43rd ANNUAL PAINT THE TOWN™
SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 14, 2025
As you may have heard, in 2025, NeighborWorks® Boise's
Paint the Town™ will have an increased focus on serving our veteran neighbors and their families!

For more info, call  208-258-6222 or email [email protected]​

  BOISE, ID – April 23, 2025 – Walmart is proud to deepen its commitment to Idaho by investing in local stores,
empowering associates and enriching the communities it serves every day. Today, Walmart unveiled details of two
planned store remodels this year in Idaho and new investments focused on enhancing the associate experience and community engagement. These initiatives underscore Walmart’s goal of being Idaho’s favorite place to shop.

"Our stores often serve as the heartbeat of the communities we operate in, and these remodels are a testament to our dedication to enhancing that role,” said Walmart Sr. Vice President and West U.S. Business Operations Lead Jay Cordray. “By investing in our stores and associates, we are not only improving the shopping experience but also reinforcing our commitment to being a vital part of the community’s fabric, helping to build a brighter future for all.”

​Investing in a New Store Experience: 2025 Walmart Remodels in Idaho
This year, Walmart has set an ambitious goal to remodel more than 650 stores across the U.S., including two stores in Idaho. Prior to 2025, Walmart has invested $169.5 million (M) to upgrade stores throughout Idaho in the past five years.

We’re re-imagining the in-store shopping experience with updates throughout the store, including:

• New Look: Big, bold signage. Exciting new displays to better showcase merchandise.
• More Selection: Expanded departments. New items. More of what customers are looking for.
• Expanding Online Pickup & Delivery: To fulfill the growing number of online customer orders.
• Rethinking Our Pharmacy: Wider aisles. New private screening room. Privacy checkout areas

Investing in Idaho Associates: Unlimited Career Opportunities Close to Home
With 27 retail units, Walmart employs more than 9,100 associates in Idaho and this month was named as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and LinkedIn’s Top Companies for 2025. Whether coming for a job or staying for a career, associates have opportunities to build skills, gain experience, grow their earnings and use industry-leading benefits to help them flourish in both their personal and professional lives. Walmart is proud to announce the following:

• More than 5,900 hourly, frontline associates in Idaho received a bonus in March. Walmart paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses to eligible hourly associates nationwide.
• More than 550 associates in Idaho were promoted to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay last year.
• More than 750 part-time associates in Idaho promoted to full-time positions last year.
• Approximately 75% of Walmart frontline managers started as hourly associates.

All Walmart associates have access to company-paid skills certificates and college degrees through Live Better U, paid time off, medical plans, 20 no-cost therapy sessions, 401k and associate stock purchase plans, both with a company match, associate discounts, a free Walmart+ membership and more.

Investing in Idaho Communities: Helping our Neighbors
Being part of the community means making investments that support and enrich the entire community. The company plays an active role in lifting up communities and helping those in need through local giving, company-paid associate volunteering, emergency relief efforts when disaster strikes and supporting local manufacturing. Walmart, the Walmart Foundation and Sam’s Club invested in Idaho in the following ways:

•  Donated a total of $4.9 million (M) to empower local communities in Idaho in fiscal year 2024.
• Spent $713.6 million (M) with Idaho suppliers in fiscal year 2024 to support more than 8,600 supplier jobs across the state.
• Donated more than 34.8 million (M) pounds of food to local food banks in Idaho in fiscal year 2025, which is the equivalent of more than 29 million (M) meals to help feed the hungry

Boise, ID – The Boise Phil is thrilled to announce its 65th season, "America at 250," a vibrant celebration of American composers and the rich musical heritage of the United States. This season also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Boise Phil Master Chorale (BPMC), adding an extra layer of significance to this special year.
 
The America at 250 theme underscores the orchestra’s commitment to celebrating the nation’s musical legacy. Each classical program opens with a piece by an American composer, including John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare, Jennifer Higdon’s ethereal blue cathedral, and a tribute to late Boise composer David Alan Earnest.
 
The 2025-26 Season will feature seven mainstage Symphonic Series concerts, performed at the Morrison Center, each opening with a work by an American composer, showcasing the breadth and depth of American musical talent. From iconic film scores to innovative contemporary pieces, the season promises to be a journey through the sounds of a nation.
 
"I'm thrilled to share the 2025-26 Season with our community," says Music Director Eric Garcia, "In creating it, I was honored to celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary with a series of dynamic American openers - including a tribute to Boise’s own David Alan Earnest. We also mark the 50th anniversary of our Master Chorale with Orff’s exhilarating audience favorite, Carmina Burana, and shine a spotlight on Boise Phil’s principal cellist, Philip Kettler, in Saint-Saëns’s gorgeous Cello Concerto No. 1.   Throughout the season, the Boise Phil will explore beloved classics by Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Respighi, Tchaikovsky, and many more – joined, as always, by an inspiring roster of world-class guest artists. It’s a season that celebrates our nation’s rich musical heritage and the remarkable talent of our community, and I can’t wait to share these experiences with our audiences."
 
"For the 2025-26 Season, we are excited to be bringing three Idaho premieres to Boise audiences," says Executive Director Brandon VanWaeyenberghe. "Two shows in particular I am looking forward to seeing on stage, which will see the Boise Phil expanding into new genres. With Sailing, we celebrate the music of the 1970s and 80s with a full symphony orchestra. We are also pleased to welcome Boise-native Morgan James to join the Boise Phil in this second-ever run of this program. We are also thrilled to bring, for the first time in Idaho, the program Music of Queen. I have worked with this group with orchestras in Houston and Charlotte, and I know they will get the crowd on their feet and singing. This one-night-only event is something not to be missed. Our third Idaho premiere is Home Alone, pairing the iconic holiday film with the score played by a live orchestra. This title has been requested several times, and we are pleased to bring it to Boise to start the 2025 holiday season."
 
​​The seven-concert Symphonic Series balances beloved masterworks with contemporary voices. Highlights include Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, and Respighi’s epic Pines of Rome.
 
Symphonic Series, Performed at Morrison Center:
 

• Mozart & Tchaikovsky 4 (October 4 & 5, 2025)
  The season opens with John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 (featuring Bella Hristova), and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
  
  
• Mendelssohn’s Italian (November 8 & 9, 2025)
  This program includes Clarice Assad’s Baião n’ Blues, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor (with Joyce Yang), and Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony.
  
  
• Home Alone (film with live orchestra) (November 29 & 30, 2025)
  A special holiday treat featuring the beloved film with John Williams’ score performed live.
  
  
• Ravel & Strauss (January 24 & 25, 2026)
  This concert honors Boise composer David Alan Earnest with his overture Turbulence, and features Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 (with Philip Kettler), Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, and Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier Suite.
  
  
• Carmina Burana (with BPMC) (March 14 & 15, 2026)
  Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Boise Phil Master Chorale, this program features Jennifer Higdon’s blue cathedral and Orff’s Carmina Burana.
  
  
• Sailing: Soft Rock Hits of the 70s and 80s (May 2 & 3, 2026)
  A nostalgic journey through soft rock hits of the 70s and 80s, featuring Boise Native Morgan James, Doug Wamble and John Scarpulla.
  
  
• Pines of Rome (season finale) (May 16 & 17, 2026)
  The season concludes with Michael Torke’s Javelin, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (with Stewart Goodyear), and Respighi’s Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome.

 
The Boise Phil is committed to serving the entire Treasure Valley and the greater Idaho region, offering a diverse range of musical experiences that enrich and inspire. In addition to the Symphonic Series, the 2025-2026 Season will include:
 

• Water Music: (September 8, 2025 at Idaho Shakespeare Amphitheatre)
• Handel’s Messiah: (December 19 & 20, 2025 at Cathedral of the Rockies, Boise)
• The Music of Queen (February 7, 2026 at Morrison Center)

 
Season subscriptions are now available, offering a range of benefits, including priority access, preferred seating, and discounts. Single tickets go on sale August 1, 2025. For more information about the 2025-2026 Season and subscription options, please visit boisephil.org.
 
For more information or to schedule an interview please contact;
Timothy O’Donnell, c. 208.329.0876 e. [email protected]
 
About the Boise Phil:
For 65 years, the Boise Phil has served as the Treasure Valley’s premier orchestral institution, delivering world-class performances and fostering community through music. The orchestra engages over 30,000 annual patrons through its mainstage, education, and outreach programs.

​Boise, Idaho — April 21, 2025 — Boise's culinary scene is about to welcome an exciting new chapter with the arrival of Hemlock, a boutique fine-dining steakhouse set to open on May 6, 2025 at the Inn at 500 Capitol. This highly anticipated venture is led by Scott Slater and Boise native Todd Ketlinski, the creative forces behind the celebrated Spitfire Tacos + Tequila. With their proven expertise and innovative vision, Hemlock is poised to redefine the steakhouse experience with an unapologetically bold approach, offering a fresh take on this timeless fine-dining tradition.

“As a Boise native, I’ve watched this city grow into a vibrant culinary hub, and it’s an honor to contribute to that evolution with Hemlock,” said Todd Ketlinski, Co-Founder of Hemlock. “This isn’t just about opening a new restaurant—it’s about reimagining what a steakhouse can be while continuing the legacy of this iconic space.”

A Menu That Marries Tradition and Innovation

Guests can expect a refined, elevated menu anchored by premium cuts sourced from esteemed ranches, including Riverbend Ranch in Idaho Falls and Snake River Farms in Eastern Idaho. Highlights include:

• 16-ounce Prime Ribeye – Pasture-raised Black Angus with abundant marbling and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
• 14-ounce American Wagyu New York Strip – Rich, buttery flavor with a deep, beefy taste.
• 8-ounce Prime Filet Mignon – Exceptional tenderness with a flavorful, rich beef profile.
• 40-ounce Prime Porterhouse for Two – A luxurious cut offering both filet and strip, balancing melt-in-your-mouth texture with a satisfying chew.
• 8-ounce Wagyu Skirt and 8-ounce Wagyu Denver – Richly marbled cuts, each delivering bold, savory flavor.

