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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 keeps you updated on the City of Trees, mostly so you know which roads to avoid and which new brewery is about to become your entire personality. I'm Mark.
JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen. It's Wednesday, December 17th, 2025. Another week closer to the sweet, sweet release of the holiday break, where we can all collectively agree to stop trying so hard. Or, for some of us, stop trying at all.
MARK: Speaking of not trying, let's kick things off with our top headlines. It seems the Boise School District is back in the news, and shocker, it involves shelling out more money. They've offered a new settlement of nearly 300,000 dollars to two parents from Valley View Elementary.
JOLEEN: Ah yes, another tidy sum from the 'unfortunate incidents' fund. The court documents are cagey, of course. They don't explicitly name the former employee Gavin Snow, but they do mention the 'conduct' happened during the school year he worked there before he, you know, checked out permanently while police were knocking.
MARK: It’s part of the seven million dollars in total settlements the district announced last month related to sexual abuse cases. It’s a real masterclass in crisis management: write a big check and hope everyone forgets. A 'strengthening safety, accountability, and transparency' tour, if you will. The district refuses to say if this specific offer is tied to Snow, which is totally not suspicious at all.
JOLEEN: Of course not. Transparency is just a buzzword they put on newsletters. What's 300 grand between friends and a traumatized child? Meanwhile, over in the West Ada School District, another employee is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
MARK: This one is a real winner. A now-former employee, Michael Chatterton, was arrested and charged with sexual battery and second-degree stalking. Apparently, his idea of a friendly breakup involves entering his ex-girlfriend's house in the middle of the night without permission and grabbing her. Real Prince Charming shit.
JOLEEN: Garden City police picked him up on November 27th after the woman, who woke up to him hovering over her bed, called them. The district, in its infinite wisdom, put him on administrative leave and now confirms he is 'no longer with the district.' They won't say what his job was, but a handbook from Rebound School of Opportunity listed him as a health and PE teacher.
MARK: A health teacher charged with sexual battery. You can't make this up. It's like a fox teaching hen-house security. The district assures us all employees undergo background checks, which are then 'reviewed on an individual case by case basis.' Clearly, the review process is flawless.
JOLEEN: It's just so reassuring. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy about the state of our local education system. On a slightly less depressing note, the Boise School District is also celebrating some good news. They're giving all high school students and staff free digital access to the Idaho Statesman.
MARK: Oh, fantastic. Now kids can read about all the school district's legal settlements in real-time. What a wonderful tool for building 'media literacy and civic awareness'. It’s like, 'See kids? This is what happens when systemic failures go unchecked for years. Now write a five-paragraph essay about it.'
JOLEEN: Cynical, but accurate. The partnership is with McClatchy Media, and the Boise Schools Foundation is footing the bill. It's a noble effort, I guess. Let's just hope the kids use it to become informed citizens and not just to check the sports scores. Speaking of which, let's move on before my optimism completely evaporates.
MARK: Alright, let's talk sports. With the Broncos' bowl game situation pretty much settled, the real action is happening off the field. Coach Spencer Danielson and the team just locked down what's being called the highest-rated recruiting class in program history for 2026.
JOLEEN: Highest rated? Are we sure? After the season we had, I’m surprised anyone wants to sign up for this emotional rollercoaster. But hey, good for them. Who are these brave young souls?
MARK: They signed 29 new players in the early signing period, including a four-star receiver from Georgia and a four-star offensive tackle from Nevada. The class is ranked 51st nationally right now, which is apparently a huge deal for us. Danielson says they're a 'developmental program' focused on high school talent, not just grabbing whoever is available in the transfer portal.
JOLEEN: A 'developmental program.' Is that what we're calling it now? Sounds like code for 'we can't afford the five-star guys.' But they did manage to flip a few recruits, right? I heard they stole a quarterback who was headed to the Big Ten.
MARK: They did. Cash Herrera, a three-star quarterback from California, decommitted from Indiana to sign with the Broncos. Apparently, the allure of blue turf is stronger than Big Ten money for some. They also snagged another three-star QB and a safety who flipped from UCLA. It's a nice little collection of talent that should, theoretically, keep the team competitive as they gear up for that eventual move to the Pac-12.
JOLEEN: The mythical Pac-12 move. I'll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, there's a sport that's actually being played right now that deserves some attention. Let's talk about the Idaho Steelheads. They're not just a placeholder between football seasons, you know.
MARK: You're right, they're not. And they have a string of home games coming up that should be a damn good time. Tonight, Wednesday the 17th, they're taking on the Rapid City Rush at Idaho Central Arena. Then they do it all over again against the same team on Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th.
