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Happening in Upland is your weekly rundown of what’s going on around town—local news, community events, public safety updates, new restaurants, development, weather, schools, and the stuff Upland residents actually talk about.
Delivered with humor, honesty, and a very local point of view, this isn’t stiff broadcast news. It’s real, relevant information with personality. If you live in Upland or anywhere nearby in the Inland Empire, this is your weekly shortcut to staying in the loop.
MARK: Welcome to Happening in Upland, the only podcast brave enough to broadcast from the city of gracious living without actually being chased out by a guy in a golf cart. It's Monday, June 29th, 2026, and I'm Mark, your guide through this suburban fever dream. I'm joined as always by Joleen, who I assume is upbeat today because she finally found a parking spot at the Vons on Foothill.
JOLEEN: I didn't find a spot, Mark, I just abandoned my car in a loading zone and told the universe to handle it. It's great to be here in Upland, where the air is thick with the scent of jasmine and the silent screams of people stuck in traffic on Mountain Avenue. If you're new here, we cover everything that makes this town tick, from the school board drama to why your favorite pothole just got a birthday card. You can find us at upland@thehappeningnetwork.com, so feel free to send us your complaints, your conspiracy theories, or just pictures of your dog in a Highlanders jersey. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment telling us how much you love or hate our voices. We're not picky.
MARK: We're really not. It's a low bar. Anyway, let's kick things off with the headlines because for once, it's not just news about a cat stuck in a drainage pipe. The biggest story hitting the wires this week is a huge sigh of relief for the Upland Unified School District. Apparently, the district has officially rescinded those terrifying layoff notices they'd sent out to teachers and staff. It's like a stay of execution, but with more lesson plans and less mystery meat in the cafeteria.
JOLEEN: I love how they do that, Mark. It's such a fun little psychological game to play with the people who educate our future leaders. 'You're fired! Just kidding, please come back and teach algebra for pennies.' It's classic UUSD. But honestly, it's good news. They found the money somewhere, probably in a couch cushion at the district office or by finally selling off that collection of vintage overhead projectors. The teachers are staying, which means the kids won't be taught by a rogue AI or a very confused golden retriever this fall.
MARK: Don't give them ideas, Joleen. A golden retriever would probably have a higher approval rating than the board. But seriously, the budget crisis isn't gone, it's just... sleeping. They're still dealing with that massive deficit we've talked about, but for now, the classrooms will have actual humans in them. It's a win for the city, even if it feels a bit like putting a band-aid on a shark bite. Moving on to something a bit more global, have you noticed the sudden influx of people who look like they've never seen a lemon tree before? World Cup fever is officially here.
JOLEEN: Oh, it's a goddamn nightmare. With the matches happening over in Los Angeles, Upland is basically becoming a giant parking lot for people who can't afford a hotel in Santa Monica. Metrolink is touting their 'enhanced service' from the Upland station, which is just code for 'we're going to pack you into these train cars like sardines with face paint.' I saw a group of Dutch fans yesterday trying to figure out how to order a beer at a Starbucks. They looked so lost, Mark. It was beautiful.
MARK: It's the ultimate test of our 'gracious living' motto. We have thousands of international fans realizing that the 'Inland Empire' isn't actually an empire and there's very little royalty involved unless you count the guy who owns three Taco Bells. The city is pushing everyone to use that UplandConnect app to report issues, which I'm sure is currently being flooded with reports like 'there are too many people wearing orange' and 'why is the train loud?'. It's an exciting time, I guess, if you enjoy crowds and waiting forty minutes for a sandwich.
JOLEEN: And let's talk about the logistics. If you think traffic on the two-ten was bad before, wait until you have five thousand people trying to get to the stadium at once while simultaneously trying to find a Dutch Bros. It's going to be a clusterfuck of epic proportions. But hey, it brings money into the city, right? Or at least it brings people who will spend money on gas and then leave as fast as humanly possible. It's the Upland way.
MARK: Exactly. Stay and spend your euros, then get out before you realize we don't have a nightlife. Now, speaking of people who don't want to leave, let's check in on the crime reports. It's been a relatively quiet week, which in Upland usually means the thieves are just on vacation or they've already stolen everything worth taking. We've seen a few reports of retail fraud over by the colonies. Some asshole thought they could walk out with a cart full of electronics without paying. Bold move, but unfortunately for them, the cameras actually work sometimes.
JOLEEN: Retail fraud is so vintage. Why bother with that when you can just saw off a catalytic converter in thirty seconds? That's still the preferred local pastime. I heard a rumor that some dickhead was trying to sell 'lightly used' converters out of the back of a van near San Antonio Heights. I mean, at least he's an entrepreneur, right? Support local business, even if that business involves making your neighbor's Honda sound like a tank.
MARK: It's a thriving ecosystem, Joleen. You steal the part, sell it to the guy, who sells it back to the repair shop, where the original owner pays to have it reinstalled. It's the circle of life, but with more grease and property damage. The police are still leaning heavily on those drones and license plate readers. I'm sure it's making everyone feel very safe and not at all like they're living in a low-budget Orwellian dystopia. But hey, if it catches the person who swiped my Amazon package, I'm all for the surveillance state.
