Quotes. Letter to the Editors of the Lewiston Tribune, Extra-credit worm

Transcription

1 Inside this issue Quotes, Page 1 8 Emmy Nominations, Silver Circle Award for Morrill, 7 Worldfest Awards and Idaho Press Club, Page 2 OUTDOOR IDAHO: Powered by Nature, Page 4 Quotes Drawing entitled Barbara Morgan by first grader XuiMei, McCall, Idaho, submitted for the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. Read about this year s winners on Page 10. The Buzz, Page 5 IdahoPTV Staff Updates and Transitions, Page 12 Our IdahoPTV Productions, Page 12 Dialogue, Page 12 D4K Dialogue for Kids, Page 15 Public Television in the News, Page 16 Letter to the Editors of the Lewiston Tribune, Extra-credit worm Recently I had the opportunity to watch a TV documentary on Outdoor Idaho. (Ed. Note: Outdoor Idaho: Palouse Paradise) The documentary was featuring the University of Idaho agricultural department and mentioned that, in 2005, a UI graduate student was conducting soil samples when she reported a sighting of the giant Palouse earthworm. I greatly appreciate the University of Idaho recognizing the importance of agriculture for all people. But back to the giant Palouse earthworm (Driloleirus americanus): If you really want to find this large pinkishwhite earthworm you might want to start searching their actual habitat. The most common habitat of Driloleirus americanus is under rocks on the east or southeast slopes of canyons. The best time to find them is in the morning hours after a period of rain. In 1964, as an eighth-grader, my science grade was raised from a B to an A when I submitted an 18-inch Driloleirus americanus to my science instructor and was rewarded with extra credit. This was the largest one of many that I located. Also, you could just as easily name the giant Palouse earthworm the giant Camas Prairie earthworm. Alan Syron, Kooskia May 4, 2008

2 PAGE 2 8 Emmy Nominations, Silver Circle Award for Morrill, 7 Worldfest Awards and Idaho Press Club Over the weekend of April 26, IdahoPTV was notified that we had been honored with 8 Emmy nominations for program achievement (program and new media creation) from the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), Northwest Chapter. In addition, I was notified that I will receive the Silver Circle Award from NATAS on June 7 at their Awards Ceremony in Seattle. The April 2008 NATAS Northwest Emmy Nominations for program achievement are: Human Interest - News Series, Barbara Morgan; Marcia Franklin, Producer Children/Youth (12 and Under) - Program/Special, D4K; Joan Cartan-Hansen, Producer; Sue Nass, Contributing Producer Historic/Cultural - Program/Special, The Idaho Homefront: Of Camps and Combat; Jim Peck, Producer Politics/Government - Program/Special, Dialogue: Open Idaho; Joan Cartan-Hansen, Producer Sports - Program Series, Outdoor Idaho: Motorized Idaho; John Crancer, Producer Interview/Discussion - Program/Special, Dialogue: Barbara Morgan; Marcia Franklin, Producer Informational/Instructional - Program/Special, Outdoor Idaho: A Middle Fork Journey; Bruce Reichert, Executive Producer Advanced Media, Children/Youth/Teens, D4K Web Site; Joan Cartan-Hansen, Producer; Sue Nass, Contributing Producer The following is the description of the Silver Circle: The Silver Circle honors media professionals who began their careers in television at least 25 years ago, either in a performing, creative, technical or administrative role within the industry or in an area related to television such as TV journalism education, advertising, promotion, and public relations. The candidates must also have made a significant contribution to the Northwest Chapter television for at least part of their 25-year career. Nominees need not be a member of the Academy to qualify for induction. The Northwest Chapter of NATAS has been honoring and celebrating our Silver Circle members since Since inception, only two other Idahoans have received this award, Robert Krueger and Marty Holtman.

3 PAGE 3 In addition, over that weekend, it was also announced that IdahoPTV had been awarded 7 Worldfest Awards from the Houston International Film and Television Festival including two Special Jury Prizes for OUTDOOR IDAHO: A MIDDLEFORK JOURNEY and ASSASSINATION: IDAHO S TRIAL OF THE CENTURY. Outdoor Idaho: A Middlefork Journey Special Jury Prize Sailing/Watersports Assassination: Idaho s Trial of the Century Special Jury Prize History/Archaeology Idaho Homefront: Of Camps and Combat Platinum Educational/Instructional adult Dialogue: Barbara Morgan Platinum Flight/Space Travel Open Idaho Gold Legal Outdoor Idaho: Idaho Getaways Bronze Travel/Tourism D4K Web Extra Gold Interactive-Educational- Children Finally, on Saturday, May 3, the Idaho Press Club announced its yearly honors. IdahoPTV took home 10 awards. The Idaho Press Club Awards have been challenging for our organization because the television competition is tightly oriented towards news-style content, and we don t do news! PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM - STUDIO 1st Marcia Franklin, Jody Lee, Ricardo Ochoa - Idaho Public Television - Dialogue: A Look Back at the Sunshine Mine Disaster 2nd Joan Cartan-Hansen, Al Hagenlock, Sue Nass - Idaho Public Television - D4K 3rd Marcia Franklin, Jay Krajic, Ricardo Ochoa - Idaho Public Television - Dialogue: Astronaut in Waiting PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM - FIELD 3rd Bruce Reichert, John Crancer, Pat Metzler, Chuck Cathcart, Jeff Tucker, Janette Crancer - Idaho Public Television - OUTDOOR IDAHO: A Middle Fork Journey DOCUMENTARY 1st Jim Peck, Alberto Moreno - Idaho Public Television - The Idaho Homefront: Of Camps and Combat Honorable Mention Bruce Reichert, Pat Metzler, Jeff Tucker, Jim Peck, Alberto Moreno, Ricardo A. Ochoa, Marcia Franklin, John Crancer, Joan Cartan-Hansen - Idaho Public Television - ASSASSINATION: Idaho s Trial of the Century OUTDOOR / ENVIRONMENT REPORT Honorable Mention John Crancer, Chuck Cathcart - Idaho Public Television - Desert Hideaways - Outdoor Idaho First Amendment Award 1st Idaho Public Television, Idahoans for Openness in Government, The Idaho Attorney General s Office, Joe Golden & Tom Willmorth - Idaho Public Television - Open Idaho WEBSITE - SPECIAL PURPOSE - BROADCAST 2nd Stephanie Dickey, Rick Penticoff, Bruce Reichert- Idaho Public Television - Assassination: Idaho s Trial of the Century Web site - 3rd Joan Cartan-Hansen, Kris Freeland, Rick Penticoff - Idaho Public Television - Dialogue for Kids -

4 PAGE 4 Underwriting in part by a grant from the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation. Corporate sponsorship provided by US Bank, Office Max, Parkwood Business Properties, and Sara Ifft. Outdoor Idaho: Powered by Nature Airs Thursday, May 8, at 8:00/7:00 p.m. MT/PT Repeats Sunday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m. MT/PT Eastern Idaho Trying to be Powered by Nature By Bruce Reichert May 2, 2008 Wading into the energy debate is a scary proposition. It s soooo confusing. But there are some things we know. It s better for a nation to be energy independent than to be beholden to others. And, America uses more energy than it produces. There s another thing I have learned in the past few weeks. Eastern Idaho is a great place for alternative energy! Take wind power, for example. Idaho is ranked thirteenth in the nation for wind energy potential. And having just returned from a spring trip to Idaho Falls, it wouldn t surprise me if that area were ranked in the top five! As Roger Christensen, a commissioner for Bannock County, pointed out, we have a lot of bad hair days in this area. Drive twenty minutes south of Idaho Falls, and you ll be in among em. More than forty huge wind propellers, towering overhead, each the height of a 25 story building, each producing enough energy to power 500 households. I really thought I d find them noisy and a distasteful blight on the environment. Instead, my cameraman Norm Nelson and I found them compelling and fascinating. We felt like we were looking at the future of energy in the West. Supposedly, there are plans to plant many more turbines in that area. I say Hurray! Geothermal energy is also a big alternative energy source. But to see the plant, you have to drive about 50 miles off the interstate, into the Raft River area. In the 1980 s the U.S. Department of Energy located 300 degree water underground--more than a mile underground. At that temperature, geothermal energy becomes a viable operation. The 300 degree water flows through pipes, from the source to the site, where it heats isopentane, turning it from liquid to gas. Scientists discovered that isopentane, which is similar to butane in cigarette lighters, flashes to a gas at much lower temperatures than does water. We re able to superheat that gas and run it through a turbine at much lower temperatures than you would with steam, and so then we run the turbine, it drives the generator, that produces electricity, says Chris Harriman, plant manager for U.S. Geothermal.

5 PAGE 5 In our program Powered by Nature, we look at geothermal, as well as wind and solar. Unfortunately, solar energy is only now becoming commercially viable in Idaho. Maybe that will change with new products coming on-line. But as Paul Kjellander, Idaho s energy czar, warns, the West s transmission lines are at or near capacity, and that s something that everybody needs to be concerned with. Kjellander says, regardless of what generation resource you want to bring to market, you have to have the transmission capacity to move it. Right now that does seem to be the main drawback with alternative energy sources in Idaho. When and if that problem is solved, eastern Idaho is uniquely positioned to be a leader in alternative green energy. Friends of Idaho Public Television, Inc., Take First Actions, Distribute Endowment Income for Productions On Friday, April 18, the recently created statewide Friends of Idaho Public Television Board took its first actions, via statewide video and audio conference connecting Coeur d Alene, Moscow, Boise and Pocatello, as it set aside $174,000 of endowment income to help fund four new television specials and two ongoing projects. Friends of Idaho Public Television, Inc. is the culmination of a nearly two-year effort to combine three regional Friends boards and the Idaho Public Television Foundation into one statewide board. It was really a pretty amazing process that united the four groups, IdahoPTV General Manager Peter W. Morrill said. A Boise meeting this month finalized and reaffirmed the merger and set up its new structure. The group, made up of members of the four previous boards and headed by President Pat Costello, designated $173,915 of income from the nearly $4-million Idaho Public Television Endowment to help fund new programming. The money is part of the funding needed for each of the projects, which include documentaries on human rights, the 2009 Winter Special Olympics and the Oregon Trail. The funding also will assist the production of a performance program special and the ongoing projects of Idaho Legislature Live and this fall s IDAHO DEBATES. The board also designated five standing committees executive, advocacy, fundraising, board development and endowment. Board members also began arrangements to establish three regional councils in the north, southwest and eastern parts of the state. Officers, in addition to Costello of Moscow, are: Eve Chandler, first vice president, Boise; Rebecca Morgan, second vice president, Pocatello; Joy Fisher, treasurer, Moscow; and Barbara Roberts, secretary, Boise. The boards are enthusiastic about this merger because they will be able to focus and concentrate their efforts in a more effective manner, Morrill said.

