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WASHINGTON — When Bill Pulte was nominated as the country’s top housing regulator, he told senators that his “number one mission will be to strengthen and safeguard the housing finance system.”

But since he started the job, he’s distinguished himself by targeting President Trump ‘s political enemies. He’s using property records to make accusations of mortgage fraud and encourage criminal investigations, wielding an obscure position to serve as a presidential enforcer.

This week, Trump used allegations publicized by Pulte in an attempt to fire Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve board, as he tries to exert more control over the traditionally independent central bank.

Pulte claims that Cook designated two homes as her primary residence to get more favorable mortgage rates. Cook plans to fight her removal, laying the groundwork for a legal battle that could reshape a cornerstone institution in the American economy.

Trump said Tuesday that Cook “seems to have had an infraction, and you can’t have an infraction,” adding that he has “some very good people” in mind to replace her.

Pulte has cheered on the president’s campaign with a Trumpian flourish.

“Fraud will not be tolerated in President Trump’s housing market,” he wrote on social media. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Pulte targets Democrats but not Republicans

Pulte, 37, is a housing industry scion whose official job is director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He oversees mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were placed in conservatorship during the Great Recession almost two decades ago.

Like other political appointees, he routinely lavishes praise on his boss.

“President Trump is the greatest,” he posted over the weekend.

Pulte has made additional allegations of mortgage fraud against Sen. Adam Schiff, one of Trump’s top antagonists on Capitol Hill, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who filed lawsuits against Trump. Those cases are being pursued by Ed Martin, a Justice Department official.

“In a world where housing is too expensive, we do not need to subsidize housing for fraudsters by letting them get better rates than they deserve,” Pulte wrote on social media.

Pulte has ignored a similar case involving Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general who is friendly with Trump and is running for Senate in his state’s Republican primary. Paxton took out mortgages on three properties that were all identified as his primary residence.

He also has mortgages on two other properties that explicitly prohibit him from renting the properties out, but both have been repeatedly listed for rent, according to real estate listings and posts on short-term rental sites.

Asked about Pulte’s investigations and Trump’s role in them, the White House said that anyone who violates the law should be held accountable.

“President Trump’s only retribution is success and historic achievements for the American people,” said Davis Ingle, White House spokesman.

It’s unclear whether Pulte is using government resources to develop the allegations he has made. Mortgage documents are generally public records, but they are typically maintained at the county level across most of the U.S., making them difficult to comprehensively review. However, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are both government-sponsored entities, purchase large tranches of mortgages from lenders, which could centralize much of that information, real estate and legal experts say.

FHFA did not respond to a detailed list of questions from the AP, including whether Pulte or his aides used government resources to conduct his research.

It’s not just mortgages

Pulte’s broadsides go beyond mortgages. He’s been backing Trump’s criticism of Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, over expensive renovations at the central bank’s headquarters. Trump is pressuring Powell to cut interest rates in hopes of lowering borrowing costs, and his allies have highlighted cost overruns to suggest that Powell is untrustworthy or should be removed from his position.

“This guy is supposed to be the money manager for the world’s biggest economy, and it doesn’t even look like he can run a construction site,” Pulte said while wearing a neon safety vest outside the building. “So something doesn’t smell right here.”

Since returning to the White House, Trump has reached deep into the government to advance his agenda. He’s overhauled the federal workforce with the Office of Personnel Management, pushed ideological changes at the Smithsonian network of museums and fired the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics when he didn’t like a recent report on job numbers.

With Pulte in charge, the Federal Housing Finance Agency is becoming another instrument of Trump’s mission to exert control and retaliate against enemies.

It’s a contrast to the Internal Revenue Service, where Trump has unsuccessfully discussed ways to use tax policies as a pressure point. For example, during battles over higher education, Trump threatened to take away Harvard’s long-standing tax-exempt status by saying, “It’s what they deserve.”

However, there are more restrictions there, dating back to the Watergate scandal under President Richard Nixon.

“It’s been hard for the administration to use the inroads it wants to use to pursue its enemies,” said Vanessa Williamson, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

She said, “The law is very clear about taxpayer privacy and the criminal penalties at play are not small.”

Before going on the attack, Pulte played nice online

Pulte is heir to a home-building fortune amassed by his grandfather, also named William Pulte, who founded a construction company in Detroit in the 1950s that grew into the publicly traded national housing giant now known as the Pulte Group.

He spent four years on the company’s board, and he’s the owner of heating and air conditioning businesses across the U.S. He had never served in government before being nominated by Trump to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

“While many children spent their weekends at sporting events, I spent mine on homebuilding jobsites with my father and grandfather,” Pulte said in written testimony for his nomination hearing. “From the ground up, I learned every aspect of housing — whether it was cleaning job sites, assisting in construction, or helping sell homes.”

He once tried to make a name for himself with good deeds, describing himself as the “Inventor of Twitter Philanthropy” and offering money to needy people online. He was working in private equity at the time, and he told the Detroit Free Press that he funded his donations with some “very good liquidity events” to power his donations.

Even six years ago, he appeared focused on getting attention from Trump.

“If @realDonaldTrump retweets this, my team and I will give Two Beautiful Cars to Two Beautiful Veterans on Twitter.”

Trump replied, “Thank you, Bill, say hello to our GREAT VETERANS!”

Pulte, whose most recent financial disclosure shows a net worth of at least $180 million, was also ramping up his political donations.

Over the past six years, he and his wife have donated over $1 million to the political efforts of Trump and his allies, including a $500,000 contribution to a super PAC affiliated with Trump that was the subject of a campaign finance complaint made with the Federal Election Commission.

The Pultes’ $500,000 contribution was made through a company they control named ML Organization LLC, records show. While such contributions are typically allowed from corporations, the same is not always true for some limited liability companies that have a limited business footprint and could be set up to obscure the donor.

The FEC ultimately exonerated the Pultes, but found in April that the Trump super PAC, Make America Great Again, Again! Inc., did not properly disclose that the Pultes were the source of the donation, said Saurav Ghosh, the Campaign Legal Center’s director of federal campaign finance reform.

Ghosh said the donation raises serious questions about Pulte’s appointment to lead FHFA.

“Why is Bill Pulte even in a government position?” he said. “Maybe he’s qualified, maybe he isn’t. But he did pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into a pro-Trump super PAC. And I think it’s clear there are these types of rewards for big donors across the Trump administration.”

Megerian, Slodysko and Hussein write for the Associated Press.

SHOPPERS are going wild for huge bags of Popeyes chips which are currently on sale at a major chain. 

The tasty treats are retailing for less than £2 for a huge 1kg pack. 

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Heron Foods is known for supplying high-quality food for low prices and operates 343 locations across the UK. 

Now, the company has gone viral for selling delicious Popeyes chips for staggeringly low prices. 

Popeyes’ Cajun Coated Oven Fries are on sale at Heron Foods in massive 1kg packs. 

Each pack costs just £1.79 and contains fries slathered in the company’s famous seasoning. 

Popeyes’ cajun coating includes paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to give each chip a smoky flavour. 

Shoppers have gone wild for the treat, after an eagle-eyed shopper spotted the snack yesterday.

One excited fan wrote “these are delicious”, with another adding “they are so good”. 

Others praised Heron Foods for stocking the coated fries, describing the budget-friendly retailer as “underrated”. 

One customer wrote: “Heron is so underrated!! 

“You can find some amazing things!

“Heron is so underrated!! You can find some amazing things!”

The news comes after Popeyes announced plans to open 45 new restaurants across the UK this year. 

The American fast food chain has secured £43 million from Barclays Corporate Banking as it adds to its existing 80 locations in Britain. 

The chain’s UK chief finance officer Drew Taylor said: “Barclays are a highly supportive banking partner of Popeyes in the UK.

“The new finance facilities will enable us to build on our successful growth in the UK to date and execute our expansion strategy over the coming years, with more than 45 openings targeted in 2025 alone.”

Popeyes’ first UK store was opened in the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, London, but now it is eyeing more locations across the country. 

Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol can all expect new Popeyes locations, with Liverpool, Manchester and London all receiving additional branches.

Popeyes’ Savin’ Menu

Popeyes is one of the biggest fast food chains in America.

Now, the company is a hit in the UK as well with many of its products now available at stores such as Heron Foods.

However, the chain’s 83 UK branches have also introduced a brand new menu which makes its food even more affordable.

The Savin’ Menu includes:

• Savin’ Wrap – £1.99
• 1-piece Bone-in-Chicken with Fries – £2.99
• 2 Wings Solo – £1.99 or with Fries – £2.99
• 1 Tender with Fries – £2.99
• 2 Tenders with Fries – £3.49
• 3 Wings with Fries – £3.49
• Regular Fries – £1.99
• Biscuit and Gravy – £2.59
• Mac and Cheese – £3.50
• Gravy Savin’ Box – £5.69
• Mini Whipz – £1.99

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The One Show star Roman Kemp has opened up about his desire to have a family and how he believes it will be the moment he finds “true happiness”

The One Show’s Roman Kemp has confessed that he believes he hasn’t yet found “true happiness”. The 32 year old star has opened up about his longing to start a family one day.

Roman, who is famously close with his parents, Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp and former Wham! singer Shirlie Holliman, has often spoken about their unique parenting style. During an appearance on Loose Women in 2019, Martin revealed that he and Shirlie chose to raise Roman and his sister Harley more like “friends” than children.

Roman has described this approach as a “best friend thing”, admitting it made it easier for him to confide in his parents.

Now, the former Capital Breakfast host has shared his hopes of having a family of his own, believing that it will bring him a “sense of true happiness”. He made this revelation while discussing the concept of success with pop star and good mate Tom Grennan, reports the Express.

Roman elaborated: “I don’t think I’ll ever have that feeling of success until I have kids I can look at and go, ‘We did alright’. My parents never, ever said to us, ‘You need to be this, you’ve got to do that job, all my parents ever asked is, ‘Are you happy?’ All of those types of things and that, I think, would define success for me over anything.”

When asked by Tom if he was happy, Roman replied: “Sometimes, but you’re not human if you’re happy all the time. It’s working out work-life balance and that’s what I’ve tried to do ever since I left Capital. That’s one of the reasons that I left because I didn’t have that, I didn’t have a work-life balance, I didn’t understand it.

“You’ll know, when I send you a picture of a scan, or something like that, or when I tell you my child has been born, when I send you that text, you’ll know f*****g hell, he’s happy. Because I don’t think I’ve had that yet, that sense of true happiness.”

The star, who often shares the screen with his dad on shows like Celebrity Gogglebox, Martin and Roman’s Weekend Best! and Bromans, revealed his hopes for his future children to see their bond.

In an interview with Hello! magazine, he shared: “My dad and I get to work with each other all the time and I’m so lucky for that. The reason we work together is because I know how much I’m going to love my kids and my family watching that footage of me and their grandad working together – and that’s just our relationship.”

This comes as Roman is rumoured to be engaged to model Carmen Gaggero. As reported by WalesOnline, the couple have been an item since last year and made their relationship public last summer after being seen leaving Le Petit Maison in Mayfair.

Speculation about an engagement started when Carmen was spotted with a ring on her engagement finger during a night out in London. According to the publication, pals reckon Roman is prepared to “settle down”.

Roman will be returning to screens on The One Show from 7pm on BBC One tonight alongside co-host Clara Amfo. The pair will be joined by Gemma Arterton and Thomas Brodie-Sangster who will be discussing the film Grand Prix of Europe.

If you’re a Gen Xer or younger, there’s a good chance you’ve contemplated moving out of California.

The reasons are obvious. It’s expensive and difficult to raise a family, pay rent or even consider buying a home.

That struggle isn’t just on the mind of locals. Midwestern and Southern states have recognized an opportunity and are making their best pitches to frustrated Californians.

So, is there a price Tulsa, Okla., could offer you to move? Are the incentives of cheaper gas, much shorter commutes and overall drive times enough of an appeal? I haven’t even mentioned the cost of living and a real chance of buying a home.

My colleague Hannah Fry spoke with Californians who moved to Tulsa for a variety of reasons. Here are a couple of their stories.

Cynthia Rollins, former San Diego resident

Rollins felt socially isolated working a remote job in Ocean Beach for a tech company, but still overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people around her.

Months earlier she read about a program, Tulsa Remote, that would pay remote workers to relocate to Oklahoma’s second-largest city for at least a year. She decided to give it a shot and visit.

“When I was [in California], I was so consumed with the process of day-to-day living — the traffic, getting places, scheduling things,” Rollins said. “Here there’s so much more space to think creatively about your life and to kind of set it up the way you want.”

After five months in Tulsa, Rollins met her significant other at a trivia night. Her partner, with whom she now lives, made the journey from California to Tulsa for school during the pandemic.

