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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 back to 'Happening in Boise,' the only podcast that acknowledges the thick layer of stagnant, soupy air currently masquerading as our sky. I'm Mark, and I'm already tired of this year.
JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen. That's not the sky, Mark, it's the city's seasonal depression blanket. It keeps the warmth in and the joy out. It's efficient, really. We're your audio guide to the City of Trees, assuming you could see the trees through the fog.
MARK: We're here to sift through the week's events so you don't have to. We'll cover the latest political maneuvering, the sudden job openings in education, and whether it's financially wiser to buy a house or just a really, really expensive burrito.
JOLEEN: It's a tough call. The burrito probably has better insulation. If you love our particular brand of cynical optimism, do us a favor: like, subscribe, leave a five-star review telling us how we've changed your life. Or, you know, just comment with your favorite curse word.
MARK: We'd prefer the latter. And if you've got a hot tip, a complaint about your neighbor's incessantly barking dog, or just a really strong opinion on roundabouts, send it our way. The email is boise@thehappeningnetwork.com. We read them all, mostly for our own amusement.
JOLEEN: Alright, let's get this over with. The Idaho Legislature kicked off its 2026 session this week, and Governor Little gave his State of the State address. He unveiled a plan charmingly titled 'ENDURING IDAHO.'
MARK: Enduring Idaho. It sounds less like a policy initiative and more like a challenge. Like it should be on a t-shirt you get after surviving a particularly bad winter. What are we enduring, exactly? The construction? The legislature itself?
JOLEEN: Apparently, we're enduring a budget shortfall. After years of tax cuts, the state is now facing the shocking and entirely unforeseeable consequence that it has less money. So, the Governor's big plan is for government agencies to 'tighten their belts.'
MARK: Ah, 'tighten their belts.' The classic political euphemism for 'get ready for things to get shittier.' They're talking about making permanent the 3% budget holdbacks from last summer and eliminating over 100 vacant state employee positions.
JOLEEN: So we're solving the problem of not having enough money by... not hiring people to do jobs that presumably needed doing. It's a bold strategy. He's also looking at renegotiating contracts and reprioritizing initiatives, which means the DMV is probably going to get even slower, if that's physically possible.
MARK: My favorite part is that while they're cutting services, they're also pushing to conform to federal tax changes that will provide, and I quote, 'real relief.' So the plan is to have less money, but also, to take in less money. Is this that new math they're teaching in schools?
JOLEEN: It's fiscal conservatism, Mark. You just don't understand it. It's like when you're broke, so you cancel your Netflix subscription but also quit your job to 'provide relief' from the stress of working. It makes perfect sense if you don't think about it at all.
MARK: I'm just excited to see what this 'endurance' test looks like. Will our roads get more potholes? Will our parks get fewer trash cans? It's like a fun, state-wide game of Jenga with public services. What piece will they pull out next?
JOLEEN: As long as they don't touch the liquor stores, I think we'll manage to endure. Now, speaking of endurance, let's talk about the weather. Mark, what fresh hell awaits us this week?
MARK: Well, Joleen, get ready for the most Boise winter week imaginable. It's the atmospheric equivalent of a long, boring meeting. For the next seven days, we are looking at absolutely zero precipitation. Not a drop.
JOLEEN: Oh, fantastic. So all the grime and salt on my car is just going to sit there and fossilize. What about the temperatures? Are we getting a January thaw or a polar vortex?
MARK: Neither. We're getting mediocrity. Highs are going to hover in the low 40s all week, with overnight lows dipping into the mid-to-upper 20s. The real star of the show, however, is the return of our beloved winter inversion. Expect patchy morning fog and that general grey, stagnant air that makes you question all your life choices.
JOLEEN: The inversion. It's like the city puts on its favorite old sweater, and that sweater is made of car exhaust and despair. You can't see the foothills, you can't see the sun, and you can sort of... taste the air. It's a unique sensory experience.
