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Happening in Boise is your weekly breakdown of what’s actually going on around the city—local news, community events, public safety updates, new restaurants, real estate, weather, schools, and everything Boise residents are talking about.
Hosted with humor, honesty, and a very Boise-specific point of view, this isn’t stiff broadcast news—it’s real local info with personality. If you live in Boise or just want to keep a pulse on the Treasure Valley, this is your weekly shortcut.
MARK: Welcome to 'Happening in Boise', the podcast that brings you the local news while quietly judging your choice of vanity license plates. I'm Mark, your host for this Monday, June 22, 2026, and I'm joined by Joleen, who currently looks like she's already surrendered to the summer heat.
JOLEEN: Listen, it's already eighty-nine degrees and it isn't even lunchtime yet. I'm not surrendered, Mark, I'm just conserving energy for the inevitable moment when the power grid fails because everyone's running their AC at sixty degrees. But hey, welcome to the show, everyone. If you're new here, we cover the Treasure Valley with a healthy dose of cynicism and the occasional swear word because, let's be honest, living in a construction zone disguised as a city is frustrating as fuck.
MARK: It's true. If you've got a problem with the language or the attitude, you can always go back to reading the church bulletin. Otherwise, stick around for seventeen minutes of pure, unadulterated Boise reality. If you love us, or even if you just tolerate us, hit that subscribe button, leave a comment, and maybe tell your neighbor to stop letting their dog shit on my lawn. You can also reach out to us at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com if you've got a tip or just want to tell me my voice sounds like a bucket of gravel.
JOLEEN: It really does, Mark. It's the gravelly charm that keeps them coming back. But enough about your vocal cords. We've actually got some winning news for once, which is a nice change of pace from the usual reports of people driving their Subarus into the Boise River.
MARK: You're talking about Athletic Club Boise. They actually pulled it off yesterday. They blanked Union Omaha one to zero, and they did it in front of a record-setting home crowd. Apparently, everyone in the valley decided that soccer was the only thing worth doing on a Sunday afternoon.
JOLEEN: Well, it was either that or staying home and staring at the property tax assessment, so the choice was pretty clear. But seriously, the atmosphere was electric. Both teams went scoreless in the first half, which is usually the part where I start checking my phone for snack recipes, but Moshobane came through with a goal in the second half that sealed the deal. It's a massive win for the club.
MARK: I'm just impressed they managed to get that many people into the stadium without a riot. It shows that the soccer culture here isn't just a trend. It's actually sticking. Speaking of things sticking, have you tried to cross the Greenbelt lately? It's becoming a bit of a labyrinth.
JOLEEN: Ugh, don't even get me started. The city started a new bridge repair project on Friday. The bridge closer to the river near the Greenbelt is shut down. They say the other one is staying open, but it's only a matter of time before that one becomes a bottleneck of angry cyclists and people walking three dogs at once.
MARK: It's the Boise way. We love our Greenbelt, but we also love closing parts of it for months at a time. It keeps us on our toes. Or, more accurately, it keeps us detouring through neighborhoods where we don't belong. But on a more meaningful note, the Return of the Boise Valley People gathering happened over the weekend. It was the fifteenth annual event.
JOLEEN: Yeah, that's actually a really cool event. It's all about celebrating the cultural heritage of the tribes who were forcibly removed from this valley. It's a reminder that this 'homeland' we're all fighting over for apartment space has a much deeper history than just who built the latest Dutch Bros. It's a powerful way to keep those stories alive.
MARK: It's a necessary perspective. While we're complaining about traffic, they're honoring ancestors. It puts things in place. However, if you're a fan of climbing, the news isn't so great. Asana Climbing Gym in Garden City announced they're closing at the end of the year. The owner basically said lease negotiations went south, which is code for 'the rent is too damn high'.
