Samantha Wright
Verified- Idaho Matters Senior Producer, Boise State Public Radio
- Host, All Things Considered
- Senior Producer, Idaho Matters
Boise
I am a reporter and All Things Considered Host @KBSX915. RTs don't equal endorsement.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Samantha Wright
An exploration of Idaho's public lands
Idaho’s seven federal forests cover millions of acres of land in the state, and that’s just a portion of public land in the Gem State. While we camp, hike, bike and play on these landscapes, how much do we really know about how these lands are managed? Dick Smith is trying to educate folks about the history of the U.S. Forest Service, the laws that cover forest lands and some of the challenges they face today.
Emmy award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub comes to Boise
You may know Emmy-award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub as detective Adrian Monk from the award-winning TV series Monk. Or his time on the NBC sitcom Wings. Or maybe you saw him in movies like Men in Black or Galaxy Quest or Spy Kids or the animated movie Cars. But you may not know that every year, for more years than he wants to count, he spends his vacation at a lake in northeastern Wisconsin with his very large extended family. “It's close to all of our hearts,” said Shalhoub.
Idaho Matters Doctor Roundtable: October 14, 2026
From second opinions to bad knees and the medications we take as we age, our health questions often come down to the same thing: How do we make the best decision for our health? Which is why we're taking a look at when it makes sense to seek another medical opinion, why knee pain doesn't necessarily mean giving up the activities we love and how to keep track of medications as prescriptions add up.
Idaho 44: Owyhee County - Local museum brings state history to life
Owyhee County is a small but mighty home to only 11,000 residents; it covers a landmass larger than the state of New Jersey, and it’s one of the Idaho counties we haven’t visited yet for our Idaho 44 project. At the heart of the county is the "Owyhee Historical Museum," a place where you can step back in time and experience the lives of southwestern Idaho's earliest miners, ranchers, farmers and families. The museum was founded in 1961.
Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable: October 9, 2026
A hazing incident at Teton High makes news just as Timberline High deals with alleged threats of a sexual assault, a sanctuary garden helps female veterans in Ontario, rumors about using a 1917 law crop up in Idaho’s U.S. Senate race and a man tackles a bear in Salmon to save his kids. It’s Friday, so it's time for our Reporter Roundtable, where Idaho Matters gets you up to date on the news that made headlines this past week.
Idaho Matters Doctor Roundtable: October 7, 2026
Three health stories are raising questions today: a death at a Russian plague research facility has put pneumonic plague back in the headlines, new reporting is challenging the idea that every blood sugar spike is harmful and we're taking a closer look at flu season and what strains could be circulating.
Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable: October 2, 2026
Valley County is in need of road repairs to the tune of $100 million, cuts to Idaho's in-home care programs are raising concerns, the Grand Targhee Resort expansion is facing push-back and a Boise woman is suing Uber. It’s Friday, so it's time for our Reporter Roundtable, where Idaho Matters gets you up to date on the news that made headlines this past week.
Idaho expert explains how water bears and other extremophiles survive Earth’s harshest environments
The first time a lot of us learned about extremophiles was when water bears from earth crash-landed on the moon. Extremophiles are a group of critters that can survive some of earth’s toughest environments like the bottom of the ocean or inside volcanos or polar ice. In 2019 an unmanned space probe carrying Tardigrades – also known as water bears – accidentally crashed onto the moon’s surface.
Idaho Matters Doctor Roundtable: September 30, 2026
This week on the Doctor Roundtable we're taking a look at several issues shaping the way we think about aging and health care. We'll examine ageism in medicine and the growing discussion around the use of sedation for people with Alzheimer's disease. We'll also explore a fruit that may have heart health benefits. Plus, Dr. Pate answers questions from listeners.