MARK: It really is. The kind of weather that makes you want to just stay inside and watch documentaries about places with actual weather. So, to recap: no rain, no snow, just a week of chilly, foggy blah. Don't forget to take your vitamin D, folks. The sun is a distant memory.
JOLEEN: Let's move on to our crime report. You know, for such a supposedly safe city, you'd think we'd have more interesting crimes to discuss. This week, the police blotter was a real snoozefest. No dramatic heists, no weirdos in capes, nothing.
MARK: It's a real content drought. I was hoping for at least one good story about someone trying to pay for their groceries with a squirrel or something. But no. The biggest crime this week seems to be the continued existence of people who don't know how four-way stops work.
JOLEEN: Oh my god, don't get me started. It's not a suggestion, it's a rule. You stop, I stop, the other guy stops. Then we all wave at each other for five minutes in a standoff of performative politeness until someone just fucking goes for it. It's a system designed for maximum inefficiency.
MARK: My theory is that they're not being polite, they're terrified. They've forgotten the order of operations. It's a game of chicken where the goal is to be the last one to move. The real crime is that none of these people seem to have anywhere important to be.
JOLEEN: Either that or the proliferation of those 'In This House We Believe' signs. I swear, the more of those I see in a neighborhood, the worse the driving gets. It's like their tolerance for others extends only to yard signs, not to yielding the right-of-way.
MARK: So, since there are no actual crimes to report, our official crime update is this: beware of dangerously courteous drivers at intersections and the silent judgment emanating from suburban yard signs. Be safe out there. Or at least be predictable.
JOLEEN: Alright, from the hazards of the streets to the drama of the school board. We have some actual news here. In a move that shocked absolutely no one paying attention, Boise School District Superintendent Lisa Roberts announced she's retiring.
MARK: Announced her 'retirement.' She stepped into the role in June of 2024, which means she barely made it a year and a half. I've had leftovers in my fridge for longer than her tenure. That's less of a career and more of a long, stressful temp job.
JOLEEN: To be fair, she inherited a goddamn mess. The district is dealing with declining enrollment, which means less state funding, and let's not forget the mountain of lawsuits and settlements from that whole Gavin Snow catastrophe. I'd want to 'retire' too. She's getting out while the getting is good.
MARK: She was an in-house hire, promoted from deputy superintendent. And when she was hired, the board president proudly stated she was 'the only person we interviewed.' That always inspires confidence, doesn't it? A nationwide search of one person. Who happened to be in the next office over.
JOLEEN: The district loves to hire from within. It's a tradition. It ensures that nothing ever really changes. The board is holding a special meeting on January 21st to figure out their next steps. I'm putting my money on them promoting the current Deputy Superintendent, Nick Smith. Why break the cycle now?
MARK: It's a bold prediction, Joleen. So brave. Whoever gets the job has their work cut out for them. They'll need to fix the budget, restore public trust, and probably perform an exorcism on the district office. In the meantime, the district wants you to know that registration for their winter Community Education classes is open.
JOLEEN: Oh, good. So while the whole administrative structure is in turmoil, you can still learn how to play the bagpipes or take a class on square dancing. It's about priorities. Nothing calms a PR crisis like a well-attended pottery class.
MARK: It's lifelong learning! You can learn a new skill while the district learns how to hire a superintendent who lasts longer than a carton of milk. Moving on. Let's talk about the other thing Boiseans love to complain about: road construction.
JOLEEN: Another topic with a shocking lack of specific, major news this week. It feels like we're in the eye of the hurricane. The major projects are either done, delayed, or haven't started yet. But don't worry, ACHD is never truly idle. There are some lane closures on I-84 near Meridian to keep us on our toes.
MARK: Lane closures on I-84. That's not news, that's just the default state of being for that stretch of asphalt. It's been under construction since the Ford administration. What are they even doing out there? Just moving the same barrels back and forth every day?