JOLEEN: Three home games in one week against the same opponent? That sounds like a recipe for some serious hockey hatred. By Saturday night, those teams are going to be sick of each other. Fights are practically guaranteed. It's the perfect holiday stress reliever.
MARK: Exactly. Forget your family drama, go watch a bunch of dudes on ice skates try to punch each other. The Steelheads just came off a win against the Wichita Thunder, closing out that series 3-2. So they've got some momentum. Plus, you can drink beer and yell. It's the perfect night out.
JOLEEN: Couldn't agree more. So if you're looking for something to do, check out the Steelheads. It's fast, it's violent, and it's way more entertaining than pretending to care about your cousin's startup idea at a holiday party. Now, let's talk about something equally aggressive: Boise drivers.
MARK: Ah, the Road Construction Roundup, where we lament the eternal war between the Ada County Highway District and common sense. The big news this week doesn't involve a new soul-crushing closure, but a fee increase. Because of course it does. ACHD voted 4-to-1 to approve their new Capital Improvement Plan, which comes with higher impact fees.
JOLEEN: Hooray. How much more are they going to bleed from us? It feels like every road is perpetually under construction and for what? So they can tear it up again in six months?
MARK: Well, the idea is to make 'growth pay for growth'. A single-family home will now come with a one-time fee of about 5,800 dollars, which is up two grand from before. These fees are supposed to fund major projects like widening roads and replacing bridges, not for things like bike lanes or fixing existing problems. Those are still funded by our good old property taxes.
JOLEEN: So the new people pay to widen the roads for all the other new people, and the rest of us just pay to patch the potholes they all drive over. Got it. What a beautifully functioning system. Are there any specific projects we should be aware of, or just a general sense of impending doom?
MARK: There's one to keep an eye on for the future. ACHD is moving forward with a plan to completely redo the Eckert Road Bridge in southeast Boise. You know, the one they had to shut down earlier this year because it was basically turning to dust. They're on an 'accelerated schedule,' with construction starting in fall 2026.
JOLEEN: Accelerated schedule? For a government project? That means it might actually get done by 2030. What are they planning?
MARK: The plans are pretty ambitious. They're talking about a tunnel under the bridge for the Greenbelt, a new single-lane roundabout at Boise Avenue and Eckert, and updating the driveway into Barber Park. They've opened a public survey so people can vote on the design, which is a nice way of letting us feel like we have a say before they do whatever they were planning to do anyway.
JOLEEN: So for the next two years, we just have to hope the old bridge doesn't collapse into the river. Fantastic. I feel safer already. Let's move on to something that's supposed to be an investment but feels more like a gamble: real estate.
MARK: Right. The Boise real estate market continues its journey of absolute bewilderment. The latest data from November shows that the median sale price was around 498,000 dollars, which is actually down about one percent from last year. Don't get too excited, though. It's still 15 percent higher than the national average.
JOLEEN: Down one percent? That's it? After all the hype about a market crash, we get a discount that wouldn't even cover the closing costs. What a letdown. Are houses at least sitting on the market longer? Can buyers pretend they have some negotiating power?
MARK: A little bit. Homes are selling after about 41 days on average, compared to 32 days last year. So you have an extra week to panic and second-guess your life choices before making a wildly overpriced offer. And sellers are feeling it, with over a third of listings having price drops. The market is officially rated as 'somewhat competitive.'
JOLEEN: Only 'somewhat'? That's Boise's version of a buyer's market. It means you might only have to compete with two other all-cash offers from California instead of ten. But overall, prices are still stubbornly high. One report shows the average sold price in Ada County is up 2.4 percent year-to-date.
MARK: It’s the classic Boise shuffle. Prices dip slightly for a month, everyone yells 'the bubble is bursting,' and then they creep right back up. There's still only about a two-month supply of homes on the market, which heavily favors sellers. So no, you probably can't lowball that 1,200-square-foot shack listed for 600 grand.
JOLEEN: A girl can dream, can't she? A dream of a sub-seven-percent mortgage and a backyard that isn't just a patch of gravel. Well, since we can't afford to buy a house, maybe we can at least afford to eat in one. What's the word on the street, restaurant-wise?
MARK: I'm glad you asked. We have to talk about Terroir Bistro. It's not brand new, but it's hit its stride and people are absolutely raving about it. It’s in the old Little Pearl Oyster Bar spot on 8th Street, and it’s the brick-and-mortar version of the popular food trailer you’ve probably seen around.
JOLEEN: Oh, the food truck guys! They finally got a permanent home. I've heard good things. One of the chefs, Nathan Whitley, was a James Beard semifinalist a while back, right? So it's not just some fly-by-night operation. This is legit.
