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The longest-running public policy show in the West, Idaho Reports turns a spotlight on the statehouse during the legislative session. Dedicated to political analysis and in-depth reporting from around the state. Subscribe for regular episodes and bonus content on the important issues affecting all Idahoans. © Idaho Public Television | Idaho State Board of Education, an agency of the State of Idaho
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Break: Happy Thanksgiving! by Idaho Public TelevisionIdaho Public Television
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There are two major factors that determine the cost of living: How much things cost, and how much people earn. This week, associate producer Logan Finney explores how the state’s Workforce Housing Fund contributes to solving the affordable housing puzzle. Then, president Gordon Jones from the College of Western Idaho discusses a new four-year degre…
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Communities all over the state are grappling with housing affordability, but the sheer variety of programs that are available to support it can be overwhelming. Marketing and communications director Jason Lantz from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association sits down with associate producer Logan Finney this week to discuss how IHFA supports afford…
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Tens of thousands of Idahoans who are elderly or have disabilities rely on direct care workers to live independently, but there’s a shortage of them. We take a look at the impact of that shortage, and what the state could do to help. We also follow lawmakers on a tour of the South Idaho Correctional Institution. Then, Kevin Richert from Idaho Educa…
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Ada County voters narrowly missed the 2/3 majority needed to pass a jail expansion bond in Tuesday's local election - but it's a familiar story for many counties across the state. Associate producer Logan Finney talks with jail administrator Capt. Doug Hughes from the Twin Falls Sheriff's Department about what a failed jail expansion bond means for…
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U.S. Attorney for Idaho Josh Hurwit and Idaho State Police Col. Kedrick Wills discuss the state and federal governments’ efforts to stop fentanyl trafficking and overdose deaths in Idaho. Plus, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch provides an update on efforts to stop the Lava Ridge Wind Project, and House Speaker Mike Moyle once again expresses frustration about t…
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The proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project in remote Jerome County would add hundreds of wind turbines to public land as part of President Biden's clean energy initiative. But the proposal faces fierce opposition from Magic Valley residents, county commissioners and the Idaho Legislature, with concerns ranging from land conservation to preserving the int…
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This week, in the first episode of Season 52, producer Ruth Brown travels to the Nez Perce and Coeur d’Alene reservations to explore the high rate of missing and murdered indigenous people. Then, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News discusses upcoming school elections and the latest in the Attorney General’s lawsuit against the State Board of Educ…
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Division of Financial Management administrator Alex Adams joins Logan Finney to discuss the latest round of state revenue numbers, and what they tell us about the current economic picture for Idaho.Idaho Public Television
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Rising land prices in the growing regions of Idaho don't just affect the cost of housing — they also impact how much it costs for the Idaho Transportation Department to widen a highway. Senior reporter Margaret Carmel from BoiseDev joins Logan Finney to discuss her analysis of highway right-of-way prices and how it's affected local project planning…
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We still have an entire 2024 legislative session before the next Republican primary — but that hasn't stopped a pair of organizations from announcing their support for certain legislative candidates all across the state. Kevin Richert from Idaho Education News joins Logan Finney this week to break down the competing slates of candidates, as well as…
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Applications opened this week for Idaho Launch, the new state grant program for Idaho high school graduates to pursue training for certain in-demand careers. Workforce Development Council executive director Wendi Secrist joins Logan Finney to talk about the opportunity available to students, what constitutes an "in-demand" career, and just how much…
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The Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced last week the presence of invasive quagga mussel larvae in the Snake River near Twin Falls. Director Chanel Tewalt joins Logan Finney to discuss what this means for Idaho and the state's response plan. Find more information at http://www.idaho.gov/quagga…
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Boise State University professor Dr. Laura King joins Ruth Brown to discuss a recent research study about the victimization of people with disabilities in Idaho. King and her team surveyed service providers and offered recommendations to improve accessibility and service provision for people with disabilities and for victims of crime, abuse, neglec…
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Coeur d'Alene Press reporter Kaye Thornbrugh joins producer Ruth Brown this week to discuss the ongoing dispute between the board of trustees and the president at North Idaho College, and where the situation sits against the backdrop of NIC's current accreditation review.Idaho Public Television
