It's Worth Mentioning

Although the state of Idaho is involved in a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice about noncitizen voting concerns, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane says they have a great relationship with the Trump Administration.

Earlier this year, Idaho was one of 29 states that was sued by the Justice Department. It’s part of the Trump Administration’s agenda to crack down on election fraud. The goal of the lawsuit is to learn whether noncitizens were being allowed to vote.

RELATED | Idaho secretary of state won’t give US Justice Department sensitive voter information
This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Rett Nelson speaks with McGrane about the latest on this case and how it began.

RELATED | Trump administration sues Idaho election official to force him to turn over sensitive voter data
McGrane shares some insights that aren’t necessarily covered in media reports and clears up misconceptions about the subject of noncitizen voting.

RELATED | Trump administration threatens to criminally prosecute Idaho election officials if noncitizens vote

RELATED | ‘Stop threatening your friends’: Idaho AG’s office bristles at Trump DOJ’s letter.

Amid the lawsuit, President Donald Trump recently praised Idaho for leading the nation in its efforts to have election integrity and clean voter rolls.

RELATED | Why Idaho’s Secretary of State says voters can be confident elections are secure

At the end of the conversation, McGrane shares some experiences about his personal interactions with President Trump in the White House. Nelson highlights McGrane’s background and his connection to eastern Idaho

With the midterm election approaching and on the heels of President Trump’s announcement alleging that China acquired 220 million U.S. voter files and that U.S. intelligence officials covered it up, this is a timely conversation. It’s an episode you don’t want to miss.

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea, or comment, email [email protected].

Singing in the Tabernacle Choir is a multi-generational tradition for Leslie Johnson.

The Utah woman, who grew up in Rexburg, represents the fourth generation of her family to be part of the world-renowned singing ensemble. She’s been a member of the Choir since 2022 and was part of the Choir’s recent “Songs of Hope” concert at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater in Los Angeles, California, which included celebrity guest Donny Osmond and others.

RELATED | Tabernacle Choir, Donny Osmond headlining free community concerts in east Idaho

Johnson’s parents, Richard and Carolyn Robison, were members of the choir from 1957 to 1959. That’s where they met and fell in love. During that time, they were part of the choir’s original recording of “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which earned a Grammy Award in 1959, according to a historical timeline provided by The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints, with which the choir is affiliated.

Carolyn passed away on June 30, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. She was 88.

Carolyn’s mother, Helen Peterson Hooper, joined the choir in 1958 and stayed with the group until 1967. Hooper’s husband died years earlier. During this time, she became acquainted with fellow choir member Thomas Hicken, who eventually became her second husband.

Decades after the Tabernacle Choir was formed in 1847, Carolyn’s great-grandparents, Thomas Albert and Emily Susanna Aubrey Hooper, met, fell in love and became the first family members to join the choir.

This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Rett Nelson speaks with Johnson about this unique family tradition. She shares details about her ancestor’s involvement with the choir and her mother’s passing.

Johnson discusses her experiences with the Choir and how her mother’s love of music played a role in the final years of her life. Johson explains how her mother’s example has influenced who she is today.

On the heels of the Tabernacle Choir’s Hollywood Bowl performance, this is a timely conversation that falls on the day that would've been Carolyn’s 89th birthday. It’s an unforgettable episode that you don’t want to miss.

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

After eight years as the Idaho State Brand Inspector, Cody Burlile says he gets to work with "the best people in the country," and that’s what makes the job worthwhile.

In Idaho, the state brand inspector helps verify cattle ownership and investigates cattle thefts and mutilations. Several active cases are going on right now.

RELATED | Cattle ‘suffered’ after being shot, left to die on Idaho rangeland, police say
Burlile joins Rett Nelson on “It’s Worth Mentioning” from his office in Meridian to talk about how he was hired for the position, his daily role, and how the position came into existence.

It’s a title with a unique history dating back to 1939. Burlile helps shed light on this little-known law enforcement position and how it’s evolved through the years.
To learn more, call the brand inspector’s office at (208) 884-7070, (800) 772-8442 or email [email protected].

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

EDITOR’S NOTE: This episode originally aired on Feb. 22, 2026.

Despite losing a bid for Idaho governor with less than one percentage point and failing twice to represent Idaho in Congress, David Leroy says he doesn’t have any “political work left undone.”

The 78-year-old Boise man is a longtime Idaho attorney who’s had an extensive political career in Idaho. It began in the 1970s.
Leroy is also a historian and founder of the Idaho Lincoln Institute. America’s 16th president signed the bill that created the Idaho territory on March 4, 1863. The mission of Leroy’s nonprofit is to promote Lincoln’s ideals and “help chart a new course to orient and enliven the Idaho electorate as a rallying point for the rest of the nation.”

This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Leroy looks back on his political career. He shares what it was like being the nation’s youngest attorney general, and leading the state with a governor who was from a different party.
He also discusses his narrow election loss in the 1986 gubernatorial race and what missed opportunities he would’ve liked to have.

