Hello Tuesday. This is Gretchen Parsons with your morning reading.

Fancy hitting the slopes this weekend? We have the details on which local ski resorts are open. But first, about potential increases to your water bill.

• Today: 44°🌧 Rainy during the day.

First up today

Potential water bill increase for Treasure Valley customers

Treasure Valley residents could see their water bills rise by just over 20% if a rate increase is approved.

Water utility Veolia applied to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to approve $74 million in “customer improvements,” which were completed in January 2023.

According to a press release from Veolia, the upgrades will improve water quality, storage capacity and fire suppression for nearly 108,000 homes and businesses in the region.

If IPUC approves the increase in full, Veolia plans to implement it in two phases. At the end of both phases, this would represent an average increase of $6.77 per month for residential customers, a monthly increase of $24.63 for commercial customers, and public customers (government and publicly funded entities) would see a monthly increase of $24 .94 US dollars.

Eagle residents can expect their monthly bills to increase by $4.52, commercial customers by $16.42 and government customers by $16.63. Eagle residents living in the Legacy subdivision will continue to move in gradually over time.

The IPUC will need several months to consider the rate increases, which it can accept, reject or modify.

In the meantime, customers can submit comments on the proposal to the IPUC here. The Commission is also expected to announce public hearings on this issue at a later date, which we will include in our newsletter.

(A faucet. Photo: Nithin PA/Pexels)

Thanksgiving weekend ski roundup

Sun Valley Resorts opens ski season on Thanksgiving.

The mountain opens its 89th winter season at 9 a.m.

To celebrate, there will be a DJ at River Run Plaza from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and free hot cocoa.

Other ski resorts that will be open this Thanksgiving weekend include Bogus Basin, Brundage and possibly Tamarack. Tamarack had originally planned to open on Friday, December 6th, but announced it would push to Friday, November 29th if conditions permitted. It looks like conditions allow for this, as Tamarack’s website is currently announcing a Black Friday opening. And while Bogus will be open this Thanksgiving weekend (November 28th – December 1st), it won’t reopen until the following weekend, December 7th – 8th. Bundage is currently open seven days a week.

(Photo courtesy of Sun Valley Resort.)

Hope for the holidays

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are preparing for festive meals and celebrations. But for some, financial challenges make this time of year particularly difficult.

To ensure all families can enjoy a nutritious holiday meal, the Idaho Foodbank is in the midst of its “Hope for the Holidays” campaign, which aims to provide food for 3.7 million meals through November and December.

The campaign includes nationwide events that provide opportunities to support neighbors in need while completing everyday tasks like grocery shopping, getting gas, or buying holiday gifts.

One of my favorite campaign fundraisers, Empty Bowls, launches tomorrow. From November 27 through December 8, people can purchase handmade and hand-painted bowls, and all proceeds will go toward providing meals to people in need in Idaho.

The Take a Slice Out Hunger fundraiser at Idaho Pizza Company begins Friday. Customers can make a $5 donation at checkout, which will go to the food bank and be entered into a drawing for free pizza for a year.

All Hope for the Holidays events can be found here.

In knowledge

• City Council: Today’s Boise City Council meeting has been canceled.
• RV Renewals: ITD reminds RV owners that their RV registration renewal is due by the end of the year. You can do this online.
• 🍂Eagle leaf recycling: Eagle’s curbside leaf recycling program ends Friday.
• Jackpot: The Mega Millions jackpot is up to $489 million. The next drawing will take place this evening.

Original reporting by BoiseDev

Last Biscuit & Hogs is closing as the owner is hundreds of thousands in debt. Landlord rejects Instagram claims

As Sydney Kidd reports, the owner of Biscuit and Hogs just closed his second location and owes more than half a million dollars to various companies on top of all his restaurants.

‘Trying to open the doors’: Nampa approves subdivision, open space near Lake Lowell lavender farm

Land near Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has been approved for annexation into Nampa. Erin Banks Rusby has details on the plans for the land.

“Boise’s Grove Hotel is getting a renovation”.

Find out what to expect at The Grove on BoiseDev as the hotel undergoes some renovations.

Kroger once again pushes back Albertsons’ crucial deadline as three judges deliberate on a settlement

As Don Day reports, Kroger announced it would again push back the expiration date of its offer to buy Boise-based Albertsons.

Link worthy

• Nampa LGBTQ group: The Idaho Press reports on Nampa’s LGBTQ+ youth club, which was criticized by a local senator for maintaining grooming, according to IP.🔒
• Trade mission: Idaho Gov. Brad Little led a seven-day trade mission to Taiwan and Japan this month to foster economic ties. Read more from the Idaho Capital Sun.
• Curriculum questioned: Educators from the Nez Perce and Lapwai tribes are calling on the Idaho Department of Education to reconsider its endorsement of PragerU’s curriculum, which it calls “controversial and conservative.” Read this story from Idaho Education News.
• Mountain West Volleyball: A federal judge in Colorado has rejected a request that would bar a transgender volleyball player at San Jose State University from playing in this week’s Mountain West Conference tournament. Read more on Boise State Public Radio.

things to do

• Making Christmas cards: Lenses & Brushes in downtown Boise is hosting a Christmas card making workshop on Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $25.
• Free wine tasting: Take a break from Thanksgiving preparations and visit the House of Wine in downtown Boise on Thursday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. and enjoy two free wines while you shop.
• Tree lighting: The Grove’s Christmas tree lighting takes place on Friday at 5 p.m. and the rink opens for the season at 6 p.m
• Payette Brewing: Payette Brewing is hosting a party in its production room for Black Friday from noon to 8 p.m. Payette will be tapping high-quality imperial stouts and porters. Admission is free, but dogs are not allowed in the production room.

Zamzow’s Pet of the Day

Meet Dash!

Carolyn Manwaring got Dash as her grandson’s first pet! Dash has a very special personality and loves having his nose and head stroked.

Submit your pet’s photo here and we may feature it every weekday! Plus, our friends at Zamzows will send the winning pet (the owners) a prize!