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Welcome to Happening in Boise, your essential guide to navigating the news and events of the Treasure Valley. This week, we're bracing for the New Year by breaking down the upcoming Idaho Power rate h...
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 brave enough to tell you which holiday lights are tacky and which ones are, well, still tacky but in a fun way. I'm Mark.
JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen. It's Tuesday, December 23rd, just two days before the main event. Mark, are you filled with the Christmas spirit, or just spirits in general?
MARK: Mostly bourbon. It helps me cope with the relentless cheerfulness. My neighbor's inflatable Santa is brighter than my future and it plays a demonic version of 'Jingle Bells' 24/7. I'm this close to committing a felony against festive lawn ornaments.
JOLEEN: Oh, please. You love it. You're just a Grinch in a much more expensive jacket. I, for one, am embracing the chaos. I’ve already accepted that my diet for the next week will consist of 80% cheese and 20% regret.
MARK: A noble pursuit. Before we get into the delightful mess that is Boise news, a quick reminder to our listeners. If you love our cynical bullshit, please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It feeds our egos, which in turn powers the show.
JOLEEN: And if you have a hot tip, a complaint about your neighbor's Santa, or just want to tell Mark he's a dickhead, you can email us at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com. We read every single one, mostly for our own amusement.
MARK: It's true. Now, let’s see what fresh hell this week has brought upon our fair city. On top of the holiday stress, Idaho Power is coming for your wallets. Again.
JOLEEN: What a festive headline! Just in time for Christmas, Idaho Power is reminding us that the gift of electricity is not, in fact, free. They've been in proceedings for a rate case filed way back in May.
MARK: Right, they originally requested a staggering $199 million increase, something like 13 percent. But after what I can only imagine was a lot of back-and-forth, a settlement agreement was filed that cuts that number down a bit.
JOLEEN: Just a bit. The new proposed increase is around $110 million, or about a 7.5% hike for Idaho customers, set to take effect January 1st. So for the average residential customer, that's about an extra $12 a month. Happy New Year, you're broke!
MARK: Twelve bucks might not sound like a lot, but it adds up. That's one less artisanal coffee or, you know, a dozen fewer avocados. Why the hell do they need so much money anyway? Are they gold-plating the power lines?
JOLEEN: They claim it's for capital investments to meet growing demand, grid upgrades, and wildfire prevention. You know, all that boring stuff that keeps your lights on so you can see how much dust has accumulated on your shelves.
MARK: I guess that's fair. I do enjoy having a non-combustible house. Still, it feels like they pick the most wonderful time of the year to remind us that everything is expensive and life is a relentless series of bills. Merry fucking Christmas.
JOLEEN: Let's move on to some seasonal idiocy. What's happening in the world of crime, besides the slow-motion robbery by our local utility company?
MARK: Well, thankfully the criminals of Boise seem to be taking a bit of a holiday break, as there's a stunning lack of headline-grabbing stupidity this week. No major busts, no bizarre standoffs. It's almost disappointing.
JOLEEN: Maybe they're all busy with last-minute shopping and wrapping presents. Or maybe they’ve just gotten better at not getting caught. It’s a Christmas miracle!
MARK: I'm sure they're just resting up for a big New Year's Eve of bad decisions. We can't have a total absence of crime news, though. So let's pivot to a discussion about something that should be a crime: holiday traffic.
JOLEEN: Oh, god. The Boise Towne Square Mall parking lot. It's a war zone. I saw a minivan and a Subaru play a game of chicken over a spot that was clearly meant for a compact car. No one won, but society definitely lost.
MARK: It’s the Thunderdome with more desperation. People lose all sense of decency and spatial awareness. And the sheer volume of cars driven by people who clearly haven't been on a major road since last Christmas is staggering. Use your goddamn turn signal, Brenda!
JOLEEN: It's a complete breakdown of civilization. My advice? Stay home. Order everything online. Drink heavily. It’s the only way to survive. And for god’s sake, people, if you're going to Eagle Road, just abandon all hope.
MARK: Sound advice. Let's see if the schools are any less chaotic. What's new in the world of education, besides the sweet, sweet silence of winter break?
JOLEEN: Well, with the kids safely at home annoying their own parents for a change, the districts have been relatively quiet. West Ada, for instance, seems to be focused on its proposed new school boundaries, which is a thrilling topic for another time. The board meetings seem to be winding down for the year.
MARK: Good. They deserve a break from arguing about… whatever it is they argue about. The Boise School District, however, did take a moment to celebrate some of its own before the break.
JOLEEN: Oh, let me guess. Someone won a spelling bee or managed to not burn down the home-ec classroom?
