Dispatch: Week of November 2
Early voting underway, new hours at Joshua Tree Distilling Company, and Covered California Open Enrollment begins
Hello from California’s high desert where it is exceptionally breezy and chilly. Rumor has it that this storm blowing through started off in Alaska, and I definitely can believe it.
And now, onto this week’s news:
In local news:
A reminder that early voting for the 2022 Midterm Elections began yesterday and will continue until Election Day on Tuesday, November 8.
Registered voters can vote early at the Joshua Tree Community Center at 6171 Sunburst Street in Joshua Tree.
Joshua Tree Distilling Company is extending its hours for high season. It will be open every day from 11:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. If you haven’t been to check out the space and its gallery of local art, I highly recommend!
It is located at 58945 Business Center Drive, Suite G, in Yucca Valley.
There is growing support for a new national monument south of Joshua Tree National Park that would protect roughly 700,000 acres that covers animal and plant habitats as well as cultural and historic sites.
Groups are proposing it be called Chuckwalla National Monument.
The Yucca Valley-Twentynine Palms football game was canceled Friday and will not be made up, the Desert Sun reports.
The game was initially cancelled due to a lockdown at Yucca Valley High School on Friday.
First-year Copper Mountain College students are eligible to receive free tuition and textbook credit through the California Promise Program, per Z107.7.
CMC also announced two new career programs: the Woodland Fire Program with the US Forest Department and Park Services and a Construction Program.
In state news:
Orange County declared a public health emergency over rising cases of pediatric respiratory illnesses that are pushing pediatric hospitals to their limits.
Officials are recommending everyone get their flu shot as soon as possible along with the updated COVID-19 booster developed for the Omicron variant.
Coalinga, a small town in the Central Valley, paid $1.1 million to keep the town’s faucets running through March as water prices statewide skyrocket.
Covered California open enrollment started yesterday and runs through January 31, 2023. The Los Angeles Times has a great guide on what enrollees need to know.
The winter storm currently rolling through the state marks the official start to ski season for you snow sports lovers. Resorts plan to open shortly after.
In other news:
Elon Musk officially bought Twitter last Friday and if I never hear about this story again it will be too soon.
Dan Snyder, one of the NFL’s most disliked individuals and owner of the Washington Commanders, is reportedly trying to sell the team.
Katy Perry is a big fan of regular old print newspapers (as are we).
Pupdate of the week: Both dogs had some minor health issues this week and we’re very grateful to the staffs at Companion Animal Clinic, Yucca Valley VCA, and Banning Veterinary Hospital for all their help in getting these pups on the mend!
Trail tip of the week: I love hiking with hand warmers in my pockets and boots (for my chilly feet) during the cooler months, especially when the winds are particularly brutal like they are today. Some habits from the Midwest will never die!
Show of the week: It has been non-stop sports viewing in my house the last few weeks, and there is at least one football game on every single day from now until November 20. Not that it will do any good for the Chicago Bears or Northwestern Wildcats, my hometown disappointments.
A quick shout-out to Wonder Valley part-time resident Marcus for helping me out with a flat tire on 62 just outside of Desert Hot Springs yesterday evening. He was a lifesaver and Wonder Valley is lucky to have him!
That’s it for this week. I hope you are staying warm even if you’re getting outside.
- Megan