>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION.

COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> THIS WEEK WE SPEAK WITH EXPERTS ON A NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AND A NEW SCIENTIFIC REPORT ON THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON IDAHO'S ECONOMY.

I'M RUTH BROWN, FILLING IN FOR MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL BRETT DELANGE AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROGRAM MANAGER ROSIE ANDUEZA FROM THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH JOIN ME TO DISCUSS THE LATEST IN A NATIONWIDE OPIOID SETTLEMENT, HOW THAT MONEY CAN BE USED, AND WHAT THE STATE IS ALREADY DOING TO TREAT OPIOID ADDICTION.

THEN, DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MCCLURE CENTER, DR. KATHERINE HIMES, JOINS ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LOGAN FINNEY TO DISCUSS A NEW REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

BUT FIRST, THIS WEEK ALSO SAW TWO NEW LAWSUITS CHALLENGING THE STATE'S REDISTRICTING PLANS.

A FILING FROM THE COEUR D'ALENE AND SHOSHONE-BANNOCK TRIBES ALLEGES THAT THE ADOPTED LEGISLATIVE MAP DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO PRESERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST, WHILE THE OTHER RAISES TECHNICAL CONCERNS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

IDAHO IS POSITIONED TO RECEIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM A NATIONWIDE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE THREE LARGEST OPIOID DISTRIBUTORS OVER THEIR ACTIONS THAT FUELED THE OPIOID ADDICTION CRISIS.

ON THURSDAY EVENING, A FEDERAL JUDGE TOSSED ONE SETTLEMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE SHIELDED THE SACKLER FAMILY FROM FUTURE LITIGATION.

THE SACKLERS OWN PURDUE PHARMA, WHICH IS THE COMPANY THAT MAKES AND PROMOTES OXYCONTIN — AN ADDICTIVE OPIOID PAINKILLER.

THE JUDGE SAID IN AN OPINION THAT THE NEW YORK BANKRUPTCY COURT THAT APPROVED THE SETTLEMENT DID NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO GRANT THE SACKLERS THE LEGAL PROTECTION FROM FUTURE OPIOID LITIGATION.

PURDUE SAYS IT PLANS TO APPEAL.

FRIDAY MORNING, I SPOKE WITH DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL BRETT DELANGE AND ROSIE ANDUEZA FROM THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ABOUT HOW THAT SETTLEMENT MONEY CAN BE USED.

>> CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENTS THAT IDAHO WENT THROUGH THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SETTLEMENTS.

THE MOST PRESENT RIGHT NOW ARE WITH THE THREE LARGEST DISTRIBUTORS AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON, TWO SEPARATE SETTLEMENTS BUT WE'VE REACHED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH THEM AND REACHING PARTICIPATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND IN IDAHO.

COLLECTIVELY THEY ARE -- NATIONALLY THERE ARE OVER $25 BILLION.

IDAHO'S SHARE CAN REACH $120 MILLION IF WE GET ALL THE PARTICIPATION WE NEED.

AND SO THEY'RE ROBUST SETTLEMENTS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR OUR STATE.

>> YESTERDAY, THURSDAY EVENING, A FEDERAL JUDGE TOSSED ONE OF THE SETTLEMENTS IN CONNECTION TO THE SACKLERS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE FUNDING WE MAY GET?

>> SURE, IT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE SETTLEMENT FROM THE TWO WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

WE REACHED TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT WITH PURDUE PHARMA AND THE SACKLER FAMILY.

IT'S A FAIRLY ARC RAIN LEGAL SETTING ABOUT IMMUNIZING MEMBERS OF A FAMILY.

THE JUDGE SAID THEY COULD DO THAT.

THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE SAID NO YOU CAN'T DO THAT UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY CODE.

OBVIOUSLY PURDUE WILL APPEAL TO THE SECOND CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS.

I'M SURE WHICHEER SIDE DOES NOT WIN WILL PROBABLY APPEAL TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

>> THE SACKLER FAMILY OWNS PURDUE, THE COMPANY THAT CREATED OXYCONTIN.

>> CORRECT.

