Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Happening in Pocatello keeps locals informed with a weekly rundown of the city’s biggest news, events, crime reports, sports highlights, school district updates, weather, traffic issues, and restaurant talk. Hosts Mark and Joline bring a raw, critical edge that cuts through the noise and makes staying informed unexpectedly fun.
MARK: Welcome back to Happening in Pocatello. It is Monday, December 1st, 2025. I’m Mark.
JOLEEN: And I’m Joleen.
MARK: And if you’re listening to this, congratulations. You survived Thanksgiving. You survived the family interrogations, the dry turkey, and the inevitable political arguments with that one uncle who still thinks the earth is flat.
JOLEEN: Barely. I’m still recovering from the tryptophan coma. I think I slept for roughly forty-eight hours straight. I woke up, looked at the calendar, and realized it’s December. How the hell did that happen?
MARK: Time is a flat circle, Joleen. Especially in Pocatello. But here we are. It’s December, it’s cold, and the city is still standing, mostly. We’ve got a packed show today. We’re talking about the election that is finally—thank God—happening tomorrow. We’ve got some wreckage on the interstate, some basketball scores that might actually make you smile, and a weekend guide that includes a visit from a certain Christmas demon.
JOLEEN: Oh, I am so ready for the Christmas demon. But first, remind the people how to reach us before we offend them.
MARK: Right. If you want to tell us we’re idiots, or if you have a tip about which local politician is actually three raccoons in a trench coat, email us at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com. Like, subscribe, leave a comment. validate our existence.
JOLEEN: Please. My ego is fragile today.
MARK: Let’s get into the headlines. And look, we know you guys are sick of hearing about it. We are sick of talking about it. But tomorrow, Tuesday, December 2nd, is the Mayoral Runoff Election.
JOLEEN: Finally. The end is nigh.
MARK: It is Cates versus Dahlquist. The battle for the big chair. Now, for those of you who have been living under a rock—or perhaps sensibly ignoring your mailbox for the last month—Mark Dahlquist took the lead in the general election with about forty percent of the vote. Greg Cates pulled in thirty-one percent.
JOLEEN: And Mayor Blad is out. He’s packing up his office. Which, honestly, feels like the end of an era. Love him or hate him, the guy was a fixture. But now we have two new flavors to choose from.
MARK: It’s an interesting dynamic. You’ve got Dahlquist, who’s pitching himself as the 'steady hand.' He’s talking about fixing the basics—roads, zoning, the stuff that makes a city function without you noticing it. He wants to modernize the zoning code, which sounds boring as hell but is actually pretty critical if you want affordable housing.
JOLEEN: And then you’ve got Cates. He’s got the backing of the local GOP machinery. He’s talking about not just being a 'Republican mindset' mayor but representing everyone, which is what they all say right before they start banning books or something.
MARK: Easy.
JOLEEN: What? I’m just saying. Cates has been hitting the 'outsider' angle a bit, even though he’s been in the mix. The interesting thing is that Dahlquist seems to have the momentum. That ten-point lead in the general is a big hill for Cates to climb in a runoff.
MARK: It is. But runoffs are weird. Turnout is usually abysmal. It’s December. It’s cold. People are shopping for Christmas. If Cates can mobilize his base—the die-hards who show up to vote even during a blizzard—he could close that gap.
JOLEEN: So, if you care about who runs this town for the next four years, go vote tomorrow. If you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain when they turn the library into a Spirit Halloween.
MARK: That would actually be an improvement for some of the buildings downtown. Speaking of improvements, we got some actual good news for travelers. Delta Air Lines announced they are adding a second daily flight from Pocatello to Salt Lake City.
JOLEEN: Whoa. Two flights? Look at us, becoming a metropolis.
MARK: I know. It doesn’t start until May 2026, so don’t pack your bags yet. But this is huge. For years we’ve been dealing with that one flight that leaves at the crack of dawn. If you missed it, you were driving to Salt Lake. Now, we’ll have options.
