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Empathy in eviction court: The path to understanding can show more than non-payment of rent. • Idaho Capital Sun

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Empathy in eviction court: The path to understanding can show more than non-payment of rent. • Idaho Capital Sun


“Day in and out I work to make ends meet. Luckily, I can come home at the end of the day to my wife and two daughters. As a father, I do everything to make sure my family is living a happy life. Because I am the sole provider for my family, some days are exhausting, but I am so grateful my wife can stay at home with our 4- and 2-year-old daughters. Everything was good until my family got sick with strep throat. My job is physically demanding and I was out of work for two weeks. 

I’m finally well enough to go back, but we’re short two weeks of income and can’t pay our rent along with other living expenses. After trying to make small payments, we received an eviction notice on the 5th of the month. We have no family here and none of our friends are financially stable enough to help. This was the first time we had ever experienced something like this, so we didn’t know where to turn. Jesse Tree contacted us before our court date asking if we wanted to take part in pre-court mediation. With their support, we made a pay-to-stay agreement with our landlord. Jesse Tree paid our remaining balance and connected us to resources that helped us get back on our feet. Thanks to Jesse Tree, we avoided an eviction, the stress of a sudden move-out, and homelessness.” 

Treasure Valley evictions are on the rise, but rent aid is working to keep Idahoans in their homes

This is not my story, but this is a common experience among Treasure Valley residents like the Taylors. The Taylor family had never experienced housing instability so the eviction process was foreign to them. Pre-court mediation helped them tell their story, work out a plan with their landlord, and ultimately get their case dismissed. 

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Stories like this are not uncommon. In 2023, eviction filings more than doubled from 818 cases to 2,307 in Ada and Canyon County. However, 1,571 of those cases were dismissed. We have seen a direct connection in the number of eviction case dismissals because of Jesse Tree’s mediation work in the courts.

Why does mediation make such an impact? In an article by Eric Leake from Texas State University, he explains that leaving room for empathy allows us to see ourselves in the lives of others and acknowledge shared vulnerabilities. Leake emphasizes that we all have shared humanity. In this case, a need for stable housing is a shared similarity that transcends individual differences, circumstances and life stories.

Mediation allows tenants to share their stories with landlords, property managers and attorneys who otherwise might not have the opportunity to see the humanity on the other side of the table. As humans, it is easy to attribute one’s circumstances to something they did, rather than something out of their control. This is why Jesse Tree’s pre-court mediation in Canyon County and court-ordered mediation in Ada County are as impactful as they are. 

According to the Idaho Policy Institute, Ada and Canyon County are the only major counties in Idaho that have stayed below the state average in evictions. These are the only Idaho counties where Jesse Tree is involved in the mediation process. Even with the discontinuation of Canyon County’s mediation program in June 2023, Jesse Tree pivoted and offered pre-court mediation services, keeping Canyon County below the state average and families out of homelessness. 

You can help people like the Taylor family stay in their homes by donating, volunteering and spreading the word about Jesse Tree. In our 2023 Eviction Report, Jesse Tree highlighted the importance of homelessness prevention. It costs Ada County taxpayers $53,000 per year for one person living on the streets and up to $15,000 to rehouse a family after they fall into homelessness. With the help that Jesse Tree provides, it costs $2,000 to keep a family safely housed.

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Eviction prevention is vital work that you can be part of. Help us help people open the door to a sustainable future and keep the Treasure Valley a stable place for people to live.

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Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Pick 3 on March 6, 2026

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The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 6.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 6 drawing

08-19-26-38-42, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 6 drawing

Day: 9-3-1

Night: 9-7-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 6 drawing

Day: 9-9-2-9

Night: 9-0-8-0

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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from March 6 drawing

20-21-31-35-38

Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 6 drawing

04-10-29-48-50, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
  • Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
  • Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Lewiston advances to title game of Idaho Class 5A boys basketball stat…

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Lewiston advances to title game of Idaho Class 5A boys basketball stat…


The Bengals held off the Wildcats in a game played at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

With the win, Lewiston (22-3) earned a spot in the 5A championship game, scheduled for 5 p.m. PST Saturday at the Idaho Center. The Bengals will play the winner of today’s other semifinal game between Bishop Kelly and Preston.

Lewiston will try to capture its first boys basketball state title since 2009.

This story will be updated.

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‘I’ve never seen something that big’: Boise neighbors finding rats in their backyards

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‘I’ve never seen something that big’: Boise neighbors finding rats in their backyards


BOISE, Idaho — A Boise neighbor said she trapped the largest rat she has ever seen in her backyard, and a local pest control expert said he has already responded to multiple Treasure Valley homes this year to remove the rodents. As sightings increase, Idaho lawmakers are also taking action.

Britni Killeen, who grew up on a farm in East Idaho, said nothing could have prepared her for what she found in her West Boise backyard.

WATCH: What to do if you spot a rat near your residence

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Rats spotted on the Boise Bench. What experts say you should do

“I’m a 5th-generation Idahoan, and I’ve never seen something that big,” Killeen said.

Killeen believes the rats may be swimming through the Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve and making their way into nearby neighborhoods.

“We live next door to the refuge, and if you have a gap between your fence, which we do, it’s about 3 ft, they come into your yard, and they can go under fences,” explained Killeen.

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Alpha Home Pest Control has served the Treasure Valley for over 10 years. Owner Mike Hill said he has been receiving weekly calls about rat sightings. While some turn out to be false alarms, he has already visited seven Treasure Valley homes this year to remove rats. Hill said many of them may be arriving from out of state and staying because of the mild weather conditions.

“Washington, California, the shipping, the freight coming back and forth, they’re kind of stowaways,” Hill said. “Then with the mild winters that we’ve been having, [it] hasn’t really been killing them off.”

RELATED | ‘It was like an explosion of rats’: Neighbors report rise in pests

Hill said Norway and Roof rats can pose serious risks to both health and property.

“They carry disease, they carry fleas, ticks, they can chew through your wiring in your home,” Hill said. “Their teeth grow very rapidly, so there have been cases where they’re up there chewing on wires, [and] the house burns down.”

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If you spot a rat, Hill recommends calling a professional to ensure there are not more hiding nearby. He also offered several prevention tips.

“The droppings of the fruit, excess fruit, keep that stuff picked up. Make sure that your trash is enclosed in either a hard plastic or metal container,” Hill said.

RELATED| Rodents of Unusual Size Act advances to House after 28-3 Senate vote

As rat sightings increase across the Treasure Valley, lawmakers are taking notice. On Thursday, the Idaho Senate passed the Rodents of Unusual Size Act, which would declare Norway and roof rats a public health and safety nuisance and requires the state to take action to control and remove them. That bill now heads to the House.

Killeen said the legislation is a step in the right direction.

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“Considering how big that rat is, I would definitely say so,” Killeen said. “I didn’t even know that big of rats could exist in Idaho, but maybe I’m just rural.”

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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