COVID-19

The Idaho Legislature is nearing the 100-day mark, with much work still to be done and multiple bills addressing perceived 'social indoctrination' of Idaho students with liberal social justice or critical race theories. Our Friday reporter roundtable discusses the various efforts to legislate content in schools, other statehouse news, street parking changes in Boise and more!

Idaho House lawmakers easily passed a measure that would block any level of government from imposing a mask mandate.

Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended “pausing” distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Johnson and Johnson as the agency investigates unusual blood clots in six women who had the shot. One woman died. More than seven million doses of that vaccine have been given in the United States, and more than 30,000 in Idaho according to state Health and Welfare. Our panel of medical experts answers your questions about this pause, its impact on vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19.

Today's guests: 

After months of negotiations, the Idaho legislature has passed two bills in response to the pandemic that would reign in a governor’s power during an emergency.

As of this week, every Idahoan over the age of 16 is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But the question remains: Will enough eligible people agree to get the optional vaccine in order for us to reach herd immunity? Idaho Matters talks with two Idaho physicians about vaccine hesitancy, and how to encourage more people to access the shots after a year of studying their effects. 

With the majority of Idaho’s population now eligible to access to a COVID-19 vaccine, Morning Edition is taking its microphones to one of the region’s largest vaccine clinics where nearly 1,000 people per day stream through the door to get a vaccine.

In the wake of a rash of COVID-19 infections at the Statehouse, triggering an historic pause of the Idaho Legislature, lawmakers return to Boise this week in an effort to finish up their 2021 session. Indeed, the legislature will have to approve a spending plan for the 2022 fiscal year. But scores of other bills still crowd the agendas of both the House and Senate.

The coronavirus pandemic has taxed America’s mental health system over the past year and one thing is clear: young adults are having the hardest time coping out of any age group.

New cases of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities have dropped 96% nationwide since Dec. 20. In Idaho, long-term care centers have seen a similar drop since residents were among the first priority groups to be eligible for the vaccine late last year.

The pandemic robbed Boiseans of countless outdoor activities as COVID-19 raged through the summer of 2020.

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is delaying its upcoming season as it continues to work through how to safely put on live theater amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced Wednesday that all Idahoans ages 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine April 5. That's about three weeks sooner than the state's original eligibility timeline, and comes as the state's supply of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnsons doses ramps up. But could it also indicate vaccine hesitancy among some people who are already eligible? And what's going on with surging case numbers in Eastern Idaho?

Gov. Brad Little announced Wednesday all Idahoans who are at least 16 years old will be able to make an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine beginning April 5 – three weeks earlier than the state originally planned.