Here We Have Idaho

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John C. Wagner, Ph.D. - Director, Idaho National Laboratory pt.1 Dec 10, 2025

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Dr. John C. Wagner is the director of Idaho National Laboratory and president of Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC. He is responsible for management and integration of a large, multipurpose laboratory whose mission focuses on nuclear energy, national and homeland security, and energy and environment science and technology. He manages this U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory of approximately 5,200 scientists, engineers and support staff in multiple nuclear and nonnuclear experimental facilities, with an annual budget of over $1.3 billion. Wagner began serving as INL director on Dec. 11, 2020. He has more than 20 years of experience performing research, and managing and leading research and development projects, programs and organizations. He has been at INL since 2016 and served as associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science and Technology (NS&T) since 2017. His previous roles included director of Domestic Programs in NS&T and director of the Technical Integration Office for the DOE-NE Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program at INL. Wagner initially joined INL as the chief scientist at the Materials and Fuels Complex in 2016. Wagner received a B.S. in nuclear engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1992, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Pennsylvania State University in 1994 and 1997, respectively. Following graduate school, Wagner joined Holtec International as a principal engineer, performing criticality safety analyses and licensing activities for spent fuel storage pools and storage and transportation casks. Wagner joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as an R&D staff member in 1999, performing research in the areas of hybrid (Monte Carlo/deterministic) radiation transport methods, burnup credit criticality safety, and spent nuclear fuel characterization and safety.

While at ORNL, Wagner held various technical leadership positions, including technical lead for postclosure criticality in support of DOE OCRWM’s Lead Laboratory for Repository Systems, Radiation Transport Methods Deputy Focus Area lead for the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL), and national technical director of the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation Planning Project. Wagner held various management positions, including group leader for the Criticality and Shielding Methods and Applications, Radiation Transport, and Used Fuel Systems groups. In 2014, Wagner became director of the Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division (RNSD), with responsibility for management direction and leadership to focus and integrate the seven RNSD R&D groups (Advanced Reactor Systems and Safety, Nuclear Data and Criticality Safety, Nuclear Security Modeling, Radiation Transport, Reactor Physics, Thermal Hydraulics and Irradiation Engineering, and Used Fuel Systems) and the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center. Wagner is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and recipient of the 2013 E.O. Lawrence Award. He has authored or co-authored more than 170 refereed journal and conference articles, technical reports, and conference summaries. He was the original developer of the A3MCNP and ADVANTG codes and led the development of the CADIS and Forward-Weighted CADIS hybrid transport methods.

Here We Have Idaho is a local radio show heard on KSPD 790 AM and 94.5 FM at 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Here We Have Idaho is a show focusing on celebrating Idaho and all that makes Idaho great. Hear We Have Idaho will focus on the issues and events that impact Idaho’s citizens and families. Each week we will visit those that are writing Idaho’s story and keeping the spirit of our state song alive with hosts Victor Miller and Tom Luna.

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David Ripley Idaho Chooses Life pt 2 Dec 05, 2025

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https://idahochooseslife.org/

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David Ripley Idaho Chooses Life pt 1 Dec 03, 2025

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https://idahochooseslife.org/

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Former Representative Gayann DeMordaunt- Light the World giving machine Nov 28, 2025

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Former Representative Gayann DeMordaunt (R)

https://givingmachinesidaho.com/

Raised in Spokane, WA; B.A. in English, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; taught ESL; founder, North Star Public Charter School; served on Idaho Public Charter School Commission; board member, Red Cross of Idaho; board member, Cambodia International Children Friends Organization orphanage; district chairman (14), Ada County Republicans; committee member, GOP National Platform (2012); co-chairman, BYU College Republicans; American Conservative Union Foundation Award (2018, 2019, 2020); spouse: Reed; six children.

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Alex Adams Assistant Secretary for the Administration of Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Nov 26, 2025

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Adams is the third Idahoan to be appointed to a key position in the Trump administration.

Adams has been director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare since June of 2024. He was the administrator of the Governor’s Division of Financial Management from 2019 to 2024. Adams also recently served as interim director of the Idaho Public Charter School Commission and was executive director of the Idaho Board of Pharmacy. Prior to joining the Board of Pharmacy, Adams was Vice President of Pharmacy Programs at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, an Arlington, VA, trade association that represents over 40,000 pharmacies nationwide.

Adams earned his bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Toledo in Ohio, graduating as class valedictorian, and he earned his Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.

