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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: It's Monday, September 7, 2026. I'm Mark.
JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen. Today, we're talking about Boise State's near-upset against Oregon, a fatal stabbing at a local house party, and Art in the Park's upcoming return to Julia Davis Park.
MARK: Labor Day usually means quiet streets, but the Boise Police had a rough night on North Duncan Lane. At about 1:30 this morning, they were called to a house party that ended in a fatal stabbing. One man's dead after an altercation on the front porch. The suspect's still out there, and detectives are looking for anyone who fled before the sirens showed up.
JOLEEN: That's just awful, especially on a holiday weekend. Duncan Lane is usually such a sleepy spot. It sounds like it was a massive party, though, because people were already scattering by the time the first responders got there. It's the second big party incident lately, too. Remember that shooting on Clement Road back in late August? Police just made an arrest in that case, actually. They picked up eighteen-year-old Ulisses Macareno in Meridian three days ago.
MARK: It's becoming a pattern. Large groups of people, someone brings a weapon, and suddenly the front porch is a crime scene. It's almost like high-capacity house parties aren't the best venue for conflict resolution.
JOLEEN: Spoken like a man who hasn't been to a party since the early 2000s, Mark. But honestly, it is scary. The police are even asking rideshare drivers who were in the area of Clement Road around two to six a.m. to check their dashcams. If you were driving for Uber or Lyft that night, you might have the missing piece of the puzzle.
MARK: While the police were busy on Duncan Lane, half of Boise was probably still nursing a hangover from Saturday's game in Eugene. Boise State almost did it. They had the lead for the entire first half against number two Oregon, but they ended up losing thirty-four to twenty-seven. Maddux Madsen threw three touchdowns, but they just couldn't seal the deal in the fourth quarter.
JOLEEN: Ugh, don't remind me. My heart was in my throat when they were tied at twenty-four going into the fourth. Madsen looked incredible, though. One-hundred-and-eighty-one yards, zero interceptions. And that thirty-eight-yard bomb to Sire Gaines? That had the whole state thinking we were actually going to walk out of Autzen Stadium with a win. We're the best zero-and-one team in the country right now, no question.
MARK: Being the best zero-and-one team is like being the fastest person in the DMV waiting room. It doesn't actually get you anywhere. Oregon's offense woke up late, and that twenty-six-yard touchdown to Jamari Johnson right before halftime really killed the momentum. Then Bol Bol got that sack in the fourth, and that was pretty much curtains.
JOLEEN: It wasn't just the sack. Oregon's Dante Moore is just on another level. He threw for almost four hundred yards. But look at the bright side, the Broncos showed they belong in the playoff conversation even with a loss. If they play like that for the rest of the season, we're going to be just fine. Plus, I saw some fans on the message boards complaining about the refs, but let's be real, we had our chances.
MARK: Fans complaining about refs is the official state sport of Idaho. Right up there with complaining about traffic. Speaking of things that won't go away, the Boise School District just finished up its special election. Andy Hawes beat Kirt Naylor for that board of trustees seat. It was a close one, too. Hawes got about fifty-one percent of the vote.
JOLEEN: I followed that race pretty closely. It's interesting because they both seemed like solid candidates, but Hawes really leaned into his experience with facilities and real estate. Which makes sense, because the district is dealing with declining enrollment. We've got fewer kids in desks, but the same number of buildings to heat and maintain. It's a math problem that nobody wants to solve by closing schools.
MARK: Well, they're starting those long-range facilities planning meetings on September 22nd. If you want to tell them why your neighborhood elementary school should stay open despite having five students and a very expensive roof leak, that's your chance. Hawes said he wants to find 'creative uses' for these buildings. Usually, that's code for 'I don't want to be the guy who sold the gym to a developer'.
JOLEEN: Hey, if it means turning an old cafeteria into a community center or something, I'm all for it. But declining enrollment is a tough pill. It's a sign that young families can't afford to live in the actual city limits anymore. They're all moving out to Kuna or Middleton because Boise prices are just out of control. Which, surprise, brings us to the real estate report that just dropped.
MARK: The August numbers are a joy as always. The median home price in the Treasure Valley is now five-hundred-and-forty-five thousand dollars. That's up nearly seven percent from last year. But the real kicker is Eagle. The median price there is sitting at nine-hundred-and-eighty thousand. It's basically a million-dollar barrier for entry now.
JOLEEN: That is absolutely wild. A million bucks for a house in Eagle? I mean, it's nice, but is it 'half of my soul and both kidneys' nice? The report said the typical Boise home is only staying on the market for eight days. Eight days! You can't even get a inspection done that fast. It's like people are buying houses like they're grabbing a gallon of milk at Albertsons.
MARK: It's pure panic. Although Middleton is apparently the outlier. Their sales volume jumped fifty-five percent, but their median price actually dropped by eight percent. So if you want a house and you don't mind a commute that makes you question your life choices, head to Middleton.
JOLEEN: Middleton's not that far, Mark! You're such a snob about the city limits. But for those of us who actually want to stay in town and pretend we can afford things, we should probably talk about where to eat instead of what to buy. I saw a new review for Saltbrush downtown. People are losing their minds over it. It's that elevated dining spot that everyone says feels 'elegant but relaxing'.