JOLEEN: It's a jobs program. They have to keep the barrel-movers employed. I think they're just endlessly grinding down the surface and then immediately repaving it. It's a form of urban meditation. The Zen of highway maintenance.
MARK: My favorite is when they shut down a lane for three miles, and then you finally get to the front and there's just one pickup truck and a guy staring at a hole. What could possibly require a three-mile buffer zone for one guy and a shovel? Is he excavating a dinosaur?
JOLEEN: You have to respect the blast radius of his contemplative staring. It's a safety issue. But really, the lack of a new, massive project feels ominous. It means they're planning something. Somewhere, in a dark room, there's a map of Boise and a bunch of engineers with red markers, figuring out the next intersection they can turn into an unsolvable puzzle for the next two years.
MARK: My money's on something on the Bench. They haven't been terrorized in a while. So, for now, just enjoy the minor inconvenience of the I-84 barrel maze, and be grateful that they haven't started excavating in front of your driveway. Yet.
JOLEEN: Let's switch gears to something more palatable. It's time for our restaurant review, and this week, we ventured into the depths of a downtown concert venue to try a new taco joint. Mark, tell the people about Toros Tacos.
MARK: That's right. Toros Tacos, which has a stand in Nampa and a food truck, has opened a physical location in the basement of the Shrine Social Club. The vibe is... unique. You walk into this music venue, go downstairs past the bar, and there it is. It feels less like a restaurant and more like you've discovered a secret, late-night food cult.
JOLEEN: And they're open until 2 a.m. most nights, which is a godsend in a city that mostly shuts down at 9 p.m. Their whole thing is 'LA street food.' Now, as someone who has never been to LA, I assume that means it's delicious but also might give you food poisoning. How did we fare?
MARK: We fared very well. No food poisoning to report. I went for the classic carne asada tacos and a 'crunch wrap,' which is their take on the Taco Bell classic, except, you know, made with actual food. The crunch wrap was a monster. Perfectly grilled tortilla, tons of seasoned beef, nacho cheese, and a crispy tostada shell inside. It was a glorious, greasy mess.
JOLEEN: I tried the mulitas, which are like a taco-quesadilla hybrid. Two small tortillas with cheese melted between them, stuffed with al pastor pork. The pork was fantastic, tender with those little crispy edges. It's the kind of food that's specifically designed to be eaten after you've had a few beers and are making questionable life decisions.
MARK: Which is perfect for its location. The menu isn't huge, but what they do, they do well. It's straightforward, no-bullshit tacos and burritos. It's not trying to be fancy or 'elevated.' It's just trying to be hella good, as one reviewer put it. And I think they succeed.
JOLEEN: I agree. It's a great addition, especially for the late-night crowd. So if you find yourself downtown with a desperate need for tacos after midnight, head to the Shrine basement. It feels a little weird, but the food is worth it. Just don't make eye contact with the band loading out their gear.
MARK: From tacos to mortgages, let's talk about the Boise real estate market. Just when we thought things were settling into a boring, predictable pattern, we get a plot twist. Mortgage interest rates have dropped below six percent for the first time in three years.
JOLEEN: Oh, wonderful. Just in time for nobody to be able to afford the down payment anyway. So what does this mean? Are we about to see another feeding frenzy of cash offers and waived inspections? Is the Thunderdome of house hunting making a comeback?
MARK: The experts say it signals a 'healthier housing market.' Lower rates improve affordability and bring buyers back. But this is Boise. We don't do 'healthy.' We do extreme. My fear is this just pours gasoline on the fire. All those people who were waiting on the sidelines are going to jump back in, competing for the already low inventory.
JOLEEN: Exactly. A slightly lower interest rate doesn't change the fact that home prices are still astronomical. To prove the point, there's a new pair of high-rise towers called 'The Bannock' opening downtown this summer. They're selling condos, not renting apartments.
