Your landline may be living on borrowed time. AT&T is pushing forward with plans to discontinue traditional copper-wire phone service for roughly 180,000 households across California, following a recent win at the Federal Communications Commission.

The telecom giant announced a $19 billion investment in fiber and wireless networks in the state through 2030, framing the landline phase-out — set to begin as early as June 2027 — as a necessary step toward more modern infrastructure. The company notes that only about 3 percent of its California customers still rely on the old copper service.

But the fight isn't over. AT&T faces a pending federal court case and has sued the state's public utilities commission to shed its carrier of last resort obligations — rules requiring it to provide basic phone service to all customers. Critics, including county officials, warn that eliminating landlines could leave rural and vulnerable communities dangerously cut off during emergencies and disasters.

Los Angeles County has recorded its first human case of West Nile virus for 2026, with the infected patient — a resident of the Antelope Valley — developing symptoms in late June.

Health officials say the county typically sees dozens of human cases each year, averaging 41 annually over the past five years. The true number is believed to be far higher, since most infected people experience mild or no symptoms at all.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for West Nile virus in humans. While the vast majority of people recover without issue, roughly one in 150 develops a serious, potentially fatal illness — with seniors and those with weakened immune systems at greatest risk.

Officials urge residents to dump standing water around their homes weekly, remove unused containers that collect water, and apply an EPA-approved insect repellent containing ingredients such as DEET or picaridin whenever spending time outdoors.

Some roads in the United States literally play music — and you have to be driving the speed limit to hear it correctly.

Called musical roads, these stretches of specially engineered pavement use carefully spaced rumble strips to generate tire vibrations that form recognizable melodies. Drive too slow and the song drags; drive too fast and it turns to noise. Hit the posted speed exactly, and your car becomes the instrument.

The science is elegant: groove spacing controls pitch, while pattern length controls note duration. The result is essentially a mechanical music player built into the asphalt.

Only a handful exist across the U.S., from Lancaster, California — which opened the country's first in 2008 — to a 2023 stretch in Palmdale honoring Full Metal Jacket star R. Lee Ermey with the Marines' Hymn. Globally, Japan alone boasts over 30 such "Melody Roads."

Equal parts safety feature and roadside curiosity, musical roads are proof that even infrastructure can have a sense of humor.

A tourist in Antelope Valley asked a local, "I've been here three days — where are all the antelopes?"

The local shrugged. "Same place as the valley. It's mostly flat desert and we just named it to keep you guessing."

A sentencing hearing has been postponed for Tyjana Grayes, a 25-year-old former armed security guard at a Chase Bank branch in Palmdale, California, who helped orchestrate the armed robbery of $200,000 from a bank customer.

Grayes pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges after prosecutors say he used his position to tip off co-defendants — who waited in the parking lot and held the victims at gunpoint with semiautomatic handguns as they left with the cash.

One co-defendant allegedly laundered much of the stolen money through a local casino. The other two defendants are expected to stand trial next year.

Corrective Exercise, Wellness, and Functional Support for the Antelope Valley

This week’s featured small business is Michael’s Wellness Center, a specialized corrective fitness and wellness center serving the Antelope Valley with a focus on long-term health, mobility, strength, and personalized support.

Michael’s Wellness Center is not built around the typical crowded, one-size-fits-all gym model. Their approach is much more personalized. Michael works with members based on individual needs, goals, modalities, and lifestyle. He helps clients build healthier routines through fitness coaching, functional training, corrective exercise, nutritional guidance, and wellness support.

Their mission is simple: help members develop and maintain a lifestyle of total health and wellness by implementing the five pillars: Medical, Nutritional, Physical, Emotional and Spiritual. Their methods have been tried and true for fifteen+ years in the Antelope Valley.

The center offers a wide range of services for people of all ages, including personal training, functional wellness classes, sports conditioning, pre-surgery and post-rehabilitation support, corrective exercise programs, wellness and life coaching, nutritional guidance, and specialized training tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Specialties include athletes, seniors, disabled clients, wheelchair-bound individuals, veterans, and people managing challenges such as obesity, diabetes, fibromyalgia, PTSD, post-injury recovery, and overall prevention for optimal aging.

One of the center’s standout offerings is its Functional Wellness Assessment, which looks at the body from a more complete perspective. Depending on the package, assessments may include musculoskeletal screening/ body photography mapping, flexibility, balance, stability and mobility checks, body composition and strength testing, girth measurements, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, resting heart rate, meal planning guidance, anti-inflammatory recipe support, and customized training recommendations.

Michael’s Wellness Center also offers small group training, one-on-one personal training, home workout planning, wellness memberships, and hands-on table full-body stretching /myofascial release sessions designed to help improve mobility, flexibility, and overall body function. Many clients find this method much better than massage; in one session, clients often report that their pain is gone and mobility is vastly improved.

