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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.
JOLEEN: Welcome to Happening in Upland for Monday, August 31, 2026. I'm Joleen.
MARK: And I'm Mark. Today we're looking at the president's plan to rename a Great Lake, a high-speed e-bike chase that's exactly as pathetic as it sounds, and why the school district wants another quarter-billion dollars of your money.
JOLEEN: Plus, we've got a Centennial celebration at the Woman's Club and your full Labor Day weekend forecast. Let's get into our top story.
MARK: So, apparently, we're living in a world where Lake Ontario is now 'Lake America'. President Trump signed the order Thursday, basically because he's in a pissing match with Canada over trade. I didn't realize we could just colonize names like that, but here we are.
JOLEEN: It's definitely a choice, Mark. He's calling it a move for national pride, and honestly, the name 'Lake America' has a certain ring to it if you don't think about it for more than three seconds. It's aggressive, it's bold, and it's making the Canadians absolutely lose their minds.
MARK: Everything makes the Canadians lose their minds. They're probably writing very polite, strongly worded letters as we speak. But honestly, what's next? Are we going to rename the Pacific the 'American Splash Zone'? It's just a name on a map that nobody in Upland is ever going to visit because it's too far from the 210.
JOLEEN: Well, some of us actually leave the city limits occasionally. But it's part of this larger trade war, and while it feels like a meme, it's actually happening. It's that kind of big-energy posturing that gets people talking, even if it doesn't change the fact that the water is still cold and full of whatever Canada puts in it.
MARK: It's water, Joleen. It doesn't have a nationality. It's just funny to me that we're spending executive energy on this when the roads in San Bernardino County look like they've been through a literal war. If he wants to rename something, he should rename Foothill Boulevard to 'Suspension Destroyer Way'.
JOLEEN: I'm sure that's high on his list. But look, it's the kind of news that stops you in your tracks. Whether you love it or think it's the stupidest thing you've heard all week, you've got to admit, 'Lake America' sounds like a place where you'd have a hell of a jet ski party.
MARK: A jet ski party in late August? Sure. But let's bring it back to something closer to home, where the crimes are a lot more local and a lot more embarrassing. We've got a new contender for the most Upland police pursuit of the year.
JOLEEN: Oh god, the e-bike chase. I saw the footage. It's one of those things where you want to look away because the secondhand embarrassment is so thick, but you just can't. The Upland PD actually released video of a high-speed pursuit involving an e-bike. And I use the term 'high-speed' very loosely here.
MARK: I've seen faster movement at the DMV on a Friday afternoon. This guy was actually trying to evade patrol cars on a battery-powered bicycle. What's the plan there? Are you hoping the cops run out of gas before your Lithium-ion battery hits five percent? It's the pinnacle of criminal stupidity.
JOLEEN: The cops were basically idling behind him while he's pedaling for his life. It's not like a 'Fast and Furious' movie; it's more like a 'Paul Blart' outtake. But the police take it seriously because, you know, he's weaving through traffic and being a general dickhead on the road. You can't just let an e-bike outlaw roam free.
MARK: He's not an outlaw; he's a guy who couldn't afford a getaway car. And then we've got the card shop theft. Apparently, someone decided that 'One Piece' and 'Pokemon' cards were worth a felony. They hit a local card shop and made off with a bunch of collectibles. Because nothing says 'hardcore criminal' like a holographic Charizard.
JOLEEN: Hey, those things are worth a fortune now! Some of those 'One Piece' cards go for thousands. It's not just kids trading on the playground anymore; it's a legitimate black market for nerds. It's shitty for the shop owners, though. These are small businesses getting hit by people who probably spend their nights arguing on Reddit.
MARK: It's pathetic. Steal some jewelry or something with dignity. Stealing trading cards is just sad. And to top off the crime report, we had a guy on the bike path who thought it'd be a great idea to hurl a rock through a window. He got arrested, obviously, because it's hard to be a stealthy ninja when you're carrying around rocks on a public trail.
JOLEEN: Upland is really bringing out its best and brightest this week. Rocks, e-bikes, and Pokemon cards. It's like we're living in a low-budget reboot of 'The Wire' set in a middle-class suburb. But look, the police are catching these guys, so at least the response time is better than the suspects' planning skills.
MARK: I guess. It's just exhausting. You can't even walk the bike path without worrying about some asshole with an arm like a failing relief pitcher. Anyway, let's talk about the schools, because that's where the real money is disappearing.
JOLEEN: It's a big week for the Upland Unified School District. First off, we've got a new leader at the helm. Shinay Bowman has been selected as the next superintendent. She's been the Chief Academic Officer, so she knows where the bodies are buried. She's succeeding Lynn Carmen Day, who's heading off into retirement.