6 PAGE 6 Production Support Provided by Boise State University, Idaho Public Television Endowment and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting The Idaho Debates Continues a Proud Tradition, with a new twist. Preparations have begun in earnest for that biennial exercise in good government known as The Idaho Debates, a chance for Idahoans to watch their candidates answer the tough questions on a stage with other office seekers. The moderator will be Jim Peck, award-winning host of our legislative program, Idaho Reports. This season Jim has gathered together political scientists James Weatherby, Steve Shaw and Idaho Statesman editorial writer Kevin Richert for some online analysis immediately after each of the debates. So folks will be able to watch a debate then come online to Idahoptv.org to see how three seasoned politicos viewed the event. Funding for the 2008 Idaho Debates for both the primary and general election is provided by a grant from Boise State University, Idaho Public Television Endowment and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Idaho Debates is a collaboration of the League of Women Voters, The Idaho Press Club, and Idaho Public Television. This year there are four debates, with challengers in the Republican races for the United States Senate as well as First and Second Congressional Districts. Candidates for an Idaho State Supreme Court judicial seat will also debate. Schedule (subject to change): Thursday, May 15th, 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT Idaho Supreme Court (John Bradbury is challenging Joel Horton; both have agreed to debate.) Canceled, Sunday, May 18th, 5:00/4:00 p.m. MT/PT 2nd Congressional District (GOP) (At press time, Mr. Simpson declined to debate because of his congressional schedule.) Sunday, May 18th, 7:00 p.m. MT/PT 1st Congressional District (GOP) (Matthew Salisbury will debate Rep Bill Sali, if Mr. Sali s Congressional schedule permits. We have not yet heard definitively from Rep. Sali.) Thursday, May 22nd, 8:00/7:00 p.m. MT/PT US Senate (GOP) (Five candidates were invited to the debate, based upon their ability to show an active campaign. They are Fred Adams, Richard Phennegar, Jim Risch, Scott Syme, and Neal Thompson. Jim Risch has since declined to appear in the debate.) For more information regarding Jim Risch s declination to appear on the Idaho Debates, see the IdahoPTV News Section below.

7 PAGE 7 Late yesterday (May 6), IdahoPTV learned that Boise State University had verbally committed to provide underwriting support for Idaho Debates coverage of both the primary and general election debates. I d like to extend my hearty thanks to Boise State University! The support from BSU will complement funding from the Idaho Public Television Endowment and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. As many of you are aware, April and May is the time of year in state government that numerous reports, strategic plans, budget requests and operating budgets are due to various authorities. Well, this year is no different. IdahoPTV has been a beehive of activity with the preparation of these various submissions. Last month I updated you regarding the Zero Based Budgeting (ZBB) initiative being led by the Division of Financial Management (DFM)). Thus far, we ve submitted an initial 20 page report correlating various policies relating to Idaho Code, state legislation, State Board of Education, Federal Communication Commission, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), United State Department of Agriculture, and United State Department of Commerce to specific IdahoPTV state and dedicated funded (CPB) positions. In addition, Phillip Kottraba was tapped by DFM to be part of a small consultation group on the ZBB process. It appears that the goals of ZBB are to give decision makers a tool to view how agencies could operate at 80% of current appropriation levels and/or what services are not being performed that should be funded, beginning in FY 2010 (July 1, 2009). I ll keep you posted on the progress of this important initiative. We ve also been working on the fiscal year 2009 operating budgeting, which has a submission deadline of May 22 to the State Board of Education. Given the sluggishness of the general economy, we are generally planning for a tight operating budget. Also due on May 22, is IdahoPTV s strategic plan update. In late April, the SBoE updated their strategic plan and have asked agencies to do the same. The State Board has revised their four general goals (Quality, Access, Relevancy and Efficiency) to three (Quality, Access and Efficiency). On April 28, we submitted proposed performance measures to the SBoE relating to the proposed agency strategic plan update that we ll submit on May 22. On May 22 & 23, the SBoE will discuss/ review agency performance measures for incorporation into the updated strategic plans. In early May, we played host to two meetings at IdahoPTV from representatives from the Office of the Governor. The first meeting was with Richard (Rick) Budzich and Lloyd Knight who are both Senior Budget Analysts with the Division of Financial Management (DFM). (Lloyd has been IdahoPTV s analyst over the last year.) Richard has been assigned oversight of IdahoPTV s budget for DFM for the coming year. During the meeting, Phillip Kottraba and I gave an overview of Idaho Public Television s statewide service mission and responded to questions. Richard is also assigned to the ZBB process, so I suspect that we ll be seeing a lot of one another in the coming months!

8 PAGE 8 The second meeting was with Clete Edmunson, Special Assistant for Education and Government Services and Dustin Kuck, Constituent Services Representative, Office of Governor Otter. In January, Governor Otter assigned Clete liaison responsibilities including IdahoPTV. The meeting included an overview of Idaho Public Television s statewide mission and a tour. We look forward to working with Rick, Clete and Dustin in the coming months and years. In addition, I d like extend many thanks to Lloyd Knight for his attention (and humor) as DFM budget analyst for IdahoPTV over the last year. Going into JFAC budget setting, Lloyd was always in back of me way in back of me! Thanks Lloyd you re the best! Finally, on May 7 and 8, IdahoPTV Production Manager Jeff Tucker and I will give presentations at two legislative committees. On May 7, the Space Allocation Committee will meet. We ll be proposing a plan regarding the move of IdahoPTV s technical facilities (Idaho Reports and Idaho Legislature Live) from the Annex Building to the basement of the Joe R. Williams Building after the completion of the Capitol renovation project. On May 8, we will give a presentation to the Legislative Council outlining activities of Idaho Legislature Live (ILL) during the last session and discuss any needed changes for the upcoming session. Overall, the feedback that IdahoPTV has received from both the public and lawmakers regarding ILL has been outstanding. One of the benefits of membership to the Friends of Idaho Public Television is that you can receive the monthly IdahoPTV E-Newsletter. Each month it highlights many of the great programs and services available from Idaho Public Television. More than 1,500 members have already signed up. It s simple! For more information, check out: In late March, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) sent 55 complementary DVD copies of BARBARA MORGAN: NO LIMITS to members of the Council of Chief School Officers. This group represents our country s superintendents of public instruction. In Idaho, Tom Luna is our Superintendent of Public Instruction. Statement on the Health of Jim Lehrer On Wednesday, April 23, Jim Lehrer, anchor and executive editor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, underwent a heart valve procedure at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It was a complete success. Jim plans to be back at full speed and on the program within a few weeks.

