Pala Today News – 12/16/25

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.

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

Murrieta Police closed Whitewood Road from Rockcrest Drive to Dove Hollow Lane for a second time this morning for investigators to follow up on an incident last night, according to Murrieta Police Capt. Jeremy Durant.  Officers had been out in force for about two hours last night near the Country Walk neighborhood when the first closure took place.  The reason has yet to be made public.  Police did not indicate that there was any danger to the public. There’s been lots of speculation on social media, but no official word as of noon today. https://patch.com/california/murrieta/murrieta-overnight-police-presence-road-closures-draw-concern-residents-country

Sheriff’s deputies arrested three people for driving under the influence at Saturday’s DUI checkpoint in Vista in the 700 block of East Vista Way.  306 cars were selected from traffic for inspection.  15 went to secondary inspection.  All three arrests were for alcohol intoxication.  12 drivers were cited for driving unlicensed or with a suspended or revoked license.  Three vehicles were impounded.  https://northcountydailystar.com/three-people-arrested-for-dui/

About 200 SDG&E customers in South Vista lost power this morning just after 10a.  Restoration of service is expected by 3:30p this afternoon.  https://www.sdge.com/residential/customer-service/outage-center/outage-map

Pala will have another great week of weather with high temperatures most days around 80 give or take a couple of degrees.  More thick fog expected mainly along the coast. 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 NFL – Week 15 wrapped up last night in Pittsburgh where the Steelers beat Miami 28-15 to remain on top of the AFC North with an 8 and 6 record.  The score wasn’t even that close.  Pittsburgh led by 25 early in the 4^th quarter with the late rally by Miami falling about two touchdowns short.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes had successful surgery last night in Dallas to repair the tear in his left ACL.  He’ll begin rehab immediately.  But this is an injury that generally takes about nine months to heal.  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47320352/kansas-city-chiefs-qb-patrick-mahomes-undergoes-surgery-torn-acl-lcl

College Football – 2025 Bowl Game schedule

Sat 12/13 – Bucked Up LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium – Boise State 10, Washington 38

Tue 12/16 – Salute to Veterans Bowl in Montgomery, AL – Troy v. Jacksonville State – 6p on ESPN

Wed 12/17 – StaffDNA Cure Bowl in Orlando – Old Dominion v. S. Florida – 5p on ESPN

Wed 12/17 – 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile – Louisiana v. Delaware at 8:30p on ESPN

Thu 12/18 – Xbox Bowl in Frisco, TX – Missouri State v. Arkansas State at 6p on ESPN2

Fri 12/19 – Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, SC – Kennesaw State v. Western Michigan at 8a ton ESPN

Fri 12/19 – Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, FL – Memphis v. NC State at 11:30a on ESPN

Mon 12/22 – Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, ID – Washington State v. Utah State at 11a on ESPN

Tue 12/23 – Bush’s Bowl of Beans in Boca Raton, FL – Toledo v. Louisville at 11a on ESPN

Tue 12/23 – New Orleans Bowl in New Orleans – Western Kentucky v. Southern Miss at 2:30p on ESPN

Tue 12/23 – Frisco Bowl in Frisco, TX – UNVL v. Ohio at 6p on ESPN

Wed 12/24 – Hawai’i Bowl in Honolulu, HI – Cal v. Hawai’i at 5p on ESPN

Fri 12/26 – GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit – Central Michigan v. Northwestern at 10a on ESPN

Fri 12/26 – Rate Bowl in Phoenix – New Mexico v. Minnesota at 1:30p on ESPN

Fri 12/26 – First Responders Bowl in Dallas – Florida International v. UTSA at 5p on ESPN

Sat 12/27 – Military Bowl in Annapolis, MD – Pittsburgh v East Carolina at 8a on ESPN

Sat 12/27 – Pinstripe Bowl in Bronx, NY – Penn State v. Clemson at 9a on ABC

Sat 12/27 – Fenway Bowl in Boston – Uconn v. Army at 11a on ESPN

Sat 12/27 – Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando – Georgia Tech v. BYU at 12:30 on ABC

Sat 12/27 – Arizona Bowl in Tucson – Miami OH v Fresno State at 1:30p on CW

Sat 12/27 – New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque – North Texas v. San Diego State at 2:45p on ESPN

Sat 12/27 – Gator Bowl in Jacksonville – Virginia v. Missouri at 4:30p on ABC

Sat 12/27 – Texas Bowl in Houston – LSU v. Houston at 6p on ESPN

Mon 12/29 – Birmingham Bowl in Alabama – Georgia Southern v Appalachian State at 11a on ESPN

Tue 12/30 – Independence Bow in Shreveport, LA – Coastal Carolina v Louisiana Tech at 11a on ESPN

