Yesterday gas in Idaho was $4.90 cents a gallon, on average, and $5 dollars is rapidly approaching.

The cost of gas in the Gem State went up 18 cents over the last week, 43 cents over the last month and stands at $1.62 more than one year ago.

Matthew Conde, the Public and Government Affairs Director of AAA Idaho, Joined Idaho Matters to talk more about increasing gas prices and what drivers can do to ease the pain at the pump.

In the last 500 years, more than 1,000 animals and plants have gone extinct. Many scientists say we’re in earth’s sixth mass extinction.

Many species, such as the passenger pigeon, can no longer be found on our planet and more are on the brink of going extinct every day.

Two researchers wanted to know what lessons could be learned from past extinctions, and from some of the success stories, that could be applied to animals in trouble today.

They have published a set of essays looking at specific animals under threat of extinction in the journal Environmental History titled “Extinction and its Interventions in the Americas.”

Co-author Emily Wakild, professor of history and director of environmental studies at Boise State University, joins Idaho Matters to talk about the forum.

America is waiting for a much-anticipated ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on the future of Roe v. Wade and soon the Idaho Supreme Court will hear arguments on an Idaho abortion law.

The head of Idaho’s Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates says she’s furious and she’s not backing down when it comes to abortion.

She sat down with our Morning Edition host George Prentice to talk about the current state of abortion services in Idaho, how Planned Parenthood is strengthening its regional partners and how a growing number of Idaho companies are supporting abortion rights.

In 1972 a group of concerned citizens gathered together to form a group, whose goal was to preserve the architectural heritage of Boise from bulldozers.

For the past 50 years, Preservation Idaho has worked to save the state’s historic character, while adapting to population growth, and changes in how we have approached historic preservation over time.

Joining Idaho Matters to talk about its 50th anniversary are the President of Preservation Idaho, Paula Benson and Dan Everhart, the Outreach Historian with the State Historic Preservation Office.

Last month, two wolves spooked a herd of sheep in the Boise foothills. The frightened sheep jumped into a deep gully to try and escape the wolves, piled on top of each other in the gully and 143 of them died.

This incident has sparked a new conversation about wolves and livestock in Idaho.

However, a group of kids from Timberline High School have been talking about wolves, especially about protecting them. Now the students aren’t just talking, they’re acting - after pups from the nearby Timberline Pack were killed by wildlife services biologists.

Reporter Clark Corbin with the Idaho Capitol Sun took a deep dive into wolves and a new Idaho law, put in place last year, expanding hunters’ abilities to kill the animals. He joins Idaho Matters to talk about what he found out.

According to the National Council on Aging, one in ten Americans 60 and over experience some form of elder abuse.

This issue affects nearly five million people each year, yet statistics on elder abuse are often limited and underreported.

This month the Nampa Family Justice Center is hosting a walk to help raise awareness of elder abuse.

Joining Idaho Matters today to talk more about this issue and elder abuse awareness month is Jeannie Strohmeyer, the Executive Director for the Nampa Family Justice Center and Program Coordinator, Alyssa Groen.

We had some big news this week, including an update on a lawsuit against one of Idaho’s abortion laws, the results of the May election are certified…but that doesn’t mean it’s all over, we look at a war over wineries and the contraversy over ESG investing makes a comeback - 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:

How much matter is in the universe? How do you measure things like the size or weight of something like that? What is dark matter and why is it important to us?

Dr. Andres Salcedo, with the University of Arizona, spends a lot of time thinking about these big questions and he’ll be giving a talk at 7:30 p.m. Friday as part of the First Friday Astronomy Event at Boise State University. He sat down with Idaho Matters for a preview.

Before his talk, the Boise Astronomical Society will help anyone who wants to know more about their telescope with a hands-on tutorial, so bring your scope to Boise State at 5 p.m. Friday!

After 13 years with the Idaho Senate, Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) will be retiring. She sat down with our Morning Edition host George Prentice to talk about her decision to step away from the legislature, the experiences that brought her to where she is now and how grateful she is to have served in the Idaho Statehouse.

Minda Harts is the CEO and best-selling author of "You Are More Than Magic," a book about helping women of color advocate for themselves and find their voice. She joins Gemma Gaudette to talk about building relationships and facing workplace challenges.