Happening in Upland: Heatwaves, Road Rage, and Real Estate Realities

Join Mark and Joleen on Happening in Upland, your weekly guide to navigating life in a city that currently feels like one giant, sun-baked construction zone. In this episode, we dive into the start of the 2026 election nomination period, the $13.2 million Foothill Boulevard improvement project that's turning every commute into a therapy session, and why the local real estate market still demands a cool $750,000 for the privilege of living in 100-degree heat. We cover everything from Upland Unified's summer lunch programs and the latest high-speed chases to the "Moonlight and Music" series at Magnolia Park and the best pastrami at The Hat. Whether you're trying to avoid the "shit-show" weather forecast or just looking for the best oversized Oreo ice cream sandwich at Handel's, we provide the balanced local news, witty commentary, and edgy honesty you need to survive the Inland Empire.

What is Happening in Upland?

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 that loves this city enough to admit it's a giant, sun-baked construction zone. I'm Mark, your guide through the suburban chaos, joined as always by Joleen.

JOLEEN: It's Tuesday, July 14, 2026, and I'm already sweating through my shirt. If you're looking for a deep dive into existential dread, you've come to the wrong place, but if you want to hear us bitch about the 210, stick around. We're on all the usual platforms, so like, subscribe, and tell us how much we suck in the comments, or just email us at [e-mail].

MARK: Let's kick things off with the headlines, and by headlines, I mean the fact that the city just opened the 2026 election nomination period yesterday. So, if you think you can do a better job than the current crop of geniuses running this place, now's your chance to step up and prove you're probably just as incompetent as the rest of us.

JOLEEN: Honestly, I'd vote for a literal golden retriever at this point. Speaking of things that make me want to bark at traffic, the Foothill Boulevard improvement project is still very much a thing. They've been working on the stretch from Benson to Euclid since last October, and they aren't scheduled to finish until August.

MARK: It's a $13.2 million dollar project to make sure the road doesn't crumble into the abyss, but it's mostly just a great way to turn a five-minute drive into a twenty-minute therapy session. They're doing water pipelines and roadway resurfacing, which is code for 'we're going to block your favorite lane for no apparent reason.'

JOLEEN: And don't forget the gas main work Claremont's doing right on the border. They started a bunch of new service pipeline work in June that's supposed to wrap up by the end of the year. It's like the entire Inland Empire decided to dig a hole at the exact same time.

MARK: Moving on to crime, because nothing says Upland like a high-speed chase ending in a wreck. We had another one of those recently where a suspect led police from Sherman Oaks all the way to our neck of the woods. It's like we're the finish line for every asshole with a stolen car and a death wish.

JOLEEN: They actually caught a teen suspect in that one. Great to see the youth of today exploring the local geography at a hundred miles an hour. At least the police are busy; I saw they're still pushing that UplandConnect app so you can report concerns directly from your phone. I assume it's mostly just photos of potholes and neighbor disputes over trash cans.

MARK: Probably. Let's talk schools, because Upland Unified is currently in the middle of their summer reading adventure and free lunch program. It's a nice gesture, keeping the kids fed and literate while the world burns, though the budget situation is still a lingering cloud over the district.

JOLEEN: Yeah, those summer meals run through July 30th at the library. It's a solid deal for families, and it beats having the kids vibrate with boredom at home. Though I'm sure the teachers are enjoying their five minutes of peace before the 2026-27 school year kicks off and the budget drama starts all over again.

MARK: I saw some news about a Pennsylvania district called Chester-Upland getting a huge budget boost today, and for a second, I got excited until I realized it wasn't us. Typical. We're stuck here checking the couch cushions for spare millions while some place in Delaware County gets the jackpot.

JOLEEN: At least we have ice cream. I swung by Handel's Homemade Ice Cream recently. It's not a new spot, but their menu for 2026 is still hitting the mark. Their ice cream sandwiches made with those oversized Oreo wafers are basically a spiritual experience.

MARK: I'm more of a 'The Hat' guy myself. There's something about a pastrami dip that makes me forget the fact that it's a hundred degrees outside. It's a classic for a reason, and if you haven't been there lately, you're failing at being a local.

JOLEEN: If you're looking for something to do this weekend, the Moonlight and Music series is still going strong at Magnolia Park. This Thursday, the 16th, they've got 'Woodie and the Longboards' playing. It's free, it's outdoors, and it starts at 6:30 PM.

MARK: The Farmers Market is also a staple every Saturday downtown from 9 AM to 2 PM. You can buy organic honey, fresh bread, or just judge people's outfits while you drink overpriced coffee. It's the Upland way.

JOLEEN: Don't forget the '2nd on 2nd' festival that just wrapped up last weekend. If you missed the outdoor dining and the adult entertainment zone, you missed a prime opportunity to see your neighbors get a little too tipsy in public.

MARK: Let's check the weather, and by check, I mean read the obituary for our personal comfort. There's an Extreme Heat Warning in effect until Thursday night. Today we're hitting a high of 96 with some nasty wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour.

JOLEEN: It gets worse, Mark. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we're looking at a high of 100 degrees. It's going to be a total shit-show. If you have a dog, for the love of god, don't walk them on the asphalt unless you want to explain to the vet why their paws are melted.

MARK: Thursday isn't much better at 97, but we finally get a break on Friday when it drops to a breezy 91. By the weekend, we're looking at highs in the high 80s, which in this town, qualifies as a cold front.

JOLEEN: It's basically a slow roast until Saturday. And if you're thinking of escaping by buying a new house, good luck. The real estate market is still a weird beast. Median home prices in June were around $750,000, which is actually down a bit from last year.

MARK: Redfin says it's still a very competitive market, scoring a 75 out of 100. There are about 229 active listings right now, so if you've got three-quarters of a million dollars burning a hole in your pocket, you might find something that isn't a complete dump.

JOLEEN: It's a seller's market, but homes are sitting for about 52 days on average. People are actually taking the time to think before they sign their lives away, which is a shocking development for this area.

MARK: Well, that's all the time we have for this week's dose of Upland reality. Stay hydrated, try not to get into a road rage incident on Foothill, and we'll be back next week to do this all over again.

JOLEEN: Peace out, dickheads. Don't forget to reach out at [e-mail] if you've got a story that isn't boring as hell. See ya.