Why researchers are searching for water beyond on the moon and Mars
Is there water on the moon? What about Mars? If there is, how do we find it? These are the questions that keep Dr. Craig Hardgrove up at night. He’s a professor at Arizona State University and he spends a lot of time working on projects, including a tiny spacecraft that went to the moon and the Lunar-Vise rover mission. He’s coming to Boise State’s First Friday Astronomy program this Friday, Oct. 2 and he joined Idaho Matters for a preview. Idaho Matters SpaceMars
American Prairie works to rewild more than 3 million acres
How do you create one of the largest nature reserves in the U.S.? That's what "American Prairie" is all about: they’re buying land, working with landowners, and rewilding much of the landscape to connect more than 3 million acres of prairie land.
Discover contra dancing with Boise's local dancers and musicians
You've probably heard of square dancing, but have you heard of contra dancing? They both include live dancing, live music, a caller to direct the dancers and a place to find community. In contra dancing though, the dancers line up in two lines, instead of a four-person square, like square dancing.
Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable: September 25, 2026
How did Idaho end up in the middle of a trade war? A Rigby college student is on NBCs "The Voice", McCall is poised to have another "Woodstock" where thousands of pounds of firewood will be delivered to individuals and families in need of heating this coming winter, Boise Rescue Mission has a new president and an old mine may become new again. It’s Friday, so it's time for our Reporter Roundtable, where Idaho Matters gets you up to date on the news that made headlines this past week.
Space Robots: The Search for Life on Mars
Did you know that a robot has been collecting samples of rocks on Mars? Well, the Mars rover Perseverance has been driving around a crater, a possible lakebed, drilling for rock samples, and caching them in the hopes NASA can get them from the Red Planet back to Earth to see if they contain proof of past life on Mars. That’s what has been working on. She’s an experimental geobiologist and the Returned Sample Science Co-Lead for the mission and she’s coming to JUMP in Boise on Sept.
Tips for healing faster with Dr. Victoria Maizes
Dr. Victoria Maizes has been spending a lot of her time looking at how our bodies are designed to heal themselves if we give them the right tools, like good sleep and nutrition, exercise and better stress management.
Unredacted photos of University of Idaho murders likely released
Unredacted crime scene photos from the murders of four University of Idaho students may have been leaked, despite a judge’s order keeping the graphic images from the public, prompting questions about how something like this could have happened. Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders last year, but some of the evidence was never released. Reporter Lauren Paterson has been digging into this story, and she joined Idaho Matters to talk more.
Trailing of the Sheep Festival celebrates 30th anniversary
We're just a couple of weeks away from the 30th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival in the Wood River Valley. For the second year in a row, the Ketchum Community Library's Jeanne Rodger Lane Center for Regional History has partnered with Boise State Public Radio and Trailing of the Sheep Festival for another season of the Sheep Stories podcast. This year, Evelyn Laila Holden combed through 25 years of audio and video recordings to learn more about how the festival shaped the history of the area.
What's the difference between policy and law? Idaho's former AG explains
What's the difference between policy and law? This is a question that often comes up when politicians talk about the Constitution and the "rule of law" when arguing for or against an issue. Lawrence Wasden has been taking a close look at the role of government under our country’s constitutional system. He was Idaho's 32nd attorney general and was the longest-serving AG in our state’s history.
Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable: August 18, 2026
A new Executive Order will take wolves off the Endangered Species List, enrollment in Boise Schools is down, Idaho officials plan to begin the first herbicide treatment in Payette Lake, and a new jail could be coming to Payette County. Plus, Valley County is asking an Australian mining company to help ease the strain its project could put on the community, It’s Friday, so it's time for our Reporter Roundtable, where Idaho Matters gets you up to date on the news that made headlines this past week.
Musician Marcus Eaton performs live on Idaho Matters
Marcus Eaton is a singer-songwriter, a guitarist and a composer who has worked with everyone from Stephen Bishop to David Crosby. You may have seen him play in Boise at places like the Knitting Factory or heard his original score for the documentary "David Crosby: Remember My Name," or saw him when he broke the internet with popular renditions of "The Last of the Mohicans" and the "Game of Thrones" soundtrack using a special kind of bow made just for the guitar.