“He grew up in Santa Cruz and was living 10 minutes from me down the road in Pacifica, but we never met in California,” she said. “We met in Tulsa.”

What is Tulsa offering?

Tulsa Remote — funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation — started in 2019, and has sought to recruit new residents to diversify the city’s workforce.

It decided to offer $10,000 to remote workers who would move to the state for at least a year.

The program also provides volunteer and socializing opportunities for new residents and grants them membership at a co-working space for 36 months.

What do the numbers say?

Tulsa Remote has attracted more than 3,600 remote workers since its inception.

More than 7,800 Californians have applied to the program and 539 have made the move, cementing California as the second-most popular origin state behind Texas.

Those numbers reflect something of a wider trend: From 2010 through 2023, about 9.2 million people moved from California to other states, while only 6.7 million people moved to California from other parts of the country, according to the American Community Survey.

A Public Policy Institute of California survey conducted in 2023 found that 34% of Californians have seriously considered leaving the state because of high housing costs.

Zach and Katie Meincke, former Westsiders

The lower cost of living was a huge bonus for the Meinckes when they moved three years ago.

They went from paying $2,400 in monthly rent on a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in L.A.’s Westside to a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house in Tulsa for just a few hundred dollars more.

It ended up being fortuitous timing for the couple, who discovered they were expecting their first child — a daughter named Ruth — just weeks after they decided to move.

The couple are expecting their second child in December.

It’s a life milestone that Meincke says may not have happened in Los Angeles. In California, it costs nearly $300,000 to raise a child to 18. In Oklahoma, researchers estimate it costs about $241,000, according to a LendingTree study this year.

“There was no way we were going to move into a house in Los Angeles unless we had roommates, and that’s not an ideal situation,” Zach Meincke said. “We were 37 when we left Los Angeles and it felt like we were at a point that if we wanted to have all those other things in life — children, a house — we need to make that shift.”

For more on the moves, check out the full article here.

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(Mario Tama / Getty Images)

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ATLANTA — Fight! Fight! Fight!

It’s not just Donald Trump’s mantra anymore. As the Republican president pushes states to redraw their congressional districts to the GOP’s advantage, Democrats have shown they are willing to go beyond words of outrage and use whatever power they do have to win.

Democrats in the Texas Legislature started it off by delaying, for now, Republican efforts to expand the GOP majority in the state’s delegation and help preserve party control of the U.S. House through new districts in time for the 2026 midterm elections.

Then multiple Democratic governors promised new districts in their own states to neutralize potential Republican gains in Washington. Their counter has been buoyed by national fundraising, media blitzes and public demonstrations, including rallies scheduled around the country Saturday.

“For everyone that’s been asking, ‘Where are the Democrats?’ Well, here they are,” said U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, one of several Democrats who could be ousted under her state’s new maps. “For everyone who’s been asking, ‘Where is the fight?’ Well, here it is.”

There is no guarantee Democrats can prevent the Republican-powered redistricting, just as Democrats on Capitol Hill have not been able to stop Trump’s moves. But it’s a notable turn for a party that, as its leaders have long asserted, has honored conventional rules and bypassed bare-knuckled political tactics.

So far, progressive and establishment Democrats are aligned, uniting what has often been a fragmented opposition since Republicans led by Trump took control of the federal government with their election sweep in November. Leaders on the left say the approach gives them a more effective way to confront him. They can challenge his redistricting ploy with tangible moves as they also counter the Republicans’ tax and spending law and press the case that he is shredding American democracy.

“We’ve been imploring Democrats where they have power on the state and local level to flex that power,” said Maurice Mitchell, who leads the left-leaning Working Families Party. “There’s been this overwrought talk about fighters and largely performative actions to suggest that they’re in the fight.”

This time, he said, Democrats are “taking real risks in protecting all of our rights” against “an authoritarian president who only understands the fight.”

Pairing fiery talk with action

Texas made sense for Republicans as the place to start a redistricting scuffle. They dominate the Statehouse, and Gov. Greg Abbott is a Trump loyalist.

But when the president’s allies announced a new political map intended to send five more Republicans to the U.S. House, state Democratic representatives fled Texas, denying the GOP the numbers to conduct business in the Legislature and approve the reworked districts.

Those legislators surfaced in Illinois, New York, California and elsewhere, joined by governors, senators, state party chairs, other states’ legislators and activists. All promised action. The response was almost Trumpian.

Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Kathy Hochul of New York welcomed Texas Democrats and pledged retaliatory redistricting. Pritzker mocked Abbott as a lackey who says “yes, sir” to Trump orders. Hochul dismissed Texas Republicans as “lawbreaking cowboys.” Newsom’s press office directed all-caps social media posts at Trump, mimicking the president’s frequent sign-off: “THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.”

U.S. Rep. Al Green, another Texas Democrat who could lose his seat, called Trump “egomaniacal.” Yet many Democrats also claimed moral high ground, comparing their cause to the civil rights movement.

Texas state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. invoked another Texas Democrat, President Lyndon Johnson, who was “willing to stand up and fight” for civil rights laws in the 1960s. Then, with Texas bravado, Romero reached further into history: “We’re asking for help, maybe just as they did back in the days of the Alamo.”

‘Whatever it takes’

A recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that about 15% of Democrats’ own voters described the party using words like “weak” or “apathetic.” An additional 10% called it “ineffective” or “disorganized.”

Beto O’Rourke, a former Texas congressman and onetime Democratic presidential candidate who is raising money to support Texas Democrats, has encouraged Democratic-run statehouses to redraw districts now rather than wait for GOP states to act. On Friday, California Democrats released a plan that could give the party an additional five U.S. House seats. It would require voter approval in a November election.

“Maximize Democratic Party advantage,” O’Rourke said at a recent rally. “You may say to yourself, ‘Well, those aren’t the rules.’ There are no refs in this game. F— the rules. … Whatever it takes.”

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin acknowledged the shift.

“This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to a knife fight,” he said.

Andrew O’Neill, an executive at the progressive group Indivisible, contrasted that response with the record-long speeches by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and the Democratic leader of the House, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, in eviscerating Trump and his package of tax breaks and spending cuts. The left “had its hair on fire” cheering those moments, O’Neill recalled, but were “left even more frustrated in the aftermath.”

Trump still secured tax cuts for the wealthy, accelerated deportations and cut safety net programs, just as some of his controversial nominees were confirmed over vocal Democratic opposition.

