Idaho Matters

(Johnson Purimitla / Flickr)

This weekend, cyclists from around the world will compete in the last two stages of the Tour de France race.

Among these athletes is Boise native Matteo Jorgenson, who attributes his start in the sport to BYRDS, a youth cycling program here in the Treasure Valley.

Douglas Tobin, President of BYRDS, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the program and the success of his riders.

Three counsels to U.S. President Gerald Ford meet with members of the Select Senate Committee on Intelligence in Washington, D.C., June 26, 1975. They brought White House files with them to aid panel's investigation into where orders to assassinate Cuban Premier Fidel Castro originated. From left are: seated, James Wilderoffer, counsel; Roderick Hills, counsel; Philip Buchan, counsel; Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, chairman; and Sen. John Tower, R-Texas. Standing, Senators Gary Hartr, D-Colorado; Robert Morgan, D-N.C.; Walter Mondale, D-Minn.; Richard Schweiker, R-Pa.; Howard Baker. R-Tenn.; and Charles McC. Mathias, R-Md. (Henry Griffin / AP)

Next week marks 100 years since the birth of Idaho Sen. Frank Church.

Church, a Democrat, served as a U.S. senator from Idaho from 1957 until 1981, and he is currently the last Democrat to do so. He was also the longest-serving democratic senator from our state and the only Democrat from Idaho who served more than two terms in the Senate.

Church served on the senate committee on foreign relations, and in 1960 he gained national exposure when he gave the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention.

He was also considered a strong progressive and environmental legislator, and he played a major role in creating a system of protected wilderness areas.

Frank Church Institute Board Member, Rod Gramer, and the granddaughter of Frank Church, Monica Church, who is also the Executive Director of the Frank Church Institute, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about his life and legacy.

(The Flicks / via Facebook)

Idahoans will be considering an open primaries initiative this November, which includes a ranked choice voting component.

A new film called "Majority Rules" looks at this issue and there’s a sold out special screening on Wednesday, July 17, at The Flicks in Boise, which will include a panel discussion after the film. Former Gov. Butch Otter will be there, as will the director of the film, AJ Schnack.

The Flicks is working to get the film on the schedule in the future, for more people to watch. Schnack sat down with our Morning Edition host George Prentice for a preview of the screening.

( ISU AmeriCorps Programs)

More than 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, September 11 has become the biggest day of service in America. It’s a day when many give back to their communities to honor those lost that day.

Last year, Idaho State University’s Institute of Rural Health got a grant from AmeriCorps to plan community outreach events in Pocatello, Boise and Kellogg throughout the year.

So far this year, on ISU's 9/11 Day of Service, AmeriCorps program volunteers have already built bunk beds for those in need and given out hygiene kits for folks experiencing homelessness and isolation kits for seniors, and they’ve just gotten started in their mission to fight poverty, food insecurity, isolation and help communities with disaster preparedness.

Program assistant Olivia McCandless and project coordinator Kayla Fielder joined Idaho Matters to tell us more.

Alex Adams and Idaho Governor Brad Little after Little signed the “Promoting Families and Protecting Children Act,” on June 7, 2024.(Idaho Governor's Office)

Idaho has a new Health and Welfare Director. Alex Adams faces a growing Medicaid budget and has already cut some vacant positions.

On day one, he made adoption a top priority and said he wants to double the number of foster families in Idaho.

After past struggles with Idaho lawmakers over federal funding and the department pulling out of the Boise Pride Parade two years ago, Health and Welfare has weathered some controversy. So how will he work to heal relationships in the Idaho legislature and in the community?

Director Adams joined Idaho Matters for a full hour to talk about his new role at Health and Welfare.

FILE - In the Sept. 21, 2017, file photo, tucked in a sleeping bag, Danny, a 60-year-old homeless man who only gave his first name, lies on an overpass above the 101 Freeway, one of the nation's busiest freeways, in Los Angeles. A federal appellate court says cities can't prosecute people for sleeping on the streets if they have nowhere else to go. In a ruling handed down Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with six homeless Boise, Idaho residents who sued the city in 2009 alleging that a local ordinance that bans sleeping on the streets amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling could impact several other cities across the western U.S. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)(Jae C. Hong / AP)

Last week, we told you it’s legal again to give someone a ticket for sleeping or camping on public property. This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Grants Pass vs. Johnson case.

The city of Oregon wanted to fine people sleeping in public parks and possibly put them in jail if they refused to comply, and the court said that was not "cruel and unusual" punishment.

This case has its roots in Boise, and Mayor Lauren McLean came out against the Supreme Court’s ruling, saying criminalizing homelessness won’t solve the problem.

Last Monday, we talked to the head of Interfaith Sanctuary about the case, and today we wanted to hear from Reverend Bill Roscoe. He’s the president and CEO of Boise Rescue Mission Ministries, which has emergency shelters in Boise and Nampa.

(Thanasis Zovoilis / Getty Images)

Here in Idaho, there are nearly 30,000 people living with Alzheimer's, a disease that many are calling a public health crisis.

And as that number continues to grow, experts are working to raise awareness. Which is why the Alzheimer's Foundation of America will be hosting an educational conference this week, providing important resources and tools for those most impacted.

Chris Schneider Director of Media Relations with the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, and Judy Taylor, with Idaho's Commission of Aging and the Chair of the Idaho Board of Nursing, join Idaho Matters to talk more.

(Snake River Stampede )

This year marks the 109th anniversary of the Snake River Stampede Rodeo!

This weeklong event brings thousands of cowboys and spectators to Nampa for everything from bull riding to barrel racing to mutton busting!

The stampede is a big money-maker for Canyon County and a tradition for families that spans generations. Clint Child, the president of the Snake River Stampede, joined Idaho Matters to talk more.

(cdn.slacker / Flickr)

Boise native Annie Carey could be heading to the Paralympics in Paris this August.

She currently holds the long jump world record in her classification as well as the U.S. record in the 200 meters, and last year she competed in the Parapan American Games, bringing home bronze medals in the 100 meter, 200 meter and long jump.

And later this week, she'll head to Florida to compete in the Paralympics track and field, with the goal of heading to Paris for the Paralympics. Annie joined Idaho Matters to talk more about her journey.

 

(Murphy Woodhouse / Mountain West News Bureau )

The Open Primary Initiative is headed to the ballot, there's a petition from the Attorney General's office to hear the Hecox v. Little case, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has voiced her support for President Biden and we a look at firework laws.

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: