators have made only minor changes to the state's abortion laws since the U.S. Supreme Court restored their power to regulate abortion. Lead organizer Melanie Folwell with Idahoans United for Women & Children sits down with associate producer Logan Finney to explain the early drafts of a voter initiative that seeks to put a new abortion law on the ballot in 2026, as well as the next st...

President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is no longer seeking reelection this November. Now, the Democratic Party has swiftly aligned behind Vice President Kamala Harris as their new nominee. Associate Producer Logan Finney sits down with delegate Rep. Lauren Necochea, chair of the Idaho Democratic Party, to discuss the race and what comes next at the DNC in Chicago.

Former president Donald J. Trump has selected U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate in the 2024 election. Idaho delegate Theo Wold joined Melissa Davin on Thursday from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to discuss what a Vance vice presidency might mean for Idaho and for the Republican Party.

Idaho state law now requires "reasonable age verification methods" on adult websites to prevent minors from accessing pornography and other harmful content. Associate producer Logan Finney sits down with Molly Buckley, a legal fellow at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, to learn about these verification tools and the privacy concerns that arise with collecting sensitive personal data online.

Break: July 4, 2024 by Idaho Public Television

Associate producer Logan Finney sat down with Charlie Hunt of the School of Public Service and Jen Schneider of the College of Innovation and Design at Boise State University to share what happened this year at the Idaho Republican Party Convention. The Big Tent is a public affairs radio show on Radio Boise hosted by School of Public Service faculty at Boise State University. Learn more: https://w...

In observation of the Juneteenth federal holiday, we're re-airing "Race and the Gem State," an Idaho Reports special produced in June 2020 as communities across the nation protested against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd. The episode discusses the role of protests and vigils in effecting change, as well as the history of anti-black racism in Idaho.

The Idaho Republican Party 2024 Convention is underway in Coeur d'Alene where delegates will consider resolutions, platform updates and rule changes. Associate producer Logan Finney spoke with Mary Souza and Dorothy Moon, the two candidates for party chair, about their motivation to run and their visions for the party.

Joining the podcast this week is Alex Adams, the new director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. He has served for the past five years as budget director for Gov. Brad Little, and now he takes the helm at one of the largest – and most expensive – state agencies. Associate producer Logan Finney discusses Adams’s first week on the job, his actions to streamline adoption and foster care p...

The results from Idaho's spring primary are official. The Idaho Board of Canvassers — made up of the Secretary of State, State Controller and State Treasurer — met Wednesday in Idaho Falls to certify the results of the May 21st primary election and review post-election audit findings. Several four-person auditor teams from the Secretary of State's Office spent the week ahead of the state canvass c...