WE FILED A SEPARATE LAWSUIT IN IDAHO SPECIFICALLY AGAINST PURDUE AND THE SACKLER FAMILY FOR WHAT WE ALLEGE TO BE MANY VIOLATIONS OF IDAHO LAW, AND THAT SETTLEMENT AND THAT LITIGATION IS SEPARATE FROM THE SETTLEMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DIRECTION AND MANAGEMENT THAT THE SACKLERS UNDERTOOK IN MARKETING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ALLEGE TO BE MISREPRESENTING OXYCONTIN AND ITS USES.

AND AVAILABILITIES.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE GETTING AND IF THERE'S A TIMELINE ON THAT YET?

>> YES.

THE -- THERE'S A NUMBER OF TIMELINES.

WE -- THE NEXT TIMELINE IS JANUARY 2nd TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S ENOUGH PARTICIPATION BY ELIGIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, AND IN IDAHO WE HAVE VIRTUALLY 100%.

WE'RE PLEASED WITH THAT.

WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME COMPARED TO SOME OF OUR OTHER SISTER STATES.

BUT AT THAT POINT, THEN THE DEFENDANTS DECIDE IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH BUY-IN TO THE SETTLEMENTS TO PROCEED WITH IT.

IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, AND OF COURSE IN LITIGATION LIKE THIS VIRTUALLY NOTHING DOES BUT IF IT GOES TO PLAN WE COULD SEE OUR FIRST PAYMENTS POTENTIALLY IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WILL SLIP.

BUT WE'RE READY.

AND WE'RE HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC THAT SETTLEMENTS WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED.

>> AND WHAT CAN THAT MONEY BE USED FOR?

>> THE SETTLEMENTS ARE VERY SPECIFIC.

MONEYS RECEIVED WHETHER IT'S THE STATE OF IDAHO, WHETHER IT'S OUR INDIVIDUAL LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES OR WHETHER IT'S THE REGIONAL HEALTH DISTRICTS, HAVE TO BE USED FOR EXHIBIT A PROJECTS.

EXHIBIT A, THESE SETTLEMENTS ARE LONG, LIKE 300 PAGES LONG, BUT SETS FORTH IN TEN PAGES THE TYPES OF OPIOID REMEDIATION PROJECTS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE TO SPEND MONEY ON, WHETHER IT'S WITHDRAWAL TREATMENT OR ADDICTION TREATMENT OR EDUCATION OR BUYING, YOU KNOW, MEDICINES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO UTILIZE WITH SOMEONE WHO'S OVERDOSING.

SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT PARTICIPANTS WHO -- RECIPIENTS OF THE MONEY WILL LOOK AND SAY WE'D LIKE AND DO THIS.

YEP THAT FITS WITHIN EXHIBIT A SO WE CAN SPEND IT.

THEN THERE'S REPORTING REQUIREMENT AT THE END.

BUT WE'RE OPTIMISTIC.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ABOUT THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN REMEDIATING THE OPIOID CRISIS WHIZ IN OUR STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S ST FORTH IN OUR EXHIBIT.

>> ROSIE, CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE LANDSCAPE OF TREATMENT IS IN IDAHO AND WHAT INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM OPIOID USE DISORDER FACE WHEN TRYING TO SEEK TREATMENT?

>> SURE.

WHEN THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC FIRST HIT IDAHO HARD SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OUR DEPARTMENT WENT OUT AND IMPLEMENTING A PRETTY ROBUST SYSTEM OF WHAT WE CALL MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT, IT IS CONSIDERED THE GOLD STANDARD FOR INDIVIDUALS ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS, PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT, PLUS MEDICATION TENDS TO HAVE THE BEST RESULTS.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE STATE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO BOTH PAY FOR MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT AND EXPAND.

THIS YEAR WE'LL BE OPENING UP THREE OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHICH UP UNTIL NOW WE'VE ONLY HAD FOUR IN THIS STATE ON ALL IN THE TREASURE VALLEY.

THESE THREE ARE OUTSIDE OF THE TREASURE VALLEY.

WE ALSO HAVE OPIOID-BASED OFFICE TREATMENT PROGRAMS WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND AND JUST IMPROVE ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER FROM THE DISEASE OF OPIOID USE DISORDER.

THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS NEEDED IN OUR SYSTEM THA.

RECOVERY HOUSING IS A BIG THING, TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE STARTED A HANDFUL OF PROGRAMS TO -- SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TOWARDS OPIOID INCLUDING WHAT WE CALL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WARM HANDOFFS.