“Now,” O’Neill said, “there is some marriage of the rhetoric we’ve been seeing since Trump’s inauguration with some actual action.”

O’Neill looked back wistfully to the decision by Senate Democrats not to eliminate the filibuster “when our side had the trifecta,” so a simple majority could pass major legislation. Democratic President Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, O’Neill said, was too timid in prosecuting Trump and top associates over the Capitol riot and insurrection.

In 2016, Democratic President Obama opted against hardball as the Senate’s Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, refused to consider Obama’s nomination of Garland to the Supreme Court. McConnell’s maneuver gave one additional Supreme Court appointee to the next president — Trump.

“These unspoken rules of propriety, especially on the Democratic side, have created the conditions” that enabled Trump, said Mitchell of the Working Families Party.

Fighting on all fronts

Even on redistricting, Democrats would have to ignore their previous good-government efforts and bypass independent commissions that draw boundaries in several states, including California.

Party leaders and activists rationalize that the broader fights tie together piecemeal skirmishes that may not, by themselves, sway voters.

Arguing that Trump diminishes democracy stirs people who already support Democrats, O’Neill said. By contrast, he said, the GOP “power grab” can be connected to unpopular policies that affect voters’ lives.

Rep. Green noted that Trump’s big package bill cleared the Senate “by one vote” and the House by a few, demonstrating why redistricting matters.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas said Democrats must make unseemly, short-term power plays so they can later pass legislation that “bans gerrymandering nationwide … bans super PACs [political action committees] and gets rid of that kind of big money and special interest that helped get us to this place.”

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) added that a Democratic majority would wield subpoena power over Trump’s administration.

In the meantime, said Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas), voters are grasping a stark reality.

“They say, ‘Well, I don’t know. Politics doesn’t affect me,’” she said of constituents she meets. “I say, ‘Honey, it does. If you don’t do politics, politics will do you.’”

Barrow writes for the Associated Press.

SIX in 10 Gen Zers reckon music gigs are overpriced – but are making financial sacrifices so they don’t miss out.

A study of 2,000 adults found 46 per cent of 21- to 24-year-olds believe concerts are out of reach for most people.

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Gen Zers are nonetheless determined to make it work, with 67 per cent having been to at least one gig in the past year – and spending an average of £117 on their priciest ticket.

To cover the cost, nearly one in five young adults (18 per cent) cut back on essentials, while 26 per cent scrapped a subscription – and 15 per cent admitted to spending more on a live music event than on their monthly bills.

The study was commissioned by Greene King, which staged the ‘biggest pub gig ever’ – with Sam Ryder giving a surprise performance at the iconic pub The Anchor on London’s South Bank.

As one of 800 acts in Greene King Untapped – a competition to find the next big music talent – Sam performed a 35-minute set, free for fans to watch.

The BRIT-nominated Eurovision star, who has also been appointed the pub chain’s Head of Gigs, said: “Playing in pubs and smaller venues was where it all started for me, with intimate venues, borrowed PA systems, and a handful of pub-goers who might become fans.

 “Grassroots music is at the heartbeat of the scene and those early gigs shaped who I am as an artist.

“These spaces allow live music to be an experience available to everyone, that’s why they’re so important, and I’m stoked to be a part of the team helping to keep that alive.” 

The study also found that 40 per cent of adults have skipped live music because of high ticket prices – missing an average of three events in the past year.

Half of those surveyed said they’ve wanted to attend a music event but couldn’t because tickets sold out too quickly.

The study also found that 53 per cent believe live music ticket prices are unfair, with 67 per cent saying prices have become unreasonable in recent years.

Meanwhile, 61 per cent claimed they would go to more gigs if tickets cost less.

The research also revealed that 41 per cent feel most alive when attending a gig, while 63 per cent admit the energy of a live performance doesn’t translate the same way digitally.

And 38 per cent have suffered FOMO (a Gen Z term meaning Fear of Missing Out) after seeing concerts on social media they couldn’t attend.

Zoe Bowley, managing director at Greene King Pubs, said: “Pubs have long been the heartland of grassroots music, a place where emerging talent takes root, stars are born, and communities come together. 

“It’s where British people do what they do best: connect, celebrate, and create lasting memories.”

In other news, The Sun recently revealed Oasis are getting big-money offers for more shows almost daily.

Insiders told Bizarre editor Ellie Henman last month the brothers are flooded with bids from across the globe.

This comes after their epic 41-show reunion tour sold out in minutes on 31 August.

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My friend Bob and I had stopped to rest during a hike in Icehouse Canyon near Mt. Baldy and were having an uncharacteristically quiet moment when we heard rocks tumbling nearby.

We scanned the steep canyon walls and quickly spotted movement. “What do you think it is? Is it deer?” Bob asked.

“Are those rams?” I asked. “Are those mountain goats?”

Bob vowed that this would be the last time we didn’t pack binoculars. (Dear reader, it wasn’t. We always forget them.)

After watching my shaky video several times, I concluded that Bob and I were lucky enough to spot bighorn sheep. It was the first and only time I’ve caught a glimpse of these cloven-footed critters in the wild. I’ve been wondering, though: What do hikers need to know to increase our chances of spotting these elusive ungulates?

I spoke to John D. Wehausen, an applied population ecologist who has studied bighorn sheep for 51 years. “More than half a century,” he pointed out during our call.

Wehausen likes to ask people, “How many populations of bighorn sheep do you think we have in California?”

I guessed seven.

“Just in the desert alone, we have 60 populations of bighorn sheep,” he answered, “and then we have another bunch in the Sierra. … It’s not easy to see them.”

Visitors to the Borrego Palm Canyon trail capture photos of desert bighorn sheep in Borrego Springs. The five females and four males spent a few minutes eating and drinking before taking off into the local mountains.

(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times)

I felt somewhat validated that California’s premier expert on the species noted how tricky sheep are to spot. Before we dive into Wehausen’s tips, I wanted to share a few other things I learned from our conversation.

• California has two subspecies of bighorn sheep: desert bighorns and Sierra Nevada bighorns.
• That’s essentially because, about 600,000 years ago, Sierra bighorn diverged from desert bighorn and became specialists at living above the tree line in alpine zones; yes, bighorn sheep have lived in the land we now call California for thousands of years.
• Bighorn sheep can live months without drinking water, surviving off moisture they get from the plants they eat.
• Wehausen’s niece, also a scientist, recently discovered a population of bighorn sheep in the Great Western Divide that were previously thought to be extinct. Scientists had thought they’d all been killed in the 2022-23 winter season, which dumped huge amounts of snow on the mountains.
• Outside of the indie rock band that formed in Claremont, Southern California doesn’t have native mountain goats.

