Members of the House ethics committee confer with their attorney, William Myers III, on the first day of a hearing into allegations that Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger (R-Lewiston) raped a volunteer staffer.(James Dawson / Boise State Public Radio)

Editor's note: This episode discusses sexual assault. If you are a survivor or know someone who is, there is help. Here's the number to the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

The Idaho Legislature has been in session for 110 days, making it one of the longest sessions in history. As lawmakers struggle to wrap up budgets before a possible shutdown, a tense and often disturbing House Ethics Committee hearing came into focus. On this edition of the Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable, we talk with our journalist panel about the resignation of Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger (R-Lewiston) who is accused of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern, as well as the trauma Jane Doe experienced at the capitol on Wednesday — resulting in the revocation of a statehouse reporter's press credentials.

Our journalist panel:

The Idaho Ethics and House Policy Committee voted unanimously to expel fellow lawmaker Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger Thursday, April 29, 2021 after citing a pattern of sexual predation among Capitol Mall staff and subordinates. (DARIN OSWALD / Idaho Statesman)

UPDATE 2:49 p.m. Thursday: Since this was originally published, Rep. Ehlinger resigned from the legislature.

After a tense and often disturbing day of testimony, the Idaho House Ethics Committee unanimously voted Thursday morning to recommend censuring Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger. The Lewiston Republican now will face the full House to decide his fate. After the decision, Governor Brad little released a statement in support of expelling the lawmaker.

House Ethics Committee members also admonished alleged intimidation of the 19-year-old staffer who says von Ehlinger sexually assaulted her. The young woman — who was an intern at the statehouse — testified during the hearing Wednesday, and after leaving the room lawmakers claim she was harassed by von Ehlinger supporters. It’s not clear who was involved in the reported intimidation, but three committee members called for an inquiry into the matter.

Idaho Matters gets caught up on this story with Boise State Public Radio reporter James Dawson, who has been covering the story from the state capitol building in Boise.

(Terry Reilly / Facebook)

The legacy of Terry Reilly Health Service started and grew in the living room of a modest house in Nampa. Terry Reilly and his wife Rosie started a neighborhood center in their own home that offered tutoring for the children of seasonal farmworkers.

And when Terry noticed the health needs of these families weren’t being met, he listed the volunteer help of Dr. Clarence McIntrye, together they opened a clinic in the back of Terry and Rosie’s house 50 years ago this Saturday. Idaho Matters looks at the impact of this organization with Rosie Reilly and CEO Heidi Hart.

( DARIN OSWALD / Idaho Statesman )

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, public transit around the world has taken a hit. Concerns over transmission of the coronavirus has made passengers wary of taking trains and buses and caused a lot of public transit officials to scramble to prop up systems financially.

Valley Regional Transit is the largest metro transit agency in Idaho, and serves the Treasure Valley with buses and carpool options. Idaho Matters checks-in with executive director Kelli Badesheim to learn more.

Producers Peter Spears, from left, Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Mollye Asher and Dan Janvey, winners of the award for best picture for "Nomadland," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, April 25, 2021, at Union Station in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, Pool)(Chris Pizzello/AP / Pool AP)

Last weekend, the film "Nomadland" broke boundaries at the Oscars, when director Chloe Zhao became the first woman of color and first Asian-American woman to win best director. The film also took home Best Picture and other awards.

Listeners of Idaho Matters were likely quite familiar with "Nomadland" because of our resident film and TV critic George Prentice. He returns with more recommendations, including one that's apropos of Idaho news this week.

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2021, file photo, empty vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are seen at a vaccination center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Las Vegas. The makers of COVID-19 vaccines are figuring out how to tweak their recipes against worrisome virus mutations — if and when the shots need an update. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)(John Locher/AP / AP)

Two Idaho doctors consider how to encourage more people to get the COVID-19 vaccine now that providers are reporting plenty of open appointments. What does vaccine hesitancy mean for the state's pandemic fight? Idaho Matters explores this and other listener questions.

Our doctor panel today:

(Julochka / Flickr)

COVID-19 has upended many sectors of the economy in Idaho, including the food industry. But before the pandemic there wasn’t a trade association that represented all aspects of this sector — from farmers and ranchers, to food and beverage producers — to independent restaurants and bars.

That’s how FARE Idaho came to be. The group’s goal is to advocate on behalf of almost 200 food and beverage companies in Idaho. Idaho Matters interviews FARE Idaho Executive Director Katie Baker.

( Spacebar Arcade)

Small and mid-sized businesses in the U.S. have felt a disproportionate impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. In Idaho, numerous small businesses have had to close permanently. However, there are programs available to help small businesses rebound.

Idaho Matters checks in with Will Hay and Zach Rowland who own Spacebar Arcade in downtown Boise, along with Gina Bessire who manages Zions Bank’s Idaho Business Resource Center. The bar closed for many months in the last year, but the owners are now looking forward to a brighter future in part because of federal aid they've been able to access.

This map shows the April 2021 snow picture in southern Idaho, which shows variance across different basins as a percent of median from a 30 year period. ( Natural Resources Conservation Service)

As we make the turn in the seasons toward warmer months, Idaho’s current snowpack can help us better predict what’s in store for us this summer. Water scientists measure mountain snow around the state to help predict the amount of water that will run through our rivers and agricultural canals this summer. This information is also used by fire scientists to help prepare for wildfire season.

So, what do we know about our snow picture right now and what might that mean for this summer? Idaho Matters checks in with Natural Resources Conservation Service Water Supply Specialist Erin Wharton and Idaho Snow Survey Supervisor Corey Loveland.

(via Facebook / Ridge to Rivers)

If you’re planning to walk or bike some trails in Boise's Hulls Gulch, you’ll have to check the calendar first.

Starting Wednesday, some Boise Foothills trails will alternate either days or directions between hikers and bikers. For example, on odd numbered days the Lower Hulls Gulch Trail Number 29 will be closed to all but downhill bike traffic.

Sound confusing? It’s part of a pilot project by Boise Parks and Recreation to accommodate the rapidly growing number of people using the Ridge to Rivers Trail System.

Idaho Matters learns about this new trail schedule with Carlos Matutes is the Executive Director of the Southwest Idaho Mountain Bike Association. He says trail use in the foothills has been going up dramatically each year since 2012 thanks to growth in the Treasure Valley. But during the COVID-19 lockdown, the trails have seen three times as much traffic.