9 PAGE 9 On April 11 and 12, we were invited to present at the annual Idaho Educators Association meeting, held at the Boise Centre on the Grove. Barbara Morgan was presented with a Friend of Education Award upon returning from her recent NASA mission. Having just aired BARBARA MORGAN: NO LIMITS, the event was an excellent venue to share the documentary DVD with Idaho educators before its release to the general public on June 1st. Hot off the press we took the DVDs of the program, which also contain Barbara s original NASA interview and Marcia Franklin s interview with Barbara from space, to the conference. The presentation was a smashing success. Many educators commented on seeing the program during Festival and praised Producer Marcia Franklin and Director Jay Krajic for their excellent work. Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Business Connection Show at the Grand Teton Mall in Idaho Falls. Idaho Public Television was pleased to participate in the 6th Annual Chamber Business Connection Show on April 17th. Many area businesses participated in the show and there was an excellent representation of all types of local industry. The businesses ranged from hotels, medical services, home improvement companies, insurance companies, telephone companies, banks, spas and of course, Idaho Public Television! Because of the venue, the show was well attended not only by business representatives, but the general public. We answered many questions at our booth about Idaho Public Television, our programming and presence in the Eastern Idaho market place. We helped several older viewers understand the upcoming change to digital next year and provided coupon applications to several folks who did not have internet access at home. We were also pleased to provide quality children s story books to many young viewers and parents. Peter Morrill holding a DTV converter box at NTIA sponsored DTV information session at the Boise Public Library on April 4, KTVB covered the session. On Thursday, May 1, Bruce Reichert, Jeff Tucker and I presented an overview of OUTDOOR IDAHO s 25 years of service to the luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Boise. In addition, we gave the group an overview of the federally mandated analog television shutdown and other local programs produced at Idaho Public Television.

10 PAGE 10 Idahoans for Open Government Project Distributes DVDs About Open Records and Open Meeting Laws Nearly 500 DVDs are being distributed statewide this week by the Open Idaho project of Idahoans for Openness in Government (IDOG) to Idaho city and county officials, media and school districts. The DVD features video pieces about open records and open meeting laws. Idaho actors Joe Golden, Christina Lang, Tom Willmorth and Dan Peterson present a series of lively skits about the topics. They demonstrate what Idaho law requires concerning public documents and how the public can access Idaho government records. They also define open meetings and the responsibilities assigned by law to Idaho governments at all levels. The program also has been nominated for a regional Emmy and honors from both Worldfest and the Idaho Press Club. The public s business belongs to the public, says Betsy Russell, IDOG president. By teaming up in the spirit of cooperation, Idaho s public officials, media and citizens can fully exercise this right. The Open Idaho project is designed to provide government employees, government officials, citizens and members of the media with what they need to know about the public records and open meeting laws. The video pieces, the DVD and a companion Web site were produced by Idaho Public Television for IDOG. It can be viewed at: idahoptv.org/dialogue/openidaho The project is funded by IDOG with a grant from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the National Freedom of Information Coalition. Idaho Children s Creativity Shines in IdahoPTV s READING RAINBOW Statewide Contest Idaho children submitted 887 stories for this year s 14th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. Children from across the state in 87 Idaho communities told inventive tales of mystery, magic and adventure, true stories of family vacations, their best friends, and more. All the stories were illustrated by the young authors. First, second and third place winners in kindergarten through third grades were selected for Idaho Public Television stations KUID/KCDT, KAID/KIPT, and KISU. These 36 children will receive special recognition for their efforts at ceremonies in Coeur d Alene, Lewiston, Boise and Pocatello during May. Stories and illustrations can be viewed on the IdahoPTV Web site (idahoptv.org/kids). The winners are: Kindergarten First Place: Lucille MacKay, Salmon; Caleb Reeve, Meridian; and Kameron Vordahl, Post Falls. Second Place: Savannah Lacy, Rigby; Abby Harmer, Caldwell; and Sam Michelson, Moscow. Third Place: Shayla Klingler, Rexburg; Daniel Uranga, Marsing; and Samuel Anderson, Coeur d Alene.

