Melissa Jacoby

Dec 2, 2024 | boisestatepublicradio.org | Melissa Jacoby |James Dawson

Idaho Fish and Game is closely monitoring mule deer and elk herds that typically overwinter on hundreds of thousands of acres burned by wildfires earlier this year. The Paddock Fire, in particular, burned nearly 190,000 acres north of Emmett. Ryan Walrath, a regional wildlife manager for fish and game, said that’s prime winter range for roughly 4,500 mule deer, or about 25% of the species’ population in Idaho.

Dec 2, 2024 | boisestatepublicradio.org | Sam Briger |Melissa Jacoby

Paxton plays guitar, banjo, piano and harmonica — among other instruments. He's known for performing music from the 1920s and '30s. Paxton's new album of original songs is Things Done Changed. Copyright 2024 NPR

Dec 2, 2024 | boisestatepublicradio.org | Rachel Treisman |Melissa Jacoby

The topic of presidential pardons is back in the spotlight this week after President Biden announced he signed a "full and unconditional" one for his son. Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this year of federal gun charges for lying about his addiction to crack cocaine when he purchased a gun, and separately pleaded guilty to tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. Sentences in both cases were scheduled to be handed down later this month.

Dec 2, 2024 | boisestatepublicradio.org | Emmanuel Akinwotu |Melissa Jacoby

LAGOS, Nigeria — President Joe Biden arrived in Angola on Monday, on a delayed trip to Africa, his first and only visit to the continent during the final months of his term in office. Biden's trip is the first by an American president since Barack Obama traveled to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015. Initially scheduled in October, the President arrived in the West African island of Cabo Verde on Monday, before travelling on to Angola.

Dec 2, 2024 | boisestatepublicradio.org | Rachel Cohen |Melissa Jacoby

The federal government owns nearly half the land in the West. Utah is trying to change that. The state filed a long-shot petition to the U.S. Supreme Court in August, arguing that the government isn’t allowed to hold onto all of that land forever. It’s taking aim at what it calls “unappropriated land” – 18.5 million acres in the state that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and are not designated as wilderness, parks or monuments.