Episode: Workforce Woes

This week, our producer Ruth Brown sat down Tuesday morning with reporter Ryan Suppe of the Idaho Press to discuss labor shortages across Idaho and how the pandemic has impacted those in the workforce. Then, Ruth and Logan Finney looked at workforce issues in specific sectors of state government. But first, on Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin wasted no time exercising her temporary gubernatorial authority, issuing an executive order banning state agencies from requiring COVID testing and vaccines. She also contacted the Idaho National Guard to ask about deploying them to the US Mexico border -- a query that Major General Michael Garshak turned down, as no request for National Guard assistance had been submitted. McGeachin is acting governor while Gov. Brad Little is visiting the US Mexico border. Little said Tuesday he would immediately rescind all actions taken by McGeachin upon his return. For more, visit the Idaho Reports blog. Visit idahoptv.org/idahoreports to find the link.