MARK: Welcome to 'Happening in Pocatello', the only podcast that understands why you're still sitting at the rail crossing on Center Street wondering if your life has any actual meaning. I'm Mark, and as usual, I'm joined by Joleen, who's somehow more awake than I am despite the lack of sunshine.

JOLEEN: Oh, I'm absolutely vibrating with cynical energy today, Mark. It's Monday, February 23rd, 2026, and I've already seen three people try to make a left turn where they clearly shouldn't. If you want to yell at us about our takes or tell us why your neighborhood is actually the best, hit us up at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment telling us how much you love or hate the sound of our voices.

MARK: Yeah, please do, it's the only way we know we're not just screaming into the Idaho wind. Anyway, let's start with the big shit hitting the fan. LA Semiconductor is basically the topic of every conversation at the gas station right now. There's this massive cloud of uncertainty hanging over the Buckskin Road plant because they issued a WARN notice saying up to three hundred and fifty people might lose their jobs by April.

JOLEEN: It's such a clusterfuck. Mayor Mark Dahlquist is out here doing the classic politician dance, saying he's 'cautiously optimistic' that a buyer will swoop in and save the day. I love that phrase, 'cautiously optimistic'. It's basically code for 'I'm terrified but I can't say that on the news because I need people to keep paying their property taxes'.

MARK: He's trying his best, I guess. He mentions there are prospective buyers still at the table, but that WARN notice is a legal requirement. It's like your partner telling you they're 'looking at other options' but you shouldn't worry because they haven't packed their bags yet. If that plant closes, that's three hundred and fifty families wondering how they're going to afford groceries at WinCo.

JOLEEN: The whole thing feels like a bad reboot of a movie we've seen before. First it was Onsemi, now it's this. We're supposed to be this growing tech hub, but it's hard to feel like a hub when one of your biggest employers is essentially on life support. I'm sure the employees are thrilled to be the 'precautionary measure' in this corporate chess game. It's just exhausting to watch.

MARK: Moving on to things that are even more depressing than corporate layoffs, let's talk about our local crime scene. We had a guy, Alexander Stradwick, who apparently thought he was in 'Grand Theft Auto'. This thirty-three-year-old genius was arrested at the Fred Meyer gas pumps on Yellowstone Avenue last Thursday. He wasn't just there for a snack; he was sitting in a 2017 Audi Q5 that he'd allegedly bought using someone else's identity.

JOLEEN: The balls on this guy are honestly impressive, in a completely idiotic way. Imagine stealing a man's entire life just to drive a used Audi to a grocery store gas station. He had an outstanding warrant from California too. Like, if you're going to commit high-level identity theft and grand theft, maybe don't hang out at the most public gas station in town where every cop in the city gets their coffee.

MARK: It gets better, or worse, depending on your perspective. They found fentanyl on him too. So he's facing two counts of grand theft, criminal possession of a bank card, and drug charges. It's the Pocatello bingo card of bad decisions. The police report says they caught him because of that California warrant, and then they realized the Audi didn't belong to him. Who could've seen that coming?

JOLEEN: It's just so Pocatello. We don't have high-speed chases with helicopters; we have guys getting caught because they're lingering at the Fred Meyer pumps with a stolen car and a pocket full of bad choices. I hope the guy whose identity he stole gets his credit score back eventually. That shit is a nightmare to fix.

MARK: Let's shift gears to something that'll make you want to throw your phone into the Portneuf. The city just launched a new mobile app for service requests. It's supposed to make it easier to report potholes, broken streetlights, and probably neighbors who don't mow their lawns. Because what we really needed was a more efficient way to tell the city about all the shit they already know is broken.

JOLEEN: I can't wait to download it just to send thirty photos of the Center Street Underpass every morning. 'Hey, the hole's still there! Just checking in!' The city says it's about accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is great, but let's be real. It's going to be a graveyard of ignored requests and passive-aggressive comments about snow removal.

MARK: Speaking of that underpass, they're actually making progress. They're installing pile shoring and pouring concrete for the footings. They even have to move the giant crane to the east side of the site this week. I'm sure that'll be a fun traffic nightmare for anyone trying to navigate around the construction zone. At least the north pedestrian tunnel is still open for those of us who still believe in walking.

JOLEEN: Walking in this weather? You're a braver man than I am, Mark. The underpass is like our version of the Winchester Mystery House; it's never actually finished, it just keeps changing shape. Every time I drive near it, I feel like I'm watching a slow-motion documentary about the futility of human ambition. But hey, they're pouring concrete, so that's something.

MARK: We've got to talk about the schools too. The state legislature is still playing games with public education funding. There's all this talk about 'public dollars' and 'maintaining schools', but it usually ends up with local districts like SD25 having to figure out how to do more with less. It's the same old song and dance every session.

JOLEEN: It's infuriating. They talk about 'guardrails' and 'efficiency' while the teachers are buying their own pencils and the buildings are literally crumbling. We just closed Washington Elementary recently, and you know that won't be the last one if the funding doesn't catch up to reality. It's like trying to run a marathon while someone's actively tying your shoelaces together.

MARK: At least we have sports to distract us from the systemic failure of our institutions. The Bengals actually did something worth talking about on Saturday. Gus Etchison went absolutely nuclear and scored thirty-six points to lead Idaho State to a ninety-one to seventy-six win over Montana State. It's been a rough season, so seeing them drop ninety-one points on the Bobcats was a nice change of pace.