I developed a new appreciation for these resilient animals after talking to Wehausen, and I hope you do too. Let’s dive into how to see them.

Understand where sheep live

Desert bighorn often live below the lowest tree line (although there are exceptions), while Sierra bighorn sheep live above the highest tree line. They live in these landscapes because it’s easier to detect predators, mountain lions included, in wide open spaces.

The sheep in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains — which can sometimes be found among the trees — depend on wildfire to clear the land of thick brush, so they can avoid predators.

Desert bighorn sheep at Lake Mead in Nevada.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Locally, sheep hot spots can be found in areas like Icehouse Canyon and the Mt. Baldy area, north of Piru, along the Pacific Crest Trail near the Little Jimmy Trail Camp and around the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area.

Try to be quiet

Bighorns have keen eyesight, thought to be “like us with binoculars,” Wehausen told me.

“Commonly when you find a group of bighorn, they’ve already busted you. They’re watching you,” he said. (Perhaps watching us from their perch on a steep hillside while we shout about whether we are looking at deer or goats?)

Look for water sources

The easiest time to see desert bighorn sheep is, unfortunately for us, in the summer, specifically near water sources.

“If you can break through [the heat], you can go to water sources and just set up a nice little place to sit up on a slope above water. You’ll watch sheep coming and going to water,” Wehausen said. “Very few people do that.”

That includes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where visitors frequently see sheep in Palm Canyon, he said.

Lytle Creek, east of the Mt. Baldy area in the San Gabriel Mountains, also used to be a “very predictable” place to spot sheep, Wehausen said. The group has experienced significant population shifts, though, and it might be harder to find them there.

After talking to Wehausen, I looked at iNaturalist and was pleased to see users had documented sheep near the Bonita Falls Trail that runs parallel to the South Fork of Lytle Creek as recently as April.

Scan the shady spots 💤

During the day, desert bighorn will lie under shade trees where they’re easier to spot.

“The sheep will shade up for a considerable time period in the middle of the day,” Wehausen said. “When we’re working out there in the summertime, we would do the same thing,” finding some shade to take a nap.

Learn how to use binoculars 👀

Wehausen regularly hosts field seminars in the Sierra where he teaches participants about spotting bighorn sheep.

First, he finds sheep with binoculars and sets up a spotting scope for students to see them. And then he encourages them to stand back and notice how, if they look closely enough, they can see the sheep with their naked eye.

Wehausen points out that once you develop a “search image,” i.e. understand what sheep look like through a magnified lens, it’s easier to start noticing them by just scanning the terrain.

A desert bighorn sheep sits atop a rocky ledge in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

You’ll start looking for the sheep’s bright white rump patch along with the shape of horns. “What you’re looking for is rocks with legs on them,” he said.

And if the rock with legs moves, congrats. That’s probably a sheep!

“I do find bighorn with my naked eye,” Wehausen said. “I’ve driven across the desert going to meetings and just looked over at mountain ranges on I-40 and see them.” (Goals!)

Listen for the bleats or rock falls

Sierra sheep rarely vocalize, but during the spring when they’re rearing lambs, desert bighorn ewes and lambs talk to each other a lot, Wehausen said.

“And the mothers and the lambs know each other’s individual vocalizations,” he said.

In the Sierra, if you hear repeated rock falls in the same area, or sometimes even “little jiggles of rocks,” you might be near sheep, he said.

I hope these tips empower you to respectfully observe these fascinating animals. Please share your photos if you do. I’d love to see them.

3 things to do

Attendees of the 2024 River Fest, hosted by Friends of the L.A. River, hula hoop at L.A. State Historic Park.

(Friends of the L.A. River)

1. Celebrate the L.A. River near downtown L.A.
Friends of the L.A. River will host the organization’s annual RiverFest from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at L.A. State Historic Park (1245 N. Spring St.). Local artists will sell their work, while others offer live performances. Guests can also participate in educational environmental activities and snag food from local vendors. Register for a free ticket at folar.org.

2. Restore wetlands habitat in L.A.
Volunteers are needed from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday to clean the Ballona Wetlands freshwater marsh. Participants age 12 and older will remove invasive plants from the wetlands. Volunteers who arrive early will be provided coffee and snacks by nonprofit Breathe Southern California, which is co-hosting the event with Friends of Ballona Wetlands. Register at ballonafriends.org.

3. Learn about giant trees in Claremont
The California Botanic Garden will host a screening of “Giants Rising,” a film about redwoods, at 7 p.m. Aug. 7. Guests attending this outdoor film screening will be treated to native plant popcorn and pre-film crafts and trivia. General admission for adults is $19, $14 for students and seniors and $5 for children ages 3 to 12. Buy tickets at calbg.org.

The must-read

Anya Štajner, a PhD student at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, recently spotted this rare species of pelagic sea snail known as Janthina janthina washed up on the beach in La Jolla. These snails are known for their vibrant purple shells and their ability to float at the surface of the ocean thanks to their the bubble rafts they create.

(Anya Štajner)

Oceanographer Anya Štajner was walking along the La Jolla Shores beach when she noticed something astonishing in the sand: a rare species of sea snail, Janthina janthina. “These creatures, more commonly known as violet snails, are distinguished by their striking purple shell and the delicate bubble raft they secrete to stay afloat in the open ocean,” Times staff writer Clara Harter wrote. “They are not known for their presence on Southern California beaches.” So what’s the deal? J. janthina are usually found in toasty subtropical to tropical seas, washing up along Australia’s southern shores. They are found in Southern California usually when warmer offshore waters are flowing toward the shore. “The day that I found my specimens, the water was notably warm,” Štajner said. “I remember when it washed up on my feet, I was like, ‘Whoa, this is hot.’”

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

One of the biggest complaints of outdoorsy Californians is how hard it can be to find a campsite without registering six months in advance. Good news! According to Times staff writer Christopher Reynolds, California State Parks has updated its system to better display campground availability and provide almost real-time data about open sites. The state is also expanding its campground lottery system to include Malibu Creek State Park starting this month, with Morro Bay State Park and McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park coming later this summer. I hope this helps more Californians make memories in our beautiful state!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

Monica Clare, 68, was onboard an Aer Lingus flight from Heathrow to Shannon, Ireland, when the problem began. Her flight was one of more than 150 cancelled on Thursday

Passengers swept up in the air traffic control chaos of Wednesday evening have now found out why their flights were disrupted.

