Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
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 for Monday, September 14, 2026. I'm Mark.
JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen. Today we're looking at a major vote on business taxes, the Upland Highlanders' tough loss on the field, and why your commute on Foothill isn't getting better yet.
MARK: The City Council's meeting tonight, and top of the list is Measure M, which is their attempt to fix the fact that our business tax structure is literally older than some of the people voting on it. It hasn't been updated in thirty-one fuckin' years, Joleen. 1994 was the last time they looked at this. Back when we were all worried about the O.J. trial, that was the last time the city adjusted what businesses pay to exist here.
JOLEEN: It's honestly wild that it's taken this long, but they're finally putting it on the November ballot. They're calling it a modernization, which is just government-speak for 'we need three million dollars a year for potholes.' I mean, I love our small businesses, and the city says most of them will actually see a tax cut while the massive corporations finally start paying a fair share for using our roads. It's about damn time, right? We've got two hundred and forty-one million in unfunded street maintenance, so three million a year is basically like using a squirt gun to put out a house fire, but hey, it's a start.
MARK: A start? It's a rounding error. But sure, let's celebrate. They're also talking about the town budget tonight and a public hearing on the master fee schedule. They're looking at establishing fees for things like 'small wireless facilities.' That's those 5G towers everyone's neighbor thinks are beaming thoughts into their cat. If the city can make a few bucks off those, maybe they can afford a second shovel for the crew on Foothill Boulevard.
JOLEEN: Oh, don't even get me started on the Foothill project. I know you're skeptical about the budget, but at least the city's trying to find new revenue that doesn't involve just shaking down residents. That Council meeting starts at six o'clock tonight at City Hall if anyone wants to go down and see the sausage being made. Or you can just watch it on Channel 3 and stay in your pajamas, which is what most of us are gonna do.
MARK: Speaking of staying home, the Upland High football team might want to consider it. The Highlanders went out to Fontana last Thursday to play Summit and it was... well, it was a disaster. They lost thirty-six to zero. They didn't even get on the board, Joleen. That's an zero-and-four start to the season. It's getting hard to watch.
JOLEEN: It was brutal, Mark. I'm trying to stay positive for the kids, but thirty-six zip is a tough pill to swallow. Summit's defense was just an absolute wall. Our boys couldn't move the ball at all. That's a five-game losing streak if you count the end of last season. But look, they're back at home this Friday against Valley View. It's a non-league game, seven p.m. at Highlander Stadium. They really need the community to show up and actually cheer for once because they've gotta be feeling pretty low right now.
MARK: I'll cheer when they score a point. It's not just the varsity boys, either. The JV team lost to Summit too, and the freshmen got worked. It's a systemic collapse of the Highlander empire. On the bright side, girls' flag football is actually doing stuff. They've got a game against Chino Hills tomorrow at three p.m. Maybe the girls can show the guys how to actually find the end zone without a map and a flashlight.
JOLEEN: You're such a dick, Mark. They're teenagers. They're out there working hard in this heat. And hey, flag football is growing so fast, it's actually pretty exciting to see the UUSD expanding the programs. We've got new students settled in, and you can definitely feel the traffic around the campuses. If you're driving near Upland High or any of the elementary schools between eight and nine in the morning, just accept your fate. You're not getting anywhere fast.
MARK: Which brings us to the never-ending story: the Foothill Boulevard Improvement Project. The city's official timeline said this thirteen-million-dollar 'rehabilitation' was supposed to finish in August. We're halfway through September, and I'm still dodging orange cones like I'm in a video game. They've got the base paving done between San Antonio and Redding Way, but they're still messing around with the 'landscaped medians.'
JOLEEN: Landscaping takes time, Mark! You want it to look nice, don't you? They're doing full asphalt reconstruction, new curbs, gutters, and traffic signal upgrades. It's a massive job. They're even doing some of the work at night now to try and stay out of our way. I'm just glad the water pipelines are being replaced. I'd rather deal with a detour than have a main break and turn Foothill into a lazy river.
MARK: I'd take the lazy river over the current crawl. And don't forget the A Line extension. The Gold Line, for those of us who refuse to use the new name. They're pushing the design toward sixty percent completion for the segment from Pomona to Claremont. They've got survey crews all over the place right now, especially near the Claremont Metrolink station. It's all 'pre-construction' for now, which means we get all the data-gathering traffic and none of the actual train rides until at least 2027.
JOLEEN: At least progress is happening. Speaking of things moving, or maybe not moving, let's talk real estate. The numbers for September are out, and the median sold price in Upland is sitting right at seven hundred thousand dollars. That's a bit of a dip from those nine-hundred-thousand-dollar peaks we were seeing over the summer, but Redfin is claiming prices are down nearly thirteen percent compared to last year. Does it feel like a discount to you, Mark?
MARK: Thirteen percent off of 'completely unaffordable' is still 'expensive as shit.' The median list price is still over seven hundred and fifty-nine thousand. So people are asking for a fortune and settling for slightly less of a fortune. We've only got about thirty-two active listings in the 91786 area right now. It's a seller's market because there's just nothing to buy unless you've got three roommates and a lottery win.
JOLEEN: It's definitely competitive. Homes are going pending in under twenty days. If you see something you like, you've basically got to decide before you've finished the walk-through. It's stressful. But hey, if you can't afford a house, you can at least afford a good meal. Have you seen the new spot downtown where the old Captain's Grill used to be? It's called La Michelada.
