AltWeeklies Wire
Public Utilities for Health Care: A New Model for Reformnew

A Boise State professor has come up with a new model for state-based health care reform: make insurance companies into public utilities, like power and gas. Will anyone listen?
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
03-05-2009 |
Science
The Age of Aquaculture: The Dish on Farm-Raised Fishnew

Buying fish has become confusing and controversial as the debate between farm-raised vs. wild fish grows. What's good, what's bad and what are the larger issues for an industry that's making its presence known.
Boise Weekly |
Tara Morgan |
02-18-2009 |
Environment
Tags: food, farming, water quality, environment, business, fishing, water rights, Idaho, Northwest, aquaculture
Evicted Again: Boise Refugees Down to Two Week's Rentnew

Refugee families resettled in Boise from Iraq and Bhutan are perilously close to the end of their housing allowance and few have found jobs. Aid agencies are not sure how to help.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
02-18-2009 |
International
Owyhees Initiative Unites Warring Factionsnew

An unlikely alliance has put aside egos and issues to pen legislation that will permanently protect the Owyhee canyonlands, while addressing the needs of ranchers, conservationists and recreationists.
Boise Weekly |
Deanna Darr |
02-12-2009 |
Environment
'Der Decidermeister': An Opera on the Unlikely Rise and Ignominious Fall of George W. Bushnew
It's an opera. The curtain rises on a young George Bush in a Texas Air Guard uniform and follows the 43rd president through his business dealings, his time as governor of Texas and eight long years as president of the country.
Boise Weekly |
Bill Cope |
01-21-2009 |
Commentary
Tags: George W. Bush, satire
Welcome to Washington, Mr. President; Now Let's Do This Thingnew

On his first day in office, we offer Obama an epistle from Idaho: Don't scare us, fix our energy and immigration problems, give us health care and change the tone on science and facts.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
01-21-2009 |
Commentary
Idaho ICE Raid Sparks Dialoguenew
In the wake of an immigration raid at a Nampa, Idaho factory, a Latina group sits down to enchiladas with ICE.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
12-10-2008 |
Immigration
High-End Jean Maker Sues Boise Shop in Counterfeit Investigationnew
A high-priced, global jean manufacturer is suing a Boise boutique for carrying allegedly counterfeit and knock off jeans. The tip-off in Boise led to a large counterfeit jean bust in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
12-10-2008 |
Fashion
Legislating Energy Affordability in Idahonew
While utilities in surrounding states fund programs to help the poor pay their power bills, in Idaho that is considered discriminatory. One group of advocates for low-income people aims to change that and utility regulators are warming to the idea.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
12-10-2008 |
Economy
Chips of Wrath: Unemployment Rising Before the Crisisnew
In the face of near uniform economic analysis from the nation's mainstream media, we set out to find a big picture economist willing to buck conventional wisdom: the economic downturn is a mere blip on the capitalist EKG monitor.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
11-27-2008 |
Economy
Cut Your Own Meat: Idaho's Underground Lamb Tradenew

It took months, but I eventually found a small sheep operation willing to sell live livestock. One afternoon, I brought a big, fat sheep home and tied it up in my back yard. But there were a few problems: What is the city code on livestock, what to do with the entrails and, almost as important, what would people think?
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
11-25-2008 |
Food+Drink
From Bank Crisis to Food Crisisnew
According to former agricultural banker Ben Gisin, whose magazine Touch the Soil is chronicling the local foods movement across the nation, the housing-cum-banking crisis foreshadows and ever deeper, looming global catastrophe: massive food shortages.
Boise Weekly |
Tim Andreae |
11-14-2008 |
Economy
Golf Course Mowers to Challenge Noise Regulations in Idahonew
Noise complaints at an exclusive Boise golf course lead to a Constitutional challenge of the county noise ordinance.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
11-05-2008 |
Policy Issues
Obama Rings in a New Era, Despite Losing Badly in Idahonew

The state appears poised to gain a Democratic congressman and analysis of early down ballot returns from the Gem State.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman and Teresa Shipley |
11-05-2008 |
Politics
Boise Weekly Hip Hop Voter's Guidenew

After eight years of Bush, expectations
are low, the next president will need some
flow, five men in the race in Idaho, pick
one on your ballot at the poll: Candidate profiles in a hip hop vein.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
10-30-2008 |
Politics