City Cast Boise

We all know the story of Robin Hood. You know — stealing from the rich to help the poor and all that. Well in our city, we have Rocky Detwiler — aka the Boise River Robin Hood. Rocky has made it his business to find items claimed by the snags and twists of the Boise River, and does his best to return them to their owners using Facebook. Fancy phones, expensive sunglasses, lost car keys: the River...

When was the first time you visited the Sawtooths? Maybe it was a relaxing camping trip with friends along a cold mountain creek or the most challenging solo hike you’ve ever done — rewarded with a stop at a clear blue alpine lake — the place holds so many memories for people in Boise. Now 50 year after the Sawtooth National Recreation Area was created by Congress, is the area too popular for its...

What’s one thing that unites the people of Boise and Salt Lake City? We’ll give you a hint – we dip our famous Idaho potatoes in it. Yep, it’s fry sauce! This mayo and ketchup based sauce comes in a variety of flavors and we can’t seem to get enough. But where did fry sauce originate and why are we so obsessed with it? We have the answers. Ali Vallarta joins us to challenge our self-proclaimed tit...

2020 was the final nail in the coffin for the Boise GreenBike program. The bike share — run by Valley Regional Transit — was popular at first but didn’t have enough support to survive COVID-19.  Now, VRT has a new pedal assisted program: Vall-eBike. A fleet of 50 e-bikes are on the streets now, locked up at pre-existing GreenBike stations in between rides. So what lessons did we learn from the pre...

Boise is playing catch-up when it comes to vegan options, with only one vegan restaurant and another in the works. In a town that loves meat and potatoes, we know finding plant-based options can be tough. That’s why host Frankie Barnhill is talking with food writer Lex Nelson, who wrote about where you can get vegan food in Boise. Lex shares her tried and tested recommendations of the best vegan p...

Boise housing market has been out of control (and out of reach) for several years now, with the median home price hitting an all-time high in May of over $600K. But as Idaho Statesman reporter Paul Schwedelson tells us, things are starting to shift. Houses have been sitting on the market longer, prices have been dropping and at least one major homebuilder forecasts $400K as a reasonable price for...

The Boise Soul Food Festival is coming home this Saturday. After a nearly 5-year hiatus — and a forced break because of COVID-19 — organizers are bringing the event back to Julia Davis Park where it happened for about 20 years.  But as festival founder Shari Baber tells us, this event is about so much more than delicious gumbo, catfish, mac n’ cheese, and sweet potato pie. It’s about celebrating B...

With reproductive rights up for debate in the Idaho Supreme Court and a Department of Justice lawsuit against the state’s abortion trigger ban pending — there’s a lot on the line, especially for activists in our community. Are they OK?  Today, we’re talking with local activist Leta Harris Neustaedter. She’s a therapist, a musician and an experienced community organizer (among many other titles). W...

We’re used to seeing public art around the Treasure Valley. Unique and colorful murals in particular help create a sense of place, turning everyday buildings into eye-catching attractions. And we can’t get enough – we want more!  Today on the podcast, we’re talking with Miguel Almeida, painter, digital artist, and muralist. He reflects on his experience as a first generation Mexican American artis...

Idaho’s abortion bans are having their day in court, with Planned Parenthood challenging two laws — a trigger ban passed in 2020, and a Texas-style ban passed in 2022. Abortion rights advocates are bracing for the Idaho Supreme Court’s decision to come soon after Wednesday’s hearing in downtown.  It’s been a complicated story to follow, with lots of legal twists and turns along the way. That’s why...

We know Boise is nicknamed the City of Trees. But how deep do those roots go?  Today on the podcast, our producer Jennifer Jerrett tells us about the City of Trees Challenge which aims to get 100,000 urban trees planted by 2030. We chat about the city’s climate goals and how homeowners can contribute to our tree canopy with some drought tolerant options. And, we learn what to do (and what not to d...

Folks, Boise is sweltering. The National Weather Service is forecasting triple digit heat for the next week and we may break some record highs, in yet another indication that climate change is here. Most of us can retreat to our air conditioned homes and shady backyards to cool down. But for our unhoused neighbors, escaping the heat is a daily struggle that can have deadly outcomes. So Interfaith...