SO WHAT THAT IS IS AN INDIVIDUAL APPEARING AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH AN OPIOID OVERDOSE, THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN IDAHO, AND FREQUENTLY THE MEDICAL PEOPLE SAVE THE PERSON'S LIFE, AND THEN THEY RELEASE THEM.

THAT IS A REALLY HIGH-RISK TIME FOR OVERDOSE AGAIN.

WHAT THE WARM HANDOFF PROGRAM DOES IS A TRAINED RECOVERY COACH WILL MEET THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND SO WHEN THEY DISCHARGE THEY ARE CONNECTED TO SOMEONE WHO CAN THEN HELP THEM CONNECT TO TREATMENT AND OTHER RECOVERY SUPPORTS.

THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE JUST LAUNCHED, WE'VE GOT IT IN PILOT STATUS AND HOPE TO EXPAND THAT.

IT'S BIT OF A CHALLENGE BECAUSE OUR HOSPITALS ARE DEALING WITH COVID AND IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING.

WE HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS WE'RE LAUNCHING, A REENTRY PROGRAM FOR WOMEN DISCHARGING FROM THE WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL CENTER, SIMILAR CONCEPT, GET THEM ON EMT IF THEY WANT IT, CONNECT THEM WITH RECOVERY RESOURCES.

WE'VE BEEN DISTRIBUTING A MEDICATION, THE DRUG OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG.

REQUESTS FOR THIS HAVE INCREASED A LOT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND ALSO PREVENTION.

MONEY GOES TO THE OFFICE OF DRUG POLICY AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND PROJECT ECHO TO HELP WITH THIS DISEASE.

>> WHAT CAN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS APPLY FOR?

WHAT'S THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING DO FOR TREATMENT?

WHAT DOES THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SEE THAT?

>> WE GET BLOCK GRANT FUNDING EVERY YEAR.

PREVIOUS TO MEDICAID EXPANSION WE WERE SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF THAT FUNDING ON PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS, AND WE NEVER HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO MEET THE NEED.

WITH MEDICAID EXPANSION A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE PREVIOUSLY SERVED ARE NOW GETTING THEIR TREATMENT MET PLOW MEDICAID, AND WE'RE ABLE TO BACKFILL WITH TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, ET CETERA.

THEN ALSO SOME OF THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.

SO ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED AND MORE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A HUGE GAP -- THE WORKFORCE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE IN IDAHO AND IN THE NATION.

SO WE NEED TO PUT SOME EFFORT INTO HAVING THE WORKFORCE TO TREAT THESE FOLKS.

SO MORE MONEY MEANS WE CAN EXPAND MORE AND FASTER.

AND IMPROVE ACCESS.

ESPECIALLY IN MORE OF OUR RURAL AREAS, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LACKING A LITTLE BIT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU NEXT IS ARE THERE AREAS OF THE STATE THAT STRUGGLE MOST WITH HAVING TREATMENT OPTIONS OR ASSISTANCE, SOME OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT YOU MENTIONED?

>> I THINK JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT, WITH METHADONE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE BEGINNING IT'S A DAILY PICKUP, I HAVE TO GO IN EVERY DAY SO IF IT'S RURAL THAT MAKES IT MORE CHALLENGING.

HOWEVER UNDER COVID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN US SOME -- RELAXED THE RULES A LITTLE BIT SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE WEEK-LONG TAKE-HOMES AND SUCH.

WE ARE EXPANDING TELEHEALTH REACHING MORE PEOPLE THAT WAY.

THE RURAL NATURE AS WITH OTHER SERVICES IT IS MORE CHALLENGING BUT IT DOESN'T -- WE STILL ARE TRYING THAT.

WE ALSO GIVE FUNDING TO -- IDAHO HAS NINE RECOVERY CENTERS IN THE STATE, AND SEVERAL ARE HAVING SATELLITE CENTERS, THERE IS ONE IN CASCADE NOW.

MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND GETTING OUT TO THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES.

WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH SEVERAL OF THE TRIBES AS WELL IN THE STATE.

>> MR. DeLANGE WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP MOVING FORWARD?

>> IDAHO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GENERAL DIRECTED IS TO NEGOTIATE HOW THIS MONEY'S GOING TO GET ALLOCATED IN A FAIR WAY.