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The Idaho Department of Labor had a lot of unanswered questions about labor trends and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic - so they surveyed businesses across the state to ask them. Department of Labor regional economist Matthew Paskash joined Logan Finney this week to talk about the first annual Business Climate Survey and its findings.…
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Patrons of the West Bonner County School District turned out en masse this Tuesday and voted to recall two members of the school board after months of tension in the district. Kevin Richert from Idaho Education News joins Logan Finney to break down the results and what they mean.Idaho Public Television
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America's mutton consumption has increased over the past decade, and the sheep that provide that meat also provide wool and graze the rangelands of the West. However, since the U.S. joined the North American Free Trade Agreement in the 90s, domestic lamb and mutton production has declined 60% while imports have increased over 500% in the same time …
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This week, Idaho Capital Sun reporter Kyle Pfannenstiel talks with producer Ruth Brown about a new residential facility that the Idaho Youth Ranch plans to open. It's the first in-state care residential facility for children with psychiatric needs. You’ll also hear from an interview with Idaho Youth Ranch CEO Scott Curtis from 2022, talking about p…
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This week, we're bringing you a snapshot of the water supply in Idaho from the Governor's Water Summit, where water users and policy makers gathered at the state capitol to discuss water issues. Idaho Department of Water Resources technical hydrologist David Hoekema gave an overview of surface water and drought conditions, and hydrologist Dennis Ow…
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The growing needs of Idaho’s criminal justice system have concerned policymakers and legislators in recent years. But criminal justice is about more than just bed space. Lauren Bailey and Mackenzie Moss, analysists with the Idaho Legislature’s Office of Performance Evaluations, join Logan Finney to discuss the process of returning to the community …
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The West Bonner School District has been rocked by controversy and contentious board meetings after trustees named a new superintendent last month. Since the hiring of Branden Durst, a former Democratic state lawmaker and Republican candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, some patrons have even gotten a recall election on the ballot for…
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State and provincial leaders from the northwestern U.S. and Canada gathered in Boise this week for the annual summit of PNWER, the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. Bruce Agnew, director of the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator at the organization, sat down with Logan Finney this week at the conference to talk about the future of transportation …
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Earlier this week, ACLU of Idaho released a report detailing findings after an investigation into allegations of racism against Latino students in some of Idaho’s school districts. On this week’s Idaho Reports podcast, ACLU of Idaho’s Legal Fellow Erica Rodarte Costa joins to discuss the report’s findings and recommendations. View the report: https…
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Break: Happy July 4th! by Idaho Public TelevisionIdaho Public Television
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Our state is a destination for summer recreation and holiday celebrations. Ahead of July 4th weekend, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris issued an advisory reminding out-of-state visitors that they can (and will) face consequences for possession of controlled substances. "This isn't Spokane," Norris told Idaho Reports. "You're not going to get a pa…
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Daniel Strawn, professor of environmental soil chemistry from the University of Idaho, joins Logan Finney to discuss his research in using biochar to capture nutrients from wastewater and distribute them back into the soil. They also discuss a paper he recently published in collaboration with the Canadian Light Source and the University of Saskatch…
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An Idaho man was arrested last Friday after early morning reports of gunshots fired at power substations at the the Hells Canyon and Brownlee dams. We examine Idaho's energy grid resilience with Will Hart from the Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities Association and Richard Stover from the Governor's Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Read more abou…
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It's the first full week of June, which means hot summer weather is just around the corner. Idaho Water Users Association executive director Paul Arrington talks with Logan Finney about staying safe when looking for a place to swim this summer by staying away from irrigation canals.Idaho Public Television
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The state of Idaho is poised to spend roughly $2 million annually on opioid abatement and mitigation following a nationwide settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, in addition to payouts to local governments. The Idaho Behavioral Health Council this month is asking the public to submit comments about how the money could best …
