Idaho Matters is a wonderful way to stay up to date, meet people and understand there’s much more to this great state. Hosted by Gemma Gaudette on Boise State Public Radio News, it features arts and politics, growth and education, and the interesting stories that make Idaho unique. Send us your questions, comments or story ideas by emailing idahomatters@boisestate.edu or sending us a voicemail using the “Talk To Us” feature on the free Boise State Public Radio app.
Former police officer files lawsuit against City of Boise
Nov 14, 2022
Show notes(Lacey Daley / Boise State Public Radio)
Former Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee left his post in September under a cloud of controversy. Now, a former Internal Affairs Captain has filed a lawsuit against the city of Boise, saying officials did not protect police officers working under Lee.
KTVB reporter Alex Duggan has been following this story and joins Idaho Matters to talk more about this story.
A look at the cost of housing in Ada County and why prices have recently increased
Nov 14, 2022
Show notes(DavidDubov / Flickr)
Idaho has one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States according to the United States Census Bureau, and this growth has been reflected in our housing market.
Homes prices in Boise have been going up dramatically for the past few years, reaching a peak this May when the median price for a home in Ada county topped $600,000. However, with rising interest rates and rising inflation housing prices started to drop in June and kept dropping through the summer.
But in October prices ticked up again, which seemed odd considering interest rates have continued to rise, making it harder for buyers to purchase a home.
Cassie Zimmerman, Project Manager for Boise Regional Relator and Jeff Martel, designated broker and owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 43° North join Idaho Matters to talk about this discrepancy in the housing market.
Meeting the new Executive Director of the Wassmuth Center
Nov 14, 2022
Show notes(Audrey Regan)
Since the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights was first founded in 1996, it has been a center of diversity and learning in the heart of downtown Boise.
Home to the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, the Wassmuth Center’s mission is education and encouraging respect for human dignity. After 16 years with the organization, Dan Prinzing will be retiring next year and the center’s board of directors have chosen a new executive director.
Christina Bruce-Bennion joins Idaho Matters to talk more about the future of the Wassmuth Center.
Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable: November 11, 2022
Nov 11, 2022
Show notesIdaho Gov. Brad Little speaks on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. Little won re-election.(AP Photo/Kyle Green)(Kyle Green / AP)
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.
A look at Idaho's grocery tax and how people feel about it
Nov 10, 2022
Show notesGrocery cart loaded with fresh fruit and bread moving through the aisle. (cottoncandylola / Flickr)
So here’s a question, how much did you spend on groceries this week? Idaho's six percent tax on groceries is back in the news, thanks to some comments on election night and a new survey by the Idaho Statesman.
The Statesman asked Idahoans how they feel about the grocery tax, which wasn’t popular in the best of times. But now, since the price of food skyrocketed this year - it turns out a large majority of folks, both Democrat and Republican, want to get rid of it.
Ryan Suppe covers state politics for the Idaho Statesman and sat down with Idaho Matters to talk more about this issue.
The science behind sleep and getting a good nights rest
Nov 10, 2022
Show notes
Sleep-related problems affect somewhere between 50 to 70 million Americans, which is a public health concern, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association.
Dr. Aric Prather is a world-renowned sleep scientist and expert clinician who believes he’s cracked the code to helping even the most restless sleepers get a good night’s rest. He sat down with Idaho Matters to give us some tips about getting better rest, as well as talk about his new book, The Sleep Prescription.
A night at the Flicks with George Prentice
Nov 10, 2022
Show notes(The Flicks)
It's been a cold and wet week, which makes it perfect weather to curl up under a blanket with a good tv show or head to the theatre.
Our resident movie critic George Prentice joins Idaho Matters to give us recommendations on what to watch this weekend and what people are watching at The Flicks.
Breaking down the general election results with Idaho Matters
Nov 09, 2022
Show notes(NPR)
Helping kids and adults cope with ADHD
Nov 08, 2022
Show notes(Practical Cures / Flickr)
Even though Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, can be difficult to diagnose - it's estimated that six million children in the United States have it. More adults are also being diagnosed every day.
Founder and CEO of K-Counseling and Anxiety Treatment Lisa Schiro joins Idaho Matters to talk more about coping with ADHD.
How does same-day voter registration work in Idaho?
Nov 08, 2022
Show notes(Emilie Ritter Saunders / Boise State Public Radio)
Idaho Matters is answering your questions about voting in the 2022 midterm elections. This week, listeners asked us about same-day voter registration and how it works.
We talked with Boise State Public Radio Reporter James Dawson to help us answer your questions.
If you haven't already registered to vote, are you still able to?
Well, the good news is there is same-day voter registration here in Idaho. So yes, as long as you meet certain requirements, you are eligible to cast a vote and register to vote on the same day.
How does same day voter-registration work?
First, you have to figure out where your precinct is, which involves going online or calling your county clerk's office and giving them your address. They will then tell you where your nearest polling location is. You can also look up your polling place online if you live in Ada County.
From there you should be able to register.
What do you need to bring with you?
Once you’ve figured out which voting district you belong to you’ll need to bring a form of ID. You can bring a state-issued ID card, whether that's a driver's license or a student ID. And then, just in case, you should also bring a few different forms of ID that prove your residency. This can be a utility bill, a lease agreement, a mortgage, etc. A bill that will not work is a cell phone bill.
Beyond registering, what else does same-day registration allow you to do?
Many people's polling places have changed due to redistricting, so if that's the case you can update your address. If you are unaffiliated and if you want to, you can also affiliate with a party.
Do all counties in Idaho let you register to vote on the same day?
It is a state law to register to vote on the same day as an election. This is not a law unique to Idaho, other states also have same-day voter registration.
If you registered at the last election, do you have to register again?
If you registered to vote in the 2020 election you should not need to register again. The only exception would be if you moved during that time period.
Then you would have to go to your new polling place and update everything, but you don't need to register again. However, if you haven't voted at all within the past four years then you will need to re-register to vote.
Does same-day registration help turnout at the polls?
From what we’ve seen in the past, Yes. Many people lead busy lives, especially if they work multiple jobs or have a family.
Voting can be an easy thing to space out on, so the ease of access certainly helps increase turnout.
Once I’ve registered to vote can I bring my phone into the booth with me to look things up while filling out the ballot?
Idaho does allow you to bring your phone into the booth and look things up. They also allow you to take a selfie with your ballot if you want to, though you are not able to do that in every state.
You’ll want to keep in mind though that you are not allowed to take pictures of other people voting because it’s illegal.
As a reminder: We’ve talked about this before, but why have polling places changed and how do people find their new polling place?
Polling places have changed because of redistricting. Every ten years with the new census, we recombine all the maps and districts.
But the reason why this is important for precincts is because those have changed, too. Dozens of polling places, if not more, have changed in Ada County alone. So it's not going to be an uncommon experience for people who are realizing that the place that they voted for the past ten years is no longer where they need to vote.
Go on to voteidaho.gov and you'll be able to find your polling place there, or you can also call your county elections office and they'll be able to point you in the right direction.
This project is part of the work of America Amplified, an initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to support community engagement journalism in public media.
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