Dispatch: Week of March 1

Storm updates and weeding tips

Hello from California’s high desert where some of the mountains are still covered in snow and we’re trying to thaw out from the most recent set of winter storms. Let’s hope spring is just around the corner.

A very light dusting of snow in Joshua Tree National Park.

Onto this week’s news:

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In local news:

• San Bernardino County declared a state of emergency for mountain residents in Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead.

  • Residents have been stuck for days after receiving nearly five feet of snow over the weekend, with more snow expected this week. The declaration could help free up funds to clear main roads and side streets.

• The base station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway received measurable snowfall last week for the first time in several years.

  • That means, technically, it snowed in Palm Springs.

• Acrisure Arena donated $10,000 to the Mojave Desert Land Trust in The Eagles’ name to commemorate the group’s tour.

• A Minnesota man was fined $540 and banned from any national park for a year for trespassing on an off-limits ancient cave and petroglyph site in Joshua Tree National Park.

• The Twentynine Palms City Council authorized city funds to provide hotel rooms for 46 unhoused people in the city during the cold, wet weather.

• Z107.7 reminds us that weeding is still a good idea to ward off potential fire risk this summer even as the promise of a super-bloom looms. More here.

• The 17th Annual Parade of Homes raised $3,200 for Reach Out Morongo Basin after a hiatus due to COVID-19.

• The Desert Sun has a great look at what’s behind rising gas and electricity rates across the Morongo Basin and Coachella Valley, and some tips on how to lower the bills or get assistance from utilities.

In state news:

• State senators and assemblymembers submitted 2,632 bills to be considered this year — the most in the past decade.

  • Nearly 1,200 passed and roughly 1,000 became law with approval from Gov. Gavin Newsom, per CalMatters.

  • Axios San Francisco has a great run-down of the bills to keep an eye on and which laws are worth following.

• Some experts are concerned about a potential atmospheric river system coming to town in mid-March. Combined with nearly record snowpack, much of the Central Valley could be at risk of major flooding.

• Tuesday marked the end of California's COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency even as the virus continues to circulate. Changes include:

  • Vaccines and boosters are no longer free and will have to be through a doctor or local pharmacy.

  • Hospitals have also changed billing standards for COVID-19 care.

  • Cal-Fresh benefits ended the emergency allotment after the March disbursement.

In other news:

• Tom Brady reportedly wants to be a stand-up comedian, but I don’t know how he’ll top his hilariously bad last season in the NFL (bu-dum-tiss).

• The war in Ukraine officially past the one-year mark last week.

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Alice investigates her first snowman.

Pupdate of the week: Alice is missing her favorite human while he is on a work trip, but she’ll settle for her second favorite human in the meantime. Oliver is just happy he gets first dibs on his bed spot at night.

Trail tip of the week: If you’re looking for snow in the desert, check out any north-facing trails in the park. Those areas melt slower due to less sun exposure.

Watch of the week: Two people have now recommending “How I Met Your Father,” Hulu’s sequel series to early aughts hit “How I Met Your Mother.” It is a great background show starring Hilary Duff (yes, really) and the old cast makes some great cameos every now and then.

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That’s it for this week. I hope your fences remain in tact and you get to enjoy some sunshine this weekend.

- Megan