Idaho Matters

(Niki Forbing-Orr)Governor Little recently signed into law a bill allowing for the establishment of needle exchange programs in Idaho. These programs have demonstrated success in reducing the rate of hepatitis and HIV transmission as well as connecting caregivers with intravenous drug users. Idaho Matters discusses the implementation of such programs with Aimee Shipman, Section Manager for HIV, STD and Hepatitis with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and Dr. Zachary Weiss, a resident physician with Family Medicine Residency of Idaho.

(istock)Gemma Gaudette leads a round table discussion of the week's headlines with the region's top journalists. This week, Idaho Matters speaks with Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News, Don Day of BoiseDev and Rebecca Boone of the Associated Press.

(Frankie Barnhill/Boise State Public Radio)Idaho voters passed state Medicaid expansion as a ballot initiative. Republicans in the statehouse have responded by trying to change the terms that would bring voter initiatives to the polls. State representative Mat Erpelding (D-Boise) is calling SB 1159 the "Revenge on the Voters Act" and he joins Friday's Idaho Matters to explain why he feels this is an unconstitutional power grab.

(MATTHEW GRAY PALMER)The Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District begins the 2019 series of First Fridays next week. We talk with Surel's Place artist in residence, Matthew Gray Palmer, and Jodi Eichelberger, program coordinator with Surel's Place.

(Idaho Power)Idaho Power announced a pledge Tuesday to provide customers 100 percent clean energy by the year 2045. The company that serves over half-a-million customers calls the effort “Clean Today, Cleaner Tomorrow.” Nearly 50 percent of the electricity the company currently generates comes from hydro power. About a fifth comes from coal. Adam Richins, Idaho Power's Vice President of Customer Operations and Business Development, joins Idaho Matters to talk about shifting paradigms in the state's energy generation.

(CREDIT KYLE GREEN / IDAHO STATESMAN)The Boise Airport announced plans for a dramatic expansion program on Wednesday. Idaho Matters discusses new parking garages, new rental car lots and a new concourse with Rebecca Hupp, director of the Boise Airport.

(Solomon David/twitter)Fishing Through the Apocalypse examines the future for freshwater fish in America. Climate change, pollution, hydroelectricity and interstate water policy have all had an impact on fish and fishing. We talk with the book's author, Matt Miller of The Nature Conservancy, about the future of Idaho fish.

(One Stone)The One Stone school was founded in 2008 with the idea that students thrive when empowered to set their own destinies. Part of this model includes allowing the students to have a hand in policymaking and management. We talk with One Stone's director, Chad Carlson, about what makes it a different educational experience.

(SCOTT KI / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO)Last week, District Judge Lynn Norton ruled the Idaho Department of Corrections withheld information regarding execution drugs, including purchase receipts and drug sources. Idaho Matters speaks with Aliza Cover, the University of Idaho law professor who requested the records and Molly Kafka, the ACLU attorney who represented her.

(Reclaim Idaho / Facebook )Idaho voters overwhelming showed support in November for Medicare expansion. Some state legislators are unhappy with the results of the ballot initiative and are looking to change provisions to expansion and the ballot initiative process. Idaho Matters speaks with Reclaim Idaho executive director Rebecca Schroeder.

(Idaho Screendance Festival)The Idaho Screendance Festival marries choreographed dance with cinema and on Wednesday, Idaho Matters speaks with Marla Hansen of the Idaho Dance Theater and Alyssa Tolman, adjunct professor of dance at Boise State.

(history.idaho.gov)The film Paranormal Prison is in principle photography at the Old Idaho Penitentiary and we meet producer Catrine McGregor about spooky happenings - both on and off film.

(Boise State University)President Trump issued an executive order that would withhold federal educational and research grants from colleges and universities that violate the First Amendment rights of their students. We look how this order may be enforced on the Boise State campus with university spokesperson Greg Hahn and Pryce Robinson of the Boise State College Republicans.

(City of Boise)The Boise State baseball team will play at Memorial Stadium, home of the Boise Hawks, until plans for their own venue are sorted out. On the pitch, there are rumblings of a pro soccer team headed our way and the Vandals advance to the third round of the WNIT. And another former Boise Bronco was signed to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. We cover Idaho sports news with Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman.

(myricopia.com/Wikimedia/Library of Congress)Author and Idaho historian Randy Stapilus has no trouble talking smack about others, assuming they are great big jerks. He is giving a presentation in Moscow on Saturday entitled "Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Idaho History" and Stapilus joins Idaho Matters to talk about Idaho's biggest "jerks" and what makes their legacy less than rosy.

(facebook/Soviet Women in Combat WWII)Boise State graduate student Hayley Noble's work has focused on gender roles during World War II and her new exhibit, Soviet Women in Combat during WWII, looks at the considerable role women played. From snipers to fighter pilots to tankers, Soviet women played an active role in many forward positions. Noble joins Idaho Matters to talk about these women and how they contributed to victory over Nazi Germany.

(CREDIT WOODLEYWONDERWORKS / FLICKR)The Nampa School District recently announced they will provided tuition-free, full day, five-day kindergarten for residents of that district. Idaho Matters talks with the Boise district about upcoming kindergarten expansion plans and the Association for the Education of Young People about the role kindergarten plays in early childhood development and families economies.

(boise co-op)The Boise Co-op hired its first-ever CEO earlier this month. Michelle Andersen will oversee a staff of more than 200 and she joins Idaho Matters to talk about the future of this Treasure Valley institution.

(Roadsidepictures/flickr)Idaho Matters talks with Mike Russell, director of operations for the Stinker Store convenience store chain, about promoting Idaho products.

(idaho national laboratory)In addition to being one of the nation's leading nuclear research facilities, Idaho National Laboratory has emerged as the tip of the spear for national and global cyber security. On Monday's Idaho Matters, we talk with the cyber security division's director, Scott Cramer, about the cyber threats faced by Americans today and how we are being protected online.