MARK: Good for her. She gets to step right into the line of fire. Because while Bowman is getting the keys to the office, the board is also asking the taxpayers for a cool 237 million dollars. That's the bond measure on the November ballot. For those keeping track at home, that's a lot of zeros for 'facility modernization'.
JOLEEN: Look, our schools aren't exactly getting younger. You want the kids to have working AC and tech that isn't from the Stone Age, you've got to pay for it. The bond is designed to fix up the aging infrastructure. It's an investment in the future, even if the price tag makes you want to choke on your morning coffee.
MARK: I'm sure some of it's necessary, but every time I hear 'modernization', I assume it means they're buying five thousand iPads that'll be obsolete by the time the boxes are opened. 237 million is a massive ask, especially when people are already struggling with the cost of living here. It's going to be a tough sell at the ballot box.
JOLEEN: People usually vote for school stuff, though. Upland likes to think of itself as a family-first kind of town. If you tell parents that the roof is leaking on their kid's head, they'll usually find the money. But you're right, with the economy being what it is, people are going to be looking at their tax bills with a magnifying glass.
MARK: They should. We've seen these bonds before, and somehow Foothill still has potholes large enough to hide a Miata. I'm skeptical of how that money actually trickles down to the classroom. But hey, congrats to Shinay Bowman. You've got the hardest job in town now. Don't fuck it up.
JOLEEN: She's experienced, Mark. Give her a chance. Transitioning leadership during a bond push is like trying to change a tire while the car is doing eighty on the ten freeway, but she seems like she can handle it. Let's pivot to something a little more appetizing. We need to talk about Molly's Souper.
MARK: Ah, the classic. It's one of those places that feels like you've stepped back in time, mostly because it's literally an old house. If you haven't been, it's on Fourth Avenue, and it's basically the go-to spot for people who want breakfast that tastes like their grandmother made it, assuming their grandmother was a professional chef who didn't skimp on the butter.
JOLEEN: It's so charming, though! The vibe there is unbeatable. It's got that historic Upland feel that you just don't get at the corporate chains. And the portions? I'm pretty sure one omelet could feed a small village for a week. It's the kind of place where you go when you've given up on your diet for the weekend.
MARK: I'll give you that. The soup is actually legit, hence the name. It's the straight man of local eateries. No frills, no fancy foam on your coffee, just solid food and a server who's probably seen it all. It's refreshing in a world where everything is trying to be 'fusion' or 'artisanal'.
JOLEEN: Exactly! Sometimes you just want a bowl of split pea soup and a sandwich without having to look up three ingredients on Wikipedia. It's a staple for a reason. If you're looking for a place to hide from the world on a Tuesday morning, you could do a lot worse than Molly's. Just be prepared to wait if it's the weekend.
MARK: The wait is the only downside. It's like the entire city of Upland decides to show up at the exact same time on Sunday morning. But if you can snag a table on the porch, it's almost worth the thirty-minute stand in the sun. Almost.
JOLEEN: You're such a hater. The porch is lovely! Speaking of things that have been around forever, did you see the Upland Woman's Club is celebrating its hundredth anniversary? The clubhouse was built in 1926. Think about that. That building has survived a century of Upland drama.
MARK: A hundred years of tea parties and community service. That's actually impressive. Most businesses in this town don't last six months before they're replaced by another nail salon or a vape shop. To keep a club going for a century takes some serious dedication, or at least a lot of very determined women.
JOLEEN: They've done a lot for the city, too. It's one of those institutions that keeps the local history alive. They've been holding events all year to celebrate the centennial. It's cool to see something that old still being used for its original purpose. It makes the city feel a bit more grounded, you know?
MARK: It's definitely a milestone. I wonder if the original members from 1926 would recognize the city now. They'd probably be horrified by the traffic and the fact that we're all staring at glass rectangles all day. But hey, a hundred years is a hundred years. I can barely commit to a gym membership for a hundred days.
JOLEEN: Well, they've got staying power. And speaking of things that are coming up, we've got Labor Day weekend. This is the last big hurrah of the summer, and Upland's usually got a few things going on. If you're staying local, it's a good time to hit the parks before the 'slight chance of rain' ruins your barbecue.
MARK: Wait, did you say rain? In Upland? In early September? I'll believe it when I'm standing in a puddle on Euclid. Let's look at this weather forecast because it looks like nature is trying to be indecisive again.