Tue 12/30 – Music City Bowl in Nashville – Tennessee v. Illinois at 2:30p on ESPN

Tue 12/30 – Alamo Bowl in San Antonio – USC v TCU at 6p on ESPN

Wed 12/31 – ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa – Iowa v. Vanderbilt at 9a on ESPN

Wed 12/31 – Sun Bowl in El Paso, TX – Arizona State v Duke at 11a on CBS

Wed 12/31 – Citrus Bowl in Orlando – Michigan v Texas at noon on ABC

Wed 12/31 – Las Vegas Bowl – Nebraska v. Utah at 12:30p on ESPN

Fri 1/2 – Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth – Rice v. Texas State at 10a on ESPN

Fri 1/2 – Liberty Bowl in Memphis – Navy v. Cincinnati at 1:30p on ESPN

Fri 1/2 – Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, NC – Wake Forest v Mississippi State at 5p on ESPN

Fri 1/2 – Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego – Arizona v SMU at 5p on Fox

College Football Playoffs

Fri 12/19 – #8 Oklahoma v. #9 Alabama at Norman, OK at 5p on ABC and ESPN

Sat 12/20 – #10 Miami v. #7 Texas A&M at College Station, TX at 9a on ABC and ESPN

Sat 12/20 – #11 Tulane v. #6 Ole Miss at Oxford, MS at 12:30p on TNT

12/20 – #12 James Madison v #5 Oregon at Eugene, OR at 4:30p on TNT

Quarterfinals

Wed 12/31 –Cotton Bowl in Arlington, TX – Miami-Texas winner v. #2 Ohio State 4:30p on ESPN

Thu 1/1 – Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens – Madison-Oregon winner v. #4 Texas TEch at 9a on ESPN

Thu 1/1 – Rose Bowl – Alabama-Oklahoma winner v. #1 Indiana at 1p on ESPN

Thu 1/1 – Sugar Bowl in New Orleans – Tulane-Ole Miss winner v #3 Georgia at 5p on ESPN

In the NBA – The visiting Grizzlies mauled the Clippers 121-103.  Detroit beat the Celtics in Boston 112-105.  Toronto beat the Heat in Miami 106-96.  And a pair of overtime games – Denver edged the visiting Rockets 128-125 and Utah over Dallas 140-133 in spite of Cooper Flagg’s league-high for the night of 42 points for the Mavericks.

In hockey – The Ducks beat the Rangers in New York 4-1.  The Kings lost by the same score in Dallas.  Other winners were Florida, Nashville and Ottawa in overtime at Winnipeg.  Ten games tonight.

In the minors – The San Diego Gulls next game is tonight at Henderson.

In Major League Baseball – Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will return to the Atlanta Braves on a one-year $20m deal.  The Padres had acquired him from the Braves in 2021 then traded him to the Rays.  He’d declined a $16m player option that was part of the two-year deal he’d signed in February with Tampa Bay.  https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47319801/ha-seong-kim-returning-braves-1-year-20-million-deal

Closing arguments were heard yesterday in the wrongful death case against the Angels by the family of pitcher, Tyler Skaggs.  The family’s lawyer said the Angels were negligent in failing to investigate reports of drug use and dealing by the team’s former communications director.  The defense says it was Skaggs who pressured drug-addicted employee, Eric Kay and teammates to provide him with pills, and that if the club had known, they would have sought help for Skaggs, who died after snorting an overdose of a fentayl-laced pill on a team road trip to Texas in 2019.  Kay was convicted in the Texas criminal case of providing Skaggs with the fatal pills.  https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47319545/lawyers-clash-closing-arguments-angels-alleged-role-tyler-skaggs-overdose-death

In lacrosse – The San Diego Seals next game is January 3 hosting Calgary.

Local High School Sports –

Bonsall – girls’ basketball at School for Entrepreneurship & Technology at 5p; boys’ basketball at High Tech North County at 6:30p

Great Oak – girls’ basketball hosting Grand Terrace at 4p; girls’ water polo at Chaparral at 5p

Fallbrook – girls’ soccer hosting Great Oak at 4p; boys’ basketball hosting Kearny at 6p

Valley Center – girls’ water polo hosting Fallbrook at 3:30p; boys’ basketball at Mt. Miguel at 5:30p

 

BUSINE$$

As of midday trading on Wall Street, stocks were mixed.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell a half percent.  The S&P 500 was off by three tenths.  And the Nasdaq was just barely positive.  Comex gold futures traded down $3 at $4,335.20 an ounce.  West Texas Intermediate Crude oil was down another $1.29 a barrel to $55.53 – the lowest it’s been in five years.

