Pala Today News – 2/20/25
Written by John Fox on February 20, 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 pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and killed in a hit-and-run collision early Tuesday in Lake Elsinore. Deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s station responded to the intersection of Riverside Drive and Baker Street west of I-15 around 1a after receiving reports of a collision involving a pedestrian. The victim was found by deputies lying in the roadway and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle who struck the pedestrian fled in a dark-colored vehicle. https://www.pressenterprise.com/2025/02/19/pedestrian-killed-in-lake-elsinore-hit-and-run/
The Escondido Public Library will soon undergo a $10 million renovation that will require it to close for about a year. When the construction is done there will be a new 45,000 square foot facility taking its place. Several sites have been recommended for a temporary library, with North County Mall apparently at the top of the list. The California Center for the Arts, Escondido’s museum was also under consideration. The existing library has been at its current location near Kalmia & 2nd Avenue since 1981. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/library-to-undergo-10-m-renovation/
The Valley Center Municipal Water District is notifying customers this week that the San Diego County Water Authority, which VCMWD buys its water from, will shut down the San Diego Aqueduct between February 22 and March 22. During that time, the District is requesting that customers with 1-1/2”, 2” and 3” meters refrain from major uses including irrigation. https://www.valleycenter.com/articles/aqueduct-shutdown-feb-22-march-4-vcwmd-advises/
The city of Oceanside has ruled out one of the three small sites originally proposed for restoring sand dunes and native plants to beaches between the city’s harbor and municipal pier. The area in front of Roberts Cottages, a dozen small century-old cabins along the north end of The Strand, was dropped from consideration after residents complained that the restoration would ruin their views and limit access to the ocean. The project team is looking for an alternative 3,000 square foot plot at some wide spot on the beach. The city accepted a $56,000 state grant in December 2023 for a pilot project on three separate sites to preserve sand, create wildlife habitat and protect nearby parking lots and structures. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/02/18/one-of-3-proposed-dunes-dropped-from-oceanside-beach-project/
Sunny with highs in the 80s for the rest of the month in Pala. Close to 90 by next Wednesday. 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.
SPORTS
In the NBA – Last night the Lakers kicked off the second half of the season with a 100-97 loss to the visiting Charlotte Hornets. Nine games tonight including the Clippers at Milwaukee and the Lakers at Portland.
The NBA has suspended Milwaukee forward Bobby Portis for 25 games for violation of the league’s anti-drug policies. He tested positive for the pain-killer tramadol. His representative says it was an accident and that Portis thought it was something else, but that he will not appeal the suspension. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43936247/bucks-bobby-portis-banned-25-games-violating-anti-drug-policy
In college hoops – The game was closer than the score suggests, but Auburn successfully defended its #1 ranking against unranked Arkansas 67-60. #15 Missouri upset #4 Alabama 110-98. #10 St. John’s and #17 UK both won against unranked teams. Alabama was already down two places in the latest poll, replaced at #2 by Florida. Wisconsin and Michigan are rapidly rising at #11 and #12 respectively. Arizona’s upset two days ago has dropped them six places to #19. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings
In the NHL – The league is still on break for the international series. Canada and USA play in the Four Nations tournament final tonight at 5p on ESPN.
In minor league hockey – The San Diego Gulls beat Abbotsford 5-3 last night at Pechanga Arena. Their next game is tomorrow at Bakersfield.
In Major League Baseball – The Dodgers play the Cubs in the first spring training game of the season today in Glendale, Arizona. The Padres first game is tomorrow against Seattle at the Peoria Sports Complex shared by the two teams.
In Major League Soccer – games this Saturday including LAFC hosting Minnesota. The Galaxy host San Diego FC Sunday.
In Lacrosse – The San Diego Seals and Buffalo Bandits meet this Saturday at Pechanga Arena.
