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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: It's Monday, July 27, 2026, and you're listening to 'Happening in Upland', the only podcast that treats this city like the beautiful, chaotic mess it truly is. I'm Mark, and I'm currently sitting in a room with the AC cranked so high it sounds like a jet engine, because outside, the world is literally on fire. I've spent the morning watching the asphalt on Foothill Boulevard turn into a liquid state, and I'm pretty sure I saw a squirrel carrying a tiny umbrella. It's that kind of week where your steering wheel becomes a branding iron if you don't use those stupid cardboard shades. Honestly, I don't know why we live here in July, but here we are, breathing in that crisp, smog-filled air and pretending we're not one degree away from a collective mental breakdown. It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood if you're a lizard or a particularly hardy cactus.
JOLEEN: Oh, shut up, Mark, you love the drama of a heatwave because it gives you an excuse to stay inside and judge everyone from your climate-controlled ivory tower. I'm Joleen, and I'm actually out here living life, which mostly involves sticking my head in the freezer at Stater Bros for five minutes at a time. It's upbeat, it's cynical, and it's fucking hot, but we've got some actual news to get through before we all evaporate into a fine mist of suburban disappointment. We're talking about everything from housing developments that nobody asked for to some kids actually winning at sports, which is a nice change of pace for this town. Make sure you hit that subscribe button and leave a comment, preferably one that doesn't tell us how much we suck, though we'll probably read those too. If you've got a tip or just want to tell us off, hit us up at upland@thehappeningnetwork.com, but keep it brief because my attention span is shorter than a politician's promise.
MARK: Let's kick things off with a real piece of Upland history getting the wrecking ball treatment, or at least a very aggressive makeover. The old Buffalo Inn site on Route 66, right near Foothill and Central, is officially being eyed for a new housing development, which is just what we need, right? Because when I think of that intersection, I definitely think, 'Hey, you know what would make this better? More people and more cars'. The site has been sitting there looking like a ghost town for a while, and now the developers are circling like vultures over a fresh carcass. It's an iconic spot, or at least it was before it became a place for weeds to grow through the cracks in the parking lot. I'm sure the neighbors are thrilled about the prospect of three-story townhomes blocking their view of the smoggy horizon.
JOLEEN: It's hilarious that we call it 'housing' when we all know it's going to be priced at 'mortgage your soul' levels for a place with no yard and a view of the 210. They're calling it an opportunity to revitalize Route 66, but that's just developer-speak for 'we're going to cram as many units as possible into this lot'. I'm cynical, sure, but can you blame me when every historic spot in this city eventually turns into a cookie-cutter residential block? It's like Upland is slowly being replaced by a simulation of itself where everything is painted the same shade of beige and has a Homeowners Association that bans you from breathing too loud. I wonder if they'll keep the buffalo theme, or if that's too much 'character' for the new residents who just want a smart-lock and a granite countertop. It's the circle of life, Mark, except instead of a lion, it's a guy in a suit with a PowerPoint presentation about density.
MARK: Density is just a polite word for 'I can hear my neighbor's toilet flush', Joleen, and you know it. But moving from the future of housing to the absolute insanity of current events, we had a real winner at a local ice cream shop recently. Apparently, some dickhead decided that a simple scoop of rocky road wasn't enough drama for his afternoon and pulled a knife on a worker. I mean, who the fuck gets that aggressive over ice cream? It's supposed to be the one thing that brings joy to this hellish heat, but this asshole turned it into a scene from a low-budget slasher flick. Police are still looking for the guy, probably because he realized that stabbing someone over a waffle cone is a pretty fast way to end up in a cell without any sprinkles.
JOLEEN: It's the heat, I'm telling you, it's turning everyone's brains into mushy peas, and not the good kind you'd get at a pub. You pull a knife in an ice cream shop and you're not just a criminal, you're a pathetic cliché of an Inland Empire villain. The poor worker was just trying to do their job, probably making minimum wage while dealing with the stickiest kids on the planet, and then they have to face down a blade? It's peak Upland behavior, honestly, where even the most innocent errands can turn into a police report in under thirty seconds. I hope they catch the guy and sentence him to a lifetime of only eating sugar-free vanilla that's been slightly melted and refrozen. That's the kind of justice we need in this town, something that really hits where it hurts.
MARK: While some people are out there ruining everyone's day, we actually have some good news from the world of youth sports, which I'm legally obligated to report even if I hate the smell of dirt and sunscreen. The Peninsula Senior Division Little League team just secured the Southern California championship right here in Upland on July 17. They beat El Rio 4-3 in the final, which is actually a pretty impressive feat considering they had to play seven games in nine days. I can't even walk to my mailbox seven times in nine days without needing a nap and a Gatorade. These kids are heading to the West Regionals in Oakland now, and they've actually got a shot at the World Series in South Carolina. It's refreshing to see someone from around here actually winning something that doesn't involve a court appearance or a 'best of' list in a local coupon book.
JOLEEN: Oh, look at you, being almost proud of the youth of today, it's practically sickening. But seriously, those kids must be made of iron to play that much baseball in this weather without just collapsing into a pile of uniforms and bats. They played five elimination games and won them all, which is a level of resilience I haven't seen since I tried to cancel my cable subscription. It's a nice little bright spot for the city, even if they aren't technically 'our' kids, they did the work on our turf. I'm sure their parents are insufferable right now, probably posting a thousand photos on Facebook with captions about 'hard work' and 'determination' while they drink wine out of a Yeti cup in the bleachers. But hey, if they make it to the World Series, maybe they'll mention Upland on national TV and we can finally be known for something other than traffic and that one skateboard park.
MARK: Speaking of being known for things, Kings Brewing Company is celebrating its 10th anniversary, which is basically a century in brewery years. They've got that Crazy Gringo BBQ setup going on now too, which I've heard is actually decent if you like your meat with a side of irony. It's funny how a brewery becomes the cultural hub of a neighborhood, but I guess when the options are 'standing in the sun' or 'drinking a cold beer in a warehouse', the choice is pretty obvious. Ten years of keeping people buzzed enough to ignore the state of the world is a service to the community, really. I might even head down there myself if I can find a parking spot that doesn't require a three-mile hike through a construction zone.
JOLEEN: I've tried the BBQ there, and while the name is a bit on the nose, the food is actually solid enough to make you forget you're in an industrial park. It's that classic Upland vibe where you're eating high-end brisket while looking at a guy fixing a transmission two doors down. Ten years is a long time to survive in the craft beer world, especially when every other person with a beard and a dream thinks they can start a microbrewery in their garage. They've managed to stay relevant, which is more than I can say for most of the businesses that try to open up on Second Avenue. I'll take a flight of beer and some ribs over a fancy dinner any day, mostly because nobody expects you to wear a tie to a place that smells like hops and woodsmoke. It's the little victories, Mark, like finding a beer that doesn't taste like a pine tree or a grapefruit's armpit.
MARK: We should probably touch on the school district, even though it's summer and the kids are hopefully far away from any textbooks. I saw an obituary for Mari Surleta Knutson, a 1962 graduate of Upland High who passed away recently after spending 45 years as a teacher. It's a reminder that this town actually has roots that go back deeper than the last five minutes of social media outrage. It's also a reminder that Upland High has been churning people out for a long damn time, and some of them actually go on to do something useful with their lives. I wonder if she'd even recognize the school now, with all the AP assignments and summer prep that starts in July. It's like we've decided that children don't actually need a break, they just need more preparation for the crushing reality of the workforce.
JOLEEN: Forty-five years of teaching is a goddamn hero's journey, especially if any of those years were spent in a middle school. I can't imagine the patience required to deal with generations of kids while the world outside slowly loses its mind. As for the current state of Upland Unified, they're already ramping up for the fall, and the pressure is on. I saw some talk about summer assignments for the honors kids, which is just cruel and unusual punishment if you ask me. Let the kids be bored for five minutes; it builds character and probably prevents them from becoming the kind of people who pull knives in ice cream shops. But no, we've got to keep them grinding so they can get into a college that will leave them with a debt load the size of a small country's GDP.
MARK: The grind never stops, Joleen, just look at the real estate market or the state of our roads. Even with the Buffalo Inn site potentially becoming housing, the inventory in this town is so low it's practically subterranean. People are still fighting over 1950s ranch houses like they're the last lifeboat on the Titanic. And don't even get me started on the construction; it's like a permanent fixture of our landscape now. I'm starting to think the orange cones are actually a sentient species that's slowly taking over the city. You can't go three blocks without being redirected into a narrow lane that feels like a game of Tetris played with SUVs. It's all part of the charm, I guess, that feeling of constant progress that never actually seems to result in a smoother ride.
