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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', the only podcast in the Treasure Valley that won't try to sell you a overpriced starter home in Kuna. I'm Mark, your guide through this sarcastic landscape of high-rises and sagebrush, and I'm joined by Joleen, who's currently looking for a way to monetize her disappointment in the local traffic.
JOLEEN: You're damn right I am, Mark! I'm upbeat, I'm caffeinated, and I'm ready to watch this city grow until it eventually swallows the entire Owyhee mountain range. It's Monday, August 24, 2026, and if you haven't been blinded by the glare off a new luxury condo yet, just give it until noon. We've got a lot to cover today, so buckle up, or whatever you people do in your Subarus. Make sure you like, subscribe, and comment, or don't, I'm not your mother, but it helps us pay for Mark's expensive bourbon habit. If you want to yell at us or tell us we're assholes, email us at boise@thehappeningnetwork.com.
MARK: Don't tempt them, Joleen. They already know where I live because of the constant noise complaints. Anyway, let's start with the top headlines. It's almost that time of year again when Ann Morrison Park becomes a giant obstacle course for people who think floating in a wicker basket is a sane way to travel. The Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic is gearing up for early September, and the city is already acting like it's the second coming of Christ, only with more propane and fewer robes.
JOLEEN: Oh, shut up, you cynical dickhead. The balloons are beautiful, even if they do force me to wake up at 5 AM just to see a giant yellow duck floating over the freeway. It's a local tradition! Though I'll admit, the Friday Night Glow is basically just an excuse for thousands of people to stand in a dark field and pretend they aren't freezing their asses off. But hey, it's better than staring at another construction site, isn't it?
MARK: Barely. Speaking of things that suck, let's look at the crime reports. A Caldwell man was arrested late last week for making threats against a Nampa school on social media. Because apparently, in 2026, some people still haven't figured out that the internet isn't a private diary for your domestic terrorism fantasies. He's currently cooling his heels in the Ada County jail, where I'm sure the Wi-Fi is terrible.
JOLEEN: It's honestly pathetic. You've got to be a special kind of stupid to post threats against a school on a platform where your grandma can see it, let alone the police. People like that are just total assholes who want attention, and well, they definitely got it. It's a bitch that we even have to talk about this during back-to-school season, but that's the world we live in. At least the Nampa police didn't mess around and picked him up before anything actually happened.
MARK: Yeah, gold star for the cops for doing their jobs for once. Now, moving on to something slightly more wholesome but equally violent: school sports. The Ridgevue High School football team started their 2026 campaign last Friday, and let's just say it wasn't the triumphant return they were hoping for. They took a pretty solid loss to Burley at home. It's always great to see the kids out there giving it their all, but losing at home in the opener is a tough pill to swallow.
JOLEEN: A tough pill? It's a goddamn suppository, Mark. Burley came in and basically owned that field. I love the energy of high school football, the overpriced hot dogs, the parents yelling at refs like their kid is the next Tom Brady, it's pure Idaho. But Ridgevue needs to find some rhythm fast or it's going to be a long, miserable autumn for those cheerleaders. I'm sure they'll bounce back, but man, that was a rough start.
MARK: Well, if the football is bad, at least the food is getting better. We've got some restaurant news that doesn't involve another taco truck. 'The American Dream', that German restaurant from Garden Valley that everyone raves about, is officially expanding to Boise. Apparently, their version of the American Dream involves a lot of schnitzel and beer, which, to be fair, is a lot better than the actual American Dream of working until you die in a cubicle.
JOLEEN: I've heard the food there is incredible, but the irony of naming a German restaurant 'The American Dream' is just delicious. It's like they're leaning into the absurdity of Boise's development. I'm excited though, because Boise's food scene can be a bit of a bitch to navigate if you're looking for something that isn't a burger or a $40 steak. Plus, there's a new healthy fast food chain from North Idaho eyeing a spot here too. Because nothing says 'I care about my body' like getting a salad through a sliding window while sitting in a running car.
MARK: The healthy fast food thing is a total oxymoron. It's like 'friendly divorce' or 'affordable housing in the North End'. It doesn't exist. But hey, if it keeps the residents of Eagle from feeling guilty about their third latte of the day, then more power to them. I'll stick to the German spot where the food actually has a soul, even if that soul is covered in gravy and fried breading. That's the real Boise spirit right there.
JOLEEN: You're such a hater, Mark. Speaking of things people love to hate, let's talk local sports beyond the high schoolers. The Boise State women's soccer team had a hell of a match on August 16th, taking down the Weber State Wildcats. It's nice to see one of our teams actually winning something. Those women are absolute beasts on the field. They're showing the football team how it's done before the season even really kicks off.
MARK: It was a four-to-one victory, Joleen. They didn't just win; they embarrassed them. It's refreshing. Usually, when I think of Boise sports, I think of the blue turf and the inevitable heartbreak of a missed field goal, but the soccer team is out there just murdering people. They're heading to Weber State soon for a rematch or something, and I'd bet my last dollar they keep this momentum going. It's the only thing in this city that isn't currently under construction.