Idaho Matters Doctor Roundtable: September 16, 2026
Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a heart attack. Close to 18 million people each year die from cardiovascular disease around the world. Roughly 1.4 billion people have high blood pressure, but only one-fifth of those have it under control. And this week, we learned that heart disease is now the leading cause of death for Hispanic adults. Have you or someone you know had a heart attack? High blood pressure? Afib? Or another, more hidden form of heart disease?
Space Robots: Studying an asteroid up close
Have you ever wondered what an asteroid is made of? Well, Dr. Ben Weiss, the Chair of Planetary Science at MIT, has been wondering about that for a very long time. He studies paleomagnetism and he’s the deputy principal investigator for NASA’s Psyche mission. The goal is to study the asteroid called Psyche to find out if it’s made of metal and if it could be the leftover core of a baby planet. The spacecraft has already made a flyby of Mars. Dr. Weiss is coming to JUMP in Boise on Saturday, Sept.
Remembering Sept. 11: Boise State Public Radio staff share their stories
Smoke billows from one of the towers of the World Trade Center and flames and debris explode from the second tower in New York, Sept. 11, 2001. It's the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, when 19 terrorists hijacked four airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Many people are remembering where they were on 9/11, including us here at Boise State Public Radio, and we wanted to share some of our stories with you
Idaho Listens brings people together by putting debate aside
The art of listening has been lost in a sea of noise, politics, and debate. That's the premise of Idaho Listens – American Values, which started in 2022 at Boise State University. It began as an experiment with a simple idea: "What happens when people decide to stop arguing and start listening?" Eight times across Idaho, people have shared their stories and their values as the audience simply listened without argument, judgement or debate.
The growing connection between climate change and human health
Doctors need to do more to put a face and a voice to the impacts a changing climate are having on our planet. That was the message from Dr. Terry O’Connor, who helped the University of Colorado form their Climate Medicine Program.
Meet the birds taking flight at the World Center for Birds of Prey
A red-tailed hawk named Phoenix is helping spread the word about this years Fall Flights! Phoenix is an avian ambassador with The Peregrine Fund and the World Center for Birds of Prey. Fall Flights gives visitors the chance to watch six avian ambassadors fly overhead in a dramatic program designed to educate viewers about raptors and how they're doing in the world.
Boise State research examines the role of inflammation in breast cancer
One Boise State scientist is looking at whether an inflammatory protein, called OSM, could be helping tumors spread to lymph nodes, the lungs and even bones. She’s looking at ways to treat breast cancer by slowing down OSM and its possible deadly effects. Dr. Cheryl Jorcyk, a professor in the department of Biological Sciences at Boise State University, is sharing more about her research.
Space Robots: The search for life takes NASA to Jupiter's icy moon
Scientists have been trying to answer the question "is there life outside our planet?" And it turns out the best place to look for life is on an ocean world in our own solar system. Europa may be that world. It’s actually one of Jupiter’s moons and it's covered with a hard, icy shell. But there could be a saltwater ocean underneath that shell, with twice the water in all of Earth’s oceans, that could support life. That’s where NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission comes in.
Nepal's devastating flood offers a warning for Idaho's burned landscapes
Devastating images have been coming out of Nepal, as a huge flash flood on Wednesday sent a wall of mud and debris through a river system, ripping up buildings, houses and bridges. Hundreds are missing and the death toll continues to rise. Some of the images are reminiscent of July, when a much smaller flash flood tore through the Grandjean campground, throwing tons of mud and debris through the area and taking out several cars.
How New Mexico's heat safety initiative could help cities like Boise
Hot weather can be dangerous for anyone. Heat stroke can be deadly if not treated quickly and extreme heat can pose increased dangers for people experiencing homelessness. The New Mexico Health Department launched a new heat safety initiative this summer that includes everything from heat kits to videos that walk people through how to help someone suffering from heat stroke and how to tell the difference between heat stroke and an overdose.
