In March, lead producer Melissa Davlin sat down with Bob Collier from the University of Idaho’s Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences to discuss the state of veterinary medicine in Idaho, how our needs reflect the national trends, and what can be done to address the issue.

Melissa Davlin sat down in late March with the University of Idaho’s Markie McBrayer at KUID in Moscow to discuss the history of morality politics, as well as laws that use civilians to enforce policy in civil court.

The legislature has adjourned for the year, but not before failing to override a veto on a controversial bill concerning content in libraries. But that isn’t the end of the conversation around materials deemed “harmful to minors” or obscene. This week, we take a look at the months-long debates over collection policies in Idaho libraries, and what more, if anything, those libraries should do to prevent minors from checking out potentially obscene materials. Markie McBrayer from University of Idaho’s Department of Politics and Philosophy joins us to discuss the history of morality politics and civil enforcement mechanisms in law. Finally, Katie Ball from the University of Idaho’s College of Law, Rep. Brent Crane, and Meridian Library board trustee Jeff Kohler discuss civil enforcement, as well as what we may see in coming months in the library debate.

The state of Idaho has become a thriving place for surrogacy, largely due to the fact that it did not have any laws governing the practice and allowed the industry to operate without any regulation. Last week, Gov. Brad Little signed a bill by Rep. Brooke Green, D-Boise, Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, which sets out legal processes and recognition of parental rights under gestational carrier agreements for the first time in state law. Green and Nicole Williamson from surrogacy agency A Host of Possibilities joined Logan Finney to talk about the new law and its practical impacts for intending parents and gestational carriers moving forward.

Learn more about surrogacy and the PBS documentary "Made in Boise" in this episode of Dialogue, also featuring Williamson: https://video.idahoptv.org/video/made-in-boise-ynhhag/

Read more coverage of HB 264 from the Idaho Capital Sun: https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/03/02/idaho-is-a-surrogacy-hub-a-new-bill-would-set-legal-best-practices-for-the-first-time/

This week, lawmakers wrapped up their remaining work at the capitol and recessed to allow for any remaining vetoes. Dr. Jaclyn Kettler and Dr. Stephanie Witt from Boise State University’s School of Public Service and Kevin Richert from Idaho Education News join the pundits to discuss the politics of the week and the closing days of the legislative session.

Gov. Brad Little issued a surprising veto on Monday, rejecting the property tax bill that lawmakers have been working on all session. Specifically, Little pointed to how the bill would have changed the way Idaho handles its sales tax revenue, potentially jeopardizing millions of dollars in transportation bonding. It's a highly technical concern, so Margaret Carmel of BoiseDev joins Logan Finney to spell out how transportation funding got in the way of property tax relief.

House party caucus chairmen Rep. Ned Burns and Rep. Dustin Manwaring talk about their new leadership roles and the end-of-session debates. Then, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News and Dr. Jaclyn Kettler of Boise State University’s School of Public Service discuss education budgets and debates, as well as a legal fight between the attorney general and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Lawmakers are eyeing the calendar to adjourn soon, but there are still issues and budgets to tackle. Logan Finney discusses the implications of a property tax relief bill with Quinn Perry from the Idaho School Boards Association. Ruth Brown talks to Ritchie Eppink from the ACLU of Idaho and Seth Grigg from the Idaho Association of Counties about a proposal to overhaul public defense in Idaho.

This week, the House passed a massive property tax proposal that sets aside more than $300 million for two projects: helping school districts pay down their existing bonds and levies, and providing tax credits for property tax payers who qualify for the homeowners exemption. The bill is a combination of three prior proposals from the House and Senate.

The Senate Local Government and Taxation committee approved the bill Thursday, getting it one step closer to the governor’s desk. But one part of the bill makes school districts nervous. The proposal would also do away with a March election date that is reserved for school districts to ask voters for supplemental bonds and levies. On Friday, Logan Finney sat down with deputy director Quinn Perry of the Idaho School Boards Association to get her take.

Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, has spent several years trying to bring a Clean Slate Act - legislation that allows for minor criminal offenses to be sealed or expunged - to Idaho. She sat down this week with producer Ruth Brown to talk about a bill that passed this year with overwhelming bipartisan support and the compromises it took to achieve it.