Dispatch: Week of June 22
Fish & Game punts Joshua tree listing to October, local election summary, and a CAL FIRE investigation
Hello from California’s high desert where, rumor has it, we’ll get our first taste of monsoonal moisture this afternoon. We can only hope.
Now, onto this week’s news:
In local news:
The Grant Fire is up to 60 acres near Mecca in Riverside County. Officials cautioned that heavy smoke would be visible in the Basin as crews work to extinguish the blaze, which is currently burning in a heavy fuel area.
No evacuations have been ordered and no injuries have been reported.
The fire began at around 9:45 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 111 and Grant Street southeast of Mecca, according to a Desert Sun report.
The fire was 20% contained as of Tuesday evening.
Three people identified as sovereign citizens — meaning they believe they are exempt from U.S. federal law — have been arrested in Yucca Valley for being in possession of explosives.
Two men who were stopped with an explosive device in their car outside the Yucca Valley library Saturday were traced to a compound where investigators found more explosives and firearms, according to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff’s bomb and arson team detonated the explosives at the Paxton Wash.
The Hi-Desert Star had a great summary of primary election results from June 6. The results are to be certified by July 15, with Measure Z’s future still in doubt.
Just 21% of eligible voters in San Bernardino County participated in the June primary.
State officials have deferred a decision on whether to list the western Joshua tree as a threatened species after hours of public comment and debate this week ended in a deadlocked vote.
The four-member fish and game commission said it will reconsider a petition to protect Joshua trees under California’s Endangered Species Act in October. Interim, conditional protections will remain in place until then.
The County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to better address those experiencing houselessness in the county, including increasing shelter capacity and housing those most at-risk.
The Route 62 construction project continues this week on the following schedule:
Traffic will be limited to one lane from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., going westbound from Scholl Dr to Indian Canyon Ave Monday through Wednesday. Traffic will be down to one lane Thursday from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. westbound from Camino Del Cielo Tr to Indian Canyon Ave.
The Twentynine Palms Water District meets this week to decide whether it will implement Stage II restrictions on water use.
Outdoor watering would be limited to three days a week and landscape watering between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. will be prohibited under the increased restrictions.
In state news:
COVID-19 vaccinations are now available to children aged 6 months up to 5 years. Here’s how to sign up in California.
State officials are investigating why California gas prices remain the highest in the nation, even as prices dipped earlier this week.
There is a big investigation into CAL FIRE’s effectiveness in fighting wildfires across the state with a record-high budget. The results were not good.
In other news:
There’s a new Beyoncé single out. You’re welcome.
Yellowstone National Park is reopening this week after massive flooding shut down most of the northern part of the park.
Entry is currently limited based on license plate number (those with plates ending in odd numbers can enter on odd days, and vice versa) through the South entrance via Jackson/Grand Teton, the West entrance via West Yellowstone, and the more remote East entrance.
The park’s South Loop is open but access to points of interest in the northern portion, most notably Mammoth Hot Springs, Roosevelt Arch, and Tower-Roosevelt, are closed for an indeterminate amount of time while the park assesses road damage in the area.
Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady’s right-hand man, is retiring from the NFL at age 33.
The four-time Super Bowl champion played with Brady on the New England Patriots before moving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Pupdate of the week: Alice has decided her new favorite hobby is rolling around in the dirt every time she goes outside. She’s probably mimicking Oliver, who loves to sunbathe outdoors but is way less messy about it.
Trail tip of the week: My husband and I summited San Jacinto Peak last weekend and packed out a TON of trash from other groups on the trail, so my tip this week is to pack an extra set of gloves and a trash bag if you’re able to snap up a few wrappers and plastic next time you head out on the trail. And of course, be mindful of how you store your trash during the hike so it doesn’t fall out of your bag before you’re back at the trailhead.
Show of the week: The second half of Ozark’s last season is officially out on Netflix and we have it queued up and ready to go. The series is dark — and only gets more so as time goes on — but it is incredibly well-made and a regular on the awards circuit. Who knew Michael Bluth had it in him?!
That’s it for this week! I hope you stay safe and cool, and get a few moments to yourself outside this weekend.
- Megan