City Cast Boise

For the third time this legislative session, Idaho lawmakers are advancing a bill that targets libraries. Molly Nota and Erin Kennedy with the Idaho Library Association are here to explain what’s new with this bill, what’s at stake if it passes, and how you can get involved to help your local library.  The next step for House Bill 710 is a hearing in front of a Senate committee, today — Wednesday,...

Accessing childcare in Boise has always been difficult, but it’s gotten much worse since the pandemic. Host Lindsay Van Allen is speaking with the executive director of Giraffe Laugh, an early childhood education center. Lori Fascilla breaks down the childcare crisis and how they will soon be welcoming more children into their facilities.  Have you had a tough time accessing reliable, safe child c...

It’s Treefort Music Fest week and the party starts Wednesday! Whether it’s your first time attending or you’re curious about what’s new this year, we have you covered. Executive producer Frankie Barnhill joins host Lindsay Van Allen to help you make the most of this beloved festival.  Want some more Boise arts and culture news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to...

It’s Friday, so time to round up the news of the week. City Cast Boise host Lindsay Van Allen is chatting with our executive producer Frankie Barnhill. We’re talking about an expansion of birth control access, the details of a far-right secret boy’s club, and our top picks of the week.  Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every...

Boise is a unique and changing city, and we definitely play by our own set of unwritten rules. Whether you’re a newcomer or can trace your Idaho roots back five generations, Vulture culture critic Nick Quah and our Hey Boise newsletter editor Blake Hunter have tips to survive our changing city. Plus, we learn why host Lindsay Van Allen describes herself as “casually outdoorsy.”  What’s your #1 rul...

The Treasure Valley used to be a popular place for OBGYN doctors to practice. Now? According to a recent study, 22% of these doctors have left Idaho since August 2022 — shortly after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Meanwhile, labor and delivery units — including one in the Treasure Valley — have closed.  Dr. Caitlin Gustafson is President of the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare, which partnered wit...

When you drive on the connector into downtown, you can’t miss the giant construction cranes — a visible symbol of the way Boise is changing. Idaho Statesman reporter Nick Rosenberger is here to get us up to speed on the tall new buildings that will forever change the view, starting with a 26-story luxury apartment tower. Plus, Nick tells executive producer Frankie Barnhill why Boise’s downtown hot...

One of the oldest debates in Boise isn’t about politics. It’s about how to pronounce our city’s name! Are you on team boy-ZEE or boy-SEE? We’re resharing our chat with Boise State University linguist Michal Temkin Martinez, who gives us the download on the history and social science behind this local quirk.  How do you pronounce Boise? Which way is the right way, and does it matter? Email us your...

It’s an election year, and it’s Friday! Who’s running to represent you at the statehouse? Guest host Nick Quah is chatting with Hey Boise newsletter editor Blake Hunter, to learn what we know (so far) about local legislative candidates. They also get us up to speed on a new GOP-backed bill to make it harder for ballot initiatives to pass. Plus, is Boise finally catching up to the food truck trend?...

Whether you’re meeting with a friend, taking a break, or trying to get some work done — a good coffee shop is more than just a place to grab some caffeine. Today, the City Cast Boise crew has coffee shop recommendations for whatever vibe you’re seeking in the Treasure Valley.  Let us know your coffee shop philosophy by sending us a voicemail or text: 208-546-9485. Want some more Boise news? Head o...

The Oscars are this weekend, and there’s one theater in Boise that’s shown every single movie nominated for Best Picture: The Flicks. So to get us in the film award show mood, guest host Nick Quah is talking with Carole Skinner, who owns The Flicks with her husband. They’re digging into the Academy Award nominations — and Carole shares what it took to open the iconic Boise institution 40 years ago...

We’re marking Women’s History Month by talking with local business owner Kylie North, owner of the Water Bear Bar. She came on the show a while back, to talk with Hey Boise newsletter editor Blake Hunter about how the bar quickly became one of the city’s favorite watering holes. Plus, we find out why Kylie and her wife named the bar after a microscopic animal. Want some more Boise intel? Head over...

