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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 to 'Happening in Boise', it's Monday, March 9th, 2026, and I'm currently staring out the window at a pile of grey slush that looks like a depressed elephant's bathwater. I'm Mark, your resident bucket of cold water, joined by Joleen, who's somehow upbeat despite the fact that our local economy is currently held together by sourdough starter and sheer audacity.
JOLEEN: I'm literally vibrating with caffeinated cynicism today, Mark, but thanks for the intro. It's a gorgeous day if you enjoy forty-degree rain and the smell of wet asphalt. Honestly, if you're listening to this and you haven't liked, subscribed, or commented yet, what the fuck are you even doing with your life? We're here giving you the local tea while the city tries to figure out how to tax our remaining sanity, so show some love or whatever.
MARK: Exactly. If you've got a problem with us, send your hate mail to boise@thehappeningnetwork.com, where it'll be promptly ignored by our intern who's probably too busy crying over their rent. We've got a lot to cover today, including why your favorite candle company is dumping workers like they're last year's 'Pumpkin Spice' inventory and a guy who thought a Meridian office building looked like a great place to park an ambulance. It's going to be a real shitshow, so buckle up, dickheads.
JOLEEN: Let's kick things off with the actual news, because apparently, even the sweet smell of Scentsy can't hide the stench of a restructuring. The company just announced they're cutting about eleven percent of their workforce. I guess the world finally realized that nobody actually needs forty-seven different types of wax melts that make your house smell like a chemical vanilla factory. It's a rough start to 2026 for the Meridian giant, and honestly, it's a bitch of a situation for those families.
MARK: It's hilarious in a dark way because while Scentsy is trimming the fat, the Idaho legislature is busy trying to gut Medicaid expansion. They're calling the plan 'absolutely ferocious,' which sounds like something a middle schooler would name their garage band, but it's actually just a way to make sure fewer people have healthcare. It's that classic Idaho charm where we value the freedom to go bankrupt from a broken leg over, you know, basic human survival. They're basically saying, 'Hey, we know the cost of living is killing you, so let's make sure the actual dying part is faster.'
JOLEEN: God, they really don't hold back, do they? Speaking of people not holding back, did you see the report about the ambulance in Meridian? Some absolute asshole stole a Canyon County Paramedics ambulance from St. Luke's, loaded it with gas cans, and then rammed it into a federal building. It's like 'Grand Theft Auto: Treasure Valley Edition.' Luckily, no fire started, but the guy's still on the run. If you see a guy in a medical mask looking twitchy, maybe don't offer him a ride.
MARK: Meridian is turning into a weirdly high-stakes action movie lately. But while that guy's playing arsonist, Boise Police finally caught up with Jeffery Cope. It only took them about a year since that fatal crash on Americana Boulevard back in April 2025. He's facing vehicular manslaughter charges now for the crash that killed a man and his dog. It's a reminder that justice in this town moves at the same speed as the traffic on Eagle Road during rush hour, which is to say, it eventually gets there but everyone's miserable in the meantime.
JOLEEN: That's fucking heavy, Mark. Let's pivot to the schools, where the drama is less about homework and more about where you can pee. The Boise School District is being sued again, this time by the Idaho Family Policy Center. They're representing a student who's pissed off because the district let a 'biological male' use the girls' restroom under a gender support plan. It's the same old culture war bullshit that's been clogging up our courts for years. The district says they were following a federal injunction, but clearly, that didn't stop the lawsuit from flying.
MARK: It's a never-ending cycle. If they spent half as much time on math scores as they do on bathroom logistics, we'd all be geniuses by now. In slightly better school news, they're expanding the food waste and composting program to more elementary schools. So, at least the kids can learn how to recycle the pizza crusts they didn't eat while their parents argue about which stall someone's using. It's all about balance, Joleen. Sustainability for the earth, total chaos for the administration.
JOLEEN: Well, if you're looking to escape the misery of the news, you should probably eat your feelings. I checked out Nahm Thai downtown recently, and holy shit, it's actually good. It's not just 'Boise good,' it's actually legitimate Thai food. Their Pad Kee Mao didn't taste like it was made by someone who's never seen a chili pepper in their life. And if you're more into the 'good vibes' scene, everyone's talking about Percy. It's fancy, it's trendy, and it's where you go if you want to pay twenty dollars for a cocktail and feel like you're in a much cooler city for an hour.
MARK: I'm more of a 'Bar, Please!' kind of guy. It's in Garden City and they serve hot dogs. It's simple, it's unpretentious, and you don't have to worry about someone asking you about your 'meditation practice' while you're trying to eat a frankfurter. But hey, if you want to go to Percy and pretend you're in Seattle, go for it. Just don't come crying to me when your bank account looks like the Scentsy layoff list. Also, can we talk about how every new place in Boise has to have a name that sounds like a Victorian orphan? Percy, The Wylder, The Lively. Just call it 'The Expensive Place' and be done with it.
JOLEEN: You're such a dick, Mark. But you're not wrong about the prices. Speaking of things that'll cost you, let's look at the real estate market. Washington residents have officially overtaken Californians as the number one group moving here. It's a total invasion. The median list price in Ada County is sitting around five hundred and thirty thousand dollars. It's basically a game of 'Who Can Out-Spend The Locals?' and spoiler alert: it's not us. If you want a house in the North End, you'd better be ready to sell a kidney or find a very wealthy ghost to haunt.
MARK: The Washington people are just trying to escape the rain, only to realize that Boise in March is basically just Seattle without the seafood and with more trucks. It's a balanced market, though, according to the experts. That's real estate speak for 'It's still too expensive for you, but at least there's a house for sale.' If you're looking in Kuna or South Boise, you might get a better deal because builders are getting desperate and throwing in 'incentives.' I'm guessing that means they'll throw in a free Ring camera so you can watch your neighbor's dog shit on your new lawn.
JOLEEN: That's the dream, isn't it? Let's talk sports before I get too depressed about my rent. Boise State is headed to Vegas for the Mountain West Tournament! They're the number six seed and they're playing San Jose State this Wednesday at 9:30 PM. Why the fuck is the game so late? I'm old, Mark. I can't stay up until midnight watching college kids run around a court. But they've won five straight games, so maybe there's hope they'll actually make a run for the title.
MARK: It's Vegas. Even if they lose, they're in the right place to drown their sorrows. The winner gets New Mexico in the quarterfinals, and Boise State is 4-0 against those two teams this year. So, the stats say we should be fine, but the stats also said the housing market would crash three years ago, so take that with a grain of salt. If you're staying in town, the Idaho Steelheads are playing the Allen Americans this Friday and Saturday. It's much better to watch people beat the shit out of each other on ice than to watch me try to understand the Mountain West bracket.
JOLEEN: I'll take the hockey game any day. Plus, it's almost St. Patrick's Day, which means the YMCA St. Patrick's Run is this Saturday, March 14th. If you like running in the cold while wearing green socks, this is your time to shine. There's also some Bunco 'FUNK-o' event happening at the community center. I don't know what that means, but I assume it involves a lot of middle-aged women and dice. It sounds terrifying, honestly. I'd rather ram an ambulance into a building.
MARK: Please don't. We don't have the bail money. Looking at the weekend guide, if you aren't running or playing Bunco, you're probably just waiting for the weather to decide if it's winter or spring. The forecast for the week is a mess. We've got rain and snow showers through Thursday with a high of fifty. Then it's back to freezing on Friday. It's that classic Boise 'False Spring' where the trees start to bud and then God decides to smite them with a frost just for fun. Wear layers, or don't, I'm not your mother.
JOLEEN: The weather is basically just like the road construction: unpredictable and annoying. Speaking of which, the Boise Avenue Bridge--you know, the one formerly known as Healey Road--is starting deck work on March 16th. They're going to keep one lane open with a temporary signal, so if you enjoy sitting in your car and contemplating your life choices, that's the place to be. It's part of the 'Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program,' which is a fancy way of saying 'It's old and we're trying to keep it from falling into the canal.'
MARK: At least they're doing something. Linder Road is still closed up in Eagle, and that's not supposed to open until mid-March. So, basically, no matter where you're going, you're going to be delayed by a guy in an orange vest. It's the official state bird of Idaho: the construction cone. Between the traffic, the Washington invaders, and the bathroom lawsuits, it's a wonder any of us ever leave the house. But we do it anyway, because there's beer and Thai food waiting on the other side.
JOLEEN: And that's why we love this place, right? Despite all the bullshit, it's still our city. Anyway, that's all we've got for this episode of 'Happening in Boise'. Seriously, go email us at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com if you have a tip or if you just want to tell Mark his voice is annoying. Like the show, subscribe on whatever app you're using, and leave a comment. We need the engagement so we can keep buying those twenty-dollar cocktails at Percy.
MARK: Tell them I'm charming, Joleen. Don't lie to the people. We'll be back next week to tell you more about why things are expensive and who got arrested for something stupid. Until then, try not to ram any buildings with government vehicles. It's bad for the insurance rates. Stay cynical, Boise.