JOLEEN: Garden City is becoming the new North End, and not in a good way. Every time a cool, local spot like Asana gets pushed out because they can't afford the dirt they're sitting on, a piece of the city's soul dies. Soon it'll just be luxury condos and places that sell eight-dollar artisanal toast as far as the eye can see.
MARK: At least we still have fire reports to keep us grounded. A house fire in Meridian on Wednesday afternoon displaced ten people. Ten people! I didn't even know you could fit ten people in a house in Meridian without someone getting a ticket for an illegal boarding house.
JOLEEN: Right? That's a lot of roommates or one very large family. The good news is that nobody was hurt, but ten people out of a home is a disaster. The investigation is still ongoing to figure out what started it. It's a reminder that even in the suburbs, shit can go sideways fast. Be careful with those grills and fireworks, people. It's getting dry out there.
MARK: Moving over to the schools, there was a big meeting Tuesday night for parents of Owyhee Elementary students. The district is moving forward with these 'development centers' for early learners. It's part of a bigger shift to support families with a 'community classroom' approach, but some parents feel like they're being left out of the loop.
JOLEEN: I saw those signs in the neighborhood. 'Neighborhood Schools Work!!' People are pissed because they feel like the bond money didn't find its way to their specific school. It's the classic Boise School District drama. They want to innovate, but parents just want to know their kid can walk to school without a three-mile hike.
MARK: It's a tough balance. You want the fancy new centers, but you don't want to lose that neighborhood feel. We'll see how that plays out as they implement the changes for the fall. Now, let's talk about something that actually makes everyone happy: food. Specifically, potatoes.
JOLEEN: We're a cliché, Mark. A podcast in Idaho talking about potatoes. But Spud Daddy just opened in BODO, and I have to admit, it sounds like the kind of gluttony I can get behind. They're using these massive forty-count russets that weigh over a pound each.
MARK: A pound and a quarter, to be exact. It's basically a meal in a tuber. They've got base options like chopped roast in a bourbon butter reduction or brisket chili. It's about twelve bucks for a potato, which feels a little like a crime until you realize it's probably the size of a small infant.
JOLEEN: If I'm paying twelve dollars for a potato, it better have some serious toppings. And apparently, they do. You can pile on things like cheddar cheese sauce, beef gravy, and sautéed mushrooms without paying extra. It's like they're trying to see how much weight a single russet can hold before it collapses into a black hole of carbs.
MARK: It's the ultimate Idaho experience. I can see the tourists lining up already, but honestly, it's a solid addition to downtown. Better than another overpriced deli that forgets the mustard. Speaking of things that are sometimes hard to stomach, how about those Boise Hawks scores from the weekend?
JOLEEN: God, it was a rough Father's Day at Memorial Stadium. They got absolutely dismantled by the Ogden Raptors on Sunday, losing ten to two. It wasn't the gift most dads were looking for. They also lost a close one on Saturday, ten to nine, after having a Richard Karn appearance.
MARK: Wait, Al Borland was there? That actually explains the loss. They were too busy looking for a flannel shirt to focus on the game. They did manage to win on Friday, nine to eight, so it wasn't a total wash of a weekend. They're sitting at eighteen and twelve for the season, which isn't terrible, but they're definitely hitting a bit of a slump.
JOLEEN: Minor league baseball is more about the vibe and the dollar dogs anyway. If you're going for the high-level athleticism, you're in the wrong place. But if you want to see a guy in a hawk costume try to dance to 'YMCA', the Hawks are your team. They've got more home games coming up this week, so hopefully, they can figure out how to stop the Raptors from eating them alive.
MARK: The Hawks better get it together because the Boise Music Festival is coming up this Saturday at Expo Idaho. It's going to be a madhouse. We've got Marshmello, Sean Paul, and Everclear. It's like a playlist from three different decades got into a car crash.
