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.
'River Ask Me Why:' An author interview with Shaun Griffin
Jun 26, 2024
Show notesThe author of "Rive Ask Me Why," Shaun Griffin.( Shaun Griffin)
For some folks approaching their 65th birthday, it might be time to retire, slow down a bit, and spend time closer to home.
But for Nevada writer Shaun Griffin, heading for his 70th decade meant jumping on his bike and taking a 1,000-mile ride from Portland, Oregon, to Jackson, Wyoming, with his two sons.
The ride took them through the Cascades, the Tetons, and the Sawtooths, which stretched their endurance and brought family closer together.
'My Lady Jane:' A new tv series gives history a rewrite
Jun 26, 2024
Show notes( HarperCollins)
Many people may remember Lady Jane Grey as England's shortest ruling monarch, but a new television series, My Lady Jane, is giving history a bit of a rewrite. Asking the question: why can't the damsel-in-distress save herself?
Cynthia Hand, co-author of "My Lady Jane," joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the premiere of the series.
Why we should be focusing on fireproofing our homes instead of adapting our forests
Jun 25, 2024
Show notes(Colby K. Neal / Bureau of Land Management)
Those who try to stop or manage devastating wildland fires spend most of their time trying to adapt the forest using things like controlled burns or cutting down trees.
But a new study says we should be spending our time and money making homes in these areas harder to burn down.
That's a controversial idea for many who don't want to be told what to do with their private property, and it would take political will and new zoning and building codes to make it happen.
Mountain West News Bureau Boise Reporter Murphy Woodhouse joined Idaho Matters to tell us more.
For Idaho workers, Teton Pass collapse steals hours and hours of personal time
Jun 25, 2024
Show notes(Dante Filpula Ankne / KHOL)
Just before 6 a.m., as the sun crested the Teton Mountains, a street sweeper rolled through empty roads in Driggs, Idaho. Two women — one dressed business chic, the other in a hoody — were getting onto the START commuter bus.
Wendy Herrera settled into her seat for another three-hour commute. She casually chatted with the bus driver about the previous day’s delays. The bus driver lamented that there had been traffic, especially near Alpine, Wyoming, but they still arrived on time.
(Dante Filpula Ankne / KHOL)
Hererra nodded, let out an amenable, “Okay, thanks,” and settled into her seat. She’s no stranger to the bus — she commutes to Jackson about three times a week for work at a bank — but she, like others, has been adjusting to the new route.
“It is just longer, not any worser though,” Herrera said. “I think it’s all about attitude.”
Herrera is among the thousands of people who work in and around the popular tourist destination of Jackson, but live in Idaho due to a familiar problem in Wyoming’s Teton County: astronomical wealth inequality and housing prices, some of the highest in the U.S. Nearly 15 percent of Teton County’s workforce lives on the other side of the pass, according to a 2022 housing needs assessment. Since the highway that crosses Teton Pass collapsed on June 8, commute times for these workers have nearly tripled.
For Hererra, the extra time spent commuting comes with a cost. She’s the mother of two young children.
“It just means I don’t have dinner with my kids and maybe I can’t get them ready for bed,” Herrera said.
The other woman on the bus was Wendy Ruiz. She works at a Jackson restaurant and bar named Eleanor's. She used to live in Jackson but after getting a new job, it didn’t make sense anymore.
“It was like, no employer housing, I’m living with my family,” Ruiz said. “It’s good, anyways, but nobody’s expecting this.”
“This” being the pass collapse, which has added another obstacle to her first year of commuting.
“It’s a big impact for everything,” Ruiz said. “I hope this is finished soon, because it’s hard”
At the next stop, Barry Hillam of Victor, Idaho boarded the bus. The Jackson dentist, wearing a baseball hat and glasses, sat down, opened his tablet and began to read.
“In the short term it’s been manageable,” Hillam said. “But in the long term, it wouldn’t be. I’d have to make a change.”
Hillam is grateful for the quick response but hopes the proposed timeline is accurate. He’s losing time with his wife and daughter.
“Just having dinner together, living life. We’ll still pull it off. It’ll be okay. We’ll see how long this lasts,” Hillam said.
START bus fares will be waived through June 28. Jackson officials have asked commuters to carpool or take the bus to limit the number of cars contributing to congestion at the Alpine junction and along the new route.
That congestion could get worse as tourist season ramps up. While WYDOT estimates Highway 22 sees about 10,000 vehicles per day on average, that daily average can rise in summer to nearly 15,000.
(Dante Filpula Ankne / KHOL )
The highway is a popular road tripping route into Jackson, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Tourism is Wyoming’s second largest industry, with Teton County contributing nearly a third of state tourism and travel tax revenue in 2022.