Monica Clare, from Brentford, west London, is one of the unlucky group who had their holiday plans ruined last night. The 68-year-old was on an Aer Lingus aircraft ready to depart from Heathrow to Shannon, Ireland, when things went south. She recounted how the plane stayed on the runway for roughly three hours before the captain informed that his “shift was going to finish”, necessitating the passengers’ return to the terminal.

Ms Clare described the scene inside Heathrow as “bedlam”, with “suitcases everywhere”. The retired maintenance manager had to return home after being informed that Aer Lingus had no available seats on flights that would get her to her friend’s wedding in Limerick on Friday. Her frustrating situation comes as holidaymakers with trips booked this week scramble to figure out what they should do.

READ MORE: UK flights LIVE: Heathrow and Gatwick chaos sees Brits face DAYS of delaysREAD MORE: Your compensation rights as air traffic control chaos causes ‘delays for days’

Ms Clare found that alternative routes, such as travelling to a port and taking a ferry, were impractical and too costly after already shelling out for flights. She is currently seeking refunds for car hire and hotel reservations.

“I’m absolutely numb. I’m so upset. I’m heartbroken. It’s disgraceful. I think it’s absolutely unbelievable in this day and age that something that went down for 20 minutes has caused havoc like that all over the country,” she said.

“I’m so upset, I’m so angry. I’ve spokem to my friend who’s getting married. They’re devastated. We can’t now go to the wedding. I was so excited, and it’s all gone.”

Ms Clare is far from the only one who has been impacted. Asha, 18, from Manchester, said the chaos had ruined her first holiday Interrailing. She told the BBC her 3.10pm flight to Amsterdam had actually departed and was in the air for 50 minutes – before turning around. Hours later, she said she was still ‘stuck’ on the tarmac at the city’s airport

John Carr, a chiropodist from Stourbridge, was one of thousands of stranded Brits left in limbo after his flight from Heathrow to Norway was cancelled at the last minute. He and a group of friends were on their way to his brother’s wedding, for which he is best man, when he found out after checking in that his flight was cancelled.

The 35-year-old said: “I’m pretty gutted. We’ve got loads of stuff in the suitcases to set up the venue, because we’re obviously flying to Norway. We’ve got the wedding rehearsal to do. It’s quite stressful. It’s rubbish. There’s nothing we can do. We don’t know what we’re going to do tonight in terms of accommodation. We have put our cars in special car compounds for the next six days.”

It has now come to light that a “radar-related issue” was at fault for the mass disruption, which saw flights grounded across the UK on Wednesday.

NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe was summoned to speak with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on Thursday morning, a day after thousands of passengers were disrupted by the technical problem which forced the cancellation of more than 150 flights.

Airlines are demanding a deeper explanation for what happened. A spokesperson for NATS said, “This was a radar-related issue, which was resolved by quickly switching to the backup system, during which time we reduced traffic to ensure safety. There is no evidence that this was cyber-related.”

It is understood that the back-up system continues to be used by controllers while investigations continue. Ms Alexander said: “I have spoken with Nats CEO Martin Rolfe who provided further detail on yesterday’s technical fault.

“This was an isolated event and there is no evidence of malign activity. I will continue to receive regular updates.”

The problem happened at NATS’ control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, and affected the vast majority of England and Wales. A Government source said the failure lasted around 20 minutes, and the level of disruption was similar to a day with bad weather.

A woman who moved from the US to the UK has shared three phrases she never said before she moved to Britain, including one that she claims ‘throws off every American’

A woman who moved from the US to the UK has shared the one ‘British’ phrase that she claims every American expat gets confused by. It’s expected to get some culture shocks when moving to a new country, including the language used by locals, and an American called Katie has taken to TikTok to speak about the differences she has experienced since moving across from the States.

The content creator now lives in York and has posted videos about her life in the UK. These include British supermarket items she likes and things that “feel illegal” in Britain but aren’t illegal. In another clip she shared three British phrases she never used to say before living in the UK.

1. ‘You alright’

Katie claimed the phrase ‘you alright’ “throws off every single American when they move here” and she admitted that it’s definitely true for herself.

She explained that in America people only say that if something’s wrong but in the UK people commonly say ‘you alright’ as a greeting when passing each other in the street, for example.

The expat advised fellow American expats not to panic if a British person says this to them and to respond ‘yeah, good thanks and you?’

2. ‘Hiya’

Katie continued: “[The] Second one is ‘hiya’. I don’t…I never said this before moving here, now I say it all the time.”

‘Hiya’ is an informal way of saying ‘hello’. She added that it flows well with ‘you alright’ so someone from the UK might say ‘hiya, you alright.’

3. ‘What’s for tea?’

The content creator’s third and favourite phrase that she has picked up since moving to the UK is ‘what’s for tea?’

Katie remarked: “I ask everybody ‘what’s for tea?’, I love it.” She explained that Brits use this casual phrase when asking someone what they are having for dinner.

The expat elaborated: “I think it’s maybe only like a northern thing to ask that but either way, yeah I’m obsessed with it.”

She also shared that she asks ‘what’s for tea?’ anytime there’s a lull in the conversation or when she’s talking to someone she has just met.

Katie’s TikTok video has garnered 18,700 views, more than 1,000 likes and numerous comments, at the time of writing.

One user pointed out: “Americans say ‘how you doin’ which is literally the same as ‘you alright’.

Another said: “There’s an amusing irony in how you started the video with ‘what’s up’ which always throws Brits off as we would only use it if something is wrong.”

A third praised Katie for adopting British culture as they commented: “Perfect, you’re doing great. These made me smile, I use all of these.”

While a fourth added: “Love how you’re picking up a bit of an accent too.”

My plan for today’s Wild was to write about three shady hikes near L.A. where you could escape the summer heat.

But last week, as I was busily researching via mapping technology about slope angles, sun exposure and the elevation of various canyon walls near L.A., an editor, observing my fury, suggested I zoom out and teach Wilders how to find their own shady hikes.

This week, you get to peek behind the curtain and learn about some of the tools I use to find the best hikes around L.A.