JOLEEN: You're such a shill for the man, Mark. Personally, I like to wave at the drones. I give them a very specific finger just so they know I'm thinking of them. But seriously, the crime stats aren't changing much. You still have that one in thirty-four chance of being a victim of something. So, you know, maybe don't leave your diamond-encrusted iPad on the dashboard of your car while you go for a three-hour hike. Just a thought.
MARK: Common sense is a rare commodity in this town. Let's pivot to something that actually tastes good. I took a trip over to Molly's Souper recently. I know, it's a classic, but I realized we haven't given it the attention it deserves lately. It's located in that old packing house building downtown, and walking in there feels like stepping into a time capsule where the only things that matter are eggs and sourdough.
JOLEEN: Oh, Molly's. The place where you can get a bowl of soup the size of a birdbath and a side of sass from the servers. I love it. It's so unpretentious compared to some of these new fusion places that try to charge you thirty bucks for a taco that's mostly microgreens and sadness. What did you have? Was it the clam chowder or did you go full breakfast?
MARK: I went with the California omelet because I'm basic like that. It had enough avocado to tank the housing market, and the portion size was frankly offensive. I felt like I needed a nap and a cardiologist immediately after. The atmosphere is great, though. It's loud, it's crowded, and it's full of locals who've clearly been eating there since the citrus trees were just twigs. It's a solid five out of five stars if you value volume over your cholesterol levels.
JOLEEN: It's the heart of downtown. It's where you go to see everyone you're trying to avoid from high school. But seriously, if you haven't been to Molly's Souper, what are you even doing with your life? Go there, get the sourdough, and accept that you're going to be full until Wednesday. It's one of the few places in Upland that actually feels like it has a soul, unlike the strip malls that are slowly consuming the rest of our existence.
MARK: The strip malls are our culture, Joleen. Don't disrespect the sacred stucco. Speaking of things that require stamina, let's talk sports. The Upland Highlanders are deep into their summer preparations. The 2026 football calendar is out, and the 'three days in helmets' ritual starts on July 31st. Fall camp with actual pads begins August 4th. I can already hear the whistles and the sound of teenagers questioning their life choices in the hundred-degree heat.
JOLEEN: God, I don't miss high school sports. Nothing says 'character building' like running laps until you see God while a man in cargo shorts screams at you. But the schedule looks tough this year. The first game is August 22nd at La Habra. It's an away game, which means the parents have to drive all the way out there to yell at the refs in a different zip code. It's a beautiful tradition.
MARK: It really is. And on the national stage, we've got some big news for hockey fans. The Carolina Hurricanes just lifted the Stanley Cup after beating the Vegas Golden Knights. Jordan Staal got the MVP, which I'm sure is a bitter pill for all the Knights fans here in town. Plus, the NHL draft just happened. Gavin McKenna went number one overall to the Maple Leafs. Justin Bieber was the one who announced it, because apparently, we can't have a sports event anymore without a celebrity endorsement from 2012.
JOLEEN: Wait, Bieber? Is he the commissioner now? That's the most Canadian thing I've ever heard. 'I'd like to draft this guy, and also, baby, baby, baby, oh.' Kill me now. But hey, hockey is over, so now we can all focus on the only sport that matters: watching the construction crews on Foothill Boulevard move one orange cone three inches to the left every four hours. That's the real local competition.
MARK: It's an Olympic-level event, Joleen. The Foothill Boulevard Improvement Project is still very much alive and well, or at least it's still very much a giant hole in the ground. They're making 'progress,' which is a word engineers use to describe a situation where you can no longer turn left without a permit and a prayer. If you're planning on driving anywhere near the historic downtown, just don't. Walk, bike, or just accept that your life now belongs to the traffic gods.
JOLEEN: I tried to take a shortcut through a residential street last week and ended up in a standoff with a trash truck and a woman in a Tesla who refused to reverse. I'm still there, actually. This podcast is being recorded from my driver's seat. But really, the roadwork is getting ridiculous. They're doing pavement rehab on the north side too. It's like the city decided that if we can't have nice things, nobody can have flat tires either. It's just a constant state of 'under construction'.
MARK: It's the Upland aesthetic. If there isn't a detour sign, are you even in Upland? Now, let's look at the community events, because despite the construction, people still want to hang out. This weekend is a big one. It's the lead-up to the Fourth of July, and the city is getting ready for the 'Light Up the Night' fireworks spectacular at Memorial Park. It's happening this Saturday, the 4th, obviously. They've got live music, food vendors, and enough black powder to be seen from space.
JOLEEN: Ah, yes. The night where every dog in Upland collectively loses its mind and tries to dig a hole through the living room floor. I love the Fourth of July. It's the one night a year where we celebrate our independence by setting off illegal explosives in the street and hoping the neighbors don't call the cops. The official show at the park is actually pretty good, though. Just get there early, or you'll be watching the fireworks from the window of a Taco Bell three miles away.
