Meet the Idaho Statesman’s new service journalism reporter, Hali Smith
Why hello Boise, it’s a pleasure to officially meet you. I’m the Idaho Statesman’s newest service journalism reporter, Hali Smith, but a lot of people know me as Hal.
I cover a wide variety of stories across Idaho for the Statesman, but I do focus primarily on Boise. You may have seen some of my stories already if you’ve been keeping up with the weather, tax filing and the Boise Farmers Market.
I was born and raised in a rural town in the middle of the US known as Richmond, Missouri. Actually, it was more like 30 minutes outside of Richmond, across the street from a field of neighborly cows. I moved around a bit in middle and high school, but I call Kansas City, Missouri, my first home.
I graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a digital media and journalism degree in June 2025. I transitioned to the Idaho Statesman reporting team after my internship with my college news organization, RooNews.
Fun fact: I moved to Boise on the very first day of 2026, with the help of my amazing friends and family. Ever since, I have been met with a warm Boise welcome as I report around the city.
Here’s a little more about me, in case you’re curious:
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Boise?
A: So far it is hands down The Wylder, though I still have much to explore. I can get a discounted gourmet pizza, bottle of wine and cozy bar conversation every Monday and Tuesday. The service there is incredibly attentive, and getting shoulder-to-shoulder with the Boise crowd over some delicious ‘za and a good book has led to a few new introductions already. What’s not to love?
Q: What am I most excited about in Boise?
A: The accessibility to nature here in Boise is a major luxury and I can’t wait to explore it all. I’ve missed rock climbing and snowboarding while living in Kansas City, so maybe you’ll catch me at Bogus.
Q: What makes working for the Statesman special?
A: I love what I get to do and the most rewarding part of reporting for the Idaho Statesman is engaging with the community around me. Getting to explore every corner of Boise and meeting the people that live here has me on an endless adventure.
Q: What’s the most interesting thing about your hometown?
A: There is a huge system of caves and tunnels in Missouri and a lot of Kansas City sits on top of that system — from boring company storage to underground rock climbing, the mafia or even government cheese. There are just too many weird things to share about those tunnels. If you’re curious, a quick Google search will lead you right down the rabbit hole.
Q: What book are you reading right now?
A: I love a good mystery book and right now I’m reading two: “Strange Houses” by Uketsu and translated by Jim Rion, and “A Drop of Corruption: An Ana and Din Mystery” by Robert Jackson Bennett. “Strange Houses” is a thoroughly creepy Japanese horror mystery book. If you like true crime, I highly recommend it. It’s a short read with lots of visual aspects — an Uketsu trademark. “A Drop of Corruption: An Ana and Din Mystery” is the second book in a diverse fantasy murder mystery series. This trilogy pulls you into a nostalgic Holmes and Watson relationship between the main characters. I’m excited to keep reading about the trouble they get into.
How to contact me
If you have story ideas or questions you want answered about living your best life in Boise, email me at hali.smith@idahostatesman.com.