Defending Earth from killer asteroids
Imagine a gigantic blast coming out of Yellowstone National Park, an explosion that’s 10,000 times bigger than all the world’s nuclear bombs. Everything as far away as Idaho Falls is instantly vaporized. Firestorms from the blast and debris raining down obliterate entire cities, like Boise. Anyone who survived the blast would quickly starve to death, as ash, dust and sulfur would block out the sun and kill all the plants. More than 70 percent of all species on Earth would die.
Space Robots - Finding alien worlds
How do you find alien life? Well, first you need to find planets that might be able to support life. And that’s not as easy as it looks. Scientists have been able to find planets orbiting distant stars, known as exoplanets, often big, Jupiter-sized planets that are relatively young. And now they’re hoping that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will let them find smaller, older planets that might be able to support life. And the telescope is set to blast into space Aug.
Fighting invasive rats in the Treasure Valley
Since the last time we talked about rats on Idaho Matters in July, the Central District Health Board has earmarked $250,000 to fight the invasive critters. In July, Rep. John Gannon (D-Boise) teamed up with a Republican legislator to sound the alarm about the spread of Norway and roof rats and to plead with local officials to help develop a centralized plan to fight them. Since February, we’ve been following Norway rats who’ve made a home in the Treasure Valley and have been spreading fast. Rep.
A new push to save critically endangered species like the vaquita
Earlier in August, two funds connected to actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, donated $200 million to the Phoenix Species Project. The goal of the Project is to give sustained funding to conservation groups working to help 100 of the world's most threatened species. Their hope is to expand the project with more money to protect more species. One of the animals on the list is the vaquita, a small porpoise that lives off the coast of Mexico, which is critically endangered.
The warning signs you should know to avoid getting scammed over the phone
Imagine this scenario: your phone rings and you don’t recognize the number. You answer and someone says there’s a warrant out for your arrest, and you have to send them $1,500 in Target gift cards now or police will come to your door. It's a scam, and Detective Brendan Kirkpatrick with the financial crimes unit at the Ada County Sheriff's Office has seen people fall for it many times before. He’s spent more than half his career investigating these kinds of crimes.
A new agreement could bring more nuclear waste to Idaho
Since 1995, Idaho and the federal government have had an agreement to keep nuclear waste out of the Gem State. The deal, signed by former Gov. Phil Batt, kept tons of nuclear waste out of the state. Now a new agreement between the Department of Energy and Gov. Brad Little could change that as part of the new "nuclear lifecycle innovation campus" program. The Idaho Capital Sun and the Idaho Statesman are reporting this could bring one-third of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel to our state.
Frank Church's legacy comes to life in new documentary
Two years ago, we celebrated the 100th birthday of Idaho Senator Frank Church, who served as a U.S. senator from Idaho from 1957 until 1981. In 1975, he was chairman of the “Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities," which investigated several illegal operations carried out by America's intelligence community.
Space Robots - Dragonfly heads to Titan
The Mars Rovers have uncovered a treasure trove of information about the Red Planet, but they have one major drawback - they can only travel short distances at a time, which limits where they can look for possible signs of life. So what if scientists could hop from spot to spot in a flying robot, gathering information at each location? That’s exactly what Dragonfly will do.
Wildfire smoke is affecting Idaho's air: Here's what it means for your health
The wildfire smoke has become part of our daily lives in Idaho as dozens of wildfires still burn in eastern Oregon and Washington. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality said the air quality is "orange" or “unhealthy for sensitive groups," but who are these sensitive groups? And how much is the smoke affecting all of us, whether or not we have breathing problems?