MARK: The music starts at 5:30 PM with some tribute bands. I haven't checked who it is this year, but I'm betting my left kidney it's either a Journey cover band or someone doing 'yacht rock'. It's the law. If you don't play 'Don't Stop Believin' at a city event, the mayor gets impeached. It's in the charter. So, bring your chairs, your blankets, and your patience, because parking at Memorial Park is a myth. It doesn't actually exist.
JOLEEN: And if you're not into the loud noises and crowds, there's the Farmers Market on Saturday morning in the historic downtown. You can buy a ten-dollar heirloom tomato and feel better about yourself for five minutes. It's a great way to support local farmers before you go home and eat a frozen pizza. Plus, the shops downtown are all decorated for summer. 2nd Avenue Boutique has this crazy lemon-themed window display that looks like a citrus bomb went off. It's very on-brand for us.
MARK: The lemons are everywhere, Joleen. You can't escape them. It's the curse of the city. Now, we need to talk about the weather, because I actually have the official forecast from the National Weather Service, and it's weirdly specific. Today, Monday, we're looking at a high of 78 degrees with some southwest wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour. It's actually quite pleasant, which usually means the universe is setting us up for something terrible.
JOLEEN: It's the 'June Gloom' trying to make a final stand before July hits us with the heat of a thousand suns. Tonight is going to be 56 degrees with 'patchy drizzle' after 11 PM. Drizzle? In late June? I didn't sign up for this. I want my sunshine and my high electricity bills, goddammit. It's going to stay cool through Wednesday, with highs only reaching about 78. It's practically sweater weather for Southern California.
MARK: Exactly. I saw someone wearing a parka yesterday because it dropped below seventy. We're a weak people. But don't worry, the heat is coming back just in time to ruin your holiday. Thursday jumps to 81, Friday hits 84, and for Independence Day on Saturday, we're looking at a high of 86 and sunny. It's going to be perfect for sitting in a park and sweating through your t-shirt while you wait for a hot dog.
JOLEEN: By Sunday, we're at 87. It's the classic slow-cooker effect. By the time we hit the middle of July, we'll all be complaining that it's too hot to breathe. But for now, enjoy the 'patchy fog' on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. It's nature's way of hiding the fact that you still haven't mowed your lawn. Just be careful on the roads if it actually drizzles. Upland drivers see one drop of water and forget how brakes work. It's like their brains just short-circuit.
MARK: It's true. One sprinkle and the ten-fwy looks like a scene from 'Mad Max'. Let's finish up with some real estate news. The market in Upland is still basically a blood sport. The median home price is holding steady around $855,000. Inventory is so low that I'm pretty sure people are starting to list their garden sheds as 'cozy ADUs with natural ventilation'. If you want to buy a house here, you'd better have a briefcase full of cash and the ability to overlook the fact that your neighbor has a collection of rusted cars in their front yard.
JOLEEN: It's insane. I saw a house for sale last week that was basically two pieces of plywood leaning against a tree, and it was listed for seven-hundred-thousand dollars. 'Great potential for a fixer-upper!' No, it's a pile of lumber, Linda. But people are buying them. Homes are still selling in under a month. It's a seller's paradise and a buyer's nightmare. If you're a first-time buyer in Upland, my advice is to either win the lottery or find a very rich relative who doesn't like their other heirs.
MARK: The $32 million SuperLotto ticket sold at the Circle K a while back is still the dream everyone is chasing. That's the only way most of us are ever moving into one of those mansions in the north end. But hey, at least we have the 'gracious living' to keep us warm at night. Or the patchy drizzle. Whichever comes first. It's been a long road today, Joleen. Any final thoughts before we let these people get back to their lives?
JOLEEN: Just that I hope everyone survives the Fourth of July without losing a limb. Seriously, leave the fireworks to the professionals at Memorial Park. Your backyard Roman candle show is not worth a trip to the ER and a stern talking-to from the fire department. Also, check out that Small Business Development Center grant if you're a local business owner. They're offering five-thousand-dollar grants, and the applications close tomorrow, June 30th. It's free money, people. Don't be an asshole, go get it.
MARK: Free money is the best kind of money. That's going to do it for us today. Remember to follow us on all the socials, and if you have a story we missed, hit us up at upland@thehappeningnetwork.com. We want to hear about your neighbor's weird lawn ornaments or the latest scandal at the city council. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and tell a friend. Or tell an enemy. We don't care about the quality of the listeners, just the quantity.
JOLEEN: Spoken like a true professional. Stay cynical, Upland. And try not to get hit by a drone on your way to the grocery store. It's a jungle out there, and the monkeys have high-tech surveillance. We'll be back next week with more news, more sarcasm, and hopefully fewer detour signs. See ya.
MARK: Peace out. Or whatever the kids say now before they go play World Cup soccer in the middle of Euclid Avenue. Be safe, stay hydrated, and for the love of everything holy, stay off Foothill if you value your sanity. Goodbye.