For people who feel intimidated by large gyms or need more guidance than a basic membership can provide, Michael’s Wellness Center offers a more supportive alternative.

Free Consultation Call: 661-803-6568
MichaelsWellnessCenter.com

Lancaster Energy is giving residents a new way to take control of their electricity. Through a Community Choice Aggregation program, the local provider lets customers choose from tiered clean-energy plans — including options with higher renewable content than Southern California Edison and a 100% renewable tier powered by solar, wind, or geothermal sources.

Solar owners can earn up to double the credit for energy they feed back to the grid. The utility still delivers power through existing infrastructure, but customers gain local control and competitive rates — and can opt out if they prefer.

Food Truck Of the Week

Smash Bros

This week’s featured food truck is Smash Bros, a locally owned burger truck run by Andy and serving the Antelope Valley since 2020.

Smash Bros keeps things focused on what a good food truck should do well: fresh burgers, plenty of choices, customizable add-ons, and sides that make it easy to build the kind of meal you actually want.

Their menu offers a solid variety of smash burgers, with add-ons ranging from classic bacon to beef chorizo for those who want to kick things up a notch. On the side, they offer fries, onion rings, and even fried Oreos for anyone looking to finish with something sweet.

I ordered the double smash burger with American cheese, pickles, and fries. Since this was my first time having a smash burger, I honestly did not know exactly what to expect. I have seen smash burgers made on food shows, and I was half-expecting something overly greasy. That was not the case here. The burger had the crispy-edged, griddle-seared style you want from a smash burger, but it did not come across as greasy or heavy.

The burger itself was tasty, filling, and well put together. The American cheese worked exactly the way it should on this kind of burger, melting into the patties and giving it that classic burger flavor. The pickles had good flavor, though I would have personally preferred them sliced a little thinner. That is more of a personal preference than a dealbreaker.

The fries were good overall, though a few tasted slightly undercooked. Still, they worked well as a side and rounded out the meal. For just over $16, the portion felt fair, especially considering how filling the double burger was.

What stood out most is that Smash Bros feels like the kind of truck where the add-ons could really take the burger to another level. Next time, I would probably add bacon, beef chorizo, or another topping to see how much more flavor I could build into it.

They also offer strawberry lemonade, which sounds like a good pairing for a hot Antelope Valley day, and the fried Oreos are definitely on my list for next time.

Local Bites Take

Best reason to go: A filling, flavorful smash burger with plenty of ways to customize it.
Good for: Burger cravings, food truck nights, casual lunches, quick dinners, and anyone wanting something hearty.
Price feel: $$
Would we go back? Yes — next time with extra add-ons and an order of fried Oreos.

La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant in Acton, CA is the kind of neighborhood gem that keeps you coming back. Fresh ingredients, rich spices, and a warm, cozy atmosphere make every visit feel like a celebration. Whether you're craving a hearty burrito, sizzling fajitas, or a plate of enchiladas smothered in ranchera sauce, there's something on the menu for everyone.

The full cocktail bar — featuring classic margaritas, Mexican beers, and premium tequilas — makes it a great spot for date night or a family dinner alike. Call ahead for takeout or settle in for full tableside service.

Bold, authentic flavors served with a smile. La Cabaña is your go-to for Mexican comfort food in Acton.

Q: Why do so many aerospace and military testing facilities end up in the Antelope Valley rather than elsewhere in California?

A: The valley's combination of vast flat terrain, extremely low population density, consistently clear skies, and proximity to Edwards Air Force Base made it ideal for confidential flight testing.

The dry lakebed at Rogers Lake — part of Edwards — offers a natural runway stretching miles in any direction, which was invaluable for experimental aircraft that needed unpredictable landing options. This infrastructure drew contractors like Lockheed's Skunk Works to nearby Palmdale, creating a self-reinforcing aerospace corridor that persists today.

Q: Is the Antelope Valley actually named after antelopes, and are there any left there?

A: Yes — the valley takes its name from the pronghorn antelope that once roamed the Mojave Desert grasslands in large numbers.

 However, pronghorns were hunted out of the region by the early 20th century. Today they are locally extinct in the valley itself, though conservation efforts have reintroduced pronghorns in other parts of the wider Mojave ecosystem. What visitors see instead are jackrabbits, coyotes, and the occasional kit fox.

Q: What is the significance of the Antelope Valley's strong winds beyond being an inconvenience to residents?

A: The Tehachapi Pass, which borders the valley to the northwest, funnels powerful winds down into the region — making it one of the earliest and most productive wind energy zones in the United States.

The Tehachapi Wind Resource Area began generating commercial power in the 1980s and helped pioneer wind farm technology and policy models that later spread across the country. The valley's wind, rather than being purely disruptive, essentially helped launch the American wind energy industry.