Boise really comes to life in March, helped along by the official start to spring and later sunsets once Daylight Saving Time starts. Hey Boise newsletter editor Blake Hunter shares their picks for the coolest things to do this month with our executive producer Frankie Barnhill. We’re talking St. Patrick’s bar crawls, getting in the gardening mood, and navigating Treefort Music Fest.  Want some mo...

Executive producer Frankie Barnhill’s rounding up the news of the week with Boise State Public Radio’s George Prentice. Republicans are headed into what’s expected to be a hectic presidential caucus this weekend — but we won’t know for sure because journalists aren’t allowed in. Boise State University is bragging about a big jump in the school’s graduation rate, and Idaho made national headlines f...

When Nikson Mathews testified against House Bill 421 a few weeks ago, he introduced himself to lawmakers as “your happy fulfilled trans neighbor.” Blake Hunter with our Hey Boise newsletter is talking with Mathews — who is running for the legislature — about the anti-LGBTQ+ bills Boiseans should be following.  Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a chea...

How do you grow a local music scene? That’s the question Eric Gilbert with Duck Club Entertainment has been trying to answer for the last dozen years. He joins guest host Nick Quah to talk about how the company has gone from a small, DIY crew to owning two venues and operating two festivals each year.  Thinking of attending Treefort Music Fest this year? Heads-up that ticket prices are going up on...

Thrift store shopping in the Treasure Valley isn’t what it once was — but if you know where to look you can still find a good haul. A while back, producer Evelyn Avitia chatted with local thrifters Emma Arnold and Rachel Spacek about how things have changed, and how to still find a good deal. Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city...

Budget airline Avelo just announced a new direct flight to California’s wine country from Boise. So are tickets out of BOI airport actually getting more budget-friendly? Scott Keyes with the website GOING tells us why we’re in the golden era of cheap flights, and how you can fly from Boise to Europe and back for less than your month’s rent — if you’re smart about it.  Want to learn more about what...

Guest host Nick Quah is rounding up the week’s news with Hey Boise newsletter editor Blake Hunter. They’re discussing how Republican state lawmakers seem to be targeting Boise’s new tenant protections with a bill in the House, a 26-story luxury apartment building named “Arthur,” and gentrification arriving to west downtown. Plus, why Blake Hunter might hop a flight to wine country someday. Want so...

It’s national margarita day, and City Cast Boise producer Evelyn Avitia is taking it very seriously. She has your new guide for enjoying one of these icy cocktails. Whether you’re looking to get loose or grab a drink with a date, she’s guiding us through the most delicious sips around the Treasure Valley. Want some more Boise food and drink info? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll...

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and Boise Parks & Recreation have been busy building outdoor courts in recent years. But is the sport also a good business proposition? Executive producer Frankie Barnhill is talking with Zach Spencer, co-owner of S2 Pickleball, Boise’s first-ever indoor club dedicated to the sport. They talk about the benefits of picking up a paddle, tips fo...

Inflation has cooled, but food prices are still on the rise nationally. So we’re re-sharing executive producer Frankie Barnhill’s conversation with contributor Jimmy Dawson about their favorite grocery giant: WinCo. Jimmy makes a strong case for shopping at the Boise-based stores to stay on budget, and Frankie shares her trick for stress-free grocery shopping.  Want some more local guides? Head ov...

A Boise lawmaker wants to improve birth control access, the GOP ousts one of their leaders, and a board to review maternal deaths could get revamped. Plus, what’s up with that wacky cannibalism bill? Boise State Public Radio’s Jimmy Dawson breaks down the news from the Idaho State Capitol with City Cast Boise executive producer Frankie Barnhill.  Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boi...

In recent years, millennials have been flocking to Boise and Idaho, drawn in by breweries and coffee shops and less expensive housing than coastal cities. But where does Gen Z fit in? Our producer Evelyn Avitia is chatting with local reporters Rachel Spacek and Mia Maldonado, to debate which generation vibes best with the city we love.  Let us know which generation is most at home in Boise in your...

We’re staying warm this winter with the help of delicious soups. From broths to stews, executive producer Frankie Barnhill and Minerva Jayne are serving up their go-to local spots to buy a bowl. Plus, Minerva shares her at home soup recipe that always wows her guests.  Let us know your favorite Boise soup by sending us a voicemail or text: 208-546-9485. Want some more Boise news? Head over to our...