JOLEEN: It's a weird one, Mark. Today we're looking at a high of 89. It's sunny, it's standard, it's fine. Tomorrow and Wednesday we're dipping slightly into the high 80s--87 on Tuesday, 86 on Wednesday. It's actually decent weather for this time of year. I'm not complaining about mid-80s.
MARK: Yeah, until the humidity kicks in. But then it gets strange toward the weekend. Friday is 86, but then Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service is actually calling for a chance of rain showers. We're talking 24 percent on Saturday and jumping up to 34 percent on Sunday.
JOLEEN: A thirty-four percent chance of rain on Labor Day Sunday. That's just enough to make you cancel your pool party but not enough to actually water your lawn. It's the ultimate weather blue-balls. But honestly, I'd take a little sprinkle if it cools things down. The lows are staying in the 60s, which is a nice break from the overnight sweats.
MARK: The lows are fine, but 87 degrees with rain just means it's going to feel like a humid swamp. It's going to be like living in Florida for forty-eight hours, minus the alligators and the Florida Man stories. Well, actually, with the e-bike chase, we might already have the Florida Man part covered.
JOLEEN: Fair point. But seriously, keep an eye on the sky if you're planning on being outdoors this weekend. It's not a washout, but it's enough to be annoying. And if it does rain, you know what that means--everyone in Upland is going to forget how to drive simultaneously.
MARK: As if they knew how to drive in the first place. That brings us to our favorite topic: road construction and the absolute disaster that is our infrastructure. We're still staring down that 210 million dollar road repair backlog. That's a lot of money to spend just to make the ground flat again.
JOLEEN: It's frustrating because you see the construction everywhere, but the progress feels like it's being measured in millimeters. Foothill is still a mess, and now with the school year in full swing, the traffic around those construction zones is a nightmare. It's like the city is perpetually under a 'work in progress' sign.
MARK: The problem is that the more we wait, the more expensive it gets. 210 million is the number now, but give it another year of heavy trucks and heat, and that'll be 250 million. It's a game of catch-up we're losing. And I love how the 'improvements' usually just mean more orange cones that stay there for three months without anyone actually working near them.
JOLEEN: I saw a crew out last week, at least. But yeah, the backlog is a massive hurdle for the city council. They're trying to figure out where to pull the funding from without raising every tax under the sun. It's a balancing act that leaves everyone with a flat tire eventually. It makes you wonder if they'll ever actually finish Foothill.
MARK: They'll finish it just in time for it to need repaving again. It's the circle of life in the Inland Empire. You drive on dirt, they pave it, it breaks, you drive on dirt again. It's a beautiful system if you're a mechanic specializing in alignments.
JOLEEN: Well, while the roads are crumbling, the real estate market is still doing its own thing. We've got some news on a major multifamily project. Northmarq just secured 34 million dollars in financing for a 324-unit community here in Upland. That's a massive influx of new housing.
MARK: More apartments. Just what everyone wanted. I'm sure the neighbors are thrilled about three hundred more cars trying to turn left onto a congested street. But 34 million is a serious chunk of change. It shows that developers still think Upland is a gold mine, even if the locals are struggling to find a parking spot.
JOLEEN: We need the housing, Mark. You can't complain about the lack of inventory and then complain when someone actually builds something. 324 units is going to help, even if it's high-density. The market is still tight, and these big financing deals mean that despite the interest rates, projects are still moving forward.
MARK: It's just funny to me that we're building these 'multifamily communities' while our infrastructure is literally begging for mercy. It's like adding more floors to a house with a cracked foundation. But hey, someone's making money, and I'm sure the units will be 'luxury' apartments that cost more than a mortgage on a three-bedroom in 2019.
JOLEEN: They always call them luxury. I think 'luxury' now just means it has a dishwasher and a gray laminate floor. But seriously, it's a sign of growth. Upland is changing, whether we like it or not. We're becoming a denser, more urban version of our former selves.
MARK: Great. I can't wait for Upland to become West Covina East. It's going to be fantastic. More people, more e-bike chases, more $237 million bonds. It's the American dream, or at least the 'Lake America' dream.
JOLEEN: On that high note, we're wrapping things up for today. Make sure you stay hydrated and keep an eye on that rain chance this weekend. It might actually happen, so don't be that person who gets their charcoal wet.
MARK: If you want to complain about the show or tell us about your own e-bike pursuit, email us at upland@thehappeningnetwork.com. We'd love to hear from you, especially if you have an opinion on what we should rename Lake Erie.
JOLEEN: Don't forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. We'll be back next week with more news that you probably could've lived without, but we're giving it to you anyway.
MARK: See you then. Try not to hit any rocks on the bike path.