Pala Today News – 2/13/26
Written by John Fox on February 13, 2026
by John Fox – 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 and worldwide online … click here to listen live. Listen on a smart speaker by asking it to “play KPRI”. Some portions of today’s newscast are only available in the live broadcast and not included in this transcript which is also available an hour or two after broadcast at www.RezRadio.FM . In any emergency, knowledge is power. Use our resources to leverage your family’s safety. Email 91.3@palatribe.com to subscribe to our daily M-F e-newsletter. Follow us at www.facebook.com/rezradio and www.twitter.com/rezradioFM . Additional resources at Palatribe.com
LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS
A Laguna Niguel man was arrested this morning after crashing into an electrical utility box and shearing a fire hydrant in Murrieta at about 4:30a. The crash caused an immediate electrical outage at numerous businesses in the Murrieta business corridor west of I-215. The suspect, Johney Pool, a 22-year-old Laguna Niguel man, was arrested for a suspected DUI. https://patch.com/california/murrieta/hundred-without-power-after-truck-sheers-hydrant-smashes-electrical-box-murrieta
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week approved infrastructure projects including new traffic signals at Mission Road and Santa Margarita Drive, and Mission Road and Pepper Tree Lane in Fallbrook. Construction will begin in the Fall. Landscaping and runoff capture will be added to South Mission Road from Mission Oaks to Ammunition Road. The county will also spend $27.25m on Phase 1 of the Cole Grade Road improvement project in Valley Center. The segment includes about a mile of roadway from Pauma Heights Road to Cool Valley Road. Improvements include a center two-way left turn lane, bike lanes in both directions, a multi-use trail on the west side of the road, new bridges and culverts, and flood prevention measures. https://www.countynewscenter.com/county-approves-new-traffic-signals-road-improvements-and-filtration-project/
In a separate vote, the county also approved zoning ordinance changes to benefit local wineries by allowing amplified live music. https://www.countynewscenter.com/county-updates-zoning-rules-to-support-boutique-wineries/
The city of Oceanside approved an EV fast charging station with 52 slots on a former auto service lot on North Coast Highway near the Harbor Drive exit off I-5. Opposition came from those concerned about the possibility of fire and toxic emissions from battery storage at the site. The station will use two of the latest version of the Tesla Megapack. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/11/oceanside-approves-ev-fast-charging-station-despite-battery-concerns/
Escondido Police arrested an alleged flasher yesterday based on vehicle description and license plate. 49-year old Hector Santa Maria Toledo is accused of flashing underage girls near Orange Glen High School on two occasions over the past month. A woman who’d seen social media posts about it came forward saying she’d been a victim as well in December in a parking lot at 2400 East Valley Parkway. Toledo was booked into Vista jail on four counts of annoying or molesting a minor and one count of indecent exposure. He’s suspected in additional reported cases of indecent exposure within the city. https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/man-suspected-in-multiple-escondido-flashing-incidents-arrested
Escondido PD has scheduled special DUI Patrols from 4p this afternoon to 1a tomorrow within the city. Officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. https://patch.com/california/escondido/police-conducting-dui-patrols-weekend-escondido
Pala will have sunny, but cooler weather this weekend with winds picking up Sunday. Several inches of rain expected next week along with snow in the local mountains above 5k feet. The full forecast is coming up. (below)
SPORTS
At the Winter Olympics – The US men’s hockey team opened with a 5-1 win over Latvia. Chloe Kim finished second in the women’s halfpipe, an event she’d won in the two previous games. 17-year old South Korean, Choi Gaon won gold. Breezy Johnson crashed in the women’s Super-G, walking away without a medal. Instead she got a marriage proposal from her boyfriend at the finish line. Norway and Italy are now tied for the most overall medals at 18 apiece. Norway has 8 golds. Italy has 6. The US is in third place with 14 medals including four gold. France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland also have four gold medals apiece. https://www.espn.com/olympics/winter/2026/medals
In the NBA – Last the night, LeBron James became the oldest NBA player ever to have a triple-double as the Lakers beat the visiting Mavericks 124-104. Milwaukee topped OKC 110-93 and Portland beat Utah 135-119. Going into the All-Star Break, Detroit leads the Eastern Conference by 5 ½ games over Boston with a 40 and 13 record. In the West, Oklahoma City leads by three over the Spurs with a 42 and 14 record. The Lakers are 8 games back in fifth place. The Clippers have the last play-in spot at 10th, 15 games off the pace. https://www.espn.com/nba/standings
The All-Star tournament begins at 2p Sunday on NBC.