In the NFL – The salary cap for teams in the league is expected to increase substantially for the second straight year. Pending negotiation with the NFL Players Association, the cap for 2025 will be between $277.5m and $281.5m per team. Last year was the biggest cap increase ever. This year’s would put the total increase over two years at around 20%. Players’ union negotiations are expected to conclude next week. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43921969/nfl-salary-cap-increases-substantially-2nd-consecutive-year
The New Orleans Saints are expected to hire Philadelphia quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier as their new offensive coordinator. He’s worked with new Saints head coach Kellen Moore at Philadelphia, Dallas and with the Chargers. 54-year old Nussmeier is a former NFL QB himself with ties to New Orleans. He was their 4th round pick in the 1994 draft out of Idaho and spent four years with the Saints, followed by brief stints at Denver, Indianapolis, and Chicago. His son is currently the starting quarterback at LSU. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43937105/source-saints-expected-hire-eagles-doug-nussmeier-oc
In golf – The Mexico Open began today in Nuevo Vallarta. Jake Knapp is the defending champion. With only a couple dozen players in the clubhouse and some yet to tee off, Harry Hall was the early leader at 7-under par, 64. https://www.espn.com/golf/leaderboard
In local high school sports:
Bonsall – no scheduled games today. Baseball and softball begin next week.
Great Oak – varsity baseball at a tournament at Servite at 3p; boys’ volleyball hosting San Jacinto Academy at 4p; girls’ lacrosse at Liberty at 5p
Fallbrook – no schedule published
Valley Center – boys’ soccer in CIF quarterfinals at West Hills at 5p; boys’ lacrosse at Carlsbad at 7p
BUSINE$$
As of midday trading on Wall Street, stocks were down, propelled by inflation and tariff fears. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1 ½%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were each down 8 tenths of a percent. Comex gold gained $17.40, trading at $2,953.50 an ounce. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures were up 67 cents at $72.92 a barrel.
Rather than reports from the Labor Department, one metric on how the economy is doing is how Walmart is doing. In its quarterly report, Walmart reported good earnings, but warned of a slower year in 2025, due to both inflation and tariffs since so much of what it sells is imported. The scenario suggests that consumer strength is set to unravel. Walmart stock fell almost 8% this morning and other retailers followed suit. Dollar Tree was down 5.7%. Target fell 2.8%. And Costco declined 2.6%. https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/walmart-q4-earnings-retail-stocks-consumer-spending-tariffs-outlook-investors-2025-2
The Trump administration said today it will open a review in whether to call off $4b awarded to California’s high-speed rail project. Speaking this morning at Union Station in LA, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the project has been mismanaged. The High Speed Rail Authority project to link Southern and Northern California through the state’s Central Valley had been given a $3b boost by President Biden in 2023 after he’d reinstated $1b cut by the previous Trump administration. 171 miles of the line are currently being built between Bakersfield and Merced. Duffy says the project is still $6.5b short of what it will take to complete it, and that a review of whether what money has been promised so far is being spent wisely is needed. Earlier this week, Trump called the plan “the worst managed” project he’d ever seen. A recent poll by Emerson College shows a slim majority of Californians still support it, with 54% saying it is a good use of state funds. $10.4b of the $13b spent so far has come from state funding. https://fox40.com/news/transportation-secretary-blasts-california-high-speed-rail-spending-opens-investigation/
Alternative weekly publication, the San Diego Reader has ceased printed editions and has gone online-only after 52 years. The free paper was a Thursday staple at cafés, liquor stores and street corners throughout the city and later, the county. But not today. Last Thursday was the final print edition of the Reader. The San Diego version was started by Jim Holman in 1972 and modeled after the Chicago Reader. Its free public classified ads gained it a following after several years publishing at a loss. At times, the publication grew to as much as 200 pages per week. The more classifieds it ran, the more pages it could publish and the more retail advertising space it could sell. Recently however, the Reader had shrunk to as few as 40 pages. The Reader was sold to editor-turned-owner, Matthew Lickona in December for $1. He intends to keep it going online for as long as practical. To survive, the publication will close its Golden Hill office and lay off production staff. Stories will now come only from Lickona and freelance journalists. https://www.kpbs.org/news/arts-culture/2025/02/19/san-diego-reader-ends-print-edition-after-52-years
LIFESTYLE / GREEN LIVING