For now, START bus ridership has been mostly low. As the sun snuck over the Snake River Range, one sharp turn oriented the bus north into the Snake River Canyon, the last stretch until Jackson.
M. E. Sorci sat near the front of the bus. She stuffed three bags onto one seat and the floor beside her, a planner and a water bottle falling out one. She put her earbuds in and nestled into the window. She lives in Victor and manages the Orvis store in Jackson. She’s been commuting for about four years, opening and closing the store while being available on call. This new commute is not working with that schedule.
(Dante Filpula Ankne / KHOL)
“I’ll probably just have to camp,” Sorci said. “I have some friends I can stay with and they’re very nice for offering their homes to us and to me, but I don’t want to disrupt their lives.”
Sorci said her livelihood, as well as what she values most in life, is being impacted.
“Time is kind of the most important thing to me and I feel like that’s being taken away,” Sorci said.
After three hours, the bus veered from the silty Snake River and into the south end of Jackson. Commuters started getting out and heading to work.
When their shifts end, they will hop back on the bus for another three hours home, making for a six hour commute altogether. A vehicle can get to Salt Lake City from Jackson in less time. Until the detour is built —- and possibly even longer — commuters have less time for hobbies, for family, for themselves.
As Caldwell grows the city plans for the future
Jun 25, 2024
Show notes(Idaho Department Of Lands / Idaho Statesman)
Caldwell is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Since 2000, the city's population has almost tripled.
As new residents pour in, decisions have to be made about everything from where to build new housing and businesses to transportation to how land should be zoned and used.
These decisions are guided by a comprehensive plan that provides a long-term strategy for the future, and Caldwell is rewriting their master plan and asking for the public's help. Caldwell Planning & Zoning Director Robin Collins joined Idaho Matters to talk more.
Tips for drivers in the heat
Jun 25, 2024
Show notes(Idaho Transportation Department / Screenshot )
Next week is the Fourth of July holiday weekend, which means lots of people will be hitting the road in anticipation of their favorite fireworks shows.
And while lower gas prices might make the drive more pleasant for some, people should keep in mind that temperatures will be on the rise, which can mean more hazards.
Matthew Conde, Public and Government Affairs Director with AAA Idaho, joined Idaho Matters to give drivers a few tips on how to stay safe in the heat.
An update on Micron's Boise expansion
Jun 24, 2024
Show notesThe campus of Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho.(Charlie Litchfield / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Out in Southeast Boise, 11 cranes and hundreds of workers are building Micron's new computer chip fabrication plant.
The project itself is huge and will employ 4,000 construction workers. They're making their own concrete at the site and crushing tons of rock.
We wanted an update on the $15 billion expansion project, and it just so happens that BoiseDev.com just flew a drone over the construction to see what's up, so we invited Don Day, the founder and editor of BoiseDev.com, to join Idaho Matters.
Why one Idaho pharmacist started making healthy dog treats
Jun 24, 2024
Show notes Sabrina Sherwood offers a dog a treat.(Idaho Barkery / Genesis Photography)
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, pharmacist Sabrina Sherwood was standing in her kitchen, trying to come up with a treat for her dog Rocky.
Rocky had allergies and couldn't tolerate commercial, store-bought treats, so Sabrina started cooking up peanut butter, applesauce and rice flour to find the perfect, preservative-free treat for her pup.
The treats were a hit, and after facing some healthcare burnout during the pandemic, Sabrina decided to start her own dog treat company called "Idaho Barkery," and now this Idaho entrepreneur is selling her treats all over Idaho and beyond. She joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her unique business journey.
Caldwell's 'John C. Rice House' gets ready for a big move
Jun 24, 2024
Show notes
This weekend, one historic home will be making a big move.
Built in 1895, the John C. Rice House has had many people pass through its door, serving first as a home and then as a parsonage and Sunday school until being left vacant.
Now, the Caldwell Housing Authority is breathing new life into the property, once again establishing the building as an important part of the community as it's relocated to a new part of town.
Mike Dittenber, executive director of the Caldwell Housing Authority, and project manager Carlos Gonzalez joined Idaho Matters to talk more about this effort.
Boise River opens this week for 2024 float season
Jun 24, 2024
Show notes People beat the heat by floating the Boise River.(Sarah A. Miller / Idaho Statesman)
As temperatures heat up, people are looking for ways to cool down and what better way to do that than on the Boise River. The river officially opens Thursday, June 27 for the 2024 float season.
Doug Holloway, Director of Boise Parks and Recreation, and Bonnie Shelton, Communication and Marketing Superintendent for Boise Parks and Recreation, joined Idaho Matters to talk more.
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