Independence Day is Thursday, and the days leading up to the Fourth of July holiday are filled with fun, patriotism, and unfortunately illegal fireworks. The Sheriff’s Department received 11 reports about illegal fireworks over the weekend. The Morongo Basin is experiencing triple digit temperatures which are expected to continue thorughout this week, in what the National Weather Service is expected to implement an excessive heat on the fourth. With hot, dry, and windy conditions expected, the…

The San Bernardino County Library System’s summer reading program continues this summer and there are a number of fun book events happening right now throughout the hi-desert. For students who are now on school break, the Morongo Basin’s three library branches, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms, are all providing programming through the end of July. The county of San Bernardino is bringing animal shows, magic, artists and performers, and they will be dropping by all three libraries…

The San Bernardino Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program successfully serviced 12,148 taxpayers for free. The program contacts low- and middle-income taxpayers via telephone, and offers to connect residents with tax professionals at one of more than 40 locations, 37 of which are mobile. The program is designed to help ensure access to tax preparation services, and help those who may not be able to afford tax assistance have the opportunity to…

Sunday the news dog. Photo: Jef Harmatz If your dog is anything like mine, she loves to go outside to go on a long walk or lay on some rocks. But dogs can't always distinguish between "hot" and "way too hot." Fortunately, they've got humans in their life to help them stay cool and prevent burns. If the thermometer says its more than 85 degrees, then going outside can be dangerous for dogs. Pavement, asphalt, and even artificial grass retain heat, so that even if its…

If you’re anything like me, the summer brings back fond memories of reading. And here in the hi-desert, there’s nothing better to do when it’s too hot to go outside than to stay indoors and read a book. I’m currently working my way through the thousand page collection of cartoonist Walt Simonson’s epic run on The Mighty Thor for Marvel comics. If you’re keen to get reading, there’s a number of fun book events happening right now throughout the hi-desert. For students who are now on school break,…