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Happy Saturday, Meridian! Hope the AC's up to the task — after a short midweek breather, the heat is muscling right back toward triple digits this weekend. Plenty to do that doesn't require standing in it, though: revolving sushi is spinning toward Ten Mile, West Ada is making breakfast and lunch free at nine schools, the superintendent shares some personal news, and there's racing, markets, trivia and a little Phantom of the Opera to fill your week. Let's dig in. ☀️

Trivia: Meridian's longest-running summer celebration dates back to the late 1920s and is named for the industry the town was literally built on. What's the festival called? (Answer at the bottom.)

Seven Meridian outings worth braving the heat for over the next several days. 🎉

Saturday, July 18

Sunday, July 19

Monday, July 20

Tuesday, July 21

Thursday, July 23

☀️ Saturday, July 18 — Meridian

Overnight low ~68°F · Sunny and hot · slim late-day storm chance

So much for the cool-down. After midweek handed us a short breather, the heat is back in charge: look for a sunny, mostly dry Saturday with highs flirting with triple digits and only a slim chance of an isolated late-day thunderstorm. Sunday and Monday hold in the upper 90s to around 100 before things ease a touch later in the week. Hydrate, hit the splash pads at Kleiner or Settlers, and knock out the yard work before noon. Full forecast at the National Weather Service.

Idaho's very first Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is headed to The District at Ten Mile, right off the I-84 and Ten Mile interchange. If you've never done the conveyor-belt thing, picture small plates of sushi circling the room, a touchscreen at your booth for made-to-order rolls, ramen and udon, and a second "express belt" that shuttles your order straight to the table. The global chain has 600-plus locations; this is its Idaho debut, with an opening targeted for summer 2027 — so start practicing your restraint now. Read more →

Good news for a lot of Meridian families: West Ada announced this week that it'll serve free breakfast and lunch to every student at nine schools during the 2026–27 year, through the federal Community Eligibility Provision. The Meridian-area campuses on the list include Meridian Elementary, Meridian Academy, Frontier, McMillan, Ustick, Silver Sage, River Valley and Desert Sage (plus Eagle Academy). No applications, no lunch-account math at 10 p.m. — just meals for every kid who shows up hungry. Read more →

West Ada Superintendent Derek Bub told the district community this week that he's been diagnosed with cancer. The district says it was caught at a very early stage and that doctors expect a full recovery, and Bub plans to stay on the job through treatment. "My family and I are still processing the news, but I am approaching this the same way I approach every challenge — with determination and optimism," he said in the district's release, where the school board also voiced its full support. From all of us in Meridian: wishing him a smooth recovery. Read more →

Brought to you by Meridian Local Scoop. When the forecast says "near 100" again, even the market dog is mostly here for the shade and the free samples. Want your business in this spot next to the whole town? The open slot's up top.

Trivia answer: Meridian Dairy Days. Long before Meridian was Idaho's second-biggest city, this was dairy country — and the community has thrown Meridian Dairy Days nearly every summer since the late 1920s, making it one of the state's longest-running festivals. The cows have mostly moved on; the parade, the rodeo, and the free-ice-cream memories have not.

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