WE ENDED UP WITH AN ALLOCAION AGREEMENT WHERE 40% OF THE SHARES WILL GO TO THE STATE.

40% WILL GO TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS.

AND 20% WILL GO TO OUR REGIONAL HEALTH DISTRICTS.

ALL OF THEM HAVE TO BE SPENT ON OPIOID REMEDIATION-APPROVED PROJECTS.

THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THE DEFENDANTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, THEN THE MONEY GETS DEPOSITED IN ACCOUNTS.

OUR LEGISLATURE WAS PROACTIVE IN THIS ACCOUNT AND CREATED AN OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND WHERE ANY OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEYS WILL GE USED FOR OPIOID REMEDIATION PURPOSES.

THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT ALL.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT JANUARY -- I THINK IT'LL BE JANUARY 16th WHEN WE HEAR FROM THE DEFENDANTS ON WHETHER THERE'S ADEQUATE PARTICIPATION NATIONALLY TO PROCEED WITH THE SETTLEMENTS.

>> WHAT PARALLELS DO YOU SEE BETWEEN THIS SETTLEMENT AND THE SETTLEMENT THAT IDAHO SAW YEARS AGO WITH THE TOBACCO COMPANIES ESTABLISHING THE MILLENNIUM FUND?

>> I'M PROUD OF WHAT OUR STATE'S DONE COMPARED TO OTHERS.

IDAHO CREATED THE MILLENNIUM FUND.

EVERY YEAR OUR SETTLEMENT MONEYS GOES INTO THAT FUND AND THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES MONEY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED PURPOSES WHETHER THE METH PROJECT, YOUTH COURTS, TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAM EDUCATION.

SO WE'VE HAD A MODEL, IT'S WORKED FOR OUR STATE.

AND THAT MONEY IS PROTECTED.

IN FACT, MAYBE IT'S BEEN ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO THEY CONSTITUTIONALIZED 80% OF THAT FUND SO IT'S IN THERE.

YOU CAN'T LEGISLATIVELY USE IT TO FIX A POTHOLE IF YOU WILL.

SO THAT'S A MODEL THAT THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND THAT WAS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE, THE LEGISLATORS AND THE STATE AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL HAVE TO LOOK TO TO GO FORWARD.

BOTH OF THESE CASES INVOLVE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE THAT BECAUSE OF THAT IT CREATES PROBLEMS FOR OUR CITIZENS AND ULTIMATELY ENDS UP CREATING THE SORT OF TRAGEDIES THAT WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, WITH DEATH AND OVERDOSE DEATH, CANCERS IN -- AND SO THE FOCUS IS TRYING TO -- WITH THESE SETTLEMENTS IS HOW CAN WE HELP REMEDIATE.

THESE SETTLEMENTS ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE OPIOID CRISIS IN IDAHO JUST LIKE THE MILLENNIUM FUND BE HASN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF TOBACCOS BUT THEY'RE HELPFUL TOOLS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE UTILIZED IN A WAY THAT MAKES THINGS BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'RE AT NOW.

>> TO WATCH OUR FULL INTERVIEW ON THE SUBJECT, VISIT THE IDAHO REPORTS YouTube CHANNEL.

AND TO READ ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS AROUND THE OPIOID SETTLEMENTS, YOU CAN VISIT THE CONSUMER PROTECTION TAB ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S WEBSITE.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO RELEASED THE ASSESSMENT," A NONPARTISAN -- "IDAHO CLIMATE-ECONOMY IMPACTS ASSESSMENT," A NONPARTISAN SCIENTIFIC REPORT ON THE STATE'S CHANGING CLIMATE AND THE RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME ALONG WITH IT.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LOGAN FINNEY INTERVIEWED DR. KATHERINE HIMES, DIRECTOR OF THE MCCLURE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, ABOUT THE REPORT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR POLICY MAKERS.

>> SO THIS IS IN PART A CLIMATE REPORT BUT THE FOCUS HERE IS ECONOMICS; IS THAT RIGHT?

>> I WOULD SAY THE FOCUS REALLY IS ECONOMICS.

WE SYNTHESIZE THE LATEST SCIENCE ON THE CHANGING CLIMATE BUT THE FOCUS IS ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND KEEPING IDAHO'S ECONOMY STRONG.

