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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 to 'Happening in Pocatello', the only podcast that treats this city with the exact amount of respect it deserves, which is to say, we're mostly here for the scenery and the cheap beer. I'm Mark, and I've spent the morning trying to figure out if my air conditioner is actually working or if it's just a very expensive paperweight that makes a humming noise.
JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen, currently vibrating at a frequency that suggests I've had way too much caffeine or I'm just finally losing my goddamn mind in this ninety-six-degree heat. It's Tuesday, July 14, 2026, and if you're listening to this while stuck behind a tractor on Yellowstone Avenue, just know that we feel your pain, but we're also laughing at you from our air-conditioned studio.
MARK: We've got a lot of shit to cover today, ranging from the city government wanting to play musical chairs with their office buildings to a bunch of horse enthusiasts descending on us like some kind of leather-clad locust swarm. Before we get into the weeds, do us a favor and like, subscribe, and comment on whatever platform you're using to ignore your responsibilities. If you've got a tip or just want to tell us we're assholes, email us at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com.
JOLEEN: Seriously, hit that subscribe button like it's the 'skip' button on a political ad. We're here every week to tell you what's actually going on in this town while everyone else is busy pretending that everything is fine. Spoiler alert, it's usually not fine, but at least it's entertaining. Now, let's talk about the geniuses over at City Hall who think they've found a better place to ignore our emails.
MARK: So, the big headline today is that the city is actually inviting the public to weigh in on whether City Hall should move downtown. They're hosting an open house tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, from four-thirty to six-thirty p.m. in the council chambers. I'm sure the turnout will be massive, mostly consisting of people who are just there for the free air conditioning and to complain about their water bills.
JOLEEN: Moving City Hall downtown feels like trying to put a tuxedo on a goat. It's still a goat, Mark. They're at 911 North 7th Avenue right now, and apparently, that's just not prestigious enough for the people who decide where the potholes don't get filled. If you go to this open house, you can ask questions and look at maps, because nothing says 'productive evening' like staring at a map of a town you already live in.
MARK: The logic is probably that moving downtown will revitalize the area, because what a struggling business district really needs is more bureaucrats looking for lunch at noon. It's a classic move. If you can't fix the infrastructure, just move the people who are supposed to fix it into a prettier building. I'm tempted to go just to see if I can find a single person who thinks this is a priority compared to, I don't know, the literal cracks in the earth on some of our side streets.
JOLEEN: They'll probably spend five million dollars on a study to find out that moving costs ten million dollars, and then they'll just stay put but raise taxes to pay for the study. It's the Pocatello way. If you've got an opinion, show up tomorrow and scream into the void. It's better than screaming at your steering wheel, I guess. Moving on to things that are actually depressing, we've got some crime and safety updates that'll make you want to stay in bed.
MARK: The authorities finally identified the man who died in that nasty crash on I-15 recently. It's a reminder that the interstate through here is basically a real-life version of Mario Kart but without the fun power-ups. It's just heavy trucks and people who forgot how to use a blinker. We're not going to dwell on the morbid details, but maybe just try not to drive like a dickhead for at least twenty-four hours.
JOLEEN: Speaking of staying alive, the American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage. This isn't just the usual 'hey, we could use some help' thing; it's a 'we're running out of the red stuff' situation. If you've got a spare pint and you haven't filled your veins with nothing but Red Bull and spite this week, you should probably head over and donate. It's one of the few things you can do that actually helps people without requiring you to join a committee.
MARK: I'd donate, but I'm pretty sure my blood type is 'sarcasm positive' and that might be fatal to the general public. But seriously, go do it. It takes like twenty minutes and they give you a cookie. It's the best deal in town. Also, in the world of things that are actually cute for once, Zoo Idaho has a new cougar kitten that needs a name. They're announcing it this Friday, July 17.
JOLEEN: If they name it 'Kitty McKittyface' or some other internet-inspired bullshit, I'm going to lose it. It's a cougar, give it a name that commands respect, like 'Tax Evasion' or 'Rent Increase'. Something that truly captures the spirit of 2026. This little furball is probably the only thing in this city that hasn't realized life is a series of disappointments yet. Let's keep it that way for as long as possible.