JOLEEN: I love the idea that 'two flights' counts as 'options.' But in Pocatello, I’ll take it. It means if I oversleep, I’m not completely screwed. I can just be moderately screwed and take the later flight.
MARK: Exactly. It’s progress. And in other city news, we have a new Animal Services Manager, Liam Hughes. He’s coming in from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Apparently, he has a background in disaster response and animal cruelty investigations.
JOLEEN: That’s a heavy resume for the dog catcher. But seriously, animal services is a tough gig. We have a lot of strays, a lot of issues with the shelter capacity. If this guy can come in and actually improve the welfare of the animals and maybe get some more adoptions going, I’m all for it. Welcome to Poky, Liam. hope you like barking.
MARK: Let’s pivot to crime and public safety. Because nothing says 'Happy Holidays' like a massive wreck on the interstate.
JOLEEN: Oh man. Did you see the photos of this?
MARK: I did. This was last Friday, the 28th. A Freightliner—big commercial truck—was heading northbound on I-15. The driver apparently drifted out of his lane near Exit 73.
JOLEEN: That’s the North Pocatello exit.
MARK: Right. He drifted, hit the concrete barrier, and the truck basically decided to take a nap across the entire off-ramp. It blocked the exit for seven hours.
JOLEEN: Seven hours. Can you imagine? You’re just trying to get off the highway to go to… I don’t know, get a sandwich? And you’re stuck behind a wall of twisted metal for an entire workday.
MARK: The good news is, no injuries were reported. The driver was a 45-year-old guy from Utah. He’s fine, physically. Mentally, he’s probably having a rough week. But it just goes to show how fragile our infrastructure is. One guy falls asleep or checks a text, and the north end of the city is gridlocked.
JOLEEN: It’s terrifying. And it’s slippery out there. We’ve had some freezing fog lately. The roads are that special kind of Idaho deceptive—they look dry, but they’re actually covered in a thin sheet of invisible death.
MARK: Invisible Death Ice. That’s the name of my metal band.
JOLEEN: I’d listen to that. Speaking of bad decisions on the road, we had another incident involving some fleeing suspects. This was over near Idaho Falls but bled into our area’s news cycle because the guys were apparently booking it through the region. Two men were arrested after fleeing a traffic stop on the 24th. They crashed into a yard.
MARK: It seems like 'fleeing and crashing' is the new hobby this winter. Pro tip for the criminals listening: You cannot outrun the radio. And you definitely cannot outrun the icy roads. You will crash into a fence, and you will look like an idiot on the evening news.
JOLEEN: And then we’ll talk about you on the podcast. And I will not be kind.
MARK: Let’s move to something a little brighter. Schools and sports.
JOLEEN: The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District is back in session after that Thanksgiving break. Everyone is refreshed, or at least caffeinated. But let’s talk about the hardwood. Basketball season is in full swing.
MARK: It is. Let’s start with the high school action. We had a tough matchup for the Pocatello High girls last week. They played Rigby on the 26th.
JOLEEN: Oof. Yeah, I saw this score. Rigby is a powerhouse this year. They beat our Thunder girls 47 to 30.
MARK: It was a defensive clinic by Rigby. They held Pocatello to single-digit scoring in every single quarter. That is painful.
JOLEEN: That is 'put the lid on the basket' levels of cold. Look, Rigby is 5-0. They’re crushing people. There’s no shame in losing to a good team, but scoring 30 points at home? That’s a rough night.
MARK: It’s early in the season. The Thunder will bounce back. On the college side, the Idaho State Bengals have been busy. The Men’s team had a little tournament action in Boise. They lost a close one to Sam Houston, 81-84.
JOLEEN: That was a heartbreaker. Three points.
MARK: But they rallied. Two days later, on Friday the 28th, they absolutely dismantled Cal State Northridge. Won 82-50.
JOLEEN: That’s what I like to see. A thirty-two-point blowout. That’s good for the soul.
MARK: It puts them at 1-1 for that stretch. They’ve got a road game coming up against Kansas City on Wednesday, December 3rd. And then they’re back home in Reed Gym this Saturday, December 6th, against the University of Denver.
