Dispatch: Week of June 29
Fourth of July events, "The Last Manhunt" is picked up, and California's budget surplus
Hello from California’s high desert where summer is officially in full swing.
Onto this week’s news:
In local news:
There will be fireworks in Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms on Monday in celebration of July Fourth.
Yucca Valley’s fireworks display will start after sundown at Brehm Park and end by 10 p.m.
Tortoise Rock Casino will host a fireworks display in Twentynine Palms at Knott’s Sky Park starting at 9 p.m.
San Bernardino County firefighters rescued two puppies that were stuck in a tortoise den in Yucca Valley this week.
The puppies’ exit was blocked by Oscar, a 100-pound desert tortoise, who currently maintains residence in the aforementioned den.
The Yucca Valley Summer Music Festival returns this year with a six-concert series starting July 4 and running through August 13 at Brehm Park.
The series’ full schedule can be found here.
The Yucca Valley High School pool is now open to the public for its summer season. Residents are able to access free swim, water aerobics, and lap swim during the week.
The full schedule is available here. Registration fees vary by activity.
The Twentynine Palms Art Gallery will host an opening reception for its Summer Show on Saturday, July 2
The reception runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and includes appetizers, beverages, artist meet and greet, and local music. Admission is free.
Tuesday was the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Landers Earthquake.
In state news:
State officials approved payments of up to $1,050 in relief checks to millions of state residents following an unprecedented state budget surplus.
Though officials are marketing the checks as inflation relief, it is California law that the government return surplus funds to taxpayers when a surplus threshold is met across the state.
Qualifying taxpayers can expect to receive the funds by the end of this year.
Speaking of surplus, the state is also looking to provide first-time homebuyers with loans for down payments using funds from the surplus.
The proposed bill would allocate roughly $1 billion over 10 years to the loan program for homebuyers.
The Rices Fire in Nevada County has burned more than 500 acres and is forcing widespread evacuations in Northern California.
An amendment to California’s state constitution that would codify the right to abortion across the state is headed to the ballot in November.
In other news:
Saban Films acquired “The Last Manhunt,” Jason Momoa’s historical action movie about Willie Boy and the history of the Chemehuevi tribe.
Careful what you wish for. After the “success” of Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos tacos, it is now experimenting with a Big Cheez-It Tostada. The Cheez-It is 17 times the size of your standard cheesy cracker. Go nuts.
Pupdate of the week: The dogs got two new bones last weekend and have been diligently working on destroying both of them. It’s good we have an indoor activity since it has been too hot to run around in the backyard most days.
Trail tip of the week: Monsoon season is here and with that, be sure to always keep an eye on the forecast when heading anywhere near a canyon. Flash floods are common during monsoon season and can be dangerous if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve downloaded OpenSummit to keep tabs on more remote locations’ forecasts for the summer. Bonus, the app also maps and forecasts smoke.
Show of the week: I just finished the latest season of Hacks on HBO Max and I think the comedy really hit its stride in the last few episodes. It follows an aging comedian who is paired with a young comedy writer trying to make a name for herself in the industry. It starts off a bit kitschy but ends on a really empathetic, heartwarming note for its second season. It was just renewed through a fourth season so now is the perfect time to catch up.
That’s it for this week! I hope you have a great long weekend and have a chance to get outside.
- Megan