One of the things on everyone’s summer bucket list is floating the Boise River. And we all have a story about it. That time you lost your brand new iPhone. Or the day your friend popped the pool floaty. Or when you watched your flip flops go sailing downstream without you. Even though tubing the river is pretty straightforward, it’s not without its complications. That’s why we’re talking with Robb...

For the first time in almost 30 years, Congress has done something to try to address gun violence and mass shootings. But our guest today has a wake-up call when it comes to the legislation that passed earlier this summer. Journalist and podcaster Heath Druzin follows the gun rights movement in Idaho and around the country. He says before any meaningful debate or change can occur, we need to face...

We’re starting to turn the corner to the second half of summer (wild!) but there’s still so much more on our community events calendar. When it comes to festivals, Marissa Lovell has the download on what to check out before the season wraps up. She’s the writer and editor of the From Boise newsletter, which is a great source for concerts listings and other rad events going on around the community....

We all know a lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest issues facing the Treasure Valley. For folks with low incomes, it’s especially challenging. So what’s Boise doing to solve this problem?  In the first of many conversations about our housing crisis to come, we’re talking with Idaho Statesman reporter Paul Schwedelson, who covers growth and development. Have thoughts on how the City of...

The heat has officially arrived and if you’re like City Cast Boise host Frankie Barnhill, you’re strategizing about how to stay cool while also enjoying the sun. That’s why our producer Evelyn Avitia joins Frankie to share her favorite places to swim and chill out when it’s just plain HOT. From a popular-yet-divisive pond to bars that know how to keep things frosty, we have insider tips to share. ...

Last year, two farmworkers died from extreme heat — one in Oregon, and one in Washington. The tragedies prompted organizers with the non-profit Idaho Immigrant Resource Alliance to spotlight unsafe conditions Idaho farmworkers deal with regularly. They created a fund and gathered donations of basic protection items to protect Idaho farmworkers from the dangers of extreme heat and wildfire smoke. ...

Following which new restaurants have opened and which ones are closing is kind of a cottage industry in Boise media. And as much as we like clicking on those headlines (because we all want to know!), it’s good to step back and see what wider trends are going on in our food scene — and what it means for our community.  That’s why we’re talking with local writer Lex Nelson, who covers food and drink...

Thousands of people in Boise rallied and marched over the weekend to protest the Supreme Court’s Friday ruling against abortion. There was an impromptu gathering on the statehouse steps Friday and an organized rally at Cherie Buckner Webb Park on Saturday. Donations to local and regional abortion funds flooded websites as people faced the reality of losing access to this healthcare statewide. Mean...

Technically, Boise Pride is in September this year, but we’re holding space for conversations about Boise’s queer and trans communities this month too. On today’s episode of City Cast Boise, newsletter writer Blake Hunter is talking to the recent winner of Boise’s Next Drag Superstar, Frida Nightz, about their journey into drag, the competition, and what inspires them.  In a space as white, conser...

It’s been more than a week since 31 men from the white supremacist group Patriot Front were arrested and charged with conspiring to riot in Coeur d’Alene. Most of them travelled from other states to potentially violently attack locals celebrating Pride — in broad daylight. Police stopped the U-Haul truck carrying them just blocks away from the public park where LGBTQ families and allies were gathe...

Summer and bicycling in Boise go together like peanut butter and jelly. Cruising along the Greenbelt is a delight, and grabbing a group of friends to ride around downtown can make even the most cynical Boisean feel like a kid again. But so many of us still use our cars as our primary way of getting around, which is a problem if we ever want to meet our city’s climate change goals. What gives?  Tod...

Idaho is pretty used to getting embarrassed in national media for cranking out far-right extremist figures. But in last month’s Republican primary, extremists who were hoping to win statewide elections lost big-time — for the most part. That doesn’t mean the legislature won’t drive Boise liberals nuts next year though. To find out whose having a moment and whose been kicked to the curb in Idaho’s...

We haven’t officially switched to summer yet, but the heat is supposed to flirt with us this weekend. City Cast Boise audio producer Evelyn Avitia and newsletter writer Blake Hunter share their hard-won local tips and secret spots to help us make the most of the season (including what to do when it’s 100+ and smoky, and why floating the Boise River is kinda over-rated – but still worth trying!). ...