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This week, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue joins us to discuss challenges sheriffs are facing in recruiting and retaining deputies, and how that affects public safety. Then, Sen. Ben Adams, Rep. Julie Yamamoto, and House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel join Idaho Reports to discuss what lawmakers are working on in coming months.…
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Idaho Business for Education president Rod Gramer sat down with associate producer Logan Finney to discuss the state of education in Idaho, including legislative investments like the expanded Idaho Launch program and outstanding needs like stable funding for school facilities. Age of Agility: The Governor's Summit on the Future of Work (2023): http…
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This week, Shane Leach from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare gives an update on how many people the state has removed from Medicaid rolls since the COVID-19 public health emergency. Then, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News discusses a surprise move by the University of Idaho to acquire the University of Phoenix, plus the results of thi…
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The debate over whether libraries or parents should be responsible for what children read has not been limited to the statehouse. It's made it into local library trustee elections, with many races on the ballot place this Tuesday across Idaho. Mike Weland, publisher of 9B News, joined Logan Finney this week to break down the library district electi…
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This week, Sen. Lori Den Hartog and Rep. Wendy Horman discuss historic state investments in education, and some possible changes they may propose next legislative session to the complex public school funding formula. Then, Sen. Rick Just discusses what lawmakers did this year to address the maintenance backlog at Idaho’s state parks.…
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Reclaim Idaho has gathered a new coalition behind a ballot initiative that would institute open primary elections and instant runoff general elections in Idaho. Markie McBrayer from the University of Idaho Department of Politics and Philosophy joins Logan Finney this week to explain instant runoff elections, or ranked choice voting, and what politi…
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Last week, Idaho Reports was invited to interview Gov. Brad Little at his home and ranch in Emmett. In part two of our two-part interview, Gov. Little shared his thoughts on education initiatives the legislature passed this year, the state's economic prospects, and whether he plans to run for a third term as governor.…
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Last week, Idaho Reports was invited to interview Gov. Brad Little at his home and ranch in Emmett. In part one of our two-part interview, Gov. Little shared his thoughts on Medicaid, ongoing discussions about Idaho’s abortion ban, the vetoed library bill, and the property tax compromise.Idaho Public Television
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This week, we sit down with Gov. Brad Little for the second part of a two-part interview discussing his views on the 2023 legislative session, as well as what the coming years may bring. Plus, a voter initiative has been filed that may change the way Idaho holds elections.Idaho Public Television
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St. Luke's Health System chief physician executive Dr. Jim Souza and maternal fetal medicine physician Dr. Lauren Miller join Ruth Brown to talk about issues around recent abortion-related legislation and legal opinions the state issued this year.Idaho Public Television
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We’ve heard the lawmakers’ takes on this year’s legislative session. Now it’s the governor’s turn to weigh in. Idaho Reports was invited to interview Gov. Brad Little at his home and ranch in Emmett and talk about the legislative session. "I always reflect back on my State of the State and what we talked about," Little told host Melissa Davlin. "My…
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Katie Sanders, the managing editor of PolitiFact, was in Idaho earlier this year as the keynote speaker for the University of Idaho's annual Oppenheimer Ethics Symposium. She joined Idaho Reports host Melissa Davlin at KUID in Moscow for a conversation on misinformation, conspiracy theories, and editorial judgement in media.…
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Snow and rain has relieved recent drought, but likely won’t ease the upcoming fire season. This week, University of Idaho professor Garth Taylor joins Melissa Davlin to discuss this year in Idaho agriculture. Then, Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke talks about water and education issues, as well as his new role in this year’s legislative session. Plu…
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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 j…
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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 wor…
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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 i…
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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.Idaho Public Television
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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 o…
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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.Idaho Public Television
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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 m…
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