Behind the Stories
Let the finger pointing and the high drama begin!
By Thanh TanJanuary 6, 2009
The Idaho Legislature is coming back to town. The big topic on everyone's mind this session? The budget, of course. Who will be funded? Who will be cut? From what I hear, no one is really keen on proposing new spending on "non-essential" programs. I'll wait for the session to officially start before I start naming off any specifics.
It'll also be interesting to see how the incoming Obama Administration and subsequent federal decisions will affect local events here in Idaho. Will we see any public works projects come our way? How will those projects fit in with the governor's plan?
Needless to say, we'll have more than enough to talk about on this season's Idaho Reports. I'm busy getting ready for the show's "double" premiere next week. On Monday, Jan. 12, we'll be covering Gov. Otter's "State of the State and Budget" address live. I'll have some really great analysts on the show who can shed some light on the meaning of the governor's proposals — especially in this tough economy. On Friday, Jan. 16, we'll air our first official show of the legislative session. I promise you it won't be boring!
On the aesthetic end of things, we've changed the Idaho Reports logo this year, and I think it looks fabulous. I am also opting for a slightly different format compared to previous years. Each week, we're planning to have a special guest on the show, someone whom I'll call our "headliner." I'm a reporter at heart, so I'll do my best to produce a story for each show that is focused on an important issue being considered by lawmakers. We'll finish off each program with a lively roundtable discussion. I can tell you BSU Professor Emeritus Dr. Jim Weatherby and Betsy Russell of the Spokesman Review will be regular contributors. I'm also aiming to diversify the panel by bringing our viewers different perspectives from current and past lawmakers, state agencies, watchdog groups, lobbyists, economists and everyday citizens. I say we shake things up a bit and switch up that roster as much as possible!
The bottom line is I want to make Idaho Reports a gathering ground for thoughtful conversation about state politics. I'll always be wondering how we can make the show more interesting in a way that doesn't sacrifice substance. I figure politics is so fun to cover — why shouldn't it be something that is also easy for viewers to consume? That's why we're making a special effort to reach out and engage with our audience through social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. I'll be updating those sites several times a week . . . and I'd love to hear from you!
Living With Wolves
By Bruce ReichertDecember 5, 2008
The return of the wolf to Idaho and neighboring states has been a bitter pill for some and a source of satisfaction for others.
Ranchers, avid elk hunters, and a lot of my neighbors from rural Idaho — these are some of the folks angered by efforts to return a calf-eating carnivore to the countryside.
But most of my city friends seem to have no problem with the wolf's return.
Frankly, I don't think these two groups will ever agree.
Maybe that's the best reason in the world for us to produce an OUTDOOR IDAHO show on the wolf.
We've hesitated to tackle an entire show on wolves, primarily because wolf footage is hard to come by. What isn't hard to find are angry Idahoans and passionate defenders. And of course, we can find the wolf biologists. It's those dang wolves that are so hard to find.
But in October of 2009, we will explore what it takes to live with the wolf. We're mentioning it now, in case you have a story or, better yet, some usable wolf video.
The wolf has been on the Endangered Species list, off the Endangered Species list, and back on the list. Who knows, in ten months the state of Idaho might again be in the driver's seat, as the ones managing the wolf.
It's a rapidly changing story, but one thing seems to be holding steady. Everyone I've talked with says — like it or not — the wolf is here to stay. So deal with it.