News

Pala Today News – 2/3/25

Written by John Fox on February 3, 2025

The following items are part of the award-winning “Pala Today” newscast heard this day at noon on PALA REZ RADIO™ 91.3 FM in Pala.

LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS

A Temecula woman has been identified as the victim of a man police shot and killed on the Newport Beach Balboa Pier Saturday. 38-year old Storm Wolf was found shot to death in a Menifee home on Mesa Edge Court early Saturday. Following investigative leads, 45-year old Jose Velasquez of Menifee was located, beginning a lengthy police pursuit into Orange County that ended at the Balboa Pier. Investigators are still looking for Velasquez’ motive in shooting Wolf. https://patch.com/california/temecula/temecula-woman-idd-victim-rivco-man-shot-balboa-pier-cops

The city of Carlsbad is getting a $3m state grant to help find shelter for people living in their vehicles in that city. The annual one-day, point-in-time count of the homeless in San Diego County showed the number living in vehicles on Carlsbad streets nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024 to 56. The money will be allocated over three years and cover partnerships with Interfaith Community Services and the Community Resource Center. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/02/03/carlsbad-gets-3-million-grant-to-help-homeless-people-living-in-vehicles/

An Imperial County judge cleared the way for one of the world’s largest lithium mines when he recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by local civic and environmental groups around Salton Sea. The area known as Hell’s Kitchen, promises to become a valuable source of lithium, a mineral essential to electric car batteries, cellphones and other electronics. While the court decision is expected to open a floodgate of U.S. lithium production, it has disappointed community organizers who worry the mine will endanger the health of nearby residents. https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2025/01/31/massive-salton-sea-lithium-project-gets-judges-go-ahead-ending-advocates-lawsuit

The Escondido Police Department, along with the San Diego Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, on Saturday impounded 11 vehicles that were involved in illegal and dangerous activities during an otherwise peaceful protest earlier in the week in Escondido. The owners of those vehicles were residents of Escondido, Vista, San Marcos and San Diego. The vehicle seizures were ordered by a judge under a law that allows for 30-day impounds for violations of reckless driving and other dangerous activities. Additional vehicles have been identified, as investigators continue their search for them. Several drivers face criminal charges for significant damage done to the roadway in the street takeover. It was one of several planned protests throughout San Diego County against recent immigration and deportation activities. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/police-seize-vehicles-that-put-demonstrators-at-risk-of-harm/

There was a 2.8 magnitude earthquake just west of Lake Henshaw last evening around 7:30p. It was lightly felt throughout North County. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci40178666/executive

Rez Radio is celebrating 14 years on the air today! Our thanks to the Pala Band of Mission Indians for continuing support of this valuable community resource, and to our volunteers for providing quality programming purely for the love of doing so.

Yesterday was Groundhog Day. You could tell because the AMC TV network ran the 1993 movie of the same name all day. Anyway, the real Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday morning, thereby predicting six more weeks of winter. But the National Weather Service notes that Phil has only been right 35% of time over the past 20 years, and that predicting a long winter in our warming world is a losing bet. So, might as well just watch Bill Murray and call it a day. The same day … over and over and …

Pala will be sunny and warm for one more day, rain beginning Tuesday night, then sunny again this weekend. The full forecast is coming up. (below)

Mass at Pala Mission Church is broadcast live on Rez Radio 91.3 and streamed live on the Rez Radio App every Sunday at 8a. There will be no mass broadcast on 1/19.

SPORTS

In the NFL – In this year’s Pro Bowl games in Orlando, the NFC won with a total score of 76 to the AFC’s 63.

Finally settling a debate that’s been going on for the three years since the franchise rebranded, Washington team owner Josh Harris said today that his team will remain the Commanders because that name now means something. In April, the Washington Post ran a poll in which 58% of local football fans didn’t like the name. But then the team had their best season in three decades. So, the name Commanders is beginning to mean something in Washington. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43678508/washington-commanders-name-change

In the NBA – The Clippers beat the Hornets in Charlotte Friday, but lost at Toronto yesterday 115-108. The Lakers won Saturday’s game at New York, 128-112. Yesterday’s other winners were Detroit, Cleveland, Boston, and Memphis. Ten games tonight. The two LA teams play each other Tuesday at Intuit Dome.