MARK: The Zoo is one of the few places in town where you can see animals that are better behaved than the people at the grocery store. It's a nice distraction from the school district news, which is mostly just the usual summer shuffling. They're still doing the summer food program, so at least the kids aren't starving while they're out there getting sunburned. I saw a group of them at the park yesterday and they looked like they were having a blast, or they were just delirious from the heat. Hard to tell.
JOLEEN: The school district is probably just holding its breath until August. I don't blame them. But hey, if you're looking for a place to eat that isn't a school cafeteria or a chain restaurant that smells like old floor wax, we actually went somewhere new last night. We hit up Buddy's Italian Restaurant. It's been around since before the dirt was invented, but somehow we haven't talked about it lately.
MARK: Buddy's is an institution. Walking in there is like stepping into a time machine where the only things that exist are red checkered tablecloths and the most aggressive garlic breath you've ever experienced. I ordered the spaghetti, and I'm pretty sure there was enough sauce on that plate to drown a small horse. It was fantastic, obviously. Their salad is the real star, though. I don't know what's in that dressing, but it's probably illegal in at least three states.
JOLEEN: It's the oil, Mark. It's just pure, delicious grease and vinegar. I think they just soak the lettuce in a bathtub of dressing for three days before serving it. It's salty enough to preserve a mummy, and I loved every second of it. The service was surprisingly fast for a place that was packed on a Monday night. The waitress looked like she had seen things, man. She had that 'I've worked here for thirty years and I will end you if you ask for extra bread' look in her eyes.
MARK: That's how you know the food is good. If the staff is slightly intimidating, the kitchen is focused on the right things. I'm tired of those upbeat places where they ask you about your day seven times. Just give me my lasagna and let me eat my feelings in peace. Buddy's is the perfect place for that. It's dark, it's loud, and the food weighs about five pounds. It's the culinary equivalent of a warm hug from a very sweaty Italian uncle.
JOLEEN: The only downside is that you'll smell like a garlic clove for the next forty-eight hours. My dog wouldn't even come near me when I got home. But hey, that's a small price to pay for that bread. If you haven't been to Buddy's in a while, go remind yourself why it's been there for sixty years. It's because change is scary and carbs are the only thing we can rely on in this shifting economy.
MARK: Speaking of things that stay the same, let's talk sports. Or at least, the closest thing we have to sports right now. The statewide Horsemen Convention is coming to Pocatello this weekend. I'm not entirely sure what happens at a horsemen convention, but I assume it involves a lot of boots, some very specific talk about hay, and people complaining about how much it costs to keep a four-legged animal alive just so they can ride it twice a month.
JOLEEN: It's basically a comic-con but for people who prefer real horses to stallions on posters. Expect a lot of cowboy hats and people who look like they've never seen a paved road in their lives. It's actually a pretty big deal for the local economy, though. All those horse people need to sleep somewhere and eat somewhere, so I'm sure the hotels are thrilled. Just watch where you step if you're near the event center.
MARK: I'm still thinking about the Idaho State softball team winning the Big Sky title back in May. That was a high point for the year that we're still riding. It's nice when a local team actually wins something instead of just 'competing hard' and losing by twenty points. Since then, it's been a lot of summer camps and people pretending to be excited about training in this heat. I saw some high schoolers doing drills at the park, and they looked like they were ready to file a human rights complaint.
JOLEEN: Training for football in July is a special kind of hell. You're basically just wearing a plastic suit and running around in a desert. But hey, that's how champions are made, or at least that's what the coaches tell them so they don't quit and go get a job at the mall. If you're looking for things to do this weekend that don't involve wearing a helmet, the Horsemen Convention isn't the only game in town. The Zoo is obviously a big one with the cougar naming on Friday.
MARK: The Portneuf Valley Farmers Market is also still going strong every Saturday morning. It's the place to go if you want to pay eight dollars for a loaf of bread that was made by a guy with a very impressive beard. Honestly, the produce is getting better now that we're actually into the growing season. I got some cherries last week that were so good I almost forgot how much I hate being outside in the sun.
JOLEEN: The farmers market is just a giant social experiment to see how many people will walk in a circle for two hours while carrying a reusable bag. But the people-watching is top-tier. You've got the hardcore hippies, the young families who look like they're about to snap, and the elderly couples who are just there to judge everyone's outfit. It's great. If you're planning your weekend, just be prepared for the weather, because it's going to be a goddamn furnace.