JOLEEN: Saturday games at Reed Gym are the best. It’s loud, it smells like popcorn and sweat—it’s glorious. If you haven’t been to a game yet this season, go support the Bengals. They’re looking feisty.
MARK: And the Women’s team?
JOLEEN: A mixed bag. They beat Portland 58-57 in a nail-biter on the 21st, but then took a loss to LMU on the 23rd, 52-71. They’re back in action at home this Wednesday against Omaha. So you can do a double-header of sorts—listen to the Men’s game, watch the Women’s game. Just consume all the basketball.
MARK: I prefer to consume food. Let’s talk about the local food scene.
JOLEEN: Yes. Let’s.
MARK: There’s a new-ish spot that’s been generating some buzz. Mo’ Bettahs.
JOLEEN: Oh, the Hawaiian place?
MARK: Yeah. It opened back in October, but it feels like it’s really hitting its stride now. It’s over on Yellowstone. Hawaiian-style plate lunches.
JOLEEN: I went there last week. Look, it’s 30 degrees outside. The sky is grey. The ground is grey. Walking into a place that smells like teriyaki chicken and macaroni salad is a form of therapy.
MARK: It really is. It’s simple food. Rice, meat, mac salad. But it’s heavy. It’s winter hibernation food.
JOLEEN: The portions are massive. I got the 'Regular' plate, and I’m pretty sure it weighed three pounds. I ate the whole thing and then had to sit in my car for twenty minutes before I felt safe to drive.
MARK: That’s the sign of a good meal. And honestly, we need more of that variety here. We have a lot of burgers, a lot of pizza. But good, fast-casual Hawaiian? That fills a void.
JOLEEN: It does. And I also saw some buzz about IHOP pushing their Chicken and Waffles heavily right now. I know, it’s a chain. But sometimes you just need a waffle at 10 PM.
MARK: I won’t judge. Much.
JOLEEN: You judge everything, Mark.
MARK: True. Let’s talk about community events. Because even though it’s freezing, there is stuff to do.
JOLEEN: There is. First up, for the networking crowd, the Chamber Young Professionals are volunteering at the Idaho Foodbank tomorrow, December 2nd.
MARK: That’s a good cause. If you’re a 'Young Professional'—whatever that means, I assume it means you own a blazer and have a LinkedIn account—go help sort some food. The Foodbank is always slammed this time of year.
JOLEEN: Exactly. Do some good before you go drown your sorrows about the election results.
MARK: And of course, the 'A Christmas Carol' production is continuing at the Stephens Performing Arts Center. It’s running through the week.
JOLEEN: I love 'A Christmas Carol.' It’s a classic. But if you want something a little… different… a little darker…
MARK: Here we go.
JOLEEN: This Saturday, December 6th. The Pocatello Elks Lodge. It’s Krampusnacht.
MARK: Krampus Night.
JOLEEN: Yes! For those who don’t know, Krampus is the anti-Santa. He’s a horned, goat-demon beast who punishes the naughty children.
MARK: He beats them with birch branches and drags them to hell. It’s very festive.
JOLEEN: It’s amazing. The Elks Lodge is hosting a party. Photos with Krampus. Music. It’s just the perfect antidote to the saccharine, Hallmark-movie Christmas vibe. If you’re tired of 'Silent Night,' go hang out with a demon goat.
MARK: I feel like you identify with Krampus a little too much.
JOLEEN: He gets me. He understands that sometimes, people deserve a swat with a birch branch.
MARK: Fair enough. Also on Friday, December 5th, we have the First Friday Artwalk in Old Town.
JOLEEN: Always a good time. Support local artists. Buy some weird pottery for your mom. Walk around downtown, freeze your face off, duck into a shop for warm cider. It’s the Pocatello experience.
MARK: And looking ahead, mark your calendars for December 12th—the Adult Skate Ugly Sweater Night at the skating rink.
JOLEEN: Roller skating in an ugly sweater sounds like a recipe for a broken wrist, but I am in.