>> HOW IS IDAHO'S CLIMATE PROJECTED TO CHANGE IN THE YEARS TO COME?

>> IDAHO'S CLIMATE IS REALLY MEASURED IN THREE WAYS THAT ARE RELATED.

WE LOOK AT TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION AND SNOW PACK.

THESE ARE GOING TO CHANGE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE A LOT OF IDAHO'S ECONOMY IS DEPENDENT ON OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, SO TEMPERATURES ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE.

AND PRECIPITATION IS GOING TO CHANGE.

SO THERE WILL BE MORE PRECIPITATION IN THE SPRING, PROBABLY LESS PRECIPITATION IN THE SUMMER.

THERE WILL BE MORE EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS.

AND THEN THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN SNOW PACK, DECREASES IN SNOWPACK AND RAIN ON SNOW EVENTS WHEN SNOWPACK IS ON THE GROUND BUT THEN THERE'S RAIN ON TOP OF IT.

ALL OF THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO INCREASING HAZARDS, AVALANCHES, MUD SLIDES, DROUGHTS AND SO FORTH.

>> AND WATER IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE OUT HERE IN THE WEST.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE CLIMATE IS GOING TO CHANGE THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS?

YOU REFERENCED FLOODS AND DROUGHTS BUT ALSO IRRIGATION.

HOW IS THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER EXPECTED TO CHANGE?

>> IF THERE'S LESS SNOWPACK THAT'S A CONCERN.

IF THERE'S LESS PRECIPITATION IN THE SUMMER THAT'S ALSO A CONCERN IF YOU'RE USING THAT WATER FOR IRRIGATION.

SO ONE THING WE TALK ABOUT IN THE REPORT IS NOT JUST ECONOMIC RISK BUT ALSO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

SO IF WE CAN PLAN NOW WE CAN HAVE A STRONG FUTURE.

SO WATER STORAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, MAY BE REALLY IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD IN A WAY THAT IT HASN'T IN THE PAST.

>> WE'VE SEEN ISSUES EVEN THIS SUMMER WITH CERTAIN RESERVOIRS BEING RUN IF NOT DRY TO THE POINT WHERE THE IRRIGATION SEASON IS DRAMATICALLY SHORTER THAN IT USED TO BE.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE MAGIC RESERVOIR IS A CASE IN POINT THERE.

>> SO ANOTHER ASPECT THAT THE REPORTS TALK ABOUT IS SMOKE.

THIS WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR WILDFIRES.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON OUR HEALTH AND THE ECONOMY?

>> THERE WAS A LOT HAPPENING IN THE REGION, TOO.

THE SMOKE THAT COMES TO IDAHO, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS.

SOMETIMES WE'RE GETTING SMOKE FROM IDAHO, SOMETIMES CALIFORNIA, SOMETIMES BRITISH COLUMBIA BUT YOU'RE RIGHT IT IMPACTS THE HEALTH OF IDAHOANS.

SOMETIMES THIS EXACERBATES PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA, RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, EVEN THOSE WITH ALLERGIES CAN BE IMPACTED BY INCREASING SMOKE, AND OF COURSE THIS IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE.

IT CAN IMPACT PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT, THE ELDERLY, AND YOUNG PEOPLE SO DEFINITELY AN INTERSECTION BETWEEN SMOKE AND HEALTH.

>> THEN THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF SMOKE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> CERTAINLY THINKING ABOUT INCREASING CLINIC, ER AND HOSPITAL VISITS, THAT MAY CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE, THEREIN INCREASING HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURES, THERE MAY BE ABSENCE FROM WORK OR SCHOOL IMPACTING PRODUCTIVITY.

>> IT COULD ALSO, I REMEMBER SEEING IN THE REPORT, COULD HAVE SOME AFFECTS ON RECREATION AND TOURISM.

>> SMOKE SPECIFICALLY CAN AFFECT RECREATION AND TOURISM PRIMARILY IN THE SUMMER, PEOPLE IN IDAHO RECREATING AND THOSE COMING HERE FROM OTHER STATES MAYBE CHOOSING NOT TO COME HERE BECAUSE OF SMOKE.

THE RECREATION AND TOURISM, PART OF THE ASSESSMENT LOOKED AT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, HIKING, CAMPING, BIKING, FISHING, SO DEFINITELY IMPACTS THERE.

