Dear CalMatters reader,

She is in recovery after an attack. He is sitting in their newly secured home, purchased with funds raised by their community. But he’s not alone: with his partner gone, he’s been cozying up with someone else, who might have attacked his partner.

This isn’t a soap opera, but the true story of bald eagles Jackie and Shadow—and, now, Jolene.

Jackie and Shadow have been the stars of a livestream operated by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV). Recently, their future became unpredictable. Jackie has been receiving treatment at The Ojai Raptor Center, and their habitat was being considered for a 50-unit development. With Jackie gone, a new eagle, named Jolene after the Dolly Parton song, has been spending time with Shadow. Speculation is Jolene and Jackie had a confrontation that left Jackie weakened and unable to fly. 

Good news first: Jackie has recently been stable, but in critical condition, according to a Monday update from the The Ojai Raptor Center. 

“She is eating on her own, her energy and alertness have noticeably improved, and she has become much more feisty during feedings,” the update says.

The bad news, as the tabloids are reporting, is that Shadow’s fidelity remains in question. The California Post is covering the celebrity gossip, and the FOBBV can only speculate.

“We do have to realize he is a wild and free eagle, and it is up to Shadow what direction he goes. The expert (we talked to) stated that due to the incredible bond Jackie and Shadow have, it would be unlikely for him to move on now,” the group posted.

In better news for the couple: their habitat will remain their habitat.

After just five months, the FOBBV raised $10 million across 25,000 contributors to purchase and preserve 63 acres of the eagle’s habitat on the north side of Big Bear Lake. The final push came from a $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Bockham of Open AI.

“We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months. This is a special community that has a real love for Jackie and Shadow’s wellbeing along with nature,” said Jenny Voisard, spokesperson for FOBBV and fundraising lead.

Read more from The Sun: Big Bear bald eagles habitat saved; OpenAI president donates $5.5 million to reach goal.

S. Terri Gomez, provost of Cal Poly Pomona, was picked to lead CSUSB last Wednesday.

“As a first-generation college graduate and a lifelong resident of the Inland Empire, I am honored to be named Cal State San Bernardino’s president,” Gomez said.

Her first day on the job will be Aug. 3. She’ll receive a $426,915 annual salary, with a $60,000 annual housing allowance. 

The decision from the CSU Board of Trustees came at the same time as the decision to give former President Tomás Morales a year-long consulting role. As part of that role, he will provide guidance to Gomez during her transition. Morales was a defendant in two lawsuits from administrators, both settled by the CSU for $12 million, immediately prior to his resignation, that alleged gender-based discrimination and retaliation.  

The CSUSB chapter of the California Faculty Association opposed Morales’ transition pay, and called for more faculty input in the selection of the new president.

Read more from CalMatters intern Phoebe Huss: Cal State gives $340K job to ex-president who stepped down after discrimination lawsuit.

The Riverside Record took a look at the Palo Verde Healthcare District nine months after it filed for bankruptcy. The hospital in Blythe, a community of 18,000 on the California-Arizona border, is 90 miles away from the nearest hospital in California.

To keep the hospital running, Riverside County granted multiple loans and brought in members of the Riverside University Health Services to provide oversight. The 180-day period for oversight expires next month. The Record found the hospital is projected to be short another $4.6 million at the end of the fiscal year. 

Tomorrow, July 30, the hospital will host an open house to both showcase its improvements and answer questions from the community.

“This is a perfect opportunity for the community to come in to speak to the leaders, see the staff, and I know the community has a lot of questions,” Joanna Gonzalez, board clerk for the Palo Verde Healthcare District, told the Record.

Read the story: Palo Verde Hospital To Host Open House Showcasing Upgrades As Questions About Future Remain.

The Press-Enterprise’s Jeff Horseman took a look at the long-delayed 2.1 million sq-ft warehouse development called the Bloomington Business Park. 

The project is up for review by San Bernardino County once again after a lawsuit brought by a coalition of nonprofits forced a revision to its environmental study. The San Bernardino County Planning Commