Idaho Matters

Latest Episodes:

**A new, interactive bike map for Ada County** Jun 14, 2023
Show notes

(Stephen Downes / Flickr)
The Ada County Highway District has a new, interactive bike map for folks planning cycling trips anywhere between Barber Park and the city of Star.
Want to know which roads have bike lanes? Looking for a bike repair shop? Want a really intense ride or maybe one that’s more sedate? The map has it all!
Dave Rader is the Supervisor of Accessibility and Mobility at ACHD and joined Idaho Matters to tell us more.

The entrance to a gravel trail connecting Stanley to Redfish Lake. — **The controversial Stanley to Redfish Lake Trail is about to open** Jun 14, 2023
Show notes

The 4.5-mile trail begins in Stanley's Pioneer Park and ends near the entrance to Redfish Lake.(Rachel Cohen / Boise State Public Radio )
Four years ago, a controversy erupted over a plan by the Sawtooth National Forest to build a trail between Stanley and Redfish Lake.
The U.S. Forest Service said it had bought an easement on private land to build the trail. The owner of the Sawtooth Valley Ranch said the agency didn’t have the right to build such an elaborate construction and that the trail plan doesn’t meet environmental regulations.
Back in 2019, we talked to David Boren who owns the ranch with his wife about his concerns and we talked with the Idaho Conservation League which filed a ‘friend of the court’ brief in favor of the trail.
While the lawsuit continued, the Forest Service has been building the trail and it’s supposed to open soon, possibly later this month. Boise State Public Radio News reporter Rachel Cohen has been following this story and joins Idaho Matters for an update.

Encore: Sun Valley Ranch owner shares his concerns with Stanley to Redfish Lake Trail Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

It was four years ago that we got a chance to sit down with the owner of the Sun Valley Ranch about the lawsuit he filed against the U.S. Forest Service over the Stanley to Redfish Lake Trail. As the trail is about to open, despite his ongoing appeal in the 9th Circuit Court, we wanted to revisit that interview, where he outlines his concerns about the project.

Encore: Idaho Conservation League finds itself on both sides of the legal aisle in forest service suits Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Back in June of 2019 we spoke with the Idaho Conservation League about their Friend of the Court brief in the lawsuit over the Stanley to Redfish Lake Trail. Despite the ongoing lawsuit, the trail is about to open to the public and we wanted to revisit that interview to find out why the Conservation League felt the need to support the U.S. Forest Service in this case.

**Are we loving our public lands to death?** Jun 13, 2023
Show notes

(Wilf Carter / Flickr)
Over the past few years, we’ve noticed an increase in the number of stories we’ve covered about the misuse of public lands.
From increased trash left at campgrounds to large amounts of junk dumped on public lands to the closure of a road to a local treasure valley landmark because of parking abuse, trash and vandalism, human overcrowding and bad actors are putting pressure on our favorite camping, hiking and foothills destinations.
How bad is the problem? And how do we solve it? Those are just some of the questions that will come up Thursday during the City Club of Boise’s next discussion which they’re calling “Are we loving our public lands too much?”
Susan Buxton, the Director of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and Greg Hahn with the City Club of Boise joined Idaho Matters to discuss our public lands.

Brad Little, Politics — **Gov. Little wants a full audit of the 'Empowering Parents' program** Jun 13, 2023
Show notes

(BradLittleForIdaho.com)
A state microgrant program, designed to help Idahoans with the cost of their kids' education, is under scrutiny after Gov. Brad Little said he wants a full financial audit of the program to determine if parents are buying TVs, clothes and smartwatches with the money instead of laptops, textbooks or behavioral therapy.
The $50 million Empowering Parents program was designed to give parents $1,000 for each child to meet their educational needs and almost $50 million has gone out to more than 25,000 families.
But the program, which was one of the governor’s top education priorities this year, went under review in April by the State Board of Education. The Board said some of the money, as much as seven percent of all purchases, may have been spent on things that have nothing to do with a kid’s education.
Here to break down this story for Idaho Matters is Kevin Richert, senior reporter and blogger with Idaho Education News.

**A mid-year fiscal update for Idaho** Jun 13, 2023
Show notes

(Molly Messick/ Boise State Public Radio)
Just last week, Idaho Reports told us Idaho's revenues for May were more than $17 million ahead of what was projected. And that’s $7 million more than what the Gem State collected in April.
This week, the Federal Reserve meets to decide whether to raise the interest rate again and if they don’t, what happens in July? And how will that affect Idahoans?
Jason Norris is the Executive Vice President of Research and Portfolio Management at Ferguson Wellman and he’s back to give Idaho Matters a mid-year economic outlook for Idaho.

A row of rusty red pick axes sits against a dull wood background. — **Nuclear power plants and uranium mines may be increasing in the Mountain West** Jun 13, 2023
Show notes

(Georgie Sharp / Flickr)
U.S. support for nuclear power is the highest it's been in a decade and there are a number of proposals for new plants in our region. That could mean an uptick in domestic uranium mining.
Plus, we take you to a Mountain West town where billionaire Bill Gates and other investors plan to build a nuclear reactor to generate electricity, where locals are bracing for a huge influx of workers.
The Mountain West News Bureau’s Will Walkey and Wyoming Public Radio’s Caitlin Tan report for Idaho Matters.

American flags wave in the breeze. — **Why being courageous should be contagious when celebrating Flag Day** Jun 12, 2023
Show notes

(Rebecca.Rose / Flickr)
Wednesday is Flag Day in the United States. It was June 14, 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the design of America’s flag.
It was 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 Flag Day and a national Flag Day was signed into law in 1949. The flag has been everything from a symbol of national pride to a Supreme Court case on whether the government can compel people to salute it.
Over time, everyone from Benjamin Franklin to lawyers, judges and regular Americans have defended the ideals the flag represents.
Dr. David Adler has been digging into Flag Day, the defense of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Dr. Adler is planning another of his “Constitutional Conversations” on Wednesday at Boise State's Yanke Center. It’s titled "Celebrating Flag Day: Courage is Contagious.”
Dr. Adler is the president of the Alturas Institute and he joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the people who have stood up to defend the rights they believe in.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Idaho Matters

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6