JOLEEN: Thirty-six points is insane. That kid was playing like his life depended on it. Maybe he should run for mayor, he clearly knows how to get things done under pressure. The Bengals are twelve and seventeen now, which isn't exactly elite, but a win over Montana State always feels like a championship in this town. It's the small victories that keep us from total despair.

MARK: And they've got Weber State coming up at the end of the month. If they can carry that momentum, maybe they won't finish the season in the basement. It's nice to see Reed Gym actually have something to cheer about for once. I might even go to a game if I can find a reason to leave my house in this freezing bullshit weather.

JOLEEN: Speaking of reasons to leave the house, let's talk about food. We finally made it over to The Yellowstone Restaurant in the historic downtown area. I've got to say, it's one of the few places in town where I don't feel like I'm eating in a cafeteria. It's in that old Hotel Yellowstone building, which is apparently haunted, though the only thing that haunted me was the bill.

MARK: It is a bit pricey, but the food is actually legitimate. I had the Sho-Ban Bison Meatloaf, and I'm not even a meatloaf guy. It had this glaze that was actually impressive. It's funny that we have a 'fine dining' spot where you can still wear your best flannel and fit right in. That's the Pocatello charm, I guess. You can get a high-end steak and then walk out and see a tumbleweed.

JOLEEN: I tried the seafood stuffed pork chop. It was basically a heart attack on a plate, but in a good way. The atmosphere is great, and they have that 313 Whiskey Bar right there. It's the kind of place that makes you forget you're in a city that's best known for a giant potato on a truck. It feels like real city life for about forty-five minutes until you step back outside.

MARK: The service was solid too. Our server didn't seem like they wanted to die, which is more than I can say for most service industry workers in 2026. If you've got a date night or you just want to feel fancy while the world burns, The Yellowstone is probably your best bet. Just don't blame me if the ghosts steal your dessert.

JOLEEN: Let's check in on the real estate market, because apparently, people are still trying to buy houses here. The City Council just approved a couple of new plats, Elevation 5000 and Greenfield Meadows. It's mostly small lots and high-density stuff, which tells you everything you need to know about what people can actually afford right now. Nobody's buying the five-acre dream anymore.

MARK: It's all about that 'walkable community' buzzword that developers love. They want to cram as many people as possible into these developments because the infrastructure costs are cheaper. I'm sure it'll be lovely to live three feet away from your neighbor's kitchen window. But hey, if you want a new build in Pocatello, those are your options.

JOLEEN: The market is just weird. Prices are still high despite the fact that our local economy is basically three hospitals and a university held together by duct tape and hope. If LA Semiconductor actually closes, I'm curious to see what happens to all these new developments. We might end up with a lot of half-finished neighborhoods and very sad realtors.

MARK: If you're looking for something to do this week that doesn't involve staring at Zillow in despair, there's actually some decent stuff happening. Tomorrow, February 24th, the ISU Civic Band and Wind Ensemble are performing at the Jensen Grand Concert Hall. It's at five p.m., so you can go get some culture and still be home in time to watch whatever depressing news is on TV.

JOLEEN: And on Wednesday, they've got 'One Night in Memphis' at the Stephens Performing Arts Center. It's a tribute to Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. If you're into that whole Sun Records vibe, it'll probably be a good show. It's better than sitting at home wondering why your heater is making that weird clicking noise.

MARK: Don't forget the D.A.R.E. fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse on Thursday. You can go eat rolls and pretend that the D.A.R.E. program actually worked on us. Then on Friday, there's a Bob Ross paint night at Craftology. You can go paint some 'happy little trees' while you ignore the unhappy little reality of your bank account. It's a solid lineup for a random week in February.

JOLEEN: It really is. Now, for the part of the show where I tell you exactly why you should stay inside. The weather forecast is a classic Idaho 'fuck you' to anyone who likes consistency. Today is overcast with a high of fifty-three, which is actually pleasant for February. But don't get used to it, because tomorrow the rain showers move in and the temperature drops to forty-five.

MARK: Wednesday looks even worse. High of forty-eight with sprinkles and wind gusts that'll probably blow your trash cans into the next county. Thursday and Friday look slightly better with some sun and highs in the low fifties, but it's going to be cold at night, dropping down into the thirties. It's that transition period where the ground is just a muddy soup of regret.

JOLEEN: And the weekend isn't much better. Saturday is overcast and fifty, and Sunday brings more showers. It's basically a week of gray skies and damp socks. If you're planning on doing anything outdoors, I'd suggest bringing a raincoat and a very pessimistic attitude. It's the only way to survive a Pocatello spring without losing your mind.

MARK: Well, that's about all the misery we can fit into one episode. Thanks for hanging out with us on 'Happening in Pocatello'. If you've got a story we missed or you want to complain about the new city app, email us at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com. Seriously, like and subscribe, it helps us keep the lights on and the sarcasm flowing.

JOLEEN: Yeah, leave a comment, tell your friends, or just shout our names into the abyss. We'll be back next week with more news, more cynical takes, and probably more construction updates. Until then, try not to get your identity stolen at a gas station. Stay safe out there, Pocatello.