Idaho Matters

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**NASA's Orion spacecraft makes its way back to earth** Dec 05, 2022
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On flight day 11, NASA’S Orion spacecraft captured imagery looking back at the Earth from a camera mounted on one of its solar arrays. The spacecraft is currently in a distant retrograde orbit around the Moon.( NASA Office of Communications)
Back in August, NASA launched its first flight of the Artemis I mission, hoping to re-establish the presence of American astronauts on the moon so they can stay there long-term.
In less than a week, the Orion spacecraft will be returning to earth and the results of the trip will tell us whether or not the Orion is ready to transport people on its next mission. Boise State University Associate Professor Brian Jackson joined Idaho Matters to discuss Artemis I.

Boise Bicycle Project needs help to give kids their dream bike this holiday Dec 05, 2022

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For 16 years, the Boise Bicycle Project has been making dreams come true through the Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway.

This year, they still need your help to make sure each child who is dreaming of a bicycle this holiday season gets one. Jimmy Hallyburton and Devin McComas of the Boise Bicycle Project joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the giveaway.

Bouquets of flowers sit on the ground in front of the red brick University of Idaho sign. — **Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable: December 2, 2022** Dec 02, 2022
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Bouquets of flowers sit on the ground in front of the University of Idaho sign after four students were found dead. (Richard Rodriguez / Boise State Public Radio)
An update in the Michael Vaughan case, welfare checks increase at the University of Idaho, Gem state moves to dismiss Satanic Temple abortion lawsuit and an anti-SLAPP law may be necessary to help protect free speech. It’s Friday - which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up-to-date on all the news that made headlines this past week.
Our journalist panel today:
Kevin Richert, senior reporter and blogger with Idaho Ed News
Bryan Clark, opinion writer with the Idaho Statesman
Kelcie Moseley-Morris with the Idaho Capital Sun
Alex Duggan, Investigative Reporter with KTVB

Four brown ragged baby kingbirds sit in a jumble on top of each other on a white towel. — **Saving baby birds is a mission of love for Boise volunteers** Dec 01, 2022
Show notes

Every year, more than 3,000 birds get a second chance at the Ruth Melichar Bird Center in Boise.
The bird rescue and rehabilitation center takes in injured birds and nurses them back to health so they can be released back into the wild. Baby birds who end up at the large renovated barn are raised by volunteers who must feed them every 30 minutes, 12 hours a day!
These baby western kingbirds were rescued and raised at the Ruth Melichar Bird Center in Boise.(Katie Estes)
Jennifer Rockwell is the Director of the Center. More than 20 years ago, she was headed to the grocery store when she saw an injured bird on the side of the road. She brought it to the Center and signed up as a volunteer. Now she’s the Director and she says it’s not a job, it’s a mission and an honor to help these injured and abandoned birds.
The Center helps all kinds of birds, from western kingbirds to ducks to a pair of helpless baby screech owls who came into the Center filthy and covered in fleas. The Center cleaned them up, fed and raised them, and released them back into the wild when they were old enough.
The Center is part of the Animals in Distress Association which rescues not just birds, but mammals like beavers, squirrels, and raccoons. AIDA survives on donations and with the help of hundreds of volunteers who spend long hours feeding and caring for the animals that come through its doors.
Rockwell has one message for anything about to pick up a baby bird in your backyard - Don’t! There’s a very good chance that the bird has parents close by. She says too often well-meaning people rescue birds and animals that don’t need rescuing, which hurts their chances of survival. Check with AIDA before picking up what appears to be an abandoned animal.
If you do rescue an injured bird, don’t feed it and don’t put it in water. Get in touch with the Ruth Melichar Bird Center and volunteers there will help out.
The rescued western kingbirds are all grown up and ready to go back to the wild!(Katie Estes)

Two light blue-gray birds sit on a tree branch next to purple berries. — **Saving baby birds is a mission of love for Boise volunteers** Dec 01, 2022
Show notes

