Idaho Matters

(National Park Service)This story takes you deep into one of the most magestic of wild areas – Glacier National Park. Glacier straddles the Canadian border in Montana and features one of the most dramatic stretches of the Rocky Mountains, where glaciers have etched the mountain range into sharp peaks and wide valleys. Reporter Michael May takes us into the park, with just what he could fit in his backpack ... and a microphone.

We assemble our team of Idaho journalists to discuss the week's events in Boise, the Treasure Valley and beyond. This week we have BIll Manny of the Idaho Statesman, Scott McIntosh of the Idaho Press and Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News join host Gemma Gaudette.

College of Western Idaho president Bert Glandon talks about the role of a community college in a growing region.

(Simply Eloped)Simply Eloped takes the planning out of wedding planning - specifically those "run away and get married without dealing with guests or family or caterers or bands" type of weddings. We talk about making easy and romantic elopement plans in Idaho with the company's founder.

There's some confusion regarding the legality of aerial fireworks in the Gem State and on Thursday's Idaho Matters we parse out what you can buy and where you can set it off.

(MGM/Columbia)There are discussions about creating a new rating system for films with excessive violence. Boise Weekly film critic George Prentice talks about this and why a film about a 30-year-long game of tag might be the movie of the summer.

(t4america.org)The explosive population growth in the Treasure Valley necessitates expansion of mass transit services. We talk about the options being discussed to help tie the valley together from Caldwell to Boise with transit services.

The X-Games qualifiers are in Boise this weekend and we talk to a doctor about just how dangerous some of those events are and the safety precautions daredevils across the valley should heed.

(VIA TWITTER / BLM IDAHO)Ed Delgado, a meteorologist with predictive services at the National Interagency Fire Center, and Boise State Public Radio's Frankie Barnhill discuss the outlook for the 2018 wildfire season.

(CREDIT DESTINYSAGENT / FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS)Idaho has one of the highest rates of overdose deaths related to opioid narcotics and on Wednesday's Idaho Matters we discuss various approaches to dealing with the opioid epidemic.

(SADIE BABITS / BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO)Idaho prisons are so overcrowded the Idaho Department of Corrections is forced to send state prisoners to other states for incarceration. Idaho officials are discussing the possibility of a new half-billion dollar prison to accommodate the prison population. Idaho Press Boise Bureau Chief Betsy Russell joins Idaho Matters to talk about her coverage of the proposal.

(U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)Immigration holds in the Canyon County jail are on the rise, indicating an uptick in local immigration enforcement. The Idaho Press's Nicole Foy chronicled the county's immigration hold process. She joins Idaho Matters to parse out the coverage.

( boisepridefest.org)35,000 people gathered last year to celebrate Boise PrideFest, more are expected this year to promote unity and celebrate the diversity of sexual orientations and identities in Boise year round. We talk with Alex Milles and Sally Hobbs of the pride festival about this year's events.

(© 2009 Idaho Department of Commerce-Tourism Division/Chad Case)The Idaho wine industry has enjoyed explosive growth in recent years with more than 50 vineyards operating in the Snake River Valley alone. On Tuesday's Idaho Matters, we speak with the Idaho Wine Commission about the market forces motivating this growth.

(CNN)America saw the passing of two cultural icons by suicide and on Monday's Idaho Matters we look at how to start the discussion about suicide and resources to turn to with St. Joseph's counselor Christy Porter.

We assemble our team of Idaho journalists to discuss the week's events in Boise, the Treasure Valley and beyond. This week we'll have Kimberlee Kruesi of the Associated Press-Idaho, Scott McIntosh of the Idaho Press and Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press join host Gemma Gaudette.

Advance care planning allows people to make choices about their healthcare should they become unable to do so in the future. We discuss the options and advantages of advance care planning with Honoring Choices Idaho, a nonprofit organization that promotes discussions about the importance of planning.

(visitsunvalley.com)Light pollution is the presence of artificial light in the night sky and as development has increased throughout the west, astronomers lament the lack clean, dark skies to observe the heavens. Fortunately, Idaho is home to some of the darkest skies in America and we talk about efforts to create a "dark sky reserve" with Stanley mayor Steve Botti and former Ketchum mayor Nina Jonas. 

(CREDIT MALATE269 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)The funding formula for K-12 education in Idaho is a complicated equation that was established 24 years ago. Idaho Education Association president Kari Overall joins us to discuss the stability of the funding mechanism and how it can be improved.