MARK: Even better. At their board meeting on December 8th, they honored student artists for the annual Winter Card Art Contest. The grand prize winner was a fourth-grader from White Pine Elementary. They also gave out a 'Golden Apple Award' to a classified staff member from Washington Elementary for his commitment.
JOLEEN: That's actually kind of sweet. See? I’m not a total monster. It’s nice to hear about something positive that doesn't involve a lawsuit or a budget cut. Good for them.
MARK: The district also highlighted a recent 'Hour of AI' event at Whitney Elementary, where students learned about artificial intelligence. So we're officially training our future robot overlords. That's comforting.
JOLEEN: Excellent. I for one welcome our new AI overlords, as long as they can figure out how to solve the traffic on the Connector. That seems like a task worthy of a superintelligence.
MARK: Speaking of things that require superhuman patience, let's talk about food. I’m starving. Since all the trendy new steakhouses and taco joints are old news, we had to dig a little deeper this week.
JOLEEN: We did. And we came up with a place that sounds...intriguing. Mark, tell the people about Kabob House.
MARK: Gladly. Located on South Emerald, Kabob House is apparently one of those spots that locals call a 'hidden gem'. It's not flashy, it's not downtown, and it's not trying to be the next big thing. It’s just, you know, making kabobs.
JOLEEN: Which is a noble calling. The reviews suggest the owners are incredibly polite, which is a refreshing change from the usual Boise-service-industry-level of thinly veiled contempt. What kind of stuff are they serving besides the obvious?
MARK: They have a huge selection of kabobs, naturally, but people also rave about their curry. It seems like the kind of place that focuses on doing a few things really, really well, which I appreciate. No sixteen-page menus with dishes from five different continents.
JOLEEN: Thank god. I don't need my curry coming from the same kitchen as a cheeseburger and a sad-looking pizza. So, it's a no-frills, straight-up delicious kind of spot. I'm into it. It sounds like the perfect antidote to all the fussy, overpriced holiday meals.
MARK: Exactly. Just solid, flavorful food without the pretense. If you're tired of turkey and ham, maybe go get a lamb kabob. Live a little. Break free from the shackles of traditional holiday cuisine.
JOLEEN: I might just do that. Now, let’s turn our attention to the world of local sports, where the highs are high and the lows are… well, also very high in alcohol content for the fans.
MARK: It was a rough end to the season for Boise State football. After winning the Mountain West, they went to the prestigious 'Bucked Up LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk'—and yes, that's its real name—and got absolutely destroyed by Washington.
JOLEEN: The final score was 38-10. Our Broncos threw a whopping five interceptions. Five! You can't win a game of Madden with five interceptions, let alone a real bowl game. What the hell happened?
MARK: Just a complete meltdown, it seems. Turnovers plagued them the entire game, and Washington capitalized. A sad trombone noise for the end of an otherwise exciting season. But hey, at least Colton Boomer kicked a 52-yard field goal, the longest in a bowl game since we joined the FBS. So, you know, small victories.
JOLEEN: A participation trophy, how lovely. Meanwhile, on the basketball court, the men's team is also giving us a case of whiplash. They lost their Mountain West opener to Nevada on Saturday, 81-66. Not a great start.
MARK: Coach Leon Rice said Nevada 'took the fight to us' and were the tougher team, which is coach-speak for 'we played like shit'. The loss puts the Broncos at 8-4 on the season and on the bubble for the NCAA tournament, currently listed in the 'First Four Out'.
JOLEEN: Let's check in on the Idaho Steelheads. Last we talked, they were in a home series. Did they fare any better?
MARK: They did! After we recorded last week, they finished their series against the Rapid City Rush. While they lost on Friday the 19th, they came back on Saturday the 20th and absolutely annihilated them 7-to-1. A player named Francesco Arcuri even got a hat trick.
JOLEEN: A hat trick and a 7-1 victory? Now that's the kind of sports news I can get behind. Good for them for not completely shitting the bed. They’re on the road this weekend in Utah. Let’s hope they pack that momentum with them.
MARK: Alright, it's that time of the week. Let's guide the good people of Boise on how to spend their upcoming holiday week and weekend, assuming they haven't already collapsed from exhaustion.
JOLEEN: The main event this week is, of course, New Year's Eve. And Boise has no shortage of overpriced parties where you can get champagne spilled on you by a stranger. The Idaho Potato Drop is happening, as always, featuring the descent of the 'GlowTato' at midnight.
MARK: I'm still not convinced the GlowTato isn't a harbinger of the apocalypse. If you want something a bit more contained, Hotel Renegade is hosting a couple of events. Their Baraboo Supper Club has a fancy prix fixe dinner, and The Highlander rooftop bar is having an exclusive party. Which means it's expensive.