MARK: I've heard. 'Elevated' usually means smaller portions and a waiter who explains the history of the salt. But apparently, their cocktails are legit. And then there's Coa Cantina that just opened in Harris Ranch. It's a sports cantina with street tacos and a full tequila bar. Because nothing says 'neighborhood vibe' like a hundred different ways to regret your Tuesday.
JOLEEN: Coa Cantina is a huge deal for East Boise! Harris Ranch has been desperate for a spot that isn't just a coffee shop. It's the same people behind Barbacoa and The STIL, so you know the quality is there. They've got these street tacos for about ten to twenty bucks, which is actually affordable for a lunch that doesn't come out of a paper bag. And don't forget 'The Boise Post'. That rooftop restaurant on the new Marriott is supposed to have the best views of the city. I'm waiting for a special occasion for that one, though.
MARK: A special occasion? Like finding a parking spot downtown on the first try? That would deserve a steak and a view. Speaking of downtown parking, it's about to get worse. 10th Street is closing today between Jefferson and State. It's going to be shut down until September 28th for development work. Not even a city project, just private developers taking over the asphalt again.
JOLEEN: At least it's only one block. But yeah, the construction is everywhere. State and Pierce Park Lane is still a mess with concrete work. They're doing the curb and gutter stuff now, and they say the paving will be done by mid-September. Then they move on to the asphalt. It feels like State Street has been under construction since the 1860s. We're just trying to get to a point where a car can drive more than five feet without hitting a cone.
MARK: I think the orange cone is actually the official state flower of Idaho. They're also doing work on Cole Road near Overland. They're reconstructing the road surface down toward Mossy Cup Street. If you're heading to the Spectrum to catch a movie, good luck. You'll spend more time in your car than in the theater.
JOLEEN: Ugh, the Cole and Overland intersection is the stuff of nightmares. But let's talk about something better. The weather. It is actually gorgeous out today for Labor Day. Sunny, high of seventy-one. It feels like fall is finally here, even if it's only for a few hours.
MARK: Don't get too comfortable. It's seventy-one today, but the forecast says we're climbing right back up. High of seventy-eight tomorrow, eighty-three on Wednesday, and then we hit eighty-six on Thursday. It's that fun time of year where you need a parka at eight a.m. and a swimming pool by three p.m.
JOLEEN: I'll take eighty-six over one-hundred-and-six any day. At least it cools down at night. Lows in the fifties all week. That's perfect sleeping weather. And it looks like it'll dip back down into the low seventies just in time for the weekend. Which is perfect, because Art in the Park starts this Friday at Julia Davis Park.
MARK: Ah, yes. Art in the Park. Three days of walking behind people who move at the speed of a tectonic plate while looking at paintings of trees. It's the Boise Art Museum's biggest fundraiser. They've got over two hundred artists this year. Plus the food. People go for the art but they stay for the giant tubs of kettle corn and those weirdly expensive gyros.
JOLEEN: It's not just trees, Mark! There's incredible pottery, jewelry, and live music. It's a whole scene. Friday and Saturday they're open ten to eight, and Sunday it's ten to five. It's completely free to walk around, so even if you aren't buying a three-thousand-dollar metal sculpture for your yard, it's a good way to spend a Saturday morning. Just park far away and walk in. Don't even try to find a spot near the museum.
MARK: If you aren't into the artsy crowd, the World Center for Birds of Prey is doing their Fall Flights starting this weekend, too. It's a 'Spectacular Raptor Experience'. Basically, they fly hawks and falcons over your head and hope nobody looks too much like a mouse. It's pretty cool if you've never seen a bird of prey up close.
JOLEEN: I love the Raptor Center. It's such a unique Boise thing. And for the sports fans who haven't given up after the Oregon game, there's plenty of high school football starting up again. It's that classic fall energy. The whole city just feels like it's shifting gears from the river-floating summer into the cozy-sweater autumn.
MARK: Except for the people on 10th Street who are currently staring at a 'Road Closed' sign. Their gear is firmly stuck in neutral. It's a lot to keep track of this week. We've got house party stabbings, million-dollar homes in Eagle, and a football team that's almost-but-not-quite elite.
JOLEEN: They are elite! Thirty-four to twenty-seven against the number two team? I'm telling you, we're going to run the table. I can feel it. And besides, even if we lose every game, we still have the best fans in the West. That's worth something, right?
MARK: It's worth exactly zero points on the scoreboard, Joleen. But I admire the optimism. I'll be over here watching the weather and waiting for that eighty-six-degree Thursday to pass so I can finally turn the AC off for good.
JOLEEN: You do that. For the rest of you, enjoy the Labor Day sunshine. Go for a walk, see some art, and maybe avoid any massive house parties on the front porch for a while. We've got plenty of city to enjoy without the drama.
MARK: That's probably the best advice we've given all day. We'll be back next week with more updates on whatever else decides to break or open in the Treasure Valley. Hopefully, it's more restaurants and fewer road closures, but I wouldn't bet on it.
JOLEEN: Thanks for listening to Happening in Boise. If you like the show, make sure to follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us out. And if you've got a story tip or just want to tell Mark he's being too grumpy, you can email us at boise at the happening network dot com. We love hearing from you guys, even the Eagle residents who actually paid a million dollars for their houses.
MARK: Especially those guys. I want to know what the air smells like up there. See you next week.