RELATED | Former state legislator known across Idaho as ‘Mr. History’ passes at age 85

He kicks off the show paying tribute to former state legislator and fellow history-lover, Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, who passed away in January at age 85. Leroy was serving as attorney general when Bateman was in office.
Leroy also discusses his political hero, Abraham Lincoln, and his surprising connections to Idaho, which extend far beyond the legislation he signed that led to its creation.

RELATED | The surprising story of how Abraham Lincoln helped create Idaho

If you’re an Idaho history buff or political junkie, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

IDAHO FALLS – National Radio host Glenn Beck made a public appearance in Preston on Saturday to help raise funds for two historic buildings.

The part-time eastern Idaho resident gave a presentation at the Franklin County Event Center at three different times. He spoke about America’s beginnings and brought multiple historical artifacts from his personal collection, which will soon be part of a new museum exhibit called the American Journey Experience.

Beck joined Rett Nelson on this week’s episode of “It’s Worth Mentioning” ahead of Saturday’s event to talk about his love of history and life in Idaho.

During the conversation, Beck — who has owned a home in the Preston area since 2011 — shares what brought him to the community in the first place. 

Beck owns one of the largest private collections of historical artifacts in the world, something he’s been curating for the last 20 years. Virtual reality and artificial intelligence play a role in his efforts to tell America’s story. He discusses where his passion for history began.

Beck and Nelson discuss America's quest for dominance in the global AI race through the construction of data centers across the country, including in Idaho. They talk about the virtues and challenges of AI in today’s society, and the reason Beck says we’re at a pivotal point in history when it comes to using AI.

If you’re a fan of Beck, American history, or technology, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

RELATED LINKS: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/06/glenn-beck-bringing-rare-american-artifacts-to-preston-for-historic-fundraiser/

Jeral Williams is one of the proud farmers in eastern Idaho, but he’s one of the few who raise camels.

The 74-year-old Idaho Falls man owns Williams and Sons Farm, an 80-acre spread off Yellowstone Highway. In addition to growing wheat and alfalfa, he owns cattle, bison, and camels, which he takes to community events throughout the year. His farm has been in operation since 1891, and Jeral and his wife, Jenine, are the fourth-generation owners.

The Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture and the Idaho State Historical Society recently recognized his ranch as an Idaho Century Farm. The distinction, according to the program’s website, recognizes “those families who have farmed or ranched the same land their ancestors did 100 years ago, and at least 40 acres of the original parcel of land is still maintained as part of the present holding.”
This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Rett Nelson sits down with Jeral at his home to talk about the award, his farm, his camels, as well as the farm’s history and its future. Jeral says his camels make people smile, and this episode will definitely make you smile.
Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

On June 6, 1933, Richard Hollingshead opened the first drive-in movie theater in New Jersey. Fourteen years later, on May 14, 1947, Hugo Jorgensen and Ed Moran opened Motor Vu Drive-in at 2095 North Yellowstone Highway in Idaho Falls, the first venue of its kind in Idaho.

Weeks after Motor Vu began its 79th year, we’re doing a deep dive on its history and the industry itself.

This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Rett Nelson speaks with Motor Vu Drive-in co-director Jennifer Spalding about what’s ahead this season. They discuss the theater’s 79th anniversary, its beginnings and the first movie ever shown there.
RELATED | One of Idaho’s last drive-in theaters is closing. Its beginnings and why one woman says there’s a local resurgence

They also discuss the father of the drive-in industry and his motivations for opening the first theater. Then, they talk about the industry’s rise to popularity in the 1950s.
Spalding shares her childhood memories of going to the drive-in and how she got involved when her aunt and uncle, Linda and Ryan Rumsey, bought it in 2019 — 11 years after it permanently closed.

Nelson and Spalding examine the nationwide decline of the drive-in theater, which began in the 1970s. Since its peak in 1958, when there were around 4,000 drive-in theaters nationwide, the number has dwindled somewhere between 250 and 330, according to Fox Business.

Today, Motor Vu is one of only four drive-in theaters left in Idaho and the only one remaining in eastern Idaho. Spalding gives her take on why it’s so beloved and its future in Idaho Falls.
If you’re a fan of cinema, classic movies or nostalgia, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. For a look at upcoming movies and showtimes, or to learn more, visit the Motor Vu online.

This video from 2024 gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the Motor Vu.

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

EDITOR’S NOTE: This episode originally aired on Nov. 16, 2025.

Stewart Petersen has no regrets about living out of the spotlight.

The 64-year-old Cokeville, Wyoming, man was cast as Billy Coleman in the 1974 film, “Where the Red Fern Grows.” He was only 13 at the time and went on to appear in half a dozen family-friendly films over the next six years. He left the film industry for good at that point.

In an interview with Rett Nelson on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” the former child actor says it was never his desire or intention to get into the film business, and it’s only through a family connection that he had the opportunity in the first place.

In this episode, Petersen shares how the opportunity came to him and his memories of working on “Red Fern” and other film projects.

He also discusses his faith, unique ties to eastern Idaho and what he’s up to now.

