Dispatch: Week of February 9
Some counties drop mask requirements in CA, upcoming events in the Morongo Basin, and Starlink gets caught in a storm
Hello from California’s high desert, where it is starting to feel like spring! Temperatures should return to normal for this time of the year next week, so I plan to enjoy the warm sun and breezy days while I can!
A quick programming note: The Dispatch will be off the next two weeks while I am traveling. I have a new day job and took a few weeks off before starting to reset a bit. Longer term, nothing will change here and The Dispatch will still arrive in your inbox weekly. If there is a day you prefer instead of our usual Wednesdays, please let me know and I’ll see about potentially adjusting the publishing schedule. As always, I appreciate your feedback and love hearing from you!
Okay, now onto this week’s news:
In COVID-19 news:
California will no longer require masks indoors for vaccinated people starting February 15. Unvaccinated people are still required to wear masks indoors except when actively eating or drinking.
Higher density areas like Los Angeles will continue to enforce mask policies for all people regardless of vaccination status, including at this weekend’s Super Bowl.
Lawmakers in Sacramento approved new COVID-19 sick leave policies for workers on Monday. The new rules provide up to two weeks of supplemental paid sick leave for any employee working for a business that employs 26 or more people.
Leave covers anyone recovering from COVID-19, caring for a sick family member, attending a vaccination appointment, recovering from immunization, or taking care of a child who cannot attend school because of virus-related closures or quarantines.
As spring allergy season gets underway, the CDC shared a helpful chart to determine whether symptoms are likely caused by irritants or COVID-19.
Health officials across the country have already started preparing to roll out vaccines for children under 5 years of age as the FDA weighs approval of Pfizer's pediatric vaccine candidate. Vaccinations could start before the end of the month.
The US surpassed 900,000 COVID-19 deaths last week, though officials estimate the count is much higher due to undercounts in the earliest days of the pandemic.
In state news:
Much of the state is under an excessive heat watch for the rest of this week, leaving many officials to warn out-of-state Super Bowl attendees of heat-related illnesses.
The game could be the hottest Super Bowl ever played if current forecasts hold. Temperatures are forecast to be roughly 20 degrees above average for this time of year on Sunday.
In lighter news, here is a fascinating history lesson on California’s fast food chain dominance.
In local news:
Black Luck Vintage and Vinyl is offering 10% off to locals today through Sunday. The shop is now located at 49950 Twentynine Palms Highway in Morongo Valley.
Open mic night is back at Grnd Sqrl starting tonight at 6 p.m. The brewpub is located in Twentynine Palms and is also offering a set menu and beer pairing for Valentine’s Day next week. Head over to 73471 Twentynine Palms Highway to make a reservation.
Mojave Underground is hosting its semi-regular locals meetup on Friday, February 25, at Kitchen in the Desert in Twentynine Palms. Follow the group on Instagram at @mojaveunderground for more information.
The Landers Association is hosting its Second Saturday Craft Fair this Saturday, February 12, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Belfield Hall (58380 Reche Road in Landers).
If you are interested in being a vendor on Saturday, please contact Judy Laffoon at 760-364-2931 or totallyjudy@yahoo.com.
A county official will be in Wonder Valley next week to help residents sign up for aging and adult services offered through San Bernardino County. The meeting will run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. next Wednesday, February 16, at the Wonder Valley Community Center (80526-½ Amboy Road).
In other news:
The publishing company that owns InStyle, Entertainment Weekly, Eating Well, Health, Parents, and People en Espanol announced Wednesday that all six publications will shut down. The final print editions of each will run in April.
Viewership for the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing is on track to be the lowest-rated Olympics broadcast in US history.
SpaceX lost 40 of its Starlink satellites shortly after they were launched into orbit due to a geomagnetic storm. The satellites are expected to reenter, or have reentered already, Earth’s gravitational field.
Pupdate of the week: Alice wanted to play with a coyote on a morning walk earlier this week and scared it away quickly with her big dog bark. She’s about their size but sounds like a guard dog when she gets excited, which is good for my peace of mind while they’re out and active. Oliver has been extra sweet and well-behaved recently, which means he’s got to be up to no good soon.
Trail tip of the week: Always download your map ahead of time if you rely on apps like AllTrails for navigating difficult trails. I set out on a solo hike earlier this week and did just that and let me tell you, having the digital map already on my phone and accessible saved me from heading off trail several times. If you are lower tech, make sure you have a map and compass — and know how to use both together — before setting out even if you don’t think you’ll need them.
Book of the week: My last read of 2021 was Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier. To be completely frank, I picked the book up at a local shop based solely on its cover, which is delightful, and didn’t know much about its plot until I dove in over the holidays. It is an unique novel that follows a young expecting mother in Los Angeles as she forms a relationship with another mother to whom she delivers pizza. It’s introspective and emotional and makes for a quick read once you get into it.
Show of the week: Consider this your shopping reminder because the Super Bowl is this Sunday. The Cincinnati Bengals are facing the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Traffic is going to be a disaster heading that direction all weekend since there are events in and around LA starting on Friday, so avoid it if you can. I am rooting for a good game and an even better halftime show. The game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
That’s it for this week! I hope you have a great few weeks, and if you have any recommendations for Lone Pine, Bishop, or Death Valley, I’m all ears. Enjoy the warmer weather and get outside!
- Megan
Enjoy your travels and be safe. Thank you for all of your hard work on keeping us up to date. You are sincerely appreciated. Brenda
Enjoyed this very much. Really informative. Thank you!!!