On July 25th, School Bus driver David White had just picked up a group of students at the 29 Palms Jr. High campus where they were finishing up summer school. The bus had just left the parking lot when White heard a commotion behind him - one of the students had stood up and moved toward the front of the bus, and that’s when he heard someone say “he’s choking.” With the bus already in motion, David says he started to pull the bus over to assist the student. But by the time he had safely stopped…

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is offering a paid internship for women interested in conservation and environmental studies. Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave - or WISDOM - is seeking interns for two new biological research projects in the Mojave Trails National Monument for this fall and winter. Interns will conduct surveys of bumble bees and bird species at Bonanza and Arrowweed Natural Springs beginning August 26th through February of 2023. Applications from women of all backgrounds are…

There are free food distributions this week in the high desert - Tuesday 3PM to 5PM - Spirit and Truth Worship in Twentynine Palms - MAP Wednesday 9:30AM to 11:45AM - Lutheran Church of the Desert - MAP5:00PM to 6:30PM - Twentynine Palms Food Pantry - MAP Friday 11:30AM to 12:30PM - Church of the Nazarene - MAP Saturday 8:30AM - Church of the Nazarene Twentynine Palms - MAP

The Animal Action League is holding low cost pet clinics this month where you can get your furry friend spayed, neutered, chipped or vaccinated. The Spay and Neuter clinics are by appointment only, while vaccinations and microchip services are walk-in. This week they will be holding clinics on Monday the 8th, Wednesday the 10th, Thursday the 11th and Friday the 12th - all clinics run from 10AM to 2PM and will be held at the Animal Action League’s main office at 62762 Twentynine Palms Highway…

Monsoons bring a lot to our desert region - the normally dry arid climate can take on the sticky feeling of more humid areas. Hopefully - that more humid air brings monsoon rains that fill up the high desert’s water table for the coming year - something that’s important in a bad drought year, but especially necessary in an area such as ours that can measure yearly rainfall in the single digits. So why is damp air bad news for those of us who rely on swamp coolers to stay comfortable in the…

Roads in the Mojave National Preserve are closed due to heavy damage and washouts from monsoon rains earlier this week. Paved roads may still have heavy debris on them, with washed out shoulders and dips in the road that has gathered gravel and sand. Backcountry roads are in even worse shape - these roads usually recommend 4 wheel drive vehicles when they aren’t in washed out condition - and deep washouts and heavy debris has made many of these roads impassable. In addition to these road…