With the trade deadline looming Thursday, the Lakers and Mavericks made a blockbuster deal over the weekend. LA traded 31-year old scoring leader Anthony Davis to the Mavs for 25-year old superstar Luka Doncic. Three other players are involved as well. By trading Doncic, Dallas avoids having to offer him a scheduled supermax contract this summer worth $345m over five years. With the Lakers, his next deal will only be $229m for five years. He can also opt out after next season. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43668078/davis-key-part-mavericks-vision-culture

In college hoops – Unranked Nebraska stunned #16 Oregon 77-71 yesterday. #18 Illinois and #19 Memphis both won their games. There was a big upset Saturday as unranked Kansas State routed #3 Iowa State 80-61. #22 Texas Tech upset #6 Houston in overtime 82-81. USC surprised #7 Michigan State 70-64. Baylor knocked off #11 Kansas 81-70. San Diego State edged Wyoming 63-61.

In the NHL – Yesterday’s winners were Buffalo, Colorado, Anaheim, Florida, Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit, Calgary and the New York Rangers.

In minor league hockey – The San Diego Gulls lost 3-1 to the Toronto Marlins Friday.

In Major League Baseball – The Padres have announced that Xander Bogaerts will be playing at short stop when spring training begins and that Jake Cronenworth will move back to second base after being the Padres’ primary first baseman last season. All of this is the result of star shortstop Ha-Seong Kim leaving the Padres and signing with Tampa Bay last week. Bogaerts is now back in the position where he spent his first nine big league seasons with the Red Sox. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43657735/padres-moving-bogaerts-back-ss-cronenworth-2b

In golf – At the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rory McIlroy was the winner at 21 under par 267 – two strokes ahead of Shane Lowry. https://www.espn.com/golf/leaderboard

In local high school sports:

Bonsall – no scheduled games today; boys’ basketball at O’Farrell Charter at 5:45p tomorrow

Great Oak – soccer against Temecula Valley beginning at 4p, girls’ hosting, boys’ away

Fallbrook – no scheduled games today

Valley Center – girls’ water polo at Monte Vista at 5p

BUSINE$$

As of midday trading on Wall Street, stocks were down. The Dow fell two tenths of a percent. The S&P 500 was off by 7 tenths. And the Nasdaq was down 1.1%. Gold gained $22.70 on the Comex, trading at $2,856.70 an ounce. The benchmark West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures were down two cents at $72.51 a barrel.

Mexico has reached a deal to delay tariffs on goods imported from there to the U.S, reversing what was a very negative stock market earlier this morning. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said today her country will reinforce its border with the U.S. with 10k of its National Guard troops to stem drug trafficking into the U.S. Nearly all of the 21,900 pounds of fentanyl seized by the U.S. last year was at the southern border with Mexico. In return, President Trump said negotiations with Mexico will continue for the month of February. Referring to the tariffs, Interior Secretary Douglas Burgum told Fox news, “This isn’t a trade war … this is about fentanyl.” Mexico and Canada had threatened retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods following Saturday’s executive order by Trump placing a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods and 10% on all Chinese imports. He also moved to close a loophole that allowed Chinese e-commerce companies like Temu to avoid tariffs on packages valued at less than $800. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/economics/mexicos-president-says-tariffs-will-delayed-one-month-rcna190433

Costco and members of the Teamsters union avoided a strike over the weekend thanks to a last-minute tentative contract deal. Details have not been released. The contract still has to be ratified by union members. Just days before the scheduled strike, Costco announced that all hourly, non-union employees would get a pay raise and improved benefits. Those at the top of Costco’s pay scale would receive a $1 per hour raise to $30.20 per hour and a $1 per hour raise each of the following two years. Those at the lower-end of the pay scale would see a $0.50 per hour raise, taking starting pay to $20 per hour, well above the roughly $16 per hour median pay for retail workers. https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2025/02/01/costco-strike-averted-after-last-minute-agreement-reached-with-teamsters-union/