In the minors – The San Diego Clippers next game is next weekend, after the NBA All-Star break.
In college basketball – UCSD topped the visiting UC Davis team 68-51 last night. The Tritons host UC Riverside tonight. San Diego State is hosting Nevada. Miami Ohio is finally in the Top 25 at #23 even though they’re the only remaining unbeaten team among major schools.
In women’s NCAA – #5 Vanderbilt topped #4 Texas 86-70.
In the NHL – The regular season is on hold until after the Winter Olympics.
In the minors – The San Diego Gulls play the Condors at Bakersfield tonight and host them tomorrow night at Pechanga Arena.
In the NFL – President Trump yesterday pardoned four former NFL players. Former Jets star Joe Klecko had pleaded guilty after lying to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. Nate Newton, Travis Henry and Jamal Lewis had all pleaded guilty to separate drug charges. The late Billy Cannon, a 1959 Heisman Trophy winner, had pleaded guilty to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47915457/president-trump-pardons-klecko-newton-lewis-henry-cannon
In Major League Baseball – Spring training is fully underway. The first games of Spring Training are one week from today.
In the minor leagues – The Lake Elsinore Storm
In soccer – The San Diego Sockers next game is tomorrow at Kansas City.
In lacrosse – The San Diego Seals next game is tomorrow at Oshawa.
In golf – At the Pro Am at Pebble Beach, Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune had yesterday’s best round at 10-under par 62. On today’s front nine, he remained one stroke ahead of Akshay Bhatia, who’s three holes ahead of him. https://www.espn.com/golf/leaderboard
In racing – It’s Speed Week at Daytona, concluding with the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Joey Logano won yesterday’s first Duel race. Chase Elliot won Duel #2. https://www.espn.com/racing/results
Local High School Sports –
Bonsall – no scheduled games today
Great Oak – boys’ and girls’ CIF wrestling competition all day today and tomorrow; girls’ soccer CIF prelims today; boys’ varsity basketball CIF playoffs at 7p; Tomorrow – varsity boys’ volleyball at a tournament at Crescenta Valley
Fallbrook – no schedule published
Valley Center – soccer against Escondido at 4p, girls’ hosting, boys’ away; girls’ varsity basketball hosting Ramona at 5:30p; boys’ varsity basketball hosting High Tech High Mesa at 7p; Tomorrow – boy’s wrestling in CIF Division IV at Mar Vista at 9a
BUSINE$$
As of midday trading on Wall Street, stocks were up on encouraging news about inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained a half percent. The S&P 500 rose almost 6 tenths. The Nasdaq was up 4 tenths. Volatility in gold continued with the precious metal up $94.40 on the Comex, trading at $5,042.80 an ounce. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures were up 32 cents at $63.16 a barrel.