Every year, more than 3,000 birds get a second chance at the Ruth Melichar Bird Center in Boise.
The bird rescue and rehabilitation center takes in injured birds and nurses them back to health so they can be released back into the wild. Baby birds who end up at the large renovated barn are raised by volunteers who must feed them every 30 minutes, 12 hours a day!
These baby western kingbirds were rescued and raised at the Ruth Melichar Bird Center in Boise.(Katie Estes)
Jennifer Rockwell is the Director of the Center. More than 20 years ago, she was headed to the grocery store when she saw an injured bird on the side of the road. She brought it to the Center and signed up as a volunteer. Now she’s the Director and she says it’s not a job, it’s a mission and an honor to help these injured and abandoned birds.
The Center helps all kinds of birds, from western kingbirds to ducks to a pair of helpless baby screech owls who came into the Center filthy and covered in fleas. The Center cleaned them up, fed and raised them, and released them back into the wild when they were old enough.
The Center is part of the Animals in Distress Association which rescues not just birds, but mammals like beavers, squirrels, and raccoons. AIDA survives on donations and with the help of hundreds of volunteers who spend long hours feeding and caring for the animals that come through its doors.
Rockwell has one message for anything about to pick up a baby bird in your backyard - Don’t! There’s a very good chance that the bird has parents close by. She says too often well-meaning people rescue birds and animals that don’t need rescuing, which hurts their chances of survival. Check with AIDA before picking up what appears to be an abandoned animal.
If you do rescue an injured bird, don’t feed it and don’t put it in water. Get in touch with the Ruth Melichar Bird Center and volunteers there will help out.
The rescued western kingbirds are all grown up and ready to go back to the wild!(Katie Estes)

**Local Kitchen Collective helps feed Boise** Dec 01, 2022
Show notes

( Jenna Damron)
Last year in Idaho, over 152,000 people were experiencing food insecurity according to the Idaho Food b ank.
Unfortunately, many of those same people do not qualify for government programs, like food stamps, due to their income. Groups like the Boise Kitchen Collective are working to help fill that gap.
Jenna and Seth Damron joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the importance of a home-cooked meal.

Female South Hills crossbill — **A bird only found in Idaho is in danger of extinction** Dec 01, 2022
Show notes

A female Cassia Crossbill in the South Hills(Craig Benkman / Courtesy of Craig Benkman )
A bird that only lives in Idaho was already thought to be heading toward extinction when a large wildfire burned much of its territory a few years ago. As Rachel Cohen reports, researchers are now trying to assess the damage.

Fewer birds are migrating as populations decline Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

Thousands of birds have flown over our region as they migrate south but bird watchers are noticing fewer species and fewer birds than last year. Emma Vandeneinde of the Mountain West News Bureau looks into the trend, she started by joining bird watchers on a recent hike.

**Idaho Matters Doctors Roundtable: November 30, 2022** Nov 30, 2022
Show notes

A health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.(Lynne Sladky / AP)
Central District Health says a local high school student has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Health officials say the student attends Centennial High School, and the department is investigating and sending letters to anyone who may have had close contact.
According to officials, there is no on-going risk for contracting the bacterial infection at the school, and most people who are exposed don’t actually become infected. The Health Department stated that three of the five tuberculosis cases in Idaho last year were in Ada County.
Dr. David Pate, former CEO of St. Luke's Health System, joins Idaho Matters to talk more about this.

**Find your perfect Christmas tree with George Prentice** Nov 30, 2022
Show notes

(Lucia / Flickr)
With Thanksgiving behind us, many people’s thoughts turn to Christmas and putting up the tree.
Lindsay Schramm, the owner of the North End Organic Nursery, says that gone are the days of buying your tree on Christmas Eve as she expects all her trees to be long gone by then. Schramm spoke with our Morning Edition host George Prentice about the Christmas tree industry and how sustainable it is.

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