Idaho Matters

The Idaho state flag hangs in the State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.(Kyle Green / AP)

The trial challenging Idaho's abortion ban is on pause for now, an update on the BSU Volleyball case, the latest on Debbie Critchfield and PragerU, Trump picks former WWE President for Secretary of Ed, a lawsuit involving a failed Union 93 project in Meridian, and Idaho's Attorney General visits Mar-a-Lago.

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:

Julie Luchetta, reporter with Boise State Public Radio News

Ian Max Stevenson with the Idaho Statesman

Nampa's 100-food-tall water tower was built in the 1970's.(City of Nampa)

The City of Boise recently adopted a new comprehensive plan, a long-term set of guiding principles that cities use when building, growing and deciding where to put everything. Caldwell also announced this week that it’s rewriting its plan.

City planning is actually required by state law in Idaho, but the process can be mysterious, confusing, and complicated for residents.

Over the past year, Nampa has been creating videos on everything from zoning to density to open space to why cities plan ahead. They’ve completed their Citizen’s Guide to Planning, and they’re hoping it will help residents better understand this process.

Rodney Ashby, Nampa’s Planning & Zoning Director, joined Idaho Matters to tell us more.

(iStockphoto.com)

Boise has recently taken a step towards a greener city as they expand their recycling program.

The change comes thanks to improvements made by Republic Services Idaho Recycling Center, which has made it possible for residents to fill their blue carts with two new types of plastic.

Rachele Klein, the Municipal Director for Republic Services, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about this change.

Earlier this year Morgan Buckert was the recipient of the "2024 Nest Heritage Craft Prize: Women of the West" for her "Cosmic Cowboy" boots. (Morgan Buckert Custom Boots)

For more than a century, cowboy boots have been an iconic part of American Western culture. And in recent years they’ve had a resurgence in mainstream fashion thanks to musical artists like Beyonce and popular shows like "Yellowstone."

Which for craftsman Morgan Buckert is a good thing. She’s a custom bootmaker based out of Hailey, Idaho and makes gear so beautiful that it's literally been displayed in museums.

Buckert joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her craft.

Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande arrive at the premiere of "Wicked" on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP)

As we reported a while back, the Sun Valley Film Festival has moved to December, and now they have announced their full line-up for this year’s star-studded extravaganza.

“Wicked” is coming to the big screen. Plus it’s time for the Oscars! Well, not all the Oscars, it's time for some of them.

Our resident movie critic, and Morning Edition host, George Prentice joined Idaho Matters to explain everything and help us figure out “What to Watch.”

(looseends / Flickr)

A new strain of mpox has hit the U.S., there’s troubling news about a human case of bird flu and contaminated carrots have made people sick in 18 states.

Dr. David Pate, former CEO of St. Luke's Health System, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about these issues.

FILE - John Adkins, left to right, and his wife Jennifer, along with family physician Julie Lyons, talk to the media outside the Ada County Courthouse, Dec. 14, 2023, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, File)(Kyle Green/AP / FR171837 AP)

This is the second week of a trial in Idaho where four women are challenging the state’s abortion laws.

Tuesday, a doctor for the plaintiffs testified the language of the laws is narrow and unclear, something the state disputes. Much of the testimony in court has been emotional and hard to listen to.

Sarah Varney, a special correspondent with KFF Health News, was in the courtroom last week during the trial and joined Idaho Matters for an update.

(Jack Parrott / Flickr )

Freeing the slaves in America was not done with the stroke of a pen. President Abraham Lincoln and other anti-slavery politicians of the time used the constitution, which did not condemn slavery, in a very deliberate and strategic way to make their arguments.

College of Southern Idaho professor Justin Vipperman will be exploring this topic at the Idaho State Archives in Boise; he joined Idaho Matters for a preview, along with Angie Davis from the Idaho State Archives.

(Darren McEvilly / Flickr)

This month, Story Story Night is back for their 15th season, and it will be full of strategy.

In the game of chess, much like in life, it’s important to know when to make a move and when to be patient. Which is something that this year’s storytellers are experts at.

Jodi Eichelberger, artistic director of Story Story Night, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about this flagship season.

The University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.(Geoffrey von Zastrow Photography / Flickr)

Will the University of Idaho buy the University of Phoenix? That’s still the question more than a year and a half after the deal was first announced.

The $685 million deal to buy the for-profit online university got off to a rocky start with Idaho lawmakers and is still in the middle of a Supreme Court lawsuit.

As far as we know, Idaho's Board of Education and the University of Idaho are still talking to Phoenix, but details are vague. And the November election may play a part in the chance that sale goes through.

Idaho Education News has been tracking the proposed phoenix sale since the beginning. Kevin Richert, senior reporter and blogger with Idaho Education News, has a new story out about whether the phoenix sale will rise from the ashes.