Idaho Matters

Cheatgrass has sparked an ecological nightmare, fueling wildfires, pushing out native species and creating economic burdens, especially in Idaho.

Sprinkled throughout Idaho's wildlands are many edible plants and fruits. However, it can be hard to know which of these are safe to eat, which is why Idaho Matters sits down with an expert for a few tips on foraging. 

For more than 30 years, the Archives of Falconry has been gathering artifacts, books and art, to preserve the history of falconers and their birds, and now they're expanding. 

It's Friday and time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters catches you up on the past week's headlines, including cuts to funding for public media and sheep headed to the Payette National Forest.

It's 1953 Hong Kong, where whispers of a horrible massacre haunt a mansion. The people who stayed there insist it happened, but police see nothing of the sort.

Livestock face attacks from a new tick and the return of the screwworm, so now the U.S. is preparing to fight back.

To learn more about how a lavender farm works, Idaho Matters went out to Two Hoots Lavender near Five Mile and Overland in Boise.

For 25 years, the Serenata Orchestra has been bringing music to the Treasure Valley, providing free concerts to the community, so that everybody has the chance to experience the classics.

Time to talk about contractors — the bad and the good — and why consumers have to be careful when it comes to having anything done on their home.

Since May, the James Castle House artist has been exploring the different ways we come to know a place and navigate our surroundings.

Local youth musicians are taking part in a four-day workshop with the Boise Baroque Orchestra and will showcase their work in an upcoming summer concert.

Idaho Matters takes a look at the news that made headlines this week, including a list of new laws that went into effect this month, an update on Kohberger's plea deal and Buc-ee's could be coming to the Gem State. 

The Engelmann spruce that sits in downtown McCall is sick and may be dying.

Last year, 10,000 acres burned in the Boise foothills, and now volunteers head out to water and weed part of the landscape.

What happens when your toddler outgrows all those cars, dinosaurs, playsets and other fun plastic toys?

A coalition of doctors' groups and public health organizations is suing the Health and Human Services Secretary.

Designed specifically for neurodivergent kids, this fun game helps children recognize emotions and practice empathy, alongside the fan-favorite PBS Kids character Donkey Hodie.

For years, Idaho has been dealing with a doctor shortage, which is why a new family medicine program is taking steps towards filling the gap. 

Last week, the City of Nampa announced it was thinking of handing over the Ford Idaho Center to the College of Western Idaho.

The Nez Perce County Courthouse is getting a new home, and it's bringing a piece of history with it: a distinctive wooden bench dating back to the early 1900s.

The Miss for America Strong pageant is designed to empower women and encourage them to be active in their communities.

An Idaho grassroots organization is working to collect signatures for the initiative called the “Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act.”

Valley County wants to shrink and take back control of the McCall's impact area and will host a public hearing on the afternoon of July 7.

Visitability is a core mission of a dedicated group of volunteers who work together to make not only homes more accessible, but also businesses and even Idaho's recreation spaces.

The City of Trees was recognized for its ambitious vision: using geothermal heating to address housing affordability and energy costs.

Earlier this week, Idaho's public camping ban went into effect, possibly leaving the state's unhoused with fewer ways to escape the heat.

The COVID vaccine, Medicaid and measles. It's Wednesday and time for our Doctors Roundtable where we get you up to date on the all the latest health news.

After almost three years, Bryan Kohberger is set to plead guilty in tomorrow's court appearance. 

For years, one nonprofit has been helping to fill the gap within our state's child welfare system, assisting at-risk and foster youth so that they have the opportunity to build a better future.

After being named a semifinalist for four consecutive years, Chef Salvador Alamilla became the second Idahoan to win a James Beard Award.

Two firefighters are dead and another injured after a shooter opened fire as they tried to put out a wildfire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Preservation Idaho is bringing back its ArchWalks series, providing a lineup of guided tours to explore the rich history of Boise's architecture.

Monarch butterfly populations are shrinking at an alarming rate, which is why Idaho Fish and Game is asking for your help to count butterflies.

It's Friday and time for our Reporter Roundtable where we get you up to date on all the news that made headlines this week, including two missing teens in Jefferson County and an update in the Bryan Kohberger murder trial.

While rural communities face limited access to mental health resources, Washington County's new program is providing support to those facing a behavioral health crisis.

It can be hard to know which trails in Idaho will work for your family. That's why one Idahoan has put together a guidebook listing 50 of the state's most kid-friendly trails.

It's not just the produce that makes the Boise Farmers Market great; it's the community behind it.

West Valley needs to increase its rates for Caldwell just to pay the bills, after it says it has been undercharging for its services for years.

The CDC's vaccine advisory committee is meeting for the first time since the Health and Human Services Secretary removed all of its sitting members.

Idaho Matters sits down with one doctor who is committed to patient care and educating the physicians of tomorrow.

As Idaho's population continues to grow, so does the demand on our hospitals and the space inside of them.

West Valley Humane Society recently announced that it would be significantly raising its rates for Caldwell. However, Caldwell's mayor says that an increase like this could mean forgoing new first responders. 

A woman from the Gem State was selected to represent Idaho in the 2025 Class of Dole Caregiver Fellows, a group dedicated to raising awareness for military caregivers.