The Consumer Price Index fell to a nearly five-year low as gas prices fell and rental increases slowed. Inflation was 2.4% last month compared with 2.7% one year ago, bringing it almost halfway towards the Federal Reserve’s goal of 2%. Core CPI, which excludes the more volatile categories of food and energy was 2.5% in January. But after years of increased inflation, consumer prices are still 25% higher than five years ago, making “affordability” a buzzword in the upcoming mid-term elections. There were signs in today’s report that retailers are increasing prices because of tariffs, though not as broadly as economists had feared. Furniture prices are up 4% over the past year. And some service prices are exceeding average inflation. Airline fares shot up 6 ½% just from December to January, following a 3.8% bump in November. Sectors that offset these increases included gasoline prices down 3.2% and used cars down 1.8%. https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-economy-prices-d489cfa4b48e32232f136830333d1db0
The price of cocoa has fallen almost 70% since last Valentine’s Day. But that’s not going to help the price of that box you buy today … or even this year’s chocolate Easter bunny. The price of chocolates at the retail level was up 14% over the past month. That’s because the price of cocoa more than doubled in 2024 due to drought and diseases in West Africa, where almost three fourths of the world’s cocoa comes from. Tariffs contributed to price increases for the commodity. Conditions have improved since then, so prices are dropping. To a much lesser extent, they’re also dropping because of lower global demand. Being a luxury, it’s easy for consumers to walk away when chocolate is too expensive. But retail prices have yet to decline, because big companies like Hershey have long-term contracts that may require them to pay more than current prices. And consumers haven’t cut their chocolate purchases by much. Manufacturers reason that if customers are still willing to pay, why lower prices? https://apnews.com/article/valentines-day-cocoa-chocolate-prices-candy-904ea9ad0d0fe8c25b4e0366f4dc89e8
Congress has adjourned without approving funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The agency is almost sure to be shutting down this weekend. www.NYTimes.com
Wendy’s announced today that it will close over 5% over its stores by this summer. 28 underperforming locations have already closed as part of a turnaround plan initiated by interim CEO Ken Cook. Annual same store sales were down 11.3% in the fourth quarter. Cook said the chain has focused too much on limited-time promotions. Instead, it’s now making full-time menu changes like its Biggie menu and new Tendy’s chicken tenders. Wendy’s had just under 6k stores as of the end of 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/13/business/wendys-is-closing-6-of-its-stores-by-mid-2026
LIFESTYLE / GREEN LIVING
New at the movies this weekend, the animated kids’ comedy, “GOAT”, Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo in the crime thriller “Crime 101”, a remake of “Wuthering Heights” starring Margot Robbie, and a sci-fi, action-adventure starring Sam Rockwell called “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”. Among this week’s limited releases, the game-based horror movie “The Mortuary Assistant” and Liam Neeson in the darkly comic suspense thriller “Cold Storage”. https://www.movieinsider.com/movies/february/2026?view=list#google_vignette
New cities, planned and built from scratch by private enterprise are a hot topic across the country. You only have to look as far as SoCal’s Orange County for the template. Sixty years ago, what is now the city of Irvine was nothing but grain fields and citrus farms. It’s now a city of 300k people with a dense employment base, a university, high rise office and manufacturing buildings and one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. One business, the Irvine Company, planned all of it and built a lot it. As a result, they still own most of the apartments, shopping centers and offices. It is one of the most completely company towns in America. With a housing shortage estimated by economists at four to seven million homes, a lot companies with the wherewithal are looking to build new cities on vacant land without the complexities of dealing with an existing city. Investors are interested as well. Some of the cities already moving from plan to execution include Starbase, Texas with clusters of employee housing built around SpaceX facilities just north of the Mexican border. Other tentative Texas developments include Proto-Town in Caldwell County, and Austantinople. There’s a proposal north of the Bay Area to turn sheep farms into a city of 400k. The company, California Forever has already spent $1b to buy 70k acres of farmland and hour from San Francisco. A development called Esmererlda in the Sonoma County town of Cloverdale is being coopted with attempts at reimagining what had already been approved to include much higher density. One big difference between all of these and Irvine is that Irvine is still very much car-centric. Most of the new city plans call for upending the suburban stereotype with reduced car use in the form of greater density and walkable downtowns. One thing new planned-cities do have in common with places like Irvine is proximity to even bigger cities like Los Angeles, Washington and New York in areas that were already destined to be developed. The difference is planning and the opportunity for investors to take part. www.NYTimes.com
The US Environmental Protection Agency yesterday officially rejected the scientific world consensus that greenhouse gases threaten the environment and human health. Even though politicians, including most Republicans have accepted the evidence as fact for decades, President Trump has dismissed global warming as a “hoax”. The move by the EPA means the agency no longer has legal standing to regulate greenhouse gases. The EPA’s administrator called yesterday’s announcement “the single largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States.” The Trump administration estimates the move will save auto manufacturers and other business $1 trillion, but won’t say how it arrived at that figure. www.NYTimes.com
On this day in music history – February 13,
- In 1961, Frank Sinatra launched his own record label. It was called Reprise Records. It’s the reason he’s called “The Chairman of the Board”. Founding principles under Sinatra was that artists have full creative freedom and eventually, complete ownership of their work. Reprise became the home of acts including Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and The Beach Boys.