After more than six decades of family control, the James Bond 007 movie franchise is being taken over by Amazon MGM Studios. Custodians Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the stepson and daughter of franchise founder Albert “Cubby” Broccoli will step back from running the show as they form a new joint venture with Amazon MGM in which they co-own the intellectual property rights, but Amazon MGM has creative control. The move was motivated both by Wilson and Broccoli’s ages – 83 and 64 respectively, and increasing clashes with MGM over the direction of the Bond franchise. There hasn’t been a new Bond film since “No Time to Die” in 2021. Amazon bought MGM the following year for $6.1b. There has been no progress on development of the next James Bond film since then. They normally come out every two or three years. The 25 Bond films produced by Wilson and Broccoli’s Eon Productions have earned a collective $7.6b at the box office and a lot more from in-home video. Critics worry that with retail giant Amazon calling the shots, there may be over-saturation of the market with new Bond projects. https://apnews.com/article/james-bond-mgm-amazon-broccoli-62db8105bb262e5bbea11b16e2edd9f2
A bill proposed in Sacramento aimed at curbing plastic pollution could end up banning the sale of disposable vapes in California. Vapes, also known as electronic, or e-cigarettes are battery operated devices containing aerosolized nicotine or cannabis – often with flavorings. They’re sold in both refillable and disposable forms. Assembly Bill 762 would ban the sale of disposable vapes beginning next January 1 and specifies fines for violators. California banned flavored vapes over four years ago as a health risk – especially for children. This bill is aimed at environmental issues with vapes. Major retailers and small retail associations oppose the bill, saying it puts California businesses at a competitive disadvantage. California would be the first state to ban disposable vapes. The country of Belgium already has such a ban. A ban in the United Kingdom goes into effect in July. https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2025/02/19/california-lawmakers-propose-bill-that-would-ban-the-sale-of-disposable-e-cigarettes
On this day in music history – February 20,
- 1958, an all-star review called “The Big Gold Record Stars” began the first of a six-date tour in Florida – Bill Haley and his Comets, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Jimmie Rodgers.
- In 1959, 16-year old Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut playing a show at a synagogue in Seattle.
- In 1970, the single John Lennon had written recorded and mixed all in one day three weeks earlier was released in the U.S. – “Instant Karma!” was credited to the Plastic Ono Band.
- In 1976, all four members of KISS put their footprints in cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
- At the 1977 Grammy Awards, Stevie Wonder won Best Album for “Songs in the Key of Life” and Best Vocal Performance for “I Wish”. Chicago won Best Album for “Chicago X”. Best new artist was the Starland Vocal Band.
- In 1980, AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott was pronounced dead on arrival at a London hospital after being found passed out in a friend’s parked car after a night of heavy drinking. The official coroner’s report said he “drank himself to death.”
- In 2003, 100 people died when concert pyrotechnics ignited the venue during a show by Great White in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The group’s guitarist Ty Longley was one of the victims. Two brothers who owned the club and the former tour manager were charged with involuntary manslaughter.
- In 2007, the hair salon where Britney Spears shaved her head set up a website to auction her hair for more than $1m.
Born on this day …
- In 1941, Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie who wrote the #1 hit for Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, “Up Where We Belong”.
- In 1944, Lew Soloff from Blood, Sweat & Tears.
- In 1946, guitarist J. Geils, whose J. Geils Band had a #1 hit with “Centerfold” from their #1 1982 album, “Freeze Frame”.
- In 1950, Walter Becker, singer, bass and guitar player for Steely Dan.
- In 1951, Randy California from Spirit
- In 1953, Cramps guitarist Poison Ivy – real name, Kristy Wallace.
- In 1967, Kurt Cobain from Nirvana.
- In 1988, Rihanna, which is her middle name. Her full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty from Barbados. Along with Jay-Z she had a #1 hit in 2007 with “Umbrella”.
- In 2003, Olivia Rodrigo
https://www.thisdayinmusic.com/search/?keyword=&date=20&month=2
Other celebrity anniversaries today …
- Actress Sandy Duncan is 79
- Actor Peter Strauss is 78.
- Actor Andrew Shue, best known from TV’s “Melrose Place” is 58. He’s the brother of Elizabeth Shue from “Back to the Future” and “Adventures in Babysitting” in which he also appeared.
- Comedian/actor Patton Oswalt is 56
- Comedian Trevor Noah is 41
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 tomorrow (2/21) – chicken tenders, seasoned fries, salad and dessert
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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A transcript of this newscast will be available at our website, Rez Radio dot FM and on the Rez Radio App an hour or two after broadcast.
WEATHER
Pala Weather – sunny with a high of 81 today … 82 tomorrow … 81 Saturday … 84 Sunday through Tuesday … 88 Wednesday … overnight lows, 47 tonight through Saturday night … 50 Sunday and Monday night … 54 Tuesday 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.
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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