JOLEEN: I'm there for Everclear. I'll be the one in the back screaming 'Santa Monica' while everyone else wonders who the old lady is. But seriously, it's the biggest one-day festival in the valley. Ten a.m. to ten p.m. If you're going, bring water, sunscreen, and a lot of patience for the parking lot situation.
MARK: If the festival isn't your thing, the Roosevelt Market Block Party is also happening on Saturday in the East End. It's a bit more low-key--live bands, vendors, and beer. It's a great neighborhood vibe. And if you're out in Eagle, it's Eagle Fun Days this weekend too. The parade is Saturday at one p.m.
JOLEEN: Eagle Fun Days is always a trip. It's a very 'Eagle' version of fun. Lots of 'America 250' themes this year. Just make sure you check the road situation before you head out there. Between the construction on State Street and the general chaos of a parade, it's going to be a mess.
MARK: Speaking of road situations, let's check in on the construction update. Shoreline Drive is still closed east and west of Americana Boulevard. You can't turn onto Shoreline from Americana at all. If you're heading to the Farmers Market on Saturday, you have to use River Street to thirteenth. Don't be that dickhead who tries to ignore the barriers.
JOLEEN: And State Street near Pierce Park Lane is still a disaster zone. Westbound traffic is on the north side, eastbound is in the middle, and the work zone is currently on the south side. They've eliminated left turns through the whole area. It's like a puzzle designed by someone who hates people. If you can avoid it, do it. Your blood pressure will thank you.
MARK: It's all part of the plan to widen State Street to seven lanes. They're making it a high-traffic transit corridor, which sounds great on paper, but right now it just looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. Just follow the signs and try not to scream at the construction workers. They're just doing their jobs in the heat.
JOLEEN: The heat is the real story this week. Today we're looking at a high of eighty-nine. Tomorrow it jumps to ninety-three, and Wednesday hits ninety-four. It's going to be brutal. If you're outside, you're going to be sweating like a sinner in church.
MARK: The National Weather Service says it stays in the low nineties through Thursday, but then we get a little bit of a break. Friday and Saturday bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms, with temperatures dropping back down to the mid-seventies for the weekend. So, the Music Festival might actually be pleasant instead of a literal oven.
JOLEEN: Seventy-five degrees on Saturday sounds like a dream compared to ninety-four on Wednesday. But knowing Boise weather, 'chance of showers' could mean a light sprinkle or a localized monsoon that floods your basement. Plan accordingly. Or just stay inside and look at photos of houses you can't afford.
MARK: That's a nice transition to our real estate segment. Developers have applied to build Starling Ridge, a two hundred and eleven-home subdivision on about sixty acres near Columbia Road in Meridian. It's heading to the Planning and Zoning Commission in August. More houses for the suburban sprawl.
JOLEEN: Two hundred more homes in Meridian. I'm sure the traffic on Eagle Road will handle that just fine. It's not like it's already a parking lot during rush hour. And there's another three hundred apartments coming to one of the last big open lots on the Boise Bench. The density is coming, whether we like it or not.
MARK: It's the normalization of the market, they say. But with property assessments out, everyone is seeing how their values have changed. In some areas, it's a shock. In others, it's just more proof that we're living in a town that's outgrowing its own pants.
JOLEEN: We're definitely burstin' at the seams. Anyway, that's our look at what's happening in Boise for this Monday. It's a busy week, a hot week, and honestly, a bit of a weird one with Al Borland making baseball appearances.
MARK: He's probably the only one who knows how to fix the Greenbelt bridge. Thanks for listening, everyone. Remember to like, subscribe, and tell a friend. If you've got something you want us to cover, shoot us an email at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com. We actually read them, believe it or not.
JOLEEN: Mostly we just read the mean ones out loud for a laugh, but send them anyway. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and try not to get into any fights over parking at the Music Festival. We'll be back later this week to see if the city has finally finished that one sidewalk on State Street. Spoiler alert: they haven't.
MARK: Peace out, Boise. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, which honestly leaves a lot of room for activities.