>> YEAH.

RECREATION AND TOURISM IS A VERY BIG PART OF IDAHO'S ECONOMY.

SO THE SMOKE IS A SUMMERTIME CONCERN, AND THEN WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, ABOUT THE SNOWPACK IS ALSO A CONCERN FOR RECREATION AS WELL AS FOR WATER USE.

>> DEFINITELY, RIGHT.

SO IN THE WINTER THE RECREATION TOURISM PART OF THE ASSESSMENT WAS FOCUSED ON SKIING.

PRIMARILY DOWNHILL SKIING IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SKI RESORTS AS WELL AS SNOWMOBILING.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT SMOKE BUT WHEN DOES THE SNOW SEASON BEGIN, HOW LONG DOES THE SEASON LAST, ARE THERE QUALITY SNOW DAYS AND THE RAIN ON SNOW EVENTS I MENTIONED EARLIER DEFINITELY COULD PLAY INTO RECREATION, TOURISM WITH RESPECT TO SKIING AND SNOWMOBILING.

>> HOW DOES THE ASSESSMENT PANTS PATE THAT IDAHO'S FOREST AND RANGELANDS WOULD BE AFFECTED BY CLIMATE?

>> THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE ASSESSMENT, LOOKING AT LAND BROADLY.

AND WE LOOK AT FORESTS, RANGELANDS, AND THEN WE ALSO LOOK AT A FEW KEY SPECIES IN PARTICULAR.

THERE'S A CALLOUT ON UNGULATES AND FISH AND TEMPERATURES AND ECOSYSTEMS.

TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR IDAHO'S FORESTS.

IT'S VARIABLE IN TERMS OF HOW DIFFERENT TREE SPECIES WILL RESPOND TO THE CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION.

GENERALLY THEY WILL MOVE UPSLOPE INTO HIGHER ELEVATION AREAS SEEKING COOLER TEMPERATURES BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE VARIABLE IMPACTS IN TERMS OF FOREST.

AGAIN, THE ASSESSMENT OUTLINES NOT JUST THE RISKS BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

AND WITH RANGELANDS, IF THE WINTERS ARE WETTER AND THE SUMMERS ARE WARMER THIS COULD REALLY IMPACT THE TYPE OF FORAGE AVAILABLE ON RANGELANDS AND WHEN YOU CONNECT THIS WITH FIRE IT COULD IMPACT GRASSES.

>> FORAGE, LIVESTOCK?

>> RIGHT, FORAGING ON PLANTS.

>> THIS COULD BE A CONCERN FOR IDAHO'S AGRICULTURE SECTOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> MORE THAN 60% OF IDAHO'S ENERGY GENERATION COMES FROM HYDROELECTRICITY.

You mentioned concerns about water storage.

What what can be done to mitigat some of these climate effects on energy system?

Sure.

Well, one thing we know is that as temperature increase and as our population grows, this can really lead to increasing energy demand, particularly in summer.

IF WE KNOW THAT, IDAHO'S ENERGY PROVIDERS CAN THINK ABOUT HOW CAN THEY BALANCE THIS DEMAND WITH WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN SUMMER IN TERMS OF ENERGY USE.

ALSO, THIS SUMMER STREAM FLOW THAT'S PROJECTED TO DECREASE MAY IMPACT HYDROPOWER, AND THAT'S A "MAY."

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A MAIN SOURCE OF IDAHO IDAHO'S ELECTRICITY.

WE MAY NEED TO THINK ABOUT STORAGE TO STORE THE WATER TO CONTINUE TO USE HYDROPOWER.

IDAHO'S ENERGY PROVIDERS HAVE ANNOUNCED CLEAN ENERGY GOALS, PHASING OUT COAL AND PETROLEUM SO WE MAY NEED TO THINK OF OTHER WAYS TO MEET THAT ENERGY DEMAND.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY AS WELL AS PERHAPS MICROGRIDS, WAYS COMMUNITIES CAN HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE LOCALLY.

>> LOCALIZED.

AND THAT COULD INCLUDE DIVERSIFYING ENERGY SOURCES LIKE THE SMALL, MODULAR REACTORS I'M ASSUMING?

>> EXACTLY BUT ALSO ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, USE OF HYDROGEN.

