Idaho Matters

(CREDIT MICK THOMPSON / FLICKR)Trumpeter swan cygnets are dying at a startling rate, threatening the swan populations of the West. We talk with Camas Refuge Manager Brian Wehausen and wildlife biologist Andrea Kristof about what is causing these declines.

(istock)We (try) to sleep about a third of our lives and this week is National Sleep Awareness Week. On Thursday's Idaho Matters, we look at how we can improve the quality of our slumbers with Dr. William Thompson, medical director of the Sleep Medicine Institute.

Netflix debuted a documentary in February that detailed the terror and exploitation one man brought on a Pocatello family more than forty years ago. Abducted in Plain Sight tells the story of the Brobergs and how a family friend manipulated them to sexually assault and kidnap their daughter. Idaho Matters talks with Jan Broberg about her experience and Skye Borgman, director of the film.

(boardofed.idaho.gov)Idaho Matters speaks with state senator Grant Burgoyne (D-Boise) and retired educator Jean Heinscheid about pending legislation that would make secondary education more obtainable for Idahoans.

(fundsy)The Fundsy charity auction has raised more than $8 million for Treasure Valley organizations and we talk with Carolyn Holly and Meredith Stead about how the non-profit is helping other non-profits.

(adacounty.id.gov)Efforts are underway to weaken the ability to bring voter initiatives to ballot and on Wednesday's Idaho Matters, we talk with Luke Mayville and Tracy Olson of Reclaim Idaho.

(istock)Osteoporosis is caused by a drastic decrease in bone density. Idaho Matters looks at this disease with Dr. James Loveless from St. Luke's Osteoporosis and Bone Health Program.

(meridian library district)Meridian is growing and so are the demands on the city's library services. Meridian voters will have the opportunity to vote on a levy that would expand the municipality's library. On Wednesday's Idaho Matters, we discuss this growth with Meridian library director Gretchen Caserotti.

(geneticliteracyproject.org)Hemophilia used to plague the royal families of Europe who practiced inbreeding to "secure" family bloodlines. People still suffer from the blood disorder (not because of inbreeding) and Idaho Matters looks at the causes and cures with Barbara Fawcett, executive director of the Idaho chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation.

(stock)Idaho Matters talks with Optum Idaho Medical Director Dr. Ron Larsen about the connections between sound mental health and physical fitness.

(St. Luke's)Congenital heart defects result in improper cardiac development during gestation. On Tuesday's Idaho Matters, we talk about spotting the symptoms and treating the diagnosis of heart defects with St. Luke's pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Michael Womack.

(unkown)Michael Ames's book "American Cipher" tells the story of Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Army private who spent five years as a captive of the Taliban to later be released in a controversial prisoner swap. Many have called Bergdahl a deserter; others have pointed to mental health issues. Ames joins Idaho Matters to share insight into the life of this Idaho native.

(Heath Druzin / Boise State Public Radio)The Guns & America series looks at the popularity of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. The firearm's name and design are licensed to numerous manufacturers and can be customized with a plethora of attachments, making it one of the top-selling rifles in America. Heath Druzin, Boise State Public Radio's Guns & America reporter, joins Idaho Matters to parse out the popularity of this gun.

(SUN VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL)The Sun Valley Film Festival begins on Wednesday with industry luminaries like David Crosby, Meg Ryan, Fisher Stevens and Idaho native Aaron Paul in attendance. Boise Weekly film critic George Prentice will also attend the festival and he joins Idaho Matters for a preview.

(owyheeinitiative.org)The Owyhee Initiative is a compact agreed upon by several "national, regional, and local stakeholders" that would preserve the environmental and economic future of Owyhee County. The Owyhee Initiative Implementation Act was introduced by Senator Crapo in 2009 and signed into law by President Obama. Idaho Matters looks at the impact of this act as it nears its 10th anniversary with Lou Lunte, deputy director for the Nature Conservancy in Idaho and ranchers Brenda Richards and Chris Black.

(EMILIE RITTER SAUNDERS / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO)Concordia Law School in Boise has been trying to procure full accreditation from the American Bar Association since it opened in 2012. Last week, the school received full accreditation, allowing law students to graduate with a full JD and qualify to take the Bar exam in most states. Concordia Law Dean Elena Langan joins Idaho Matters to talk about training the lawyers of tomorrow.

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, Mike Sharp of KIVI 6 On Your Side and Rebecca Boone of the Associated Press.

Surel's Place artist-in-residence Matthew Gray Palmer is committed to creating 100 drawings and 30 paintings during his 3+ week stay in Boise. Palmer joins Idaho Matters to explain why he is doing this and the message behind his exhibition, Alluviam: Sifting in the Sandbox of Self.

(Olivia Weitz)Olivia Weitz joins us to present the final installment of Expressive Idaho ​as she takes us to Idaho's Buckaroo Country to learn the art of saddle making.

(nwcua/Caped Credit Union)The CapEd Read to Rise program encourages kids to read through a school competition with a unique prize and the credit union's Annual Movie Trailer Contest has high schoolers producing their own film trailers. We speak with Todd Christiansen, CapEd's Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, about the programs.