MARK: Totally legit. The reviews are glowing, calling it the 'best new restaurant in Boise — hands down.' The menu is small and focused, very French-inspired, with a big emphasis on local sourcing. Things like Steak Tartare, Hand Cut Pasta with mushrooms and ricotta, and Wild Cut Sablefish with Idaho caviar.
JOLEEN: That sounds expensive. And delicious. So, basically my favorite combination. What's the vibe inside? Is it stuffy and pretentious, or can a normal person go in without feeling like a complete asshole?
MARK: From what I've heard, it's got a great ambiance without being overly formal. It's got that modern bistro feel. It's a place you'd go for a nice date night or when you want to feel a little bit fancy but still be comfortable. The entrees run from the mid-20s to about 45 bucks, so it's a special occasion spot for sure, but by all accounts, worth every penny.
JOLEEN: Alright, I'm sold. I'll add it to my list of places to try when I'm feeling financially irresponsible. Now, what if people want to get out of the house this weekend but don't want to drop 50 dollars on a piece of fish, no matter how delicious it is?
MARK: Well, for the more budget-conscious among us, this weekend is your last chance to hit the Boise Farmers Market's Winter Market before the holiday. It's happening this Saturday, December 20th, from 9 AM to 1 PM over on Robbins Road. You can stock up on local goodies for your Christmas feast or find some last-minute, locally-made gifts.
JOLEEN: That's a good call. Nothing says 'I care, but not enough to go to the mall' like a jar of artisanal jam. What else is going on Saturday?
MARK: If you're feeling a bit more... wellness-oriented, there's the 'GLOW winter wellness market' on West Main Street from 10 AM to 4 PM. It's described as a women's wellness event with massages, skin care, oracle readings, and even tattoos. You can get your chakras aligned and then immediately get a tattoo of a taco. A perfect day.
JOLEEN: Oracle readings and tattoos. That sounds dangerously close to making a life-altering decision based on a tarot card. I love it. What about something for the people who prefer their weekend activities to be a little more... traditional?
MARK: For the traditionalists, Ballet Idaho is continuing its run of 'The Nutcracker' at the Morrison Center all the way through the 23rd. Or, if you're out in Nampa, Boise Ballet is doing their version at the Nampa Civic Center on Friday the 19th. It's the quintessential holiday experience, full of sugar plums and repressed family tension.
JOLEEN: And for those who want to celebrate the darkest day of the year, because of course we do, there are a bunch of Winter Solstice events on Saturday. You can do a Yoga Sound Bath at Hollywood Market Yoga, or a 'sacred ceremony' at Crones Cupboard. It's a great opportunity to lean into the seasonal depression with a group of like-minded strangers.
MARK: So many options! Whether you want to buy a turnip, get a tattoo, or watch a man in tights lift a woman in a tutu, Boise has you covered this weekend. Now, let’s talk about the weather that you'll be enjoying all these activities in.
JOLEEN: Ah, the moment of truth. What fresh hell does the forecast have for us this week, Mark?
MARK: Prepare yourself for profound mediocrity. Looking at the forecast from tonight, Wednesday, through next Tuesday, it's going to be aggressively... December. We're talking highs consistently in the mid-to-upper 30s. Think 36, 37 degrees. Just warm enough to melt any snow into a disgusting brown slush.
JOLEEN: And the lows? Are we getting those character-building single-digit temperatures?
MARK: Not quite. Overnight lows will be bottoming out in the low-to-mid 20s. So, it's cold enough to freeze your pipes but not cold enough to give you a good story about it. The skies will be a thrilling mix of partly cloudy and mostly cloudy, with maybe a chance of rain or snow showers sprinkled in, particularly this weekend. No major storms, just gray.
JOLEEN: So, standard issue Treasure Valley winter. Gray, damp, and depressing. Just how I like it. It really sets the mood for holiday cheer, doesn't it? A perfect backdrop for arguing with your relatives over politics and a dry turkey.
MARK: Couldn't have said it better myself. It's the kind of weather that makes you want to stay inside and drink heavily, which I suppose is the entire point of the holiday season. So, dress in layers, assume the ground is always slightly damp, and manage your expectations.
JOLEEN: That's a wrap for this week's 'Happening in Boise.' We've given you just enough information to sound informed at your holiday parties and just enough cynicism to get through them. Remember to like, subscribe, and comment with your own tales of Boise woe or wonder.
MARK: And if you've got a hot tip, a complaint, or just want to tell us we're a couple of dickheads, shoot us an email at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com. We probably won't read it, but it'll make you feel better. Stay safe out there, Boise. And for fuck's sake, use your turn signal.