11 PAGE 11 First Grade First Place: Meranda Mortensen, Rexburg; Gracie Moffatt, Eagle; and Calli Perrin, Cottonwood. Second Place: Brenyn Rothwell, Idaho Falls; Krista Harnel, Star; Ashley Dahl, Lewiston. Third Place: Karlie Callahan, Pocatello; Knox Freedman, Nampa; and Taylor Wickett, Lewiston. Second Grade First Place: Aishya Serr, Paul; Alexandra Hahs, Eagle; and Sean Schumacher, Lewiston. Second Place: Bryndi Rigby, St. Anthony; Khal Hirschi, Boise; and Parker Allen, Lewiston Third Place: Dominika Salazar, Burley; Leo Corrales, Hayley; and Jenna Stubbers, Moscow. Third Grade First Place: Austin Keller, Chubbuck; Anabell Woodbury, Meridian; and Clayton Hatfield, Lewiston. Second Place: Alexis Plum, Idaho Falls; Melissa Jensen, Meridian; and Hans Sween, Orofino. Third Place: Lauren Anderson, Ammon; Robin Cochrane, McCall; and Joshua Corgatelli, Moscow. The 12 first place winners for each grade level, in each region all qualified for the national contest, which culminates during June. National competitors are vying for electronic prizes, such as computers, televisions and DVD recorders, and MP3 players, READING RAINBOW DVDs and related books for home, school and library. IdahoPTV thanks the generous support of: The J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation in the Idaho Community Foundation, Coeur d Alene Public Library, Hastings Books, Music and Video in Moscow and Lewiston, and Ada Community Library in Boise. Special thanks also go to judges: Terry Armstrong, Karen White, Judy Sobeloff, Jenny Sheneman and Zena Broughton. The annual competition is for students in kindergarten through third grade. Entries are judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and pictures. READING RAINBOW, a television series that encourages children to read on their own, airs weekdays on IdahoPTV at 2:30/1:30 p.m. MT/PT. IdahoPTV airs 11 hours of children s programming each weekday and five and a half hours each Sunday morning more than 60 hours each week. On April 14, 2008, Dan Harbeke, Director of Public Affairs Utah/Idaho/Montana for Union Pacific Railroad, presented a check of support to me for IdahoPTV s SCIENCE TREK This caps a week of exciting fun around this year s SCIENCE TREK. Now in its second decade, SCIENCE TREK is a collaboration between the Idaho Museum of Natural History and IdahoPTV. On Friday night, April 12, 151 young future scientists enjoyed an exciting Night at the Museum at the Idaho Museum of Natural History at Idaho State University, Pocatello.

12 PAGE 12 The kids had the opportunity to watch cool science experiments with ISU professors including Dr. Steve Shropshire. After the classes with the scientists, they were off to another building to see the movie Night at the Museum, which we felt would be quite the perfect movie for the evening. Then to the Student Union Building to have a (past) midnight snack, then down to the Museum to settle in for a sleepover. Lights finally were out at about 2:15 AM! Then the last of the pictures were breakfast (7:15 am) then the little Trekkers packing up and heading on their way home! We would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to those who helped sponsor some of the young scientists who would not have been able to attend this incredible event without you! IdahoPTV Staff Updates and Transitions On April 9, 2008, Amelie Michelle Peck was born to Jim and Kim Peck. She came into the world at 12:29 a.m. weighing 8.14 pounds and 22 inches in length. And, just because SO many people have asked...it s French and can be pronounced different ways Amelie, AH-ma-lee, AH-meh-lee, AH-mil-lee, or if you lean a bit more toward the French...a-may- LEE. On April 19, 2008, retired former Administrative Assistant Kay Jensen Wilding died from natural causes. Kay worked for Idaho Public Television from Prior to her service to IdahoPTV, she had been the secretary to the State Board of Education for many years. Since her retirement, Kay was a regular volunteer throughout the year at Idaho Public Television. We will miss her and her indomitable spirit. Alternative Energy Airs Thursday, May 8, at 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT Repeats Sunday, May 11, at 5:30/4:30 p.m. MT/PT

13 PAGE 13 On this episode, host Joan Cartan-Hansen talks with Dr. J.W. (Bill) Rogers, Jr., Associate Lab Director for Energy and Environment Science and Technology at the Idaho National Laboratory. They will discuss the benefits and challenges of alternative energy sources and what changes state and local governments need to make to encourage the growth of renewable energy. The show airs immediately after the new IdahoPTV Outdoor Idaho production that looks at alternative energy sources, Powered by Nature. During the live call-in show on Thursday at 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT, Cartan-Hansen and Dr. Rogers will take calls from viewers on a toll-free line: Questions are also accepted through in advance of the Thursday show (dialogue@idahoptv.org) or through the DIALOGUE Web site (idahoptv.org/dialogue). (No call-ins are accepted on the high-definition [HD] TV airing at 9:30/8:30 p.m. MT/PT Thursday or the Sunday repeat at 5:30/4:30 p.m. MT/PT.) Dr. Rogers leads the largest of Idaho National Laboratory s three primary research organizations: the Energy and Environment Science & Technology Directorate. The directorate s nearly 400 scientists, engineers, technicians and support staff are charged with integrating nuclear energy research and its unconventional application with bioenergy and fossil energy systems, advancing renewable energy technologies, and developing alternative energy sources and transportation fuels. This work serves to increase the range of energy options available from traditional and unconventional fossil fuel resources, nuclear power and renewable forms of energy. Allied efforts validate the efficiency of coal-to-liquids processes and use carbon-free energy resources like wind or nuclear power to turn captured carbon into other useful sources of power and fuel. This research includes pioneering flexible carbon management practices and finding ways to produce carbon-neutral energy using hybrid energy systems. DIALOGUE is also available on the radio. In Southwest Idaho, it airs on KBSU/NPR 91 at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday and, in Eastern Idaho, on KISU FM at 6:30 p.m. on Monday (May 12). DIALOGUE, produced by IdahoPTV, is Idaho s only weekly statewide public affairs program. The program is funded by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation. Individual DIALOGUE programs are archived on the IdahoPTV Web site at idahoptv.org/dialogue and can be Web streamed for later viewing. View or listen to DIALOGUE episodes in a variety of formats: Traditional analog over-the-air broadcast airs Thursdays at 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT, with repeats Sundays at 5:30/4:30 p.m. MT/PT, on channels 35-KUID/26-KCDT, 4-KAID/13-KIPT, and 10-KISU. Analog is also available through cable and satellite; consult local suppliers for channel numbers. High-definition over-the-air broadcast airs Thursdays at 9:30/8:30 p.m. MT/PT, with repeats Sundays 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT, on channels KUID-12, KCDT-45, KAID-21, KIPT-22 and KISU-17. The high-definition broadcast also is available through some cable companies; consult local suppliers. Standard-definition over-the-air broadcast airs between 7:00/6:00 a.m. and 3:00/2:00 p.m. on Citizen-4 digital channel. The frequency, days and times may vary. The standard-definition broadcast also is available through some cable companies; consult local suppliers. Video streaming from idahoptv.org/dialogue is available in high-bandwidth or low-bandwidth format. Windows Media Player is required; a free download is available. Video download from idahoptv.org/dialogue; ultra-high bandwidth required.

