Jef Harmatz is the co-host of Z107.7’s “Morning Show with Cody and Jef” and Z107.7’s News Director. He has worked as a journalist, cartoonist, chef, and delivery driver. He is known nationally for his writing and comics in publications like TimeOut,…

Man Locks Himself in Bathroom After Bungling Burglary at Grocery Store

A burglary was bungled at a Yucca Valley grocery store, and so the alleged thief locked himself in the store’s bathroom for 40 minutes until Sheriff’s Deputies arrived. The Sheriff reports that yesterday (November 2) just before 9:30 a.m., Travis Sharp, a 33 year-old Yucca Valley resident, entered the Yucca Valley Aldi, located near the corner of Twentynine Palms Highway and Warren Vista, through the back “employees only” entrance. Sharp was seen attempting to pry open an office door, entering…

Yucca Valley Trailer Fire put out early Friday morning (11/4)

A trailer fire was extinguished in the 7000 block of Elk Trail in Yucca Valley early this morning (November 4) with no injuries or major damage to nearby structures. Units from the San Bernardino County Fire Department arrived at approximately 2 a.m., where they found a travel trailer burning, with flames extending into the structure of the house. The Fire Department said that all occupants were out of the trailer and house. Two county fire engines were dispatched, along with a unit from Cal…

Morongo Basin Healthcare District BOD meeting tonight (11/3)

The Morongo Basin Health Care District Board of Directors meets in regular session tonight. On their agenda for consideration are changes to employee contract and hiring provisions, the hiring of a demographer for redistricting evaluations, and the election of a secretary to the Board of Directors. The meeting begins tonight at 6 p.m. at their district offices located on La Contenta Road, Suite 400 in Yucca Valley. The meeting can be attended online at a link in this story at Z1077fm.com…

Knife-Wielding Woman Suspected of Armed Robbery, Attempting to Hijack Two Trucks in Downtown Joshua Tree

A knife-wielding woman is suspected of attempting to hijack two different trucks and robbing a residence in Downtown Joshua Tree on Friday morning (October 28). Just before 8 a.m, Sheriffs report that an unidentified woman attempted to open the door of a truck in the parking lot of Casteneda’s restaurant in Joshua Tree. The truck belonged to one of the restaurant’s employees, and when the employee confronted the woman, she threatened them with a 3-inch pocket knife and demanded the keys to car,…

Measure K Transit Occupancy Tax Information Sessions in Yucca Valley

The Town of Yucca Valley is holding a series of information sessions for voters who will asked to consider Measure K on November’s ballot. If enacted, Measure K will adjust the existing Transient Occupancy Tax from 7% to 12 % and is only applied to individuals staying in hotels, motels, and short-term vacation rentals and lodging within Yucca Valley. Importantly, Yucca Valley’s Measure K is distinct from San Bernardino’s Measure K, which was voted on and approved in 2020, but is being revisited…

San Bernardino County Measure D – What You Need To Know

Listen to this feature here: The controversial San Bernardino County Measure D, on which Morongo Basin residents will vote upon in November, is a manifestation of a long-simmering campaign by the County's ruling body, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to overturn a salary cap and term limits. 2022's Measure D has its roots in 2020 county ballot measure, called Measure K. In November 2020, more than two-thirds of San Bernardino county voters approved a ballot initiative,…

Twentynine Palms Water District Board of Directors Receives LAFCO Service Review at Today’s Meeting

The county agency responsible for the formation and oversight of local governments has provided their analysis of Twentynine Palms' government agencies, and the review makes a strong case for consolidating the town's City Council, Water District, and Cemetery District. The Local Agency Formation Commission, known as LAFCO, has submitted the final draft of their review of Twentynine Palms agencies to the agencies themselves. Today, the Twentynine Palms Water District will receive and…

Downtown Joshua Tree Traffic Collision Injures Several Adults and Children

A traffic collision between two cars in downtown Joshua Tree left two adults and eight juveniles with minor and major injuries According to the CHP, Wednesday evening (October 19). At about 6:45 p.m., a Honda Accord driving westbound on Highway 62. made a left turn near Hillview road, where it crossed directly into the path of a Kia Sedona mini-van. The Kia broadsided the Honda, and the Kia overturned during the crash, ultimately coming to rest back on its wheels. The Honda sustained major…

Audi left behind after failed business heist

A failed heist led to the gang's Audi being impounded by the Sheriff. On Wednesday night (October 19), a business in the 4400 block of Old Woman Springs Road reported a break in to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Station. The business owner said that the building's alarm went off at 10 p.m., and when he arrived, he saw the rear door pried open. The business owner witnessed three male suspects flee north on Old Woman Springs Rd, leaving their black Audi parked across the street…

Telephone Scams increase in Morongo Basin, targeting seniors and other vulnerable people

Telephone scamming continues to be a problem in the United States, and as part of our crime reporting here at Z107.7 News, we continue to see residents of the Morongo Basin fall victim to telephone scams. Scammers have been targeting senior citizens with phone calls requesting credit card numbers and bank information for a variety of reasons. A new type of scam we’ve received reports about involve a scammer pretending to be a celebrity or legitimate business person, sometimes claiming that the…