LIFESTYLE / GREEN LIVING

Over the weekend at the movies, “Dog Man” opened in first place with a fairly strong $36m in ticket sales. “Companion” debuted in 2^nd place with $9.5m. Last week’s #1 “Flight Risk” fell to 5^th place. In between were “Mufasa: The Lion King”, and “One of Them Days”. Total attendance was up 41% compared with last weekend and about average for the year so far. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2025W05/

Last night at the Grammys, Beyoncé won country album of the year and album of the year for her “Cowboy Carter” album. She led all artists this year with 11 nominations and won three, brining her lifetime total to 35 – the most of any artist. Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter were each nominated in all four major general categories – album, song and record of the year, and best new artist. Roan won for Best New Artist. Kendrick Lamar won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rap Performance for “Not Like Us”. Carpenter’s “Espresso” won for Best Pop Solo Performance and her “Short n’ Sweet” won Best Pop Vocal Album. Best Rock Performance went to The Beatles’ “Now and Them”, a song that took 45 years to produce from a demo tape by John Lennon. For the first time in memory, Taylor Swift didn’t win anything. She had six nominations. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/02/nx-s1-5280335/2025-grammy-awards-full-list-nominees-and-winners?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=user/npr

Several income tax cuts enacted during the first Trump administration in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire at the end of this year. Among them, lower tax rates for five of the seven income brackets, a doubling of the child tax credit including eligibility for higher income families, a doubling of the standard deduction, and an increase in the exemption from federal inheritance taxes which, indexed for inflation is now $14m. If these are not extended, about 62% of taxpayers will see a higher tax bill in 2026. According to the Congressional Budget Office, continuing these tax cuts could result in $4.6 trillion less coming into the federal budget, which is needed if promised federal deficit reductions are going to happen. Yet Congress will also be looking at a wish list of additional tax reductions being promoted by the White House, including allowing Americans to deduct even more state and local taxes from their federal return, and allowing a deduction for auto loan interest. Deductions that may be on the table for elimination include student loan and mortgage interest, and the head-of-household deduction. www.morningbrew.com

The IRS is expanding its Direct File program to twice as many states this year and adding features for more complicated tax situations. Nearly 30m people in 25 states will be eligible to use the program, now in its second year. That includes California, New York, Texas and Florida. In a post-filing survey last year, out of 15k respondents, 90% said their overall experience with Direct File was excellent or above average. You still can’t use it if you had rental income, capital gains, or IRA contributions or distributions. Go to www.DirectFile.IRS.gov to see if you qualify. www.morningbrew.com

On this day in music history – February 3,

1959 – The Day the Music Died, although it didn’t get that name until Don McLean sang about it in his 1972 #1 hit “American Pie”. A single engine Beechcraft Bonanza carrying 22-year old Buddy Holly, 17-year old Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson, known as The Big Bopper crashed shortly after takeoff from Clear Lake, Iowa killing all three plus the 21-year old pilot, Roger Peterson. Holly had hired the plane after heating problems developed on their tour bus. They were headed to their next stop on the 24-city Winter Dance Party Tour in Fargo, North Dakota.
In 1967, music producer Joe Meek shot his landlady and then himself at his flat in London. His credits include The Tornadoes, #1 hit “Telstar”. Meek often attended seances. At one in 1958, he was warned that Buddy Holly would die on February 3. Meek tried to find Holly when he in was in London to warn him, but failed. Holly did die on February 3.
In 1968, one hit wonders, The Lemon Pipers hit the top of the charts with “Green Tambourine”, a song considered by many to be the first really big bubblegum pop hit.
In 1970 Led Zeppelin II was in the Top 20 on both the US and UK album charts. It stayed on the UK chart for 137 weeks.
In 1973, Elton John began the first of three weeks at #1 with “Crocodile Rock”, the first of his five US #1 singles.
In 1979, Blondie hit #1 on the British singles chart with “Heart of Glass”, a song originally recorded in 1975 under the title “Once I Had a Love” – the first line of the lyrics.
In 1986, Dire Straits began the first of ten weeks at #1 on the British album chart with “Brothers in Arms”, their 5^th studio album. It would soon hit #1 in the US and remain there for 9 weeks. It earned two Grammys.
In 1999, soul singer Gwen Guthrie died of cancer at the age of 48. She sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna and wrote songs for Sister Sledge and Roberta Flack.
In 2004, R. Kelly appeared in court to enter a plea of not guilty to 21 charges of child pornography. He’d been arrested in Florida after being indicted by a Chicago grand jury based on a video tape that allegedly showed him performing sex acts with a 14-year old girl.
On the same day, Cornelius Bumpus from The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan died of a heart attack at age 58.
In 2008, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed during Super Bowl 42 halftime, playing “American Girl”, “Free Fallin’”, “I Won’t Back Down”, and “Runnin’ Down a Dream”.
In 2014, Bruce Springsteen was at #1 with his 18^th studio album, “High Hopes”. It made him third on the list of most #1 albums behind The Beatles and Jay-Z.
In 2021, singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly died at the age of 77. He wrote “The Need to Be” and “Midnight Train to Georgia” for Gladys Knight and the Pips. Ray Price, Lynn Anderson, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Chesney, and Garth Brooks have all recorded his songs.