Idaho 44: Gooding County - Fossils steal the show
Between Mountain Home and Twin Falls sits Gooding County, a high desert landscape in the middle of Idaho. It's got canyons and wildflowers and the Thousand Springs Visitor Center, which is the gateway to the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Thousand Springs State Park. People come to hike and birdwatch, but the fossils can steal the show.
Idaho 44: Clearwater County - Elk River Cardboard Boat Races!
We’re traveling all over the state because we know there are interesting people, places, and histories in each of Idaho’s counties; it’s called the Idaho 44 project. Clearwater County was named for the beautiful Clearwater River and is home to towns like Pierce, Orofino and Elk River.
Boise Baroque Orchestra gets ready for their summer festival
Last year, the Boise Baroque Orchestra was devastated after the tragic passing of their artistic director Robert Franz. This summer, the group is regrouping and preparing for their summer festival, which opens Saturday, Aug. 8 under their interim director Daniel Wiley. They’re also getting ready for their Baroque Institute, as they start their international search for a permanent conductor.
Wildfires devastate Spokane as Twin Falls reels from a shooting at In-N-Out Burger
Over the weekend, two tragedies unfolded in Idaho and Washington. A huge wildfire exploded over tens of thousands of acres and raced toward Spokane - overwhelming firefighters and surprising residents, who had to flee for their lives. More than 700 homes and buildings have burned so far. Another fire forced residents to flee in Weiser Sunday, as the Tartar Fire raced toward the city.
The critical role of prevention and emergency care in Idaho
This episode of Idaho Matters originally aired on May 14, 2026. E-scooters and e-bikes are everywhere, and you’re supposed to wear a helmet when you’re riding them. But that doesn’t happen much, which means when there’s an e-scooter crash, or you just fall off, the trauma your body experiences is that much worse.
Boise flute club hits a high note before heading to national conference
On many Thursdays in Boise an orchestra gathers its members, including a bass flute, an alto flute, a C flute, a piccolo and a contrabass flute, to make music together as the Capital City Flute Club. Before the ensemble heads to Portland, Oregon, in August to perform at the 2026 National Flute Association conference, it's giving a special concert on Aug. 1.
A bipartisan effort takes aim at the Treasure Valley's growing rat problem
It's no secret that rats are spreading across the Treasure Valley. In February we told you a female Norway rat can have five litters a year with an average of seven baby rats each time – that’s 35 new rats each year. They've made a home in the Treasure Valley, and they’re spreading fast.
A new exhibit explores the history and legacy of American buffalo
Depending on who’s counting, between 30 and 60 million buffalo used to call this landscape home before settlers came west and shot them by the millions. By 1890, only around 1,000 buffalo were left, and it’s only been in the last few years that conservation efforts have tried to bring these iconic mammals back to the West. A new exhibit is taking a comprehensive look at the history, biology and art the buffalo inspired.
The return of cyanide devices renews a family's call for change
Cyanide bombs are back. The M-44 is a small, spring-loaded device full of sodium cyanide. Trappers smear bait on the bombs and when a coyote or a fox touches them, they explode, releasing a spray of deadly particles. They’re designed to kill predators that prey on cattle. Nine years ago, 14-year-old Canyon Mansfield was playing behind his house in Pocatello with his dog Kasey when he came across an M-44, which exploded in his face, covering them both with the deadly poison.
Wrapping up our America 250: Short Histories of Boise project!
To celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we wanted to discover more about Idaho's history and the places we see and touch in our daily lives. So we teamed up with the city of Boise to take a deep dive into the history of the capital city, one small piece at a time.
As fire risk grows, one expert reflects on lessons from Yellowstone's 1988 fires
Last week, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) briefed the region’s wildland firefighters, water managers and utility company officials on what they can expect for the rest of the summer. The outlook was grim, which came as no surprise to Liz Davy, program director of the Greater Yellowstone Fire Action Network. She has been concerned about the high fire potential this year compared to 1988, when the devastating Yellowstone National Park fires burned 36% of the landscape.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Samantha
Contact Samantha, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack