( Algonquin Books)

You may know Ayesha Rascoe from her ten years of reporting for Reuters News Agency or from her time as a White House correspondent covering three different presidents, or maybe she wakes you up on Sundays as the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.

But before she started her career as a political reporter, she was a student at Howard University, and her experience there helped fuel her new book, “HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience."

It’s a collection of essays from everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Branford Marsalis to Stacey Abrams who write about how attending a historically black university helped shape who they are today. Rascoe joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her new book.

(Al Giesler / Sun Valley Museum of Art)

For the seventh year, singer-songwriter Brett Dennen is returning with his Lift Series, traveling to his favorite ski towns in the mountain west for some unforgettable performances.

The tour is about more than just good music, though, as Dennen works to bring a spotlight to the conservation issues facing our world today and ways we can all help to make a change. The musician sat down with Idaho Matters to talk more about his upcoming visit.

(oldskulphoto / Flickr)

Idahoans think the state is off on the wrong track and are worried about housing, property taxes and the economy. They also trust librarians to choose library books; they don't want ranked choice voting; and they'd like to make changes to Idaho's abortion ban.

These are all conclusions that came out of the ninth annual Idaho Public Policy Survey from Boise State University's School of Public Service and Idaho Policy Institute after polling over 1,000 Idahoans about their top concerns going into 2024.

Dr. Matthew May, the Survey Research Director at the School of Public Service, and Lantz McGinnis-Brown, a Research Associate with the Idaho Policy Institute, joined Idaho Matters to break down the survey.

(iStockphoto)

If health care were a country, it would be the fifth worst polluter worldwide, according to Dr. Jonathan Perlin. He's the president and CEO of The Joint Commission, a nonprofit that works with health care providers to improve the quality of patient care.

Health care is a big contributor to pollution, excess waste and greenhouse gases, which can lead to making patients sicker: something many health care institutions would like to change.

Dr. Perlin will talk about how The Joint Commission is now working with providers to offer some concrete ways to do things like reduce waste and reduce their carbon footprint on Wednesday, Feb. 7 as part of St. Luke's lecture series on climate and health, and he joined Idaho Matters to tell us more.

Empty classroom with no students(iStockphoto)

What OSHA has to say about the hangar collapse near Boise Airport, a bill that would allow employees to carry concealed guns in schools was passed by the Idaho House, the Gem State is working to boost it's snowfall and a look at why Governor Brad Little is sending state troopers to the Mexico border.

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 for Boise State Public Radio News

Rachel Cohen, South Central reporter for Boise State Public Radio

Ian Max Stevenson covers the City of Boise and climate change for the Idaho Statesman

( Boise Contemporary Theater)

Boise Contemporary Theater is bringing Lynn Nottage's play, "Clyde's," to the stage this weekend. Nottage is the only woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama twice.

The play is a comedy, a drama and a diner, and well, it's hard to describe. So, we sent our Morning Edition host, George Prentice, to find out more.

( Ada County Highway District)

Three people are dead and nine others injured after a privately owned hanger under construction near the Boise airport collapsed on Wednesday. Five of those injured are in critical condition.
 
Seven fire engines, three ladder trucks and at least a dozen ambulances responded to the scene near the Jackson Jet Center. According to Boise Fire Operations Chief Aaron Hummel, the hangar was under construction when the collapse happened.

 Sydney Kidd, who reports for BoiseDev.com, joined Idaho Matters to give us an update on the tragedy.

Minidoka under construction. Displays the solitude and expansive vistas of Minidoka.

( Courtesy of the National Archives)

During World War II, over 13,000 Japanese Americans were held at Minidoka in the eastern Idaho desert and more than 120,000 were taken from their homes by the U.S. government.

While their parents were in camps like Minidoka, some young men volunteered to serve and were placed in a special Japanese-American Army unit which fought in places like Germany, Italy and France.

This chapter of American history was the basis for the book “Facing the Mountain” by author Daniel James Brown. Brown's book “The Boys in the Boat,” was made into a movie last year by George Clooney.

On Wednesday, Feb. 7, the Idaho Center for the Book and the Friends of Minidoka will sit down to talk about "Facing the Mountain" and are inviting everyone to join in and to learn more from a photo exhibit featuring the men in the unit.

We asked Gwyn Hervochon, librarian for Albertsons Library and coordinator for the Idaho Center for the Book along with Camille Daw, program and outreach manager with Friends of Minidoka and David Walker, associate professor with Boise State’s History Department to tell us more.

( The Idaho State Museum)

As we head into February, people around the world are getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Which is why the Idaho State Museum and Idaho Chinese Organization are coming together to kick off the holiday with a very special event, honoring cultural traditions of the celebration with art, music, food and so much more.

Liz Hobson, Museum Administrator of the Idaho State Museum, and Candy Hua, a council member from the Idaho Chinese Organization, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the festivities.

Empty popcorn bags are lined up in a row. (Scott Duffus / Flickr)

If you've been using a family members Netflix password to watch your favorite films, you may not be happy about the latest crackdown on password-sharing from some the top streaming services.

Idaho Matters sat down with our resident movie critic, George Prentice, to take a look at what other platforms are implementing the no-share rule and recommend some show's you might want to check out.