MARK: And what are those condos going for, Joleen? A 760-square-foot one-bedroom starts at five hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars. On a lower floor. The three-bedroom units are north of one-point-four million dollars.
JOLEEN: A million and a half bucks to live in a box in the sky in Boise, Idaho. And they say the American dream is dead. For that price, I'd expect a private elevator and a lifetime supply of those fancy soaps. You're not just buying a condo; you're buying the right to tell people you live in the second-tallest residential tower in the state.
MARK: For now. I'm sure a taller one is already being planned. So, the market is a paradox. The cost of borrowing money just got a little cheaper, but the cost of the actual houses remains batshit insane. It's like finding a coupon for twenty-five cents off a Fabergé egg.
JOLEEN: Good luck to all you aspiring homeowners out there. You're gonna need it. Now, let's talk about something equally stressful: Boise State sports.
MARK: The men's basketball team continues its mission to be as confusing as possible. They lost at home to Utah State on Saturday, which was a tough one to watch. But they don't have time to sulk, because they are playing tonight, Tuesday the 13th, on the road against UNLV.
JOLEEN: Playing in Vegas on a Tuesday night. What could go wrong? It's always a weird game there. The crowd is half tourists who got lost on their way to a buffet. Then they're back home this Friday, the 16th, to take on Colorado State.
MARK: It's a critical week for them in the Mountain West standings. They need to bounce back from that loss. I'm not optimistic, but I'm ready to be hurt again. It's the life of a Broncos fan. How are our beloved Idaho Steelheads doing?
JOLEEN: The Steelies had a weird series against the... let me check my notes... the Greensboro Gargoyles. Yes, the Gargoyles. They won the first game, then lost 5-to-3 on Friday night. A classic split that helps nobody.
MARK: The Gargoyles? Are we sure that's a real team? It sounds like something out of a Harry Potter novel. Losing to a team named after a decorative rock feature has to be demoralizing.
JOLEEN: Apparently so. But they don't get a homestand to recover. Their next three games are a road trip to Florida to play the Orlando Solar Bears. That's a hell of a trip. From Boise in January to Orlando. The humidity alone is going to be a shock to their systems.
MARK: So we've got the Broncos trying to survive Vegas and the Steelheads trying to survive Florida. Good luck, boys. Try not to get a sunburn. And with that, let's look ahead to the weekend here in Boise for those of us not traveling to a den of sin.
JOLEEN: It's a diverse weekend for entertainment, that's for sure. On Friday, January 16th, you have a choice. At one venue, you can see comedian Alfred Robles. I've never heard of him, but I'm sure he's fine.
MARK: Or, if stand-up isn't your thing, you can go to the Knitting Factory to see the Fooz Fighters. That's F-O-O-Z. They're a Foo Fighters tribute band. Because why listen to the actual, legendary rock band on Spotify when you can pay to see four guys who look vaguely like them play their songs?
JOLEEN: The tribute band economy is fascinating. It's for people who want the concert experience without the hassle of seeing the actual artist they like. On Saturday the 17th, the Knitting Factory is hosting something called 'SOS: The Recession Pop Party.'
MARK: A recession pop party. What does that even entail? Do they just play Lady Gaga and Kesha songs from 2009 while everyone nervously checks their bank account on their phone? Is the theme ' crippling student loan debt'?
JOLEEN: I think it's just a clever name for a 2000s and 2010s dance night. It's for millennials who want to relive their glory days of cheap vodka and questionable fashion choices. So, your options are a comedian, a fake band, or a nostalgia-fueled dance party. Choose your adventure, Boise.
MARK: I think I'll choose my couch. And that about does it for another episode of 'Happening in Boise.' We've endured the politics, tasted the tacos, and judged the weekend. Thanks for tuning in.
JOLEEN: Don't forget to like, subscribe, and send us your angry emails at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com. We thrive on your validation and your rage. Stay cynical, Boise.