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Trent Tripple- Ada County Clerk Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Born in Boise
Graduate of the Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 4 year College Football Player
Masters in Business Administration
20 Year U.S.A.F veteran as a fighter pilot and Squadron Commander
Have been serving for the last 4 years as Chief Deputy Clerk in Ada County
Married 25 yrs with 3 Children who have gone through Idaho Public Schools

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Brad Little- Idaho's Governor Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

Brad Little is Idaho’s 33rd Governor, leading the people of Idaho through the most prosperous time in state history. His tenure as Governor is marked by unprecedented red tape reduction, record tax relief, and historic investments in education, workforce training, and infrastructure.

The people of Idaho elected Brad Little to be their Governor in November of 2018 and reelected him in November of 2022. He has served as Idaho’s 33rd Governor since January 7, 2019.

Governor Little is an Emmett native who was raised on his family’s sheep and cattle ranching operation. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and has worked in the ranching industry for his entire professional life. He also has extensive experience in the Idaho banking and manufacturing industries.

In 1978, Brad Little had good fortune and married Teresa Soulen of Weiser. Teresa and Brad are the proud parents of two sons who have wonderful wives – Adam and Angela, and David and Kelsey. They have six beautiful grandchildren.

For more than three decades, Governor Little has taken on leadership roles within the state to promote better opportunities for the Idaho people. He was selected for leadership positions by his peers in agriculture, including public lands resource management resolutions for grazing and timber resources. He also was selected for leadership roles in organizations that cut across Idaho business, education, and philanthropy.

Governor Little has a heart for public service. He first served in public office in 2001 when he was selected to fill a Senate vacancy. He was then elected to four consecutive terms to the Idaho Senate. During his service as a Senator, Brad was elected by his Republican peers during his first full term to serve in Party leadership as Majority Caucus Chair. He then served as Idaho’s 37th Lt. Governor starting on January 6, 2009.

Governor Little is committed to making decisions through one lens: the lens of ensuring Idaho’s children and grandchildren have the best opportunities to stay in Idaho and for the ones who have left to choose to return.

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Kelly Anthon Pro Tem and Mike Moyle Speaker of the House Nov 12, 2025

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Meridian Council Member Brian Whitlock Nov 07, 2025

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With over 30 years of communications, government, public relations and management experience in Idaho and Washington DC, Brian Whitlock has had an insider’s view of how government works, and operational experience of the impact policymakers have.

Today, Brian serves at the President and CEO of the Idaho Hospital Association, speaking on behalf of Idaho’s community hospitals. He joined the Association in 2015 and leads a team of dedicated professionals in providing voice, value and visibility to community hospitals. In addition to his responsibilities in creating and supporting sound policies for healthcare at both the state and federal levels, Brian works tirelessly helping evolve our healthcare system to one focused on quality and value for all Idahoans.

Prior to joining the Association, Brian was the Director of State and Regional Governmental Affairs for the Idaho National Laboratory – one of Idaho’s largest employers – and advocated for state policies that benefited nearly 4,000 scientists, researchers and engineers in eastern Idaho.

Brian’s extensive service, sage advice, and insight on Capitol Hill and in Idaho’s Statehouse have helped him develop strong relationships, making him a trusted advisor to many elected officials and lawmakers. You cannot take too many steps around the Statehouse without someone calling out Brian’s name.

He was a trusted advisor, Chief of Staff, and State Budget Director to Governor Dirk Kempthorne, both in Boise and Washington DC. As budget director, he managed the state’s $4 billion budget impacting every Idahoan through hundreds of programs and state agencies.

A 1985 graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in Broadcast Communications, Brian had a short stint as a television reporter in Tri Cities, Washington before becoming the lead reporter for the ABC affiliate in Boise.

Brian and his wife Kelly have three children: Alex, married to Jenni; James, recently married to Jessica, and Megan.

Term expires: January 2026

https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/

Luke Cavener- Meridian City Council Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Luke formerly served as the Community Liaison for the City of Meridian where he aided as an advocate for those in our community. During his tenure he established events including the Meridian Community Block Party, Treasure Valley Youth Summit, and Meridian Business Day.

Luke currently works as the Managing Director of Western Advocacy for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, working to benefit the lives of cancer patients, caregivers and survivors.

He stays active in the community, serving as a volunteer of the Meridian Dairy Show Board, the Meridian Food Bank, and as a Meridian PAL coach.

Luke joined the Meridian City Council on January 7, 2014.

Term expires: January 2026

https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/

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