- In 1967, The Beatles released the double A side single, “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” which went to #1 for ten weeks. The songs had originally been intended for inclusion in the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, which would be released a few months later. Instead, they appeared on the follow-up, “Magical Mystery Tour” album.
- On the same day The Monkees announced that from here on they would play their own instruments on group recordings instead of the studio musicians who had been used up to that point. Based on record sales, The Monkees at the time, were more popular than The Beatles, whom they parodied in the TV comedy series that ran for two seasons in 1966 and ‘67.
- In 1969, Bob Dylan recorded versions of “Lay, Lady, Lay” in Nashville. It was originally written for the soundtrack to the movie “Midnight Cowboy”, but wasn’t submitted in time to be included in the film.
- On the same day, a launch party was held at Apple Records for the release of Mary Hopkin’s album “Postcard”, the American version of which included her hit single, “Those Were The Days”. The label had been created a year earlier by The Beatles on which to release their own material. It became the home of the group’s discovery, Mary, as well as James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston.
- In 1970, on a Friday the 13th, Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album. It was the first successful heavy metal album.
- In 1971, The Osmonds began the first of five weeks at #1 with “One Bad Apple”. The singing brothers had been appearing on Andy Williams’ network TV show since 1962.
- In 1978, Dire Straits began recording their first album in London. It included the hit “Sultans of Swing” whose inspiration the group’s Mark Knopfler got from seeing a mediocre jazz band playing in a practically deserted pub. After the performance, the leader announced that they were the Sultans of Swing.
- In 1982, the marble slab was stolen from the grave of Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer Ronnie Van Zant’s grave. Police found it two weeks later in a dry river bed.
- In 1993, founding member of Musical Youth, Patrick Waite died at age 24 from a hereditary heart condition. The group had a #1 hit eleven years earlier with “Pass the Dutchie”.
- In 2002, country singer Waylon Jennings died in his sleep after a lengthy fight with diabetes.
- In 2007, Rod Stewart was paid $1m to perform at a New York millionaire’s 60th birthday party.
Born on this day …
- In 1919, Tennessee Ernie Ford, who had the 1955 #1 hit “Sixteen Tons”. It was Capitol Records first #1 hit of the rock era, though it was not a rock song
- In 1942, Peter Tork of The Monkees. He passed at the age of 77 in February of 2019.
- In 1950, singer, songwriter and record producer Peter Gabriel
- In 1961, Henry Rollins from Black Flag
- In 1966, Freedom Williams, singer with C+C Music Factory
https://www.thisdayinmusic.com/search/?keyword=&date=13&month=2
Other celebrity anniversaries today …
- Actress Kim Novak is 93
- Actor Bo Svenson, best known for the original “Walking Tall” movie is 85
- Actress Stockard Channing, whose extensive stage and film credits include playing Rizzo in the movie, “Grease” is 82
- Actress Mena Suvari is 47
- Among those who’ve passed, TV talk show host Jerry Springer was born in 1944
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 (2/16) – rosemary garlic chicken, rice pilaf, vegetables and dessert
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WEATHER
Pala Weather – sunny with a high of 73 this afternoon and again tomorrow … mostly cloudy and 70 with winds gusting up to 20 miles an hour Sunday … 62 with up to two inches of rain possible Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning … cloudy and 62 Tuesday afternoon … more rain likely Wednesday with a high of 61 … partly cloudy and 62 with a chance of showers Thursday … the snow level will drop to 5k feet for next week’s storms … overnight lows, 40 tonight … about 42 tomorrow through Monday night … 41 Tuesday night … 37 Wednesday night
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
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.
SHOWS
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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.
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