JOLEEN: The real estate situation is just a sick joke at this point, where a 'fixer-upper' means you're paying half a million dollars for the privilege of replacing a roof and exorcising a ghost. The Buffalo Inn development might add some units, but it's not like it's going to make things affordable for anyone who isn't a tech bro or a lottery winner. And the construction around Central and Foothill is going to be a nightmare for months, if not years. I'm convinced the city planners just throw darts at a map to decide where to dig a hole next. 'Oh, this street looks finished, let's rip it up and see what's underneath!' It's probably just more dirt and broken dreams, Mark. But hey, at least we have plenty of places to buy overpriced coffee while we're stuck in traffic.
MARK: Well, if you're looking for something to do that doesn't involve staring at a taillight, there's a Red Cross blood drive coming up on Wednesday, July 29th. It's happening at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on San Antonio Avenue from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. It's a chance to give back, or at least a chance to sit in some high-quality AC for an hour while someone sticks a needle in your arm. They're usually pretty good about giving you a cookie afterward, and let's be honest, most of us would do a lot more for a free cookie and a sticker. Plus, there's that speed dating event in Claremont starting August 7th if you're single and desperate enough to try meeting people in person instead of just swiping left until your thumb falls off.
JOLEEN: Speed dating in Claremont sounds like a very specific type of torture, like a job interview where the only requirement is not being a total creep. But hey, five age groups over one weekend? That's efficiency right there. You can get rejected by twelve people in under an hour and still be home in time for Netflix. As for the blood drive, it's actually a good cause, and God knows we've got enough blood-sucking going on in this world, might as well give some to the people who actually need it. Just make sure you hydrate first, because if you pass out in this heat, you're going to wake up with a sunburn and a very confused nurse. It's all about the community spirit, or something like that, between the needles and the forced social interaction.
MARK: Community spirit is great, but the weather is trying to kill us, so let's get into the specifics of this week's forecast. Today is a relatively 'cool' 95 degrees, which is a total lie because the humidity makes it feel like you're wearing a warm, wet blanket. Tomorrow is about the same at 94, and Wednesday drops to a 'chilly' 93. But don't get too comfortable, because the heat is cranking up for the weekend. Thursday hits 96, and by Friday, we're looking at triple digits with a high of 100. It's the kind of heat that makes you question every life choice that led you to live in a desert basin with a penchant for trapping hot air like a convection oven.
JOLEEN: It gets worse, Mark, so don't stop there. Saturday is forecasted to hit a blistering 103 degrees, and Sunday isn't much better at 102. That's 'don't go outside unless your house is on fire' kind of weather. Even at night, it's only dropping into the high 60s or low 70s, so the ground never actually has a chance to cool down. It's just a constant cycle of baking and slightly less baking. I hope everyone has their blackout curtains closed and their fans pointed directly at their faces. If you're planning a hike at Mt. Baldy this weekend, please don't. The search and rescue teams have enough to do without dragging your heat-stroked ass off a trail because you thought you could handle a 'little bit of sun'. Stay inside, drink water, and judge people on the internet like a civilized human being.
MARK: Solid advice, Joleen, though I'm sure someone will ignore it and end up as a cautionary tale on the evening news. That's going to do it for this episode of 'Happening in Upland'. We've covered the housing, the crime, the kids with the bats, and the fact that we're all about to melt into the sidewalk. It's been a blast, or at least as much of a blast as one can have while slowly dehydrating. We'll be back next week to tell you more about why this city is simultaneously the best and worst place to be. In the meantime, try not to pull a knife on anyone at an ice cream shop, it's just bad form and really ruins the vibe for everyone else.
JOLEEN: Yeah, keep your weapons in your pockets and your hands on a cold beverage, people. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave us a comment so we know someone is actually listening out there in the void. You can reach us at upland@thehappeningnetwork.com if you have questions, complaints, or just want to send us some digital ice cubes. We'll be back next Monday, assuming we haven't all turned into puddles by then. Stay cynical, stay upbeat, and for the love of everything holy, stay in the shade. This is Joleen and Mark, signing off from the hottest place on earth that isn't actually inside a volcano. See you next week, you beautiful assholes.