Born on this day …

In 1935, Johnny “Guitar” Watson who pioneered guitar feedback and reverb. According to eye witnesses, he died on stage mid-guitar solo and his last words were “Ain’t that a bitch”.
In 1943, Dennis Edwards from The Temptations
On the same day, Eric Haydock, original bass player with The Hollies. He was one of the first to use Fender’s new six-string bass
In 1947, Dave Davies from The Kinks
On the same day, Melanie Safka who had the 1971 #1 hit “Brand New Key”
In 1949, Arthur Kane, bass player with The New York Dolls
In 1959, Lol Tolhurst, keyboardist with The Cure

https://www.thisdayinmusic.com/search/?keyword=&date=3&month=2

Other celebrity anniversaries today …

Actress Morgan Fairchild is 75
Actress Maura Tierney from TV’s “NewsRadio” and the Jim Carey movie “Liar Liar” is 60
Among those who’ve passed, comedian Joey Bishop was born on this day in 1918
Character actor John Fiedler who was also the voice of Piglet in Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” was born in 1925
Comedian, actor Shelly Berman was also born this day in 1925
Actor Victor Buono was born in 1938

http://www.davesfunstuff.com/a-mb/2080-date0203.htm

Programming on Rez Radio 91.3 is made possible in part by the Pala Band of Mission Indians and donations from listeners like you. Call 760 742 4200 or email 91.3@palatribe.com for details on contributing to community radio in Pala.

Call the Pala Fire Department at 760 742 1632 before starting any open fires to get the day’s Cal Fire and APCD recommendations. Fire Department permits are required for any burning on Pala tribal land.

Pala seniors’ lunch menu for Monday (2/3) – menu not published

The Pala Band of Mission Indians has employment opportunities including full time and part time. For a list, go to the Palatribe dot com website.

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WEATHER

Pala Weather – sunny with a high of 80 this afternoon … patchy fog and low clouds tonight and tomorrow morning … mostly sunny and 68 tomorrow afternoon … 40% chance of light rain tomorrow night … 50% chance Wednesday … 40% Thursday and Friday with highs in the upper 60s all three days … mostly sunny and 67 Saturday … 70 Sunday … overnight lows, about 43 tonight and tomorrow night … about 46 Wednesday and Thursday nights … 40 Friday night … 38 Saturday night

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The Community Events and Casino Corner portions of this newsletter can be heard three times daily Mon-Sun on Rez Radio, at 7:25a, 12:25p (in Pala Today M-F), and at 5:25p as the “Pala Community Calendar”. Submit items for the calendar to 91.3@palatribe.com at least a week before the event.

You can view the events on the Calendar page.

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RESOURCES

The Pala Band of Mission Indians and Rez Radio gathered this list of resources as a courtesy and offers no guarantee of accuracy. Please contact us if you find an error or if any link needs to be updated.

Check out the list of information on our Resources page.