THERE ALSO COULD BE THIS UPTICK IN JOBS CONNECTED TO ELECTRIFY IFICATION AND CLEAN ENERGY.

>> IT DOESN'T LINE OUT ACTION ITEMS FOR POLICYMAKERS, IT'S A KIND OF SYNTHESIS OF THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN?

THAT'S FAIR TO SAY, THE LATEST SCIENCE CONNECTED TO IDAHO'S CLIMATE AND WATER AND REALLY LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS TO MAJOR PARTS OF IDAHO, OUR ECONOMY, AGRICULTURE, RECREATION AND TOURISM, ENERGY, HUMAN HEALTH AND SO FORTH, FORESTS, SO IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THIS MOMENT IN TIME USING THE LATEST DATA, SAYING HOW CAN WE TAKE THIS INFORMATION, UNDERSTAND THE RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND PLAN FOR A STRONG FUTURE.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S WILL POWER AMONG THE POLICYMAKERS TO TAKE THIS INFORMATION AND USE IT?

>> ONE THING REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT IS WE HAD AN ADVISORY BOARD OF 40 LEADERS FROM IDAHO BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, TRIBAL, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND THE GOAL WAS TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS TANGIBLE, THAT IT HAS LOCAL CASE STUDIES WHICH REALLY ILLUSTRATE THESE IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND SO I THINK THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS RELEVANT, THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT LEADERS COULD USE, THAT THERE WAS PLENTY OF INFORMATION AS WELL AS THINGS THAT WERE NOT TECHNICAL, AND THAT IT'S REALLY, TRULY NONPARTISAN, THAT WE WENT OVER ALL OF THE WORDS AND WE MADE SURE THAT THIS IS A SCIENCE-BASED RESOURCE THAT CAN BE USED BY IDAHOANS.

>> HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ILLUSTRATED ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT COULD BE A CONCERN WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE FUTURE?

>> SO I THINK THAT WHEN -- THE HEALTH SECTION REALLY TALKS ABOUT A VARIETY OF IMPACTS.

SO THERE'S IMPACTS OF EXTREME HEAT.

THERE'S ALSO IMPACTS THAT RELATE TO WATER CONDITIONS LIKE HARMFUL BLOOMS IN THE WATER, VECTOR BORNE DISEASE, SMOKE WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS WELL-POSITIONED TO BE AWARE OF THESE IMPACTS AND TO HELP OUR POPULATION.

BUT I DO THINK THAT ONE THING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IS IF THERE ARE AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SIZABLE EVENTS LIKE WILDFIRES OR AVALANCHE OR LANDSLIDE, MUD SHRINE, THAT COULD REALLY PUT PRESSURE ON A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

AND SO I THINK THAT OUR HOSPITALS, THOUGH, ARE VERY AWARE OF CAPACITY BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED DURING COVID.

>> AND WHERE CAN OUR VIEWERS FIND MORE INFORMATION?

NOW THAT THE REPORT IS OUT THERE WHERE CAN PEOPLE LEARN MORE?

>> EXACTLY.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THIS CONTENT WAS AVAILABLE ONLINE, THAT PEOPLE COULD FIND IT, IT WAS EASY TO USE, SO WE HAVE NON-TECHNICAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION, A LOT OF WAYS TO VISUALIZE THIS WORK, DIFFERENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES, AND THERE'S A WEBSITE, UIDAHO.EDU/ICEIA.

>> ON WEDNESDAY, LOGAN FINNEY ALSO HOSTED THE "IDAHO REPORTS" PODCAST, WHERE HE AND KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS REVIEWED ISSUES FACING NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE IN COEUR D'ALENE, AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR STUDENTS IF THE SCHOOL LOSES ACCREDITATION.

YOU'LL FIND THE LINK TO THAT CONVERSATION AT idahoptv.org/idahoreports.

WE'RE OFF THE AIR THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND WILL BE BACK ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, JUST IN TIME FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO BEGIN ITS 2022 SESSION.

ON MONDAY, JANUARY 10, "IDAHO REPORTS" WILL HAVE A LIVE SHOW IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING GOVERNOR LITTLE'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, WHICH WILL AIR AT 1 P.M. MOUNTAIN, NOON PACIFIC, RIGHT HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AS WELL AS YouTube AND FACEBOOK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU JANUARY 7.

>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO; BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC