Boise Fire Department Captain Jesse Clark and his daughter Blakely.( Jesse Clark)

First responders can face huge obstacles on the job, both physical and mental, that can take a big toll on both mind and body, and it can be hard to find the resources they need to cope.

A new movement called Forging Wellness provides those physical and mental resources to first responders in the Treasure Valley and the northwest.

Captain Jesse Clark of the Boise Fire Department has been leading the way when it comes to wellness for his fellow firefighters and has been an outspoken advocate for comprehensive wellness programs for first responders.

Clark joined Idaho Matters to talk more about this effort.

(Kenny Simpson / Flickr)

Fall can mean a lot of things, but in terms of what to watch, it's football, good tv plenty of movie recommendations!

Resident movie critic and Morning Edition host George Prentice joined Idaho Matters to give us an update on What to Watch.

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child at a hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip.(Abdel Kareem Hana / AP)

As the Israel-Hamas war rages on, the World Health Organization and Palestinian health authorities are working together to vaccinate Palestinians for polio.

Gaza recently reported its first case of polio in 25 years in a 10-month-old boy whose leg is now paralyzed.

As of Tuesday, the WHO reports it is ahead of its targets in Gaza and, in just three days, has inoculated about a quarter of children under the age of 10.

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

(Vicki Lares / Flickr)

The campaign for the United States head of government is in its final push as people get ready to vote for our nation's 47th president.

This Thursday, Dr. David Adler, President of the Alturas Institute, will be hosting another Constitutional Conversation, and he joined Idaho Matters for a preview.

The 9/11 Miles of Remembrance Run event kicks off at 5:00 pm on September 11th. ( Mission43)

Next week, communities around the country will come together in honor of those lost during the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Among those paying their respects will be Mission43, an organization that helps service members adjust to life after the military.

They'll be hosting their annual 9/11 Miles of Remembrance Run and are inviting everyone to take part.

Dan Nelson, the Director of Mission43, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about the event.

A photo from the stage play, "The Nisei Paradox." ( Idaho Public Television)

We’ve heard many stories of what happened after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, when more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were rounded up and sent to what were known then as relocation centers, including the Minidoka camp in eastern Idaho.

However, one story you may not have heard is how many of the men sent to Minidoka were later drafted to serve in World War II and how many of them resisted the draft, refusing to fight for the country that had put them and their families behind barbed wire.

That’s the story behind a stage play traveling the state, written and performed by Idaho lawyers 80 years after the anniversary of those cases going to trial. It’s also being told in a new documentary on Idaho Public Television.

Bill Manny, executive producer with Idaho Public Television; Jeff Thomson the writer, director and actor of the Nisei Paradox; and Robyn Achilles, executive director of the Friends of Minidoka, join Idaho Matters to talk more.

A recent wish list delivery made to CATCH.( CATCH)

Last year, more than 200 families experiencing homelessness were able to find stable housing through CATCH.

This year, the nonprofit is aiming to make the same impact, and part of that impact includes providing things like bedding, towels and dishes. Small things that make a house feel like home, and many of these items Catch is in desperate need of.

Jeremy Blades, director of the organizations housing services, and Amanda Fields, a CATCH housing manager, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about this need.

(Boise Art Museum / Facebook)

If you're looking for art in downtown Boise, you won't have to search very hard. From murals to sculptures to traffic boxes—it's everywhere.

This weekend there will be even more of it as Art in the Park kicks off its 70th year.

Melanie Fales, Boise Art Museum's executive director, joins Idaho Matters to talk more about the popular event.

An orange sky descended on Stanley on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, as the Wapiti Fire burns west of town.(James Dawson / Boise State Public Radio )

A look at the fire near Stanley and how it's affecting the small mountain town, AG Raúl Labrador is being investigated by the Idaho State Bar, a possible black market hunting scheme has been uncovered in Twin Falls and an update on the Thomas Creech case.

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:

Clark Corbin with the Idaho Capital Sun

Ian Max Stevenson with the Idaho Statesman

Saalt Menstrual Cup & Saalt Period Underwear(Ampersand Studios / Saalt )

When it comes to period products, tampons are one of the most popular, being used by up to 80% of women here in the United States. Which should mean their safe, right? Following a recent study, the answer may be no.

According to researchers, toxic metals, including lead and arsenic, have been found in 14 major brands of tampons.

As a result, many women are making the switch to menstrual cups, a shift that Saalt, a local business specializing in reusable period products, has seen firsthand.

Cherie Hoeger, CEO of Saalt, and Bridget Laye, the director of customer experience, joined Idaho Matters to talk more about this issue.