14 PAGE 14 Podcasts (MP3, audio-only; and MP4, audio-video for video ipods) are available for download from idahoptv.org/dialogue. NPR News 91 audio-only airs in Southwest Idaho on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. MT. KISU FM audio-only airs in Eastern Idaho on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. MT. Author, New York Times Columnist Tim Egan Aired Thursday, April 24, at 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT Repeated Sunday, April 27, at 5:30/4:30 p.m. MT/PT On this episode, host Marcia Franklin interviewed award-winning author and New York Times columnist Tim Egan. Egan has covered the American West for more than 20 years, and was part of a team of New York Times reporters that won a Pulitzer Prize in He talked with Franklin about how the West is changing socially and politically. He also discussed the struggles of the Dust Bowl survivors of the 1930s, whose stories he chronicles in The Worst Hard Time. That work won a National Book Award in Idaho s Uninsured Aired Thursday, April 17, at 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT Repeated Sunday, April 20, at 5:30/4:30 p.m. MT/PT Host Marcia Franklin talked with three physicians who regularly treat the uninsured. The group discussed the effects on society from the lack of access to health insurance, as well as potential solutions. Her guests included Karl Watts, MD, the director of the Genesis Medical Center in Boise and a member of Governor Otter s Select Committee on Health Care; Patrice Burgess, MD, past president of the Idaho Medical Association and chair of that group s Committee on the Uninsured; and Jonathan Bowman, MD, the medical director for Terry Reilly Health Services, which operates six clinics in Ada and Canyon counties. According to a July 2007 study commissioned by Idaho s Office of Performance Evaluations, between 16 and 18 percent of Idaho s population is uninsured, with the vast majority ineligible for public coverage. The rate of uninsured is eight points higher in rural areas than in urban settings. The lack of coverage results in less preventive care, more costly visits to the emergency room, and even deaths. In addition, the insured population pays higher premiums to cover the cost of treating those without insurance. Idaho is in the process of assessing other state models for addressing this issue, including creating a public/private insurance pool and making health insurance more portable between jobs.

15 PAGE 15 Author, Child-Welfare Advocate Robin Karr-Morse Aired Thursday, April 10, at 8:30/7:30 p.m. MT/PT Repeated Sunday, April 13, at 5:30/4:30 p.m. MT/PT On this episode, host Joan Cartan-Hansen talked with Robin Karr-Morse, a child-welfare advocate, co-author of the book Ghosts from the Nursery and the first executive director of the Oregon Children s Trust Fund. They discussed recent research evidence that links abuse and neglect before age two with violent behavior later in life. Karr-Morse was in Boise as a guest of the Idaho Children s Trust Fund, and spoke at the 2008 annual conference. Kerr-Morse explained abuse or neglect hard-wires the brain and may lead to a propensity for violence. She also suggested ways viewers can break this cycle. Geology and Gems Airs Tuesday, May 20, at 2:00/1:00 p.m. MT/PT Idaho s nickname is the Gem State. Geologists know that Idaho is a treasure-trove for rock and mineral lovers. Why? How did many different kinds of rocks and mineral form here? What are the rock cycle and the hardness scale? Host Joan Cartan-Hansen and her guest scientists, Scott Hughes, head of the Department of Geosciences at Idaho State University and Virginia Gillerman, a geologist with Idaho Geological Survey, will answer your questions about rocks and minerals. Students can send their questions through to D4K@idahoptv.org <mailto:d4k@idahoptv.org>, fax them in before the show to (208) or call in live during the program to (800) Students who send in a question are eligible to win a DVD player and DVDs for their classroom. The D4K Web site offers facts, links, reading lists, a glossary, pod casts of programs and special D4K web exclusive programming.