The delayed jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is out and it shows the unemployment rate rose to a four-year high of 4.6% last month.  The U.S. economy lost 105k jobs in October and added 64k in November.  While the private sector has added jobs, the federal workforce has been cut significantly this year and the pace of job growth is falling.  Year-to-date employment gains overall are the weakest since 2020, and before that, the Great Recession.  And the pace of job growth is falling. https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/us-jobs-report-november-retail-sales

Kraft Heinz has announced that former Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane will become their new chief executive officer in the New Year.  The company is planning a breakup that will create two separate publicly traded companies sometime in the second half of 2026.  Cahillane will then head up the one that includes Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft brands.  He saw Kellogg through its breakup in 2023, then headed the snacking portion known as Kellanova until Mars acquired it for nearly $36b.  He was also on the board of Kraft when it merged with Heinz.  Though down about 20% this year, Kraft Heinz stock rose 1% on the news. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/16/kraft-heinz-steve-cahillane-ceo-breakup.html

Budget airline, Frontier is replacing CEO Barry Biffle with the company’s president, James Dempsey, effective immediately.  Shares in Frontier fell 11% this morning on the news.  Frontier lost $190m in the first nine months of this year, compared with net income of $31m a year ago.  Meanwhile, rival Spirit Airlines, which Frontier has been trying to acquire since early 2022 got another lifeline yesterday.  It got a debtor-in-possession credit line of $100m – half of it available immediately.  Both airlines have struggled since the pandemic due to a combination of higher labor and other costs, and consumer tastes shifting to international travel and high-end seats.  https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/15/frontier-airlines-replaces-ceo-biffle-with-carriers-president.html

Consumer sentiment is down and layoffs are increasing, yet consumers are continuing to splurge during this holiday shopping season.  203m U.S. shoppers hit retail stores and websites during the five-day stretch from Thanksgiving Day to Cyber-Monday – the most in at least nine years, according to the National Retail Foundation.  Though high-income shoppers are contributing the most, even those feeling the squeeze of a tight personal budget are finding cheaper sources so they can continue to buy holiday gifts.  In some cases, they’re finding enough budget for holiday shopping by putting off some of the priciest purchases, like houses and cars, while waiting for interest rates to come down.  Retailers offering, or least those who can convince consumers that they are offering deep discounts are the ones doing the best.  That’s why retailers count on shopping events like Cyber Monday.  Also, after being hit by higher prices for groceries, electricity and housing, consumers are especially on the lookout for sales so they can get ahead of further future price increases. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/16/consumer-sentiment-retail-sales-holiday-walmart-tjx.html

 

LIFESTYLE / GREEN LIVING

Actor Tony Geary has died.  He’d developed complications from a surgical procedure three days earlier. He was a longtime star of TV’s “General Hospital”.  Geary was 78.  https://www.npr.org/2025/12/16/g-s1-102393/general-hospital-star-anthony-geary-dies-at-78

“NCIS: Los Angeles” actress Rachel Carpani died unexpectedly last week at the age of 45.  Originally from Australia, she’d had a long battle with an undisclosed chronic illness.  Her passing was announced yesterday by her parents. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/rachael-caprani-ncis-los-angeles-actress-dies-at-45/3946546/?utm_social_handle_id=67801524608&utm_social_post_id=624322429&fbclid=IwY2xjawOumP9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEePCIo_mleoWMr7grKYIcj3518V1KilHVbdWSX6bgrnWMSxkTaN8um5-N3k9E_aem_5feV0frngrujVQ57awFfpA

Retail gasoline prices were said to have been a relative bargain during the record-setting holiday travel weekend at Thanksgiving.  But they’re even lower now.  Although up a couple of cents the past two days, they’re down about 20 cents over the past month.  Today average price for a gallon of regular in San Diego County is $4.51.  In Riverside County, it’s $4.25 thanks in part to a promotion at Morongo Travel Center where they celebrated an anniversary by dropping prices to $2.99, skewing the average a little.  Today’s nationwide average price is $2.87.  The lowest local price is $3.73 at Son’s at 5^th and Centre City Parkway in Escondido.  In Southwest Riverside, it’s $3.98 at Murrieta Sam’s Club and $3.99 at the local Costcos and a number of other stations. https://www.gasbuddy.com/gaspricemap?lat=33.52494911737644&lng=-117.14296873062267&z=14