My goal in writing this is to empower you to find hikes near you that you didn’t realize provided good shade at various times of the day. Lists of hikes are great, as they introduce you to new adventures. But sometimes reaching those hikes involves a long drive when, in actuality, there‘s a great trail waiting for you basically in your backyard.

Griffith Park is a great place to hike and learn how the sun and shade move throughout the day.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

To find a shady hike, you need to consider a few factors:
☀️ Time of day (and year)
📈 The day’s forecast
⛰️ Local topography
🌳 Tree cover

Before we dive in, I want to note: Sometimes it really is too hot to hike. Please use your best judgment when heading out and, as the temperature creeps up, remember to drink more water than usual.

OK, let’s find our next adventure!

The sun sets at Griffith Park, casting shade over the park’s various trails.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

🌅 Time of day (and year)🌇

Let’s say we’d like to find the best time and place to hike at Griffith Park this Saturday without getting up before 7 a.m. or burning our faces off from the sun. (Kudos to the the 5 a.m. Crew. Your faces are always safe from the burn.)

The Gabrielino Trail, a 28-mile trek through Angeles National Forest, passes through various plant communities and through canyons, providing pockets of shade along the way, including near Valley Forge campground.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

This Saturday, the sun in L.A. will rise at 6 a.m., according to data compiled by the Griffith Park Observatory. But where will the sun rise, and how does that help us discern where the shade will be in the morning? (Yes, the sun always rises in the east, but we’re about to get way more specific!)

To figure that out, I’d like you to grab your cell phone and open your phone’s compass app. With the app still open, set your phone on a flat surface parallel to the ground. Your compass app should have a number next to the direction it is facing. For example, my iPhone’s compass app is showing 59 degrees northeast right now. This number is your compass bearing, which is a precise way to describe a direction.

Now, slowly rotate your phone until it reads 66 degrees northeast. That, my friends, is the exact direction the sun will rise this weekend, according to Griffith Observatory’s website.

Why does this bearing point matter? Because the direction the sun rises from will help you discern where the shade will be.

The northeastern side of Griffith Park receives the first rays of sun in the early morning as the sun rises.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

🌄Local topography🌄

Back to our example. We want to hike Saturday morning in Griffith Park. Since the sun rises northeast of the park this time of year, that means that the earliest rays will shine onto the northeast-facing slopes.

The Fern Canyon Trail in Griffith Park in January.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

This includes trails near the Merry-Go-Round, including the Old Zoo Loop, and the Mineral Wells and Bill Eckert trails, along with the area near Amir’s Garden, where the sun will be shining by 6:30 a.m. (Again, this doesn’t mean trees won’t provide you with shade.)

Meanwhile, hikes along southern and southwestern-facing slopes are more likely to be shady, including Fern Dell and trails near the bird sanctuary where a nearby west-facing slope blocks the morning sun.

For a visual, take a look at this map I made focused on sun exposure in Griffith Park at 8 a.m. with bearing lines pointing to the directions of the sunrise and sunset.

You’ll see much of the map covered in yellow, which represents sun exposure, while purple patches remain on the south and southwestern sides of slopes where there will be shade at 8 a.m. By 9 a.m., those patches start to shrink, although the map is only taking into consideration the angles of the slopes and not whether these paths have tree cover.

Although some hikes, like this path in Dunsmore Canyon in Glendale, may appear exposed during the day, you might find they’re shadier in the morning or evening, depending on their local topography.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

☀️The day’s forecast🌥️

OK, we’ve learned about the direction of the sunrise and a bit about local topography. Let’s dive a little deeper.

Let’s plan a hike to Angeles National Forest, somewhere that starts above 5,000 feet elevation. Why? Because this cooler-than-average July will not last forever (sad), and we’ll need to escape to higher elevation soon.

Let’s say it’s going to be a hot day in L.A., and you’d like to hike in the San Gabriel Mountains in a hopefully less hot area. (Also, for the purpose of our example, there’s no strong inversion layer, which can create a scenario where it’s hotter in the mountains than it is in L.A.)

Although some hikes, like this path in Dunsmore Canyon in Glendale, may appear exposed during the day, you might find they’re shadier in the morning or evening, depending on their local topography.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

The plan is to arrive by 8 a.m. to the trailhead. Where can we find a shady reprieve along with hopefully a lower temperature?

First, it will depend on how high we go. “In general, for every 1,000 feet you ascend, the temperature drops approximately 3.5 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. This predictable temperature decrease is known as the lapse rate,” as this HowStuffWorks article points out.

The amount the temperature drops, though, will vary depending on the weather, humidity and time of day.

I usually start to notice a temperature drop in Angeles National Forest once I travel beyond 5,000 feet. For example, I’ve found on a hot day the parking area at Mt. Wilson might be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than L.A. The Buckhorn Campground, which sits at about 6,500 feet elevation, and the nearby Burkhart Trail are my other go-tos on hot days. You can find the elevation of the hike you’re considering by using Google Maps’ terrain function or by finding your hike on CalTopo, right clicking and choosing the “point information” option.

But how do we find a shady spot at a higher elevation in Angeles National Forest?

The angle and direction a slope faces can help you understand where and when shade will be, like at this range off the Pacific Crest Trail near Three Points.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

For one, we need to consider the direction that a slope faces. I must admit: Figuring out the direction a slope faces broke my brain. I am a bit directionally challenged (a great attribute for an outdoors journalist!). That’s to say if this feels confusing or a bit heady, I understand.

The simplest way to understand the direction a slope faces, or its aspect, and thus how much sun it will get is this: A slope’s direction is the cardinal direction in which it slopes downward.

For our purposes, we’re looking for north-facing slopes because those get less direct sunlight. Why? Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is always to our south, never directly overhead, as it travels across the sky. (Thank you to Mt. Wilson telescope operator and volunteer Nicholas Arkimovich for explaining this and more to me.)

North-facing slopes with trails through them include the Mt. Waterman hike and Mt. Baden-Powell via Vincent Gap. I’ve also found nice shade on the Rim Trail at Mt. Wilson, a path that descends a north-facing slope to Newcomb Pass.

Oak woodlands and riparian habitats are among several plant communities in the mountains around L.A., including along the Gabrielino Trail near Pasadena.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

🌲Tree cover 🌳

Lastly, as mentioned, tree cover plays a huge role in temperature, given we have a dry heat here in Southern California. The type of tree cover you’ll find will vary widely among the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains, as these ranges feature robust and different plant communities depending, in part, on elevation and a slope’s direction (and thus sun exposure). I could probably write a series of Wilds about this topic (maybe an entire book). In short: Oak woodlands, areas around rivers and higher elevations with tall pine trees will provide you with great shade.

Oak woodlands, like this area of Placerita Canyon, provide incredible shade on a warm day.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I know this was a lot of information, but I hope today’s Wild will be something you can repeatedly come back to when planning your summer hikes.

If you’d like a little homework, take a look at the map and look for canyons near you. Do they run north-south or east-west? Is one canyon’s wall taller than the other? How does that affect how much shade the canyon floor will get? And is there a trail leading through the canyon, waiting for you to explore it?

Let me know how it goes! I love hearing from you.

3 things to do

A wigeon is a small duck and one of several waterfowl that birders can spot around the Madrona Marsh, especially after rain when its ponds have water.

(Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center)

1. Bend the curve for birds in Torrance
Keith Haney, a biologist and California naturalist, will present “Bending the Curve with Audubon” at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center in Torrance. Haney will explain how the Audubon Society is addressing the downward trend in bird populations and how residents can help locally. Register at eventbrite.com.

2. Meander past murals in East L.A.
People for Mobility Justice will host an art-focused bike ride at 9 a.m. Saturday through East L.A. and Boyle Heights. Riders will start at Mariachi Plaza and ride together to murals in the area. Beginner riders are welcome. Participants should bring a working bike or wheeled device, a helmet, front and back bike lights, reflective clothing and a water bottle. Register at eventbrite.com.

3. Marvel at moths in Valyermo
In celebration of National Moth Week, the Invertebrate Club of Southern California will host a black lighting event from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area in Valyermo. The group will set up black lights to observe moths and hike a short distance into the valley to observe scorpions and other invertebrates. Register to learn more.

The must-read

Professional diver Juan Heredia of Angels Recovery Dive Team, searches the Kaweah River on July 12 for signs of Jomarie Calasanz of Los Angeles, who was swept away in the swift waters near Paradise Creek Bridge during a Memorial Day weekend outing with her family inside Sequoia National Park.

(Gary Kazanjian / For The Times)

Jomarie Calasanz was visiting Sequoia National Park when, seemingly in a flash, she was swept away by the Kaweah River. Her family longed for news — that at the very least, her body could be recovered. But rescuers found the water too treacherous to keep searching. “On the family’s last morning at the hotel, a waitress who had kept her distance out of respect approached (Jomarie’s) grieving mother and gave her a hug and a tip: There’s a local legend, a man not affiliated with official emergency service agencies, who finds people,” Times staff writer Jack Dolan wrote. That man is Juan Heredia, a 53-year-old scuba instructor from Stockton. Over the past year, Heredia has found the bodies of a dozen drowning victims after authorities had either temporarily or fully stopped searching. Heredia has gained a significant following online and has been getting calls from across the world from families pleading for his help. “I think when they call and tell me they have a loved one who has drowned, it opens up a wound in me, too. And then I need closure,” Heredia said. “I can’t stop thinking about them alone in that dark water.”

Stay safe out there, friends.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

As I was researching this week’s Wild, I called the Mt. Wilson Observatory, as it has a long history of studying the sun (and I had a lot of questions about how the sun moves about). I was greeted by an automated voice prompt: Press 1 for information about visiting the observatory, press 2 to leave a message for the office and “if you’d like to hear an excerpt from the poem ‘The Observatory’ by Alfred Noyes about first light on the 100-inch telescope, press 3.” I pressed 3 and listened for about four minutes to a dramatic reading of a beautiful moment in L.A. space history. “The observatory loomed against the sky; / And the dark mountain with its headlong gulfs, / Had lost all memory of the world below,” a line that reminded me of all the times I’ve escaped to Mt. Wilson on a hot summer day. I politely request more places offer poetry as an option to callers.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

Simon Cowell is searching for ‘the next global boy band sensation’ in a new Netflix show set to air later this year – and it’s thought a girl band follow up won’t be too far behind

Simon Cowell is reportedly set to front new TV talent shows to find the next big girl and boy bands.

The music mogul is already thought to have wrapped filming on a new Netflix show called Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which will follow the 65-year-old record producer as he tries to find “the next global boy band sensation”.

In the past he has helped launch the careers of huge boy bands like One Direction and Westlife and is hoping to replicate this success again in 2025. The six episode series will air on the streaming giant in December, though it doesn’t have a confirmed date yet.

And it’s reported Simon will follow this up with another brand new talent show – this time to find the next big girl band. While on The X Factor, he catapulted Little Mix to fame and is said to be hoping to find the next budding female pop stars to turn into a global success.

A source told The Sun: “There’s a huge amount of excitement around the boyband search show dropping on Netflix, which is expected to drop later this year. So it makes sense to consider a sequel with a similar concept but looking for the female equivalent.

“And if anyone can do it, it’s Simon. After all, through One Direction and Little Mix, he helped deliver two of the biggest pop acts of the last two decades.”

The follow up is not thought to have been commissioned just yet, as Netflix is said to be unlikely to seal the deal on a second series before the first has aired later this year. But it is thought that Simon has it in the bag. The Mirror has approached Simon’s reps for comment.

It comes after Simon recently revealed why he wears rose-tinted glasses on set – and it isn’t a fashion statement. The Britain’s Got Talent judge shared: “I just found out according to the internet, I have a ‘mystery illness.”

He told fans on Instagram: “For anyone concerned, I missed two auditions at the end of one day, two weeks ago, because I do get migraines after long days in the filming lights. PS. This is why I wear these glasses!” So let’s hope Simon didn’t have to endure too many bright lights filming his latest TV show.

Headaches and migraines are frequently mixed up, but migraines specifically describe intense, pulsating pain often concentrated on one side. Typically, this pain can persist anywhere from two hours up to three days.

Some people endure migraines multiple times a week, whereas others encounter them less often. Further symptoms may include fatigue, food cravings, mood swings, and increased urination, although these tend to decrease in severity with age. The exact cause of migraines remains uncertain, but known triggers include anxiety, menstruation, unhealthy eating habits, and excessive caffeine intake.

TV Doctor Dawn Harper explained: “Migraines classically are one-sided headaches often associated with nausea, quite often actually make you sick. Usually, people feel they have to just lie down in a darkened room.

“They don’t like the lights and they feel, they really are severe headaches, which last for several hours. And then some poor folk will last for two or three days. A migraine can be very frightening.”

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