16 PAGE 16 Public Television in the News Senate hopeful Risch to skip live Idaho Public TV debate By JOHN MILLER - Associated Press Writer Edition Date: 05/05/08 BOISE, Idaho For a second straight election, Lt. Gov. Jim Risch will forgo a live Idaho Public Television debate in favor of a taped commercial network debate with candidates in Idaho s Republican U.S. Senate primary facing questions from a panel but not from each other. Risch will participate in a debate May 14 at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa organized by a coalition of news organizations, including TV stations KTVB in Boise, KTFT in Twin Falls and KPVI in Pocatello. Risch passed on a live debate hosted by the Idaho Press Club, the League of Women Voters of Idaho and Idaho Public TV on May 22, five days before the vote. Jason Risch, his son and campaign spokesman, told The Associated Press on Monday the taped debate is a better format for undecided voters. In a letter to the league this month, Risch said live exchanges between candidates can deteriorate into negativity and aren t appreciated by voters. The campaign has received overwhelming comment from voters that the format used by KTVB was very helpful to them, Jason Risch said. The fluid format of the public television debate was less so. We prefer one format over the other. His father is among eight GOP candidates for the Senate seat held by Larry Craig, a three-term senator who declined to run again after his arrest last year in a gay sex sting in a Minnesota airport bathroom. Last year Risch skipped the public TV-league debate in the general election when he ran for lieutenant governor against Democrat Larry LaRocco. Also skipping the debates were C.L. Butch Otter, who went on to become governor, and Donna Jones, who was elected state controller. Risch certainly has first-class debate skills, but if you re leading, you have less to gain out of it, said Randy Stapilus, manager of Democrat Bruce Perry s losing race against Risch for lieutenant governor when they debated three times in Representatives of the press club, league and public TV, which have staged political debates in Idaho for four decades, issued a statement saying they were disappointed to be spurned by Risch again. Skipping the live debate undermines healthy political discourse, they said. We believe our format is an actual debate, one that benefits Idaho voters interested in seeing the candidates, a format that s been tested and has worked over many decades in both primaries and general elections, they wrote. Despite Mr. Risch s refusal to participate, our debate will be held as scheduled. Jim Gilchriest, executive news director at KTVB, said his station s debate will be taped May 14 and broadcast later over the Internet and radio without commercials or editing for content.

17 PAGE 17 The debate will be moderated by KTVB anchorwoman Dee Sarton with questions posed by a four- or five-member panel of members of the coalition, which also includes the Idaho Business Review and the Idaho Press Tribune newspapers. Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho, and Matthew Salisbury, his GOP rival in the 1st District GOP congressional primary, agreed to appear in debates sponsored by both groups. The KTVB congressional candidate debate was taped at Northwest Nazarene last week and the public TV debate is set for May 18. Risch blames voters for his ducking live debate By Jim Fisher, Editorial Writer Thursday, May 8, 2008 Few people are as good at speaking for themselves as Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, who is now campaigning to succeed Larry Craig in the U.S. Senate. But Risch does not speak for Idaho voters, and he should not pretend to be doing so in refusing to participate in the only candidate debate to be televised statewide before Idaho s primary election. Risch s refusing to meet his primary opponents in the live debate, which he also did two years ago in seeking re-election to his current post, helps further weaken what had been a command performance among state office seekers. After Risch rejected its invitation in 2006, two other Republicans - governor candidate Butch Otter and controller candidate Donna Jones - also refused to participate in debates for their races. The refusals deprive many Idahoans, especially those in the northern part of the state, from seeing the candidates in events co-sponsored by the Idaho League of Women Voters, the Idaho Press Club and Idaho Public Television. And Risch s agreement to participate only in an alternative session taped by southern Idaho commercial television stations compounds that disservice to northerners. Despite that, Risch s campaign talks as if that is what voters want. In a letter to the League of Women Voters rejecting its invitation, Risch s son, Jason, said the live debate s allowance of interchanges among candidates is unhelpful and unappreciated by the viewers. We have been told over and over that such a negative tone is not appreciated and is not helpful to viewers trying to evaluate each candidate, the letter said. However unlikely it is that voters do not want to see candidates challenge each other directly, the way presidential candidates from both parties have done repeatedly this year, even stranger is Risch s reluctance to welcome such a format. An experienced lawyer and a seasoned legislative debater, Risch is hard to beat when speaking extemporaneously. He demonstrated that well in 2002, when a fellow Boise lawyer, Democrat Bruce Perry, repeatedly challenged him in the format he is now ducking, as both faced off for the lieutenant governor s office. Perry accused Risch of alienating many Idahoans with hardball tactics as a legislator, but Risch shot back by pointing out Perry s campaign had received last-minute cash from Perry s company without proper notification before the primary election.

18 PAGE 18 Risch went on to defeat Perry at the polls, but he has not appeared in a League/Press Club/Public TV debate again. That is bad enough, considering it is the only opportunity for all Idahoans to see the candidates in live performance. But to talk as if Risch is doing it by popular demand is over the top. It does, however, relieve Risch of explaining that he thinks he has the GOP nomination in the bag, and he doesn t want to be bothered by seven also-rans nipping at his heels on the road to his coronation. - J.F. Risch to skip public TV debate - again Eye On Boise, By Betsy Russell, May 5, 2008 Two years ago, Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch demanded that he be able to appear alone on the Idaho Debates, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Idaho Press Club and Idaho Public Television, answer questions, and then leave the studio before his opponent appeared. When the debate sponsors refused, Risch skipped the traditional debate and appeared only on one sponsored by a Boise TV station with a more controlled format. Now, he s doing the same in his run for the U.S. Senate. The crowded GOP primary race is scheduled to be featured on the Idaho Debates on May 22; it ll go on without Risch. In a press release, Risch said, We have an excellent group of candidates seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. I look forward to a positive and constructive discussion of the important issues facing Idaho and America today. The KTVB format has proven to be the best format for undecided voters to judge the candidates positions on issues. In letter to the League of Women Voters, Risch s campaign spokesman, his son Jason, criticized the Idaho Debates for allowing cross talk among the candidates. The Idaho Debates sponsors issued the following statement: We are obviously disappointed; we believe our format is an actual debate, one that benefits Idaho voters interested in seeing the candidates, a format that s been tested and has worked over many decades in both primaries and general elections. Despite Mr. Risch s refusal to participate, our debate will be held as scheduled. It will air live, statewide, on Thursday May 22 at 8 p.m. Mountain time, 7 p.m. Pacific. Full disclosure here: I m the president of the Idaho Press Club, which has been one of the three sponsors of the Idaho Debates for the past four decades (since long before my tenure). Last week, when I interviewed Risch about his campaign for the U.S. Senate, he told me he d always debate his political opponents, but that his idea of a debate is that a question is asked by a third party, each candidate responds separately, and then they move on to the next question. I want to make sure that you explain this to your readers, that I am running a positive campaign, Risch said. I am not running a campaign where I m going to engage in responding to allegations from someone else. I don t do that. Posted by Betsy 5 May 12:29 PM