These standout selections reflect Hemlock’s commitment to precision, quality sourcing, and culinary craft. Complementing the steaks are inventive starters like the Table-Side Baked Potato for Two—Giant Spud with Irresponsible Additions and the Brontosaurus Bone—a 10-inch sous vide beef rib, dry-rubbed and hasselback’d. Seafood lovers will appreciate bold offerings like Chicken Fried Lobster Tail and a luxurious Caviar Board featuring Petrossian Royal Ossetra. Check out the full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus here. Elevated Mixology Meets Playful Innovation Hemlock’s bar program is as ambitious as its kitchen, featuring a curated selection of craft cocktails that balance sophistication with a sense of fun. Signature drinks include:

• Hemlock Old Fashioned: A robust blend of Old Forester 100 Proof Rye, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Proof, Frangelico, black walnut bitters, and a burnt end garnish.
• Sage Grouse: The Famous Grouse blended malt Scotch, elderflower, vanilla, lemon, passionfruit, cucumber, and a touch of absinthe—complex, bright, and wild at heart.
• Ponderosa Sour: Old Forester 1920, Disaronno, almond, and egg white, offering a nutty twist on a classic sour.

The beverage menu also features a thoughtfully selected wine list and elevated mocktails.

Where Idaho’s Heritage Meets Socratic Spirit

The name Hemlock is a nod to both nature and philosophy. It honors the Hemlock tree, native to Northern Idaho, long valued for its strength, resilience, and practical uses by Native American communities. It also references the story of Socrates, who drank hemlock as a final act of integrity and conviction. At Hemlock, that spirit lives on in a bold approach to hospitality—blending tradition with innovation, and sparking connection through curated Socrates-inspired cocktails. The venue’s vibrant atmosphere will feature striking interior design, a lively bar scene, and unexpected moments—like a grand piano playing ‘90s hip-hop and Top 40 hits.

 Honoring Legacy While Embracing the Future.

Beyond its dining offerings, Hemlock will serve as the exclusive caterer for all events at the Inn at 500 Capitol, providing exceptional culinary experiences for private gatherings, weddings, and corporate events. The restaurant will also offer room service to hotel guests.
For more information and reservations, visit www.hemlockboise.com. Follow @hemlockboise on Instagram.

(CLEVELAND) April 7, 2025 - In celebration of KeyBank’s Bicentennial, the KeyBank Foundation is proud to announce a special grant program designed to strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that play a critical role in advancing affordable housing and small business development. This milestone initiative reflects KeyBank’s enduring legacy of service, resilience, and commitment to fostering economic opportunity and strengthening communities.

Through this program, the KeyBank Foundation intends to award one $200,000 grant to an exemplary CDFI in each of KeyBank’s 27 markets. These grants will provide flexible funding to help CDFIs in achieving their broader mission – whether through expanding services, enhancing infrastructure, or deepening their community impact—ensuring long-term sustainability and continued support for underserved populations.

“CDFIs are at the heart of economic empowerment, creating pathways to homeownership, business growth, and financial stability in the communities that need it most,” said Eric Fiala, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at KeyBank and CEO of KeyBank Foundation. “As we celebrate two centuries of service, we are proud to support investing in organizations that share our mission of creating lasting, positive change in the communities we serve.”

To be eligible, applicants must:
· Be a certified CDFI in good standing.
· Operate as a nonprofit or for-profit CDFI headquartered in a KeyBank primary market.
· Have a strong track record of advancing affordable housing and/or small business development.
· Demonstrate the capacity to effectively manage and deploy grant funds in alignment with the Foundation’s goals.

For-profit CDFIs applicants should note that additional reporting requirements related to expenditure responsibility will be required if selected.

Operating grants will provide flexible and unrestricted funding to support the broader purposes of:
· Affordable housing: Expanding access to safe, affordable housing for underserved populations.
· Small business development: Supporting the growth and sustainability of small businesses, particularly those owned by low-income entrepreneurs.

By offering flexible operating support, this grant is intended to enable CDFIs to apply funds strategically where they are needed most, fostering long-term growth, resilience, and impact. CDFIs interested in applying must submit applications by May 16. More details, including how to apply and submission requirements can be found here.

ABOUT KEYBANK FOUNDATION
KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation that supports organizations and initiatives aimed at improving financial wellness, education, and community development. Through strategic philanthropy, KeyBank Foundation works to create thriving communities and drive meaningful, lasting change.

ABOUT KEYCORP
In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at December 31, 2024.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.