MARK: Let's look at the actual forecast for this week, July 14 through July 21. Today, we're looking at a high of ninety-six. It's sunny, it's hot, and the wind is kicking up to about twenty-one miles per hour, which is just the atmosphere's way of blowing a hairdryer in your face. Tonight, it stays warm with a low of sixty-six. If you were hoping for a cool breeze to sleep to, keep dreaming.
JOLEEN: Wednesday, July 15, we've got a slight reprieve with a high of ninety-two, but that comes with a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and one p.m. So, it'll be slightly cooler but infinitely more humid, which is exactly what everyone wants. It's like being in a sauna that someone forgot to clean. Thursday and Friday, we're right back up to ninety-five degrees. It's basically the weather version of a middle finger.
MARK: Saturday and Sunday aren't much better. Highs of ninety-four and ninety-three. It's just relentless. If you're going to that Horsemen Convention, I hope those horses have some serious fans, because ninety-four degrees in a dirt arena is basically a slow-cooker scenario. Then Monday, July 20, we've got another ninety-three-degree day followed by a chance of rain on Monday night into Tuesday. The chance of precipitation is up to thirty percent, so maybe, just maybe, the dust will settle for five minutes.
JOLEEN: I'll believe the rain when I see it. Usually, in July, 'chance of rain' just means it gets cloudy for twenty minutes and then the sun comes back out even angrier than before. It's a cruel cycle. And if you're planning on driving anywhere to find cooler air, good luck with the road construction. Johnny Creek Road is the latest victim of the orange barrel brigade. They're working on it now and it's not expected to be finished until the end of October 2026.
MARK: October. They're taking an entire summer and fall to fix one road. I know, I know, they have to keep one lane open and use flaggers, but it's still frustrating. It's like trying to fix a sink while the water is still running. If you live up there, I'm sorry. Your commute is now officially a test of your mental stability. Just remember to be nice to the flaggers; they're the ones standing in ninety-six-degree heat while you're sitting in your car swearing at the radio.
JOLEEN: I'm never nice to the flaggers, Mark. They're the gatekeepers of my misery. Just kidding, I'm nice, but I'm definitely screaming inside my Honda. This city has more construction than a Lego set owned by a caffeinated toddler. Between the interstate projects and the local street repairs, there isn't a single route in town that doesn't involve a detour or a fifteen-minute wait for a guy to turn a 'Slow' sign to 'Stop'.
MARK: And let's wrap this up with a look at the real estate market, because apparently, despite the heat and the construction and the potential City Hall move, people still want to buy houses here. New stats came out today, July 14, 2026, and surprise, surprise, home prices are still going up. There's also a report on how many homes are actually getting built this year, and it's a decent number, but it's still not enough to keep the prices from being absolutely ridiculous.
JOLEEN: The median list price is still hovering in a range that makes me want to weep into my empty wallet. It's a seller's market, which is great if you're a seller and terrible if you're a human being who wants a roof over your head without selling a kidney. We're seeing more inventory, but the demand is still there. People keep moving here, and I'm starting to wonder if they've actually visited in July before they signed the mortgage papers.
MARK: Maybe they just really like the smell of the sagebrush and the sound of distant jackhammers. It's a lifestyle, Joleen. You wouldn't understand. But seriously, the market is steady, which is better than a crash, I guess. It just means the dream of owning a home with a yard that isn't made of rocks is getting a little more expensive every week. If you're thinking of buying, you better have your paperwork ready and a very high tolerance for disappointment.
JOLEEN: My tolerance for disappointment is the only thing that's grown faster than the housing prices. Anyway, that's the news for this week. It's hot, the city wants to move its offices, the horses are coming, and you should probably give some blood before you pass out from the heat. It's a glorious time to be in Pocatello, isn't it?
MARK: It's a goddamn paradise. Thanks for sticking with us through another episode of 'Happening in Pocatello'. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment telling us why we're wrong about everything. You can reach us at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com if you've got something to say. We'll be back next week with more sarcasm and probably more complaints about the sun.
JOLEEN: Stay hydrated, stay cynical, and try not to get into any fights over a horse. We'll see you next Tuesday. Or we won't, because we don't actually know what you look like. But you'll hear us. Goodbye, Pocatello, try not to melt into the pavement.