JOLEEN: For those who want to dance away the failures of 2025, there’s also a big New Year's Eve Bar Crawl that gives you access to a bunch of downtown venues. It sounds like a recipe for a spectacular hangover. Sign me up.
MARK: If you're looking for something to do before the debauchery of New Year's, you can still catch some lingering Christmas events. The Boise Trolley Tours are running their holiday lights tours through the 31st, if you want to judge other people's decorating choices from the comfort of a moving vehicle.
JOLEEN: And for some last-minute, panic-induced holiday shopping, there’s a Boise Christmas Indoor Market at the ExtraMile Arena on Saturday, the 27th. It’s a perfect opportunity to buy a gift for that person you completely forgot about.
MARK: Don't forget the lights! The Scentsy Commons lights display in Meridian runs until mid-January, and the Caldwell Winter Wonderland at Indian Creek Plaza is on until mid-February. So you have plenty of time to get your fill of twinkling things.
JOLEEN: Basically, you can stay drunk from Christmas Eve until January 2nd and call it 'festive.' It’s the Boise way.
MARK: Indeed it is. Now, let’s talk about something truly out of our control. Joleen, what fresh hell does the weather have in store for us?
JOLEEN: Well Mark, I hope you enjoyed that brief flirtation with slightly-less-miserable temperatures, because it's over. For today, Tuesday, and Christmas Eve tomorrow, we're looking at cloudy skies with highs struggling to get out of the mid-30s.
MARK: Fantastic. Just the kind of weather that makes you want to stay inside and question all your life choices. What about the big day itself? Are we getting a picturesque white Christmas or just the usual depressing grey?
JOLEEN: Looks like mostly depressing grey. Christmas Day will be cloudy with a high near 36. But wait, there’s a twist! As we head into the weekend, the temperatures are going to drop a bit, with highs in the low 30s and overnight lows dipping into the teens.
MARK: Oh, wonderful. My favorite. I love the feeling of my nose hairs freezing the second I step outside. Any chance of snow to make the bitter cold at least visually appealing?
JOLEEN: There's a slight chance of snow showers peppered throughout the week and into next, but nothing significant in the forecast. So, we get all the cold with none of the pretty, fluffy stuff to cover up the dirt and sadness. Basically, it's peak Boise winter.
MARK: Perfect. Let’s move on to everyone's other favorite topic: watching our city be perpetually torn up and put back together. Any new road construction nightmares to report?
JOLEEN: Shockingly, it's a quiet week on the construction front. It seems even ACHD has the decency to not start a massive new project right before Christmas. The ongoing projects are, well, still ongoing. But there's no new fresh hell to announce.
MARK: That's the best news I've heard all day. A Christmas truce with the army of orange cones. I guess that means we have to talk about something else that's soul-crushing: the housing market.
JOLEEN: Ah yes, Boise's favorite pastime: complaining about real estate. The latest data for Ada County, looking at the numbers through November, paints a picture of a market that’s… simmering.
MARK: Simmering? Is that the technical term? What does that even mean? Are we about to boil over or just slowly cool into a lukewarm sludge?
JOLEEN: It means things are still moving, just not at the frantic pace of a few years ago. Closed sales in November were actually up 10% compared to last year, which is surprising. But inventory is also up slightly year-over-year.
MARK: So more people are selling, and more people are buying. That sounds… balanced. Am I allowed to say that? What about prices? Are they still ascending into the stratosphere?
JOLEEN: Year-to-date, the average sold price in Ada County is up 2.4 percent. It's not the insane leaps we were seeing, but it’s definitely not a crash, despite what your angry uncle on Facebook keeps predicting. The average sold price is hovering around $625,000.
MARK: Only $625,000. What a bargain. I'll take two. What I find fascinating is the gap between what people think their house is worth and what it actually sells for. The average active listing price is over $750,000. That's some serious delusion.
JOLEEN: It's called 'hope,' Mark. Or as real estate agents call it, 'the triers of the world'. But in this market, overpriced homes just sit. The average time on the market is about 37 days, so buyers have a little bit of power to negotiate, especially for things like rate buy-downs.
MARK: So the takeaway is, if you're a seller, don't be a greedy asshole. And if you're a buyer, you might be able to find a deal, but you're still going to need a suitcase full of cash. Another day, another depressing Boise housing reality.
JOLEEN: And on that cheerful note, I think we've squeezed all the newsy juice out of this week. That's all for this episode of 'Happening in Boise.'
MARK: Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment telling us how much you hate the cold. Or send your thoughts to boise@thehappeningnetwork.com. We genuinely want to hear from you.
JOLEEN: Stay safe out there, try not to murder any family members over a game of Monopoly, and have a tolerable holiday. We'll be back next week to dissect the aftermath.