James Dawson
James Dawson joined Boise State Public Radio as the organization's News Director in 2017. He oversees the station's award-winning news department. Most recently, he covered state politics and government for Delaware Public Media since the station first began broadcasting in 2012 as the country's newest NPR affiliate. Those reports spanned two governors, three sessions of the Delaware General Assembly, and three consequential elections. His work has been featured on All Things Considered and NPR's newscast division. An Idaho native from north of the time zone bridge, James previously served as the public affairs reporter and interim news director for the commercial radio network Inland Northwest Broadcasting. His reporting experience included state and local government, arts and culture, crime, and agriculture. He's a proud University of Idaho graduate with a bachelor's degree in Broadcasting and Digital Media. When he's not in the office, you can find James fly fishing, buffing up on his photography or watching the Seattle Mariners' latest rebuilding season.
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Idaho is having its worst summer for wildfire smoke in 25 years and has been America's top smoke producer since June. One megafire will likely only stop when snows arrive.
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The first of its kind in the country, the Idaho legislature has passed a bill allowing criminal charges for those who help a minor get an abortion out of state. The bill now goes to Gov. Brad Little. -
Idaho's supreme court heard arguments Wednesday in lawsuits against the state's abortion laws. On Tuesday, the Biden administration sued over one of the laws, too.
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A school board in a Boise suburb banned books and state lawmakers cut state library funding — so a local bookstore raised money to buy banned books to distribute for free.
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Idaho voters give GOP Gov. Brad Little the chance for another four years in office, according to the AP. Little faced an insurgent campaign from his far-right challenger, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin. -
Putting off surgeries or routine treatments for serious illnesses has become common during the pandemic, a new NPR/Harvard poll finds. -
While Idaho Gov. Brad Little left the state for a trip, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who is running for the governor's seat in 2022, issued an order to ban mask and vaccine mandates even further.
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The governor in Idaho has signed a law to ban the teaching of critical race theory in public schools. Some educators in the state are calling it unnecessary and a potential violation of free speech.
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Idaho Republicans have declined to institute safety measures such as a mask mandate or social distancing. The House speaker said he had no regrets about their policies. -
Eleven months into the pandemic, lawmakers in more than half of states have filed bills to limit the executive powers of governors saying they are after a greater balance of power.
