Idaho Matters

(Boise State esporets/facebook)The Boise State eSports program began in 2017 and is competing globally on games like League of Legends, Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, Rocket League, and Hearthstone. Idaho Matters meets Dr. Chris Haskell, the founder and head coach of the team and Robert Faricy, one of the team's competitors.Highlights from Boise State's League of Legends win over the University of Oregon in January. (Boise State/facebook)

(aapcc.org)In 1961, President Kennedy declared the third week of March National Poison Prevention Week. On Friday's Idaho Matters, we talk about what not to put in your mouth and what to do once you have with St. Luke's pediatrician, Dr. Seth Branahl and Jean Hammack with the Idaho Poison Control Call Center in Nebraska.

(istock)Matt Guilhem sits in for a vacationing Gemma Gaudette to lead a round table discussion of the week's headlines with the region's top journalists. This week, Idaho Matters speaks with Don Day of BoiseDev, Bill Manny of Idaho Public Television and George Prentice of Boise Weekly.

(Live from Here/youtube)Comedian Tom Papa hosts podcast, satellite radio programs, a Food Network show, he pops up regularly on TV and film and has authored an Amazon top-selling book in 2018. In his spare time, he is the head writer and featured commentator on NPR's Live From Here. Papa will perform at The Egyptian Theatre on March 29 and he joins Idaho Matters to talk about what always draws him back to doing live stand-up.

(Mountain West News Bureau)The Mountain West News Bureau , based here at Boise State Public Radio, is a journalistic collaboration that includes reporters covering matters of the region from NPR affiliates in Northern and Southern Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. We talk with managing editor Kate Concannon and Idaho correspondent Amanda Peacher about the first year of the bureau's reporting and presenting at Storyfort.

(Boise State Public Radio)March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and Idaho Matters looks at prevention, screening and treatment. We talk about prevention, detection and treatment with St. Luke's colon/rectal surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Karsten and we talk about colon cancer education with Vicky Jekich, director of community outreach for the Mountain States Tumor Institute and Nora Hall, a teacher with the Boise School District.

(Credits: Treefort)It can be daunting trying to figure out which of the 400+ bands playing Treefort to see and on Wednesday's Idaho Matters, we makes it easy for you. Boise State Public Radio's Frankie Barnhill joins guest host George Prentice to help you focus on which bands you should see play and which ones might get a pass.

(stock)Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden signed a letter with fifty-three other state and territorial attorneys general urging the US Senate to enact the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act in an effort to curb robocalls, which are on the rise. Idaho Matters tackles the issue with Rebecca Barr of the Better Business Bureau and Brett DeLange, chief of Idaho's Consumer Protection Division.

(islamic center of boise/facebook)Leaders from the Treasure Valley's Muslim and Christian communities met last week for a "peace-feast" where they looked to bring together Idahoans of different faiths. Idaho Matters talks with Phillip Thompson of the Islamic Center of Boise and Nick and Laura Armstrong of the Cole Community Church's Glocal Community Partners about improving community relations, encouraging tolerance and celebrating differences.

(Ryan Allan Cheatham/flickr)As Treefort attendees go from venue to venue, watching band after band, it is important to know that three straight days of loud, live music can be detrimental to your hearing. Idaho Matters talks about protecting your ears with Idaho Elks Hearing and Balance Center audiologist Dr. Kate Savage.

(elisabethsharpmcketta.com)We Live In Boise by Elisabeth McKetta and James Stead looks at the City of Trees through the wide-eyed perspective of a child. From Freak Alley to the Smurf Turf, this book is as much a travelogue for children as record of today's Boise. McKetta will be signing copies at Rediscovered Books on Saturday and she stops in studio to talk about developing this vibrant book co-written by her husband, James Stead, and illustrated by April VanDeGrift.

(kirk siegler)Kirk Siegler began reporting for Montana Public Radio in 2003 and moved up to NPR's national desk in 2012 to cover the American West. He will discuss his coverage of last year's Camp Fire in California at Storyfort and he talks with Idaho Matters about reporting from the fire lines.

When a friend showed Elizabeth Rodgers pictures of young women at Borah High School preparing for their first swim lessons, the filmmaker was immediately inspired to capture their story on film. The Swimming Lesson tells the story of young Muslim girls who came to Boise as refugees and captures images of contemporary Muslim culture as they enter the pool in their burkinis. The short will show at Filmfort and Elizabeth Rodgers joins Idaho Matters with Samara Alsalim, one of the stars of the film.

(treefort)The Fort of Drag joins the plethora of "forts" this year at Treefort and events include performances, panel discussions and a drag queen story hour. We talk with Fort of Drag creator and director Cole Calvin and community liaison Gabrielle Davis about using Treefort to connect with the area's transgender community.

(AP IMAGES)The region's volcanoes represent the northeastern portion of the Pacific's "Ring of Fire" and 12 million years ago, Idaho saw much more volcanic activity than it does today. The latest installment of Wanna Know Idaho imagines a Gem State covered in lava-spewing volcanoes.

(stock/recoveryidaho.org)Addiction treatment agencies in Idaho are working together to share resources to help battle the opioid addiction epidemic. We speak with Norma Jaeger, executive director of the statewide Recovery Idaho about these efforts.

(BROOKLYN RIEPMA / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO)About 200 students left classes in the Treasure Valley on Friday to gather at the state capitol to bring attention to climate change. Idaho Matters speaks with organizers Elise Malterre and Liam Neupert about this global demonstration.

(off center dance/facebook)The Off Center Dance company rolls out their 2019 spring program this week with 'Blur' - featuring new choreography from OCD dancers and a high-tech collaboration from founder Kelli Brown and The Idaho Virtual Reality Council. Idaho Matters talks with OCD's Lisa Whitwell and Katie Ponozzo and Idaho Virtual Reality Council board member (and OCD performer) Jim Bradbury.Off Center Dance performs aerial silk piece titled 'New heights' choreographed by Katie Ponozzo March 2016.Virtual reality elements of Off Center Dance's 'Blur.'

(Antonio Chaves / wikimedia)Idaho officials are discussing a multi-year project that would put charging stations throughout the state to accommodate electric vehicle owners. Idaho Matters checks in with Adam Richins of Idaho Power and Courtney White, a Boise State adjunct professor of strategy and innovation.

Matt Guilham sits in for a vacationing Gemma Gaudette to lead a round table discussion of the week's headlines with the region's top journalists. This week, Idaho Matters speaks with Scott McIntosh of the Idaho Press, Don Day of BoiseDev.com and Seth Ogilvie of IPTV's Idaho Reports.