If you’ve ever wondered what happened to Petersen, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

RELATED LINKS: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2023/03/former-child-actor-with-ties-to-eastern-idaho-has-no-regrets-living-out-of-the-spotlight/

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/11/sculpture-in-downtown-idaho-falls-pays-tribute-to-popular-childrens-author-who-once-lived-here/

Fifty years ago today, on June 5, 1976, the Teton Dam collapsed and spilled 80 billion gallons of water into eastern Idaho.

The historic disaster buried Rexburg under 5 feet of water at one point and resulted in the death of 11 people. More than 13,000 head of livestock were killed, and tens of thousands of homes were destroyed or heavily damaged. The estimated cost of the damage was around $2 billion, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which built the dam, spent the next 11 years compensating those who were affected.

We’re looking back at the tragedy with a special episode of “It’s Worth Mentioning.” Throughout the show, we’ll play several songs taken from “Teton Letters,” a new album commemorating the disaster’s anniversary. Each song on the 17-track album is inspired by an oral history project conducted a year after the flood. The project was a series of interviews with people who lived through it, and the songs tell their story.

Teton Letters is a collaboration between Trent Walker, Richard Robison and a variety of local artists. We are including the songs with their permission. Robison made the songs available on Substack here and here.

We’ll also be talking with three special guests. The first is Paul Jenkins. He’s the owner of a longtime film and video production company in Idaho Falls and sits on the school board for Bonneville Joint School District 93.

Jenkins was in an airplane above Rexburg at the time of the collapse. He captured footage that was later turned into a documentary, which has been shown at the Teton Dam Museum for decades. Jenkins shares his memories of that day, including what he saw, how he helped break the news to national media, and how it affected him personally.
Jenkins still has tens of thousands of feet of film, which has never been released to the public. Is another documentary in the works?

While the Teton Dam flood brought Rexburg national attention, another community 25 miles southwest of Rexburg received no media coverage and was completely ignored and forgotten, despite having more long-lasting damage. The city of Roberts was buried under 4 feet of water, and about 500 people were stranded there for days because it was placed under martial law.

Nelson speaks with Roberts Mayor BJ Berlin about the flood’s impact and how it compares to the flood of 1997 when Roberts was the center of media attention.

Our final guest is Madison County’s former Civil Defense Director, Ronnie Moss. He led the relief effort in Rexburg from the National Guard Armory. He shares his memories of the emergency response and the lessons learned 50 years later.

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea or comment, email [email protected].

MORE TETON DAM STORIES

‘Little miracles.’ Survivor recalls the day Teton Dam broke
Forgotten by the headlines: How Roberts became the Teton flood’s overlooked tragedy

Caught in history: The untold story behind an iconic Teton Dam photo
‘I knew it wouldn’t hold’: Truck driver involved in Teton Dam construction predicted its collapse

Remembering the Teton Dam’s contentious backstory 50 years after its collapse

Former Rexburg man remembers uncle, who oversaw construction of the Teton Dam
Local couple who got married hours after Teton Dam collapsed look back on historic day

Remembering the Teton Dam collapse: Inside the failure and fight to rebuild

50 years after Teton Dam disaster, Rexburg turns tragedy into a call for service

Since the launch of Sputnik in 1957, more than 700 people have flown in space, according to whoisinspace.com. Of those, 250 people have walked in space.

In 2002, John Herrington became the first Native American to walk in space as part of a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. The 67-year-old retired astronaut with ties to Idaho recently spoke to locals at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center. We caught up with him for this episode of “It’s Worth Mentioning.”

This week, Rett Nelson speaks with Herrington about his Native American heritage and his thoughts on representing his people on his historic mission.

Before Herrington was an astronaut, he was a young boy in Colorado Springs. His dad was a pilot, and he started flying airplanes at a young age as a result. He recalls seeing Neil Armstrong walk on the moon and how that inspired him to pursue that path.

After graduating from high school in Plano, Texas, he enlisted in the Navy. During his time at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, he saw plaques of former students in the hallway, several of whom later became astronauts. Herrington shares who they were and how it instilled in him a greater desire to pursue that path.

He talks about standout missions during his 13-year Navy career and his application to NASA, including a question he was asked during his final evaluation and the answer he gave that he thought was stupid, but ultimately got him the job.

Then, we talk about his historic mission aboard the USS Endeavor and his historic space mission. Herrington discusses the purpose of the mission and shares how he felt experiencing the immense blackness of space.

After his mission, he eventually wound up in Idaho. He talks about how he ended up in the Gem State and his connections to the region.

We end the conversation discussing the return of Artemis II and the unique differences among the crew that show humanity what is possible when we work together.

Rett Nelson has a surprise monologue at the end about the parallels between two historic space missions and the state of the world at the time.

If you’re a NASA nut or have ever dreamed of going to space, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Watch previous episodes of “It’s Worth Mentioning” here. Check out the show on Facebook. If you have a tip, guest idea, or comment, email [email protected].

RELATED LINK: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/05/first-native-american-astronaut-recalls-historic-spacewalk-during-fort-hall-visit/