JOLEEN: Wait, I spoke too soon. Everything is under construction. Let's talk about the real estate disaster unfolding along the Boise River. A California developer, because of course it's a Californian, is proposing a sixteen-story apartment tower. Sixteen stories! That's basically a skyscraper for Boise. I can already hear the neighbors in their tiny bungalows screaming about their 'obstructed views' of the Foothills.
MARK: Oh, the NIMBYs are going to have a field day with this one. A sixteen-story tower along the river? That's going to be great for the three people who can actually afford the rent. For the rest of us, it's just another giant middle finger made of glass and steel. I love how they call it 'progress' while the rest of us are struggling to pay for groceries. It's going to turn that section of the river into a wind tunnel of despair and overpriced yoga studios.
JOLEEN: You're not wrong, but think of the aesthetic, Mark! We're becoming a real city! A real, congested, expensive city where you can't see the stars anymore. It's what we all wanted, right? And don't get me started on the traffic that thing will bring. We already had a massive clusterfuck at 15th and Main this week because of a car crash that blocked everything. Adding a few hundred more apartments right there is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.
MARK: That crash was a nightmare. I was stuck in that for forty-five minutes, listening to a podcast about people who live in the woods, and I've never been more jealous in my life. Downtown is becoming a maze of orange cones and people who don't know how to use a blinker. If you're planning on driving anywhere near the core this week, just don't. Walk, bike, or just give up and stay home. It's not worth the spike in your blood pressure.
JOLEEN: Or just blame the weather! Let's get to the forecast, because it's Boise in August, which means we're all slowly being roasted like cheap rotisserie chickens. Today, Monday, we're looking at a high of ninety-four degrees. It's mostly sunny, which is code for 'the sun is a deadly laser'. If you're going outside, make sure you wear enough sunscreen to look like a mime, or you'll regret it by five o'clock.
MARK: It only gets worse, too. Tuesday and Wednesday are both hitting ninety-six degrees. Ninety-six! I'm pretty sure that's the temperature where human patience completely evaporates. The overnight lows aren't exactly saving us either, staying in the mid-sixties. If you don't have air conditioning, I genuinely fear for your sanity. Or you could just go sit in the frozen peas aisle at WinCo until they kick you out.
JOLEEN: I've done that, Mark. It's surprisingly peaceful until the manager starts asking questions. Thursday drops slightly to ninety-two, and then we finally see some relief by the weekend. Friday is eighty-nine, Saturday is eighty-seven, and Sunday is a beautiful eighty-four. It's like the universe realized it was being a total bitch and decided to dial it back just in time for us to actually enjoy being alive. No rain in sight though, so keep watering those lawns even if the city hates you for it.
MARK: Eighty-four on Sunday sounds like a dream compared to this afternoon. It's the kind of weather that makes you want to move to Alaska until you remember they have giant mosquitoes and zero good coffee shops. But hey, at least we don't have any active weather alerts right now. No smoke warnings yet, which is a miracle for this time of year. I'm sure the wildfires are just waiting for the perfect moment to ruin our Labor Day plans.
JOLEEN: Don't you dare jinx it! I want my clear skies for the weekend guide. Speaking of the weekend, if you aren't sick of people yet, the Western Idaho Fair is still going on, and of course, everyone is preparing for the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic next week. There's also some live music on the mountain if you can handle the drive up to Bogus. It's a busy time to be a Boisean, or as I like to call it, a professional traffic navigator.
MARK: It's a shitshow, Joleen. A fun, colorful, expensive shitshow. But that's Boise. We complain about the growth, we moan about the heat, and then we go out and buy a ten-dollar craft beer and act like we're living in paradise. It's a weird psychological state we're all in. But hey, at least we have this podcast to tell everyone why they're wrong about everything. It's the service we provide.
JOLEEN: It's our calling! We're like the heroes Boise didn't ask for and definitely doesn't deserve. If you've enjoyed our rambling or if you just want to hear Mark get more frustrated as the temperatures rise, make sure you return next week. We'll be here, likely complaining about the exact same things, but with new dates and maybe a few more grey hairs. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, it's the only thing that gives Mark a sense of validation.
MARK: My validation comes from the bottom of a bottle, Joleen, but the subscribers help too. Remember, if you have a story, a tip, or just want to tell us to fuck off, send an email to boise@thehappeningnetwork.com. We love hearing from our fans, even the ones who clearly haven't taken their meds. We'll be back next Monday to do this all over again. Until then, try not to get hit by a semi on I-84 or melt into the pavement.
JOLEEN: Stay salty, Boise! It's the only way to survive the high desert. We'll see you next week for more news, more sarcasm, and hopefully a little less ninety-six-degree weather. Peace out, assholes!
MARK: Seriously, stay inside. It's too hot for your bullshit today. Bye.