MARK: Welcome to 'Happening in Boise,' the only podcast that treats this city with the exact amount of skeptical reverence it deserves. I'm Mark, and I'm currently recording this from inside a commercial-grade freezer because today is Monday, July 20th, 2026, and the outdoors is officially a health hazard.

JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen, radiating upbeat cynicism and probably a bit of actual heat-stroke. It's a glorious day in the Treasure Valley if you've ever wondered what it's like to be a slow-roasted rotisserie chicken at the Meridian Costco. Honestly, Mark, the air outside doesn't even feel like air anymore. It's more of a thick, smoky soup that you have to chew before you swallow.

MARK: It's charming, really. It gives the Boise skyline that lovely 'post-apocalyptic chic' look we all crave. We've got a lot to get through today, from people crashing cars into houses to the city finally admitting we need more places to park our emotional baggage downtown. If you like what we're doing, or even if you just hate-listen to feel something, do us a favor and like, subscribe, and leave a comment. You can also reach us at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com if you want to tell us we're assholes.

JOLEEN: We already know we're assholes, but the validation is always nice. Let's kick things off with the headlines, because apparently, the mountains decided to try and burn down again. The Bear Run Fire had people in Duquette Pines sweating even more than usual, which is impressive. Luckily, the evacuation orders were lifted over the weekend because the fire crews actually did their jobs and stopped the forward progress. It's nice when things don't completely incinerate, isn't it?

MARK: It's a low bar for success, but I'll take it. Speaking of things that aren't burning, let's talk about the 1010 Jefferson project. The city is finally moving forward with this massive development downtown. We're looking at four hundred and forty-six parking spots, commercial space, and a new YMCA center. Of course, it won't be finished until Fall 2027, so you only have to hold your breath and circle the block for another year or two.

JOLEEN: Oh, goody. More parking. Because nothing says 'vibrant urban center' like a giant concrete box for our SUVs. I'm sure the childcare services at the new YMCA will be great, assuming the kids can survive the walk through the exhaust fumes to get there. It's a brilliant plan, really. Build more parking to attract more cars so we can justify building more parking. It's the circle of life, Boise-style.

MARK: It's the only way we know how to grow, Joleen. If we don't have a parking garage on every corner, how will we know we've made it as a real city? In other news, Zoo Boise is prepping for a very big, very tall doctor's appointment. Jabari, the sixteen-year-old giraffe, is getting a comprehensive health exam. They're actually closing parts of the zoo this month just to handle it. Imagine the size of the stethoscope you need for that guy.

JOLEEN: I'm more worried about the thermometer. Poor Jabari. Being a giraffe in this heat must be a special kind of hell. You're just closer to the sun than everyone else. I hope they're checking his mental health too. Living in a fenced-in park while people stare at you and eat overpriced popcorn has to take a toll. Maybe they can prescribe him some industrial-strength Xanax and a giant fan.

MARK: Don't we all need that? Moving on to the crime reports, and this one is actually pretty grim. Ross Wardlaw, the guy accused of that fatal stabbing on the Greenbelt earlier this week, is being held without bond. Prosecutors say he killed twenty-five-year-old Jordan Harbst while he was just trying to get home. It's a shitty situation that's reignited this massive pissing match between the city and state lawmakers over Greenbelt safety.

JOLEEN: Yeah, Mayor McLean is out here rejecting claims that the city failed to enforce public camping laws. She's basically telling the state to put their money where their mouth is and invest in mental health instead of just pointing fingers. It's the classic Idaho political dance. Someone dies, and instead of fixing the problem, everyone just fights over whose fault it is while the rest of us try not to get stabbed on our morning jog.

MARK: It's efficient, in a dark way. Speaking of chaos on the roads, did you see the guy who led deputies on a chase early Sunday morning? He ended up crashing his car right into a house in the Treasure Valley. No one in the house was hurt, luckily, but the driver is facing a laundry list of charges. I've heard of 'door-to-door' service, but this is taking it a bit too literally.

JOLEEN: The guy probably just saw the housing prices and decided the only way he could afford a home was to drive his car into one. Squatter's rights, right? But seriously, what the fuck is wrong with people? It's Sunday morning. Most people are getting brunch or regretting their life choices at church, and this dickhead is playing real-life Grand Theft Auto through residential neighborhoods.

MARK: The heat is making everyone crazy. Or maybe it's just the baseline level of stupidity in Ada County finally hitting a boiling point. On a lighter note, if you're worried about your own car getting hit, there's a company putting up 'Collision Cams' at intersections across Boise. They're offering free footage to anyone in an accident. It's nice to know that your next fender bender can be immortalized in high definition for the insurance adjusters to ignore.

JOLEEN: Great. More surveillance. Just what we needed. I can't wait for my inevitable public shaming when I accidentally clip a curb while trying to eat a burrito and drive at the same time. At least the footage is free, I guess. It's like a dashcam for people too cheap to buy a dashcam. Which, let's be honest, is most of us.

MARK: Let's pivot to some school and community news. Cassandra Wagner, who runs the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ada County, was just named an AC Boise Community Impact STAR. She's getting recognized at a soccer match for her work with local youth. It's actually a nice story, which feels out of place in this script. We should probably mock it, but honestly, helping kids not turn out like the car-crash guy is actually a decent use of time.

JOLEEN: I'll allow it. But only because it involves soccer, and AC Boise is basically the only thing keeping this city's spirit alive right now. Did you see that win against Portland on Friday night? Two to one. Thomas Amang scored the go-ahead goal in the final minute of extra time. The crowd went absolutely feral. It's the kind of high you can only get from a bunch of people sweating in a stadium together.

MARK: It was a gritty performance. They also pulled off a huge win against Sacramento Republic FC earlier this month. AC Boise is currently unbeaten against some of the biggest names in the USL. It's weird to see a Boise team that isn't the Broncos actually dominating on a national stage. Speaking of the Broncos, we did lose a legend recently. Former head coach Lyle Setencich passed away at eighty-one. He was the guy who led the team during their first game on 'The Blue' back in eighty-six.

JOLEEN: Eighty-six? Shit, that's a lot of blue turf under the bridge. He definitely left a mark on this town. It's funny how we treat that turf like a holy relic now. If you're looking for more violence but without the balls, Front Street Fights 36 just wrapped up downtown on Friday too. MMA in the heart of Boise. Because nothing says 'classy night out' like watching two grown men punch each other's teeth out in a cage.

MARK: It's the local pastime, Joleen. If you're not fighting a fire, a politician, or a guy in a cage, are you even living in Idaho? Now, let's get into the forecast, because it's genuinely terrifying. Today's high is a crisp one hundred and four degrees. We've got an Air Quality Alert and a Heat Advisory. The wind is doing its best at nine miles per hour, but all it's doing is blowing the smoke from the fires directly into our lungs.

JOLEEN: It's lovely. Tonight it drops to seventy, but the heat index is still staying around a hundred for a while. Tuesday and Wednesday are slightly 'cooler' at ninety-nine degrees. I say 'cooler' in the same way that being hit by a smaller bus is 'better.' Then Thursday and Friday it's right back up to a hundred and two. It's a literal hellscape, Mark. If you have a dog, for the love of god, don't walk them on the asphalt unless you want to serve up paws flambe.

MARK: And don't forget the smoke. It's going to be patchy and annoying all week. If you're planning on using the Greenbelt to escape the heat, think again. A section of it is closed right now for a Boise State construction project. They're trying to bring it up to 'modern standards,' which I assume means adding more places for electric bikes to almost kill pedestrians. It's for accessibility, apparently, but right now it's just a giant 'Do Not Enter' sign for your morning commute.

JOLEEN: So we've got a heatwave, smoke, construction closures, and a potential for stabbings. The Greenbelt is really having a year, isn't it? It's basically a gauntlet at this point. If you make it from Lucky Peak to Garden City without an incident, you should get a medal and a free beer. Speaking of beer and things that make life bearable, we should talk about the restaurant scene. I checked out Oldspeak recently. It's that book bar and brewery combo.

MARK: A book bar. Because what people really want when they're drinking a double IPA is to struggle through a chapter of James Joyce. It sounds incredibly pretentious, Joleen. Did you have to wear a turtleneck and glasses with no lenses to get in?

JOLEEN: Shut up, Mark. It's actually kind of nice. They have writing nights and book clubs. It's a place for people who want to feel intellectual while they're getting buzzed. Better than a sports bar where everyone is screaming at a TV. Though, in this heat, I'd take a bar inside a walk-in cooler over anything else. We need more 'hidden gems' that are basically just industrial refrigeration units with a tap handle.

MARK: I'd invest in that. 'The Meat Locker Bar.' It's a million-dollar idea. Let's look at real estate for a second. Construction is officially underway on that second Costco in Meridian. It's over at South Meridian and Lake Hazel roads. It's not opening until late 2026, but the hype is already real. Because clearly, one giant warehouse of bulk toilet paper and five-dollar chickens wasn't enough for the suburban sprawl.

JOLEEN: Meridian is just becoming one giant parking lot connected by Costcos and Dutch Bros. It's the final form of Idaho development. I can't wait for the traffic at that intersection to become a sentient entity that feeds on the souls of commuters. But hey, more jobs, right? And more places to buy a sixty-four-ounce jar of mayonnaise for three dollars. That's the American dream.

MARK: It's the only dream we've got left. Housing costs are still a nightmare, so we might as well live in a Costco shed. Now, if you're looking for things to do this weekend, assuming you don't spontaneously combust the moment you step outside, the San Inazio Festival is coming up soon. It's that massive Basque celebration downtown. Lots of dancing, lots of food, and enough Kalimotxo to make you forget the sun is trying to kill you.

JOLEEN: I love the Basque Block. It's the only part of Boise that feels like it has a soul sometimes. Plus, watching people do traditional sports like lifting heavy rocks really puts my own laziness into perspective. It's a great weekend-long festival, but seriously, stay hydrated. Alcohol and a hundred-degree heat is a recipe for a very public and very embarrassing medical emergency.

MARK: That's just part of the festive atmosphere. We've also got 'Music on the Mountain' coming up on July 25th if you want to head up to Bogus Basin to catch a breeze. It's usually about fifteen degrees cooler up there, which brings it down to a manageable 'only slightly on fire' temperature. It's a good escape if you can handle the drive without your car overheating.

JOLEEN: Or just stay inside and listen to us. It's safer. Before we wrap up, I want to remind everyone that if you're a victim of a crime or just a witness to something stupid, check those new intersection cameras. And maybe don't lead the cops on a chase into a house. It's bad for your insurance premiums and your general reputation as a non-bitch.

MARK: Sound advice. That's our show for this week. We'll be back next Monday to talk about how much more of the city has burned or been turned into a parking garage. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment. Tell us what you think of the new Costco or Jabari's giant stethoscope. We'll return next week, provided the heat hasn't melted our equipment into a puddle of plastic and sadness.

JOLEEN: Stay cool, Boise. Or at least try not to catch on fire. It's a low bar, but I believe in you. Goodbye, you beautiful, sweaty assholes.

MARK: Actually, Joleen, I just realized we didn't talk enough about the Micron expansion. Everyone keeps saying it's the future, but I'm pretty sure it's just a front for building a giant supercomputer that will eventually decide we're all redundant and replace us with AI that actually enjoys a hundred-degree weather.

JOLEEN: If an AI wants to take my job and stand in this heat, it's more than welcome to it. I'll be in a bathtub full of ice cubes waiting for the sweet release of autumn. Is it September yet? No? Great. Just another two months of being a human panini. Catch you next week, if we're still solid matter.