Idaho Reports is the longest-running public policy show in the West, and we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year! Many of the debates at the statehouse have stayed the same over the past five decades, but a lot has changed too.
In the lead-up to the 2022 election, Raúl Labrador campaigned on the promise that he would be more aggressive in defending state sovereignty. After nearly a year in office, we checked in with him about his challenges to state agencies, ongoing abortion litigation, and his approach to his job as Idaho’s chief legal officer.
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.
Former Gov. Phil Batt died on Saturday, March 4th, on his 96th birthday. Batt served Idaho for decades, and between his negotiations on nuclear waste management, his human rights work, and his Republican party chairmanship, he made an impact that helped shape the Idaho we know today.
Earlier this month, the Valley Lookout reported on a federal lawsuit from several major publishing companies and authors, as well as individual Idahoans and a public library district, seeking to overturn the library materials law that took effect last year, also known as House Bill 710. Associate producer Logan Finney visited the Donnelly Public Library earlier this month to see their one-room facility and ask why they decided to join the lawsuit.
We dive into Proposition One – what it would do, what it might cost, and what supporters and opponents are saying.
Idaho for decades has urged residents and visitors to clean, drain and dry all watercraft, and inspect them for invasive species that might be transported into the state from other waterways. The state first detected invasive quagga mussel larvae last fall in the Snake River at Twin Falls, taking rapid steps to treat that stretch of river and stop the invasive pest from spreading.
Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder joins us after last week’s primary election to reflect on his campaign and his sixteen year career in the Idaho Senate. We discuss whether he would have done anything differently, and what might be next for him.
Idaho Reports visited the Coeur d’Alene River Basin over summer to report on the decades-long effort to mitigate historic mining waste in the Bunker Hill Superfund site, including a recent influx of funding from the state for local projects benefiting Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Idaho’s economy is heavily reliant upon agriculture, but the ag industry involves more than just the dairy producers and ranchers and farmers. It requires supporting industries like packaging and transportation and large animal veterinarians. Idaho Reports looks at what the state is doing to alleviate the vet shortage.
This week, Melissa Davlin sits down with Luke Mayville, spokesperson for Idahoans for Open Primaries, and Rep. Brent Crane, House State Affairs Committee chairman, to discuss their philosophical stances regarding the voter initiative.
Idaho has 12 youth assessment centers across the state, targeted at keeping kids out of “the system" and helping families with their needs before problems get worse. The centers are one reason juvenile incarceration in the state has decreased. Earlier this year, producer Ruth Brown visited one center in Burley to learn more about the services they offer and how they help youth.
The Idaho Department of Correction has announced its medical team could not establish an IV line during an attempt to execute Thomas Creech. During a press conference, IDOC Director Josh Tewalt said the medical team made eight attempts to establish an IV line in Creech’s hands, arms, legs, and feet. During some attempts, they couldn't access a vein, Tewalt said. In others, they accessed poor quality veins that may not have withstood the injection attempt.
The debate over whether libraries or parents should be responsible for what children read has not been limited to the statehouse. Over the last several months, Idaho Reports has followed discussions between community members and local library districts across the state, and what might come next in the debate.
Most of us agree that the best part about Idaho is its gorgeous, wide open spaces. But there’s a risk for those of us who live or play outside of metropolitan areas: If you get injured, it may take a while for help to reach you. That’s no surprise, but that wait may be longer than you expect.
The Idaho Office of Performance Evaluation published a report this year on the sustainability of the direct care workforce, which estimated 33,000 elderly people and people with disabilities in Idaho use direct care workers. The report estimated the state needs at least 3,000 more direct care workers than are currently employed, a problem that will only get worse.
For years, tribal leaders across the country have been trying to educate the public on the high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous people. This summer, producer Ruth Brown spent time on the Nez Perce and Coeur d'Alene reservations, speaking with tribal members about the scale of the problem, what needs to change, and the voices that need to be heard.
The Senate Transportation Committee advanced a bill on Tuesday that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a restricted driver’s license in Idaho. Our reporter Samantha Martinez takes a closer look at the proposal, and how it would affect some Idaho families.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield pitched her budget proposal to the legislature’s joint budget committee this week, seeking nearly $2.5 billion in funding for K-12 schools. One of the smaller pieces of the proposal was Gov. Brad Little’s recommendation for 5 percent raises for classified employees, such as bus drivers, school cafeteria workers, tech employees, and paraprofessionals.
The "Fighting Oligarchy Tour" on Monday featuring U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, drew a full venue of roughly 12,500 people to the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Gov. Brad Little joined members of the Idaho Press Club for bacon with remarks about the legislative session and where he stands on all those headline-grabbing bills and other news.
One thing that wasn’t in the governor’s proposed budget was a recommendation to classify emergency medical services as an essential service. That classification would set up a state funding stream for local EMS agencies. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also didn’t request that change in their budget.
Gov. Brad Little delivers his 2025 State of the State Address with commentary from Idaho Reports guests Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News, Dr. Stephanie Witt of Boise State University's School of Public Service, and Lori Wolff of the Division of Financial Management.
As the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare turns its attention to improving the foster system, Cadence Wright, now 18, hopes state leaders don’t forget to listen to the children affected by those policies.
This week’s election saw big wins for Republicans across the nation, and Idaho was no exception. That includes a huge defeat for Proposition One. Latah County Republican precinct committeewoman Cindy Agidius, Latah County Treasurer BJ Swanson, and University of Idaho professor Markie McBrayer discuss the results, as well as the implications for public policy moving forward.
We dive into Proposition One – what it would do, what it might cost, and what supporters and opponents are saying. This week, Melissa Davlin sits down with Luke Mayville, spokesperson for Idahoans for Open Primaries, and Rep. Brent Crane, House State Affairs Committee chairman, to discuss their philosophical stances regarding the voter initiative.
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.
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 Reports episode aired during Festival Pledge time. Featuring a memorial look back at the influence of former Gov. Phil Batt. Roundtable discussion with all four surviving Idaho Governors
This week, we take a look at the life and career of Gov. Phil Batt, who died Saturday, March 4th, on his 96th birthday. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, Sen. Jim Risch, Gov. Butch Otter, and Gov. Brad Little share memories of their friend and mentor.
On Tuesday, August 22, 2003, Idaho sheep ranchers Frank Shirts and Henry Etcheverry spoke about the economic situation facing Sheep Ranchers alongside a trail near the Boise Foothills Learning Center outside of Boise. Henry’s daughter Dominque Etcheverry also spoke.
One in four Idahoans, or roughly 369,000 people, live with a disability. For those people, the rate of violent victimization is nearly four times higher than those without a disability, according to the recent report. Only about 38% of those violent victimizations will be reported, while the rate is closer to 45% for people without disabilities.
Republicans have worked for decades to overturn Roe v Wade. Now that a leaked draft opinion has signaled that coming reality, what’s next for Idaho? One thing is for certain: Even after a trigger law goes into effect, the conversation at the statehouse won’t be over.