$500 million in tax rebates, $150 million in ongoing tax cuts, and more than $400 million in ongoing education spending. It took just ten hours to pass a wide-ranging bill with a historic price tag attached, and while the overwhelming majority of lawmakers voted yes, we heard a lot of misgivings about the bill, and the process. We’ll break down how the changes affect you.

Sen. Steven Thayn and Reps. Julie Yamamoto, Gayann Demordaunt and Sally Toone share their takes on the special session, then Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News joins us to break down the education components.

Governor Brad Little has called the legislature back for a special session to be held on Sept. 1, 2022. Join us on Idaho Public Television at 8 p.m., Friday, September 2nd, for a half-hour Idaho Reports special on the session. Or go to idahoptv.org/idahoreports to watch it on demand after the broadcast.

This week, Gov. Brad Little announced he is calling a special legislative session for September 1. The governor has proposed a wide-ranging piece of legislation that would provide record-setting tax cuts and investments in education. Alex Adams, the administrator for the Division of Financial Management, joins Melissa Davlin to discuss the proposal.

Ruth Brown is joined this week by Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press to discuss drafting disputes surrounding the tax effects of an education proposition set to be on the November ballot.

Read the full story here: https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/claims-unfounded-why-school-funding-initiative-wouldnt-have-higher-than-advertised-price-tag/article_19a1992d-ac3a-5c20-8c8b-b64b0b26708f.html

Idaho Voices for Children director Christine Tiddens joins Melissa Davlin to talk about the new KIDS COUNT Data Book, an annual report that examines child wellbeing state-by-state in four indicator categories. This year's report shows that mental health challenges are still a struggle for Idaho youth, despite overall improvements over the past decade.

View the full report here: https://www.aecf.org/resources/2022-kids-count-data-book

Idaho Governor Brad Little joins Melissa Davlin for a web-exclusive episode of Idaho Reports. They discuss Idaho’s abortion trigger law, the state’s ongoing budget surplus, high gas prices, the primary election system, marriage equality, education, highway safety, and much more.

COVID-19 numbers are again creeping up in Idaho and across the country, with test positivity rates above 15% in many parts of the state. Public Information Officer Katherine Hoyer from the Panhandle Health District joins Melissa Davlin to discuss the current COVID-19 wave, how it's different than previous ones, and how hospitals are coping.

Logan Finney is joined by Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner for a web-exclusive episode of Idaho Reports. They discuss INL's net-zero carbon emission goals, the lab's work in cyber security, and where nuclear power fits in global and regional energy policy.

Far-right gubernatorial candidate Ammon Bundy and his associate Diego Rodriguez did not appear in court Tuesday after failing to cooperate in a lawsuit filed by the state’s largest hospital system.

Audrey Dutton of the Idaho Capital Sun joins Ruth Brown to discuss the origins of the case and the latest developments in court.

St. Luke’s Health System and its providers filed a lawsuit against Bundy and Rodriguez in May stating he and his supporters made false claims against the hospital and led protests that resulted in a temporary lockdown at one facility. The lockdown resulted in ambulances being diverted to other hospitals. It also alleges the defendants disparaged St. Luke’s, its CEO Chris Roth and a St. Luke’s physician and nurse practitioner.

Read more: https://blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2022/07/12/defendants-are-no-shows-in-lawsuit-stemming-from-st-lukes-hospital-lockdown/

We're taking a break from the podcast this week in observation of the 4th of July holiday. In the meantime, visit idahoptv.org/idahoreports for links to all our coverage and to sign up for our weekly email newsletter.