19 PAGE 19 Risch Letter Eye On Boise, By Betsy Russell, May 5, 2008 In a letter to the organizers of the Idaho Debates, Lt. Gov. Jim Risch s campaign spokesman, his son Jason, wrote, We chose to participate in the KTVB debate rather than the League of Women Voters debate because of its format, and because of its wide circulation to Idaho voters. Your format and rules said that the format is fluid and that cross talk would be permitted. Our experience in that regard has been that the format you chose frequently deteriorates into a negative exchange between the candidates, which is unhelpful and unappreciated by the viewers. You can read the full letter here. Thank you for your invitation to participate in the debate sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Idaho to be filmed by Idaho Public Television on May 22, We have selected the debate conducted by KTVB Channel 7 in Boise on May 14, We chose to participate in the KTVB debate rather than The League of Women Voters debate because of its format, and because of its wide circulation to Idaho voters. Your format and rules said that the format is fluid and that cross talk would be permitted. Our experience in that regard has been that the format you chose frequently deteriorates into a negative exchange between the candidates, which is unhelpful and unappreciated by the viewers. The debate format chosen by KTVB is a disciplined debate designed to keep the candidates focused on specific answers to issue-oriented questions. We have found widespread and deep appreciation by the viewers for such a format. As you know, we are running a very positive campaign focused on our positions on the issues and we respect other candidacy positions and will not besmirch their stance on the issues. The fluid format and the cross talk format frequently causes candidates to unnecessarily denigrate another candidate s position rather than focusing in a positive manner on the candidate s own views. We have been told over and over that such a negative tone is not appreciated and is not helpful to viewers trying to evaluate each candidate. In addition, our experience with the KTVB debate is such that it receives widespread distribution, and indeed we believe the widest possible. It is broadcast and rebroadcast on channel 7, and it is broadcast and rebroadcast numerous times on channel 28. In addition, the debate is distributed around the state and aired by many other television stations. It is made available to public television and rebroadcast throughout the state on those channels. Finally, it is available on the Internet for people to view at any time of the day they choose. Over the years we have received very substantial support for the KTVB format and our position on this matter from the citizens of Idaho. Again, thank you for the invitation. Very truly yours, JIM RISCH FOR U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE By JASON S. RISCH

20 PAGE 20 Jim Risch goes shopping for a friendly debate By Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman Monday, 05/05/2008-3:48pm. I m always suspicious when candidates start shopping for debates and a format they like. And that s what Lt. Gov. Jim Risch is doing this spring, as he picks a KTVB debate with his fellow Republican candidates for U.S. Senate over the traditional, statewide Idaho Public Television debates. Risch will participate in a May 14 KTVB debate, but he ll skip the Public Television debate on May 22. Here s what Jason Risch chairman of the Risch for Senate campaign, and the candidate s son said in a letter to Elinor Chehey of the League of Women Voters (Scroll down for the full text): Your format and rules said that the format is fluid and that cross talk would be permitted. Our experience in that regard has been that the format you chose frequently deteriorates into a negative exchange between the candidates, which is unhelpful and unappreciated by the viewers.... The fluid format and the cross talk format frequently causes candidates to unnecessarily denigrate another candidate s position rather than focusing in a positive manner on the candidate s own views. Whew. That was close. Risch a trial lawyer by training, with going on 30 years of elected public service nearly walked into a leg trap of fluid format and cross talk. Glad he got out in one piece. I m not going to condemn the KTVB debate in advance although I can only hope the event offers more substance than the legendary Mark Johnson-Larry Craig interview from last October. Then again, the Risch campaign has said it all. For all the campaign s praise of KTVB s debate distribution via commercial and public TV, radio and the Internet it certainly reads like the Risch campaign is looking for a debate format scrubbed of all trappings of actual debate. The KTVB debate will be taped May 14 and aired later, the Associated Press reported Monday. The debate will not be edited prior to airing, says KTVB. Candidates will field questions only from panelists, not from each other. We ve been down this road before. In 2006, Risch spurned a live Idaho Public Television debate during his successful run for lieutenant governor. I have a dog in this fight. I m vice president of the Idaho Press Club, the third co-sponsor of the Idaho Public Television-League of Women Voters debates. I ll also be helping with a panel of pundits offering online post-debate analysis of the IPTV debates and the Senate debate will go on, with or without Risch. My personal involvement aside, I m troubled to see a candidate spurning a live debate for a taped version, which allows a campaign ample time for preemptive spin control. And in his search for a friendly format, Risch is being pretty unabashed about his desire to take an easy way out.