"End of Life Ethics" is the topic of the Hospice Foundation of America's 19th annual national bereavement program, hosted by Hi-Desert Home Care Services, tomorrow from 2:00 to 4:30 in the Helen Gray Education Center in Joshua tree. The program will examine the ethical issues and dilemmas that emerge at the end of life. There will be case studies on principles of ethical decision making and the effects of these decisions on the staff and family. The webinar is moderated by Lynn…

Lifestream will conduct a community blood drive in Yucca Valley Wednesday, July 18. Blood donations will be taken at Vons, from 2 to 6 p.m. Donors will receive Gift of Life Donor Loyalty points. Healthy individuals at least 15 years old may donate blood. All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis. Donors receive a free mini-physical as part of the donation process. Donating blood takes about an hour, yet…

It's back to studying the Development Code for the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission tonight. Reporter Dan Stork looks at the items they will be reviewing... The single item on the agenda for the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting is a study session on the City's Development Code, as part of a comprehensive review and update of the code. Some of the issues on which staff will be asking for guidance from the Commission are: commercial district development standards;…

A Yucca Valley man was arrested after police say he punched his wife in the nose. According to a Sheriff's report, Juan Sanchez, 38, called shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday to report that his wife was punching him and he didn't know what to do. His wife then said he was lying and that he was punching her. When deputies arrived at the call location in the 51600 block of 29 Palms Highway in Morongo Valley, they found the wife had a bloody nose and a cut lip, allegedly from Sanchez…

The Yucca Valley Town Council will meet in three sessions tonight. Managing editor Tami Roleff says after considering litigation in closed session, they will hold a workshop and the regular session... The Yucca Valley Town Council will start off its meeting Tuesday with a closed session, in which it will discuss whether to initiate litigation. Immediately following the closed session, the Town Council and Planning Commission will meet in a joint session to review the general plan land use.…

Storm damage continues to keep Highway 62 east of Twentynine Palms closed. Caltrans officials said flash flooding washed out sections of the highway between Godwin Avenue and Highway 177 in Riverside County. Crews began to repair the damage over the weekend and plan to finish repairs in about a week. Workers will also be repairing storm damage on the shoulders of the 177 and Highway 95.

Officials with the National Park Service are finding a new trend for visitors at parks across the country, including our own Joshua Tree National Park. According to new figures, just released by the Park Service, more people are visiting U.S. National Parks, including Joshua Tree, but they're spending much less time in the parks. Attendance at Joshua Tree National Park jumped 22 percent from 1991 to 2011, from 1,145,458 in '91 to 1,396,237 in 2011. The number of overnight stays in the…

"Seussical," the musical, is now playing at Theatre 29! The family-friendly "Seussical" a fantastical, musical extravaganza!" with all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters, who transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the world of the Who's. Follow Horton the elephant, protecting the Who's while sitting on an egg in a tree! The powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant; in a story that makes…

The Joshua Tree Library offers several programs this week for children of all ages. Reporter Dan Stork joins us again to tell us about bats, Legos, and magic... At the Joshua Tree Library this week, preschoolers and Kindergarteners will consider the question: What if bats visit the library after everyone is gone at night? Come celebrate our favorite flying mammals with stories, activities and a craft. This program is on Tuesday, July 17, at 11 a.m. The program for all ages on Wednesday, July 18,…

Twentynine Palms Public Cemetery District will hold a special Board Meeting tonight at their facility at 5350 Encelia Avenue in Twentynine Palms. The 5:30 meeting will cover 1. Public Comments (Limit to three minutes) 2. Board Comments (Board may not comment on any agenda items) 3. Discuss and approve Fiscal Year 2012/2013 proposed budget and then Adjourn to closed session to review personnel and review professional standards.