MARK: I've heard of it. People seem to love the Gobernador tacos. It's family-owned, which is nice, and they're open from eight a.m. for breakfast all the way through dinner. They've got fresh ceviche and carne asada plates. It's a big change from the old grill vibe. It feels like Downtown Upland is finally starting to get some actual variety instead of just antique shops and places to buy crystals.
JOLEEN: I love the energy down there lately. And if you're not in the mood for Mexican food, that New Indian Restaurant on East Foothill is getting great reviews for their North and South Indian dishes. It's super close to Memorial Park, so it's a good spot to grab carryout. Or, if you're feeling like a cheapskate college student, everyone on Reddit is raving about Soup n Fresh at Foothill and Vineyard. It's an eighteen-buck vegetarian buffet. Unlimited soup and salad.
MARK: Unlimited salad sounds like a threat, not a promise. But eighteen dollars for a buffet in 2026 is actually a miracle. I'm sure the line's out the door with people trying to survive the inflation. We should probably mention the crime situation too, before people get too comfortable. The city just released the 2026 stats, and while total crime is technically down thirteen percent year-over-year, we're still seeing tagging all over the place. The police caught a couple of guys over by A Street and 10th recently with a loaded, unregistered gun and graffiti supplies.
JOLEEN: It's the guns that worry me more than the spray paint. The Upland PD has been pretty active with the 'eyes in the sky' lately, using the drones to catch people before they can even get out of the parking lots. They're also doing more patrols near the schools now that everyone's back in class. It's a good reminder to keep your stuff locked up. Don't leave your laptop in the backseat while you're grabbing your unlimited salad, people.
MARK: Exactly. Thieves love a distracted diner. If you're looking for something more wholesome to do this weekend, we've got the Kids Markets coming up this Saturday, September 19th. It's part of the regular Farmers Market in Downtown. From nine to two, they let the kids run the booths. They handle the cash, make the sales, and try not to cry when nobody buys their hand-painted rocks. It's actually a pretty cool way for them to learn about business.
JOLEEN: It's adorable! They call it a 'thrill of earning' experience. There are expected to be over five hundred people down there, so it'll be a busy Saturday morning. And if your kids aren't into being junior entrepreneurs, Lakeshore Learning is doing a 'Dino Day' on the same Saturday. It's a free event with dinosaur-themed activities. So you can get your fresh produce at the market and then go look at some plastic T-Rexes. That sounds like a solid Upland Saturday to me.
MARK: Dino Day? I'm sure the traffic on North Central Avenue will be just delightful for that. But you'll need to know the weather if you're heading out. According to the National Weather Service, today is gonna be a high of eighty-eight degrees. It's sunny with a bit of a breeze, but nothing too crazy. Tonight it'll drop down to sixty-three, and we're looking at some patchy fog after two in the morning.
JOLEEN: That fog is gonna stick around for Tuesday morning too, so be careful if you're commuting early. Tomorrow's high is eighty-four, so a little cooler than today. Then Wednesday and Thursday both look identical: high of eighty-two with those foggy mornings clearing up by eleven. It's actually a really nice stretch of weather. No extreme heat warnings for once. It's like summer's finally decided to stop trying to kill us.
MARK: Don't jinx it. Friday warms back up to eighty-five, and by Saturday--just in time for the Kids Market and Dino Day--we're hitting eighty-seven. Sunday stays warm at eighty-five. It's clear skies all weekend, zero percent chance of rain, so you've got no excuse to stay inside and complain. Unless you're me, in which case I'll find an excuse.
JOLEEN: You'll be inside watching the Highlanders lose to Valley View, don't lie. But seriously, the weather is perfect for getting out to the local parks. Just remember that the Foothill construction means you might need an extra ten minutes to get anywhere south of the 210. It's just the reality of living here right now.
MARK: The reality is we're paying for thirteen million dollars of 'improvement' that feels like a slow-motion car crash. But hey, the medians will have plants soon, so that'll make everything better while you're sitting in gridlock. At least the business tax reform might help pay for the next street they decide to tear up in 2030.
JOLEEN: You're so cynical, Mark. We're modernizing! We're growing! We've got fresh Mexican food and kids selling crafts. Upland's doing just fine. We've got a lot to look forward to this fall, even if the football team is having a bit of a rough start. They'll find their rhythm eventually. We've just gotta keep supporting them.
MARK: I'll support them when they find the end zone. Until then, I'm just here for the tacos and the complaints about the 5G towers. Make sure you head down to the council meeting tonight if you've got strong feelings about those wireless fees or the business tax. It's your city, people. Show up or shut up.
JOLEEN: Well said, Mark. Even if you said it like an asshole. That's our show for today. We hope you have a great week and enjoy that cooling trend while it lasts. There's plenty to do in town, so get out there and see what's happening.
MARK: Thanks for listening to Happening in Upland. Be sure to follow or subscribe to the show on your favorite platform so you don't miss an update. If you've got a story or a local business we should know about, send us an email at upland@thehappeningnetwork.com.
JOLEEN: We'd love to hear from you! We'll be back next week with more news, more sports, and probably more construction updates. Until then, stay safe out there, Upland.