On this day in music history – December 16,

• 1966, the first Jimi Hendrix Experience single, ‘Hey Joe’ was released in the UK on Polydor records.  The track had been rejected by the Decca label.  It went on to be a #6 hit in Britain, but failed to chart in America.  It was the final song in Hendrix’ set at Woodstock, making it the last song of the event.  Chas Chandler from The Animals, who was by then managing Hendrix had first seen the song performed by folk singer, Tim Rose at Cafe Wha? in New York City.  It’s been covered many times by many groups beginning with the LA garage band, The Leaves in late 1965.  That version went to #31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• In 1967, The Rolling Stones announced that Marianne Faithfull was the first artist signed to their new ‘Mother Earth’ label.
• In 1970, A banner year for Credence Clearwater Revival as five singles and five albums by CCR were certified gold in the US. The singles were: ‘Down on the Corner’, ‘Lookin out My Back Door’, ‘Travelin’ Band’, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and ‘Up around the Bend’. The LPs were ‘Cosmo’s Factory’, ‘Willy and the Poor Boys’, ‘Green River’, ‘Bayou Country’ and ‘Credence Clearwater Revival’.
• In 1971, Frank Zappa’s ‘200 Motels’ film debuted. The film which also featured Ringo Star, covered a loose storyline about Zappa’s group, The Mothers of Invention going crazy in the small town of Centerville.
• In 1972, Billy Paul began a three-week run at No.1 on the charts with ‘Me and Mrs Jones’.
• In 1974, guitarist Mick Taylor announced he was leaving The Rolling Stones saying he felt it was time to move on and do something new.
• In 1989, Billy Joel went to No.1 on the US album chart with his 11th studio release ‘Storm Front’. The album featured one of Joel’s three No.1 hits, ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’, a fast-paced song, mentioning some of the major historical events that took place during his lifetime.
• In 1991, Chubby Checker filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s in Canada seeking $14million for its alleged use of an imitation of his voice. The song ‘The Twist’ had been used on a French fry commercial.
• In 1993, MTV aired the Nirvana episode of ‘Unplugged’ for the first time. The acoustic performance was taped at Sony Music Studios in New York City on November 18, 1993.  Unlike many artists who appeared on Unplugged, the entire performance was filmed in a single take.  The band’s fourteen-song setlist included six cover versions.
• In 2000, the estranged father and former manager of LeAnn Rimes made embarrassing allegations during a legal battle involving millions of dollars. One was that LeAnn paid her mother $10k every time she styled her hair before a show.
• In 2005, the two surviving Beatles and relatives of the band’s late members began legal action against EMI to get $40m in unpaid royalties.
• In 2007, American singer songwriter Dan Fogelberg died at his home in Maine at the age of 56. The US singer, songwriter discovered he had advanced prostate cancer three years earlier.  His 1981 album ‘The Innocent Age’ featured the hits ‘Leader of the Band,’ ‘Hard to Say,’ and ‘Run for the Roses.’
• In 2011, an ultra-rare ‘Beatles VI’ in-store promotional poster sold at an eBay auction for $6,300.  Seventeen bids were placed for the 20 by 28-inch rarity.
• In 2013, It was reported that Miley Cyrus had insured her infamous tongue for $1 million. A source told Heat magazine: “Miley is totally aware of how her tongue is getting more headlines than she is, and getting it insured is just part of her trademarked image.” It’s not the first time she’d done something like this.  When she first cut her hair short, she tried to get her new crop patented.  She wanted it to become known as The Miley”

Born on this day …

• In 1945 – Tony Hicks, guitarist with The Hollies who had over 30 top 40 hits, including ‘Just One Look’, ‘Bus Stop’, ‘Carrie Anne’, ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ and ‘The Air That I Breathe’.
• In 1946 – Benny Andersson from ABBA.

 

Other celebrity anniversaries today …

• Actress and author, Joyce Bulifant from several 70s and 80s TV sitcoms and a regular on The Match Game is 88
• Among those who’ve passed, Sci-Fi novelist Sir Arthur Clarke was born this day in 1917. 
• TV actress and game show panelist Patti Deutsch was born in 1943

http://www.davesfunstuff.com/a-mb/2080-date1216.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 tomorrow (12/17) – beef & green beans, rice, vegetables 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.

Go to Facebook.com/RezRadio for community events and news affecting, or of interest to Pala and inland North County.

Listen to Rez Radio just about anywhere and access all of our assets with the free Rez Radio App, available at Google Play and the Apple App Store.

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 temperature of 81 this afternoon … patchy morning low clouds and fog, clearing to sunny and 80 tomorrow … 86 Thursday … 82 Friday … 78 Saturday … 76 Sunday …78 Monday … overnight lows, 50 tonight and tomorrow night … 53 Thursday night … about 50 Friday through Sunday night

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FIRE PERMITS

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.

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PALA

The Pala Band of Mission Indians has a number of part-time and full-time employment opportunities.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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LISTEN TO REZ RADIO

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TuneIn Apps – Download the free TuneIn music app for iOS, Android, Windows, and participating car, home, and portable devices. Once the app has been downloaded, search for “Rez Radio” and save us as your favorite.

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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.

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SHOWS

You can find a wide-range of Pala Rez Radio programming on our Shows 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.