MARK: Let’s look at the Weekend Guide. If you have to pick three things to do this weekend, December 5th through the 7th.
JOLEEN: Okay. Number one: First Friday Artwalk. Go support the downtown businesses. They need the love. Number two: The ISU Men’s Basketball game vs Denver on Saturday. Go cheer on the Bengals. Number three: Krampusnacht. Obviously. Go get scared.
MARK: A solid lineup. I might skip the demon and just go to the basketball game, but to each their own.
JOLEEN: You’re no fun.
MARK: I’m practical. Now, let’s talk about the weather. Because if you’re planning on doing any of this, you need to dress appropriately.
JOLEEN: It’s not great, Mark.
MARK: No. We are looking at a classic early December week. Highs are going to be hovering in the mid-to-upper 30s. Lows in the 20s.
JOLEEN: And we have a chance of snow showers pretty much all week. Especially tomorrow, Tuesday, and then again towards the weekend.
MARK: It’s not a massive blizzard, just that nagging, persistent light snow that makes the roads greasy and turns your car into a salt-lick.
JOLEEN: It’s grey. It’s cold. It’s the kind of weather where you question why you live in a place where the air hurts your face. But then you look at the mountains, and they’re all snow-capped and majestic, and you think, 'Okay, it’s pretty.' Then you slip on black ice and curse the universe.
MARK: That is the cycle of life in Idaho.
JOLEEN: Also, public works switched to winter hours a while back, so the plows are out. Give them space. Don’t be that guy tailgating the snowplow. You will lose that battle.
MARK: And speaking of infrastructure, a quick check on real estate.
JOLEEN: Oh, my favorite topic. 'Why can’t I afford a house?'
MARK: Prices are actually creeping up again. The median sale price in October was up almost 3 percent year-over-year. But the big story lately has been rent. Specifically, ISU housing.
JOLEEN: Yeah, there was some serious backlash last month about rent increases for student housing. Students are already broke. Jacking up the rent on campus housing feels like kicking a puppy.
MARK: It’s a tough situation. The university has costs, but when you’re squeezing the students who are already taking out loans to be there, it’s not a good look. It’s creating a lot of tension.
JOLEEN: And it pushes more students into the local rental market, which drives those prices up. It’s a cascading effect. So if you’re renting in Poky, don’t expect a discount anytime soon.
MARK: Uplifting as always, Joleen.
JOLEEN: I’m a realist, Mark. The rent is too damn high.
MARK: It is. But hey, at least we have two flights to Salt Lake now.
JOLEEN: In 2026.
MARK: Right. In 2026.
JOLEEN: So we can fly away from our high rent.
MARK: Let’s wrap this up. It’s a big week for Pocatello. We have the election tomorrow. If you live in the city limits, go vote. Cates or Dahlquist. Pick your fighter.
JOLEEN: Just do it. It takes ten minutes.
MARK: Be safe on the roads. That crash on I-15 was a wake-up call. Slow down. The exit will still be there, unless a truck is blocking it.
JOLEEN: And go see Krampus. Tell him Joleen sent you.
MARK: Don’t do that. He might keep you.
JOLEEN: I’d be okay with that.
MARK: Thank you for listening to Happening in Pocatello. We’ll be back next week to discuss the new mayor, the new snow, and whatever fresh hell the news cycle brings us.
JOLEEN: Stay warm, you filthy animals.
MARK: Email us at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com.
JOLEEN: Bye.
MARK: See ya.
JOLEEN: Wait, are we still recording?
MARK: Yeah.
JOLEEN: I really do want to go to that Krampus thing. I need a new profile picture.
MARK: You’re going to scare the children.
JOLEEN: That’s the point, Mark. That’s the point.
MARK: Cut the feed.
JOLEEN: Cutting.
MARK: Seriously, though. Don't forget to vote.
JOLEEN: Ugh. Fine. I'll vote. But I'm writing in Krampus.
MARK: Please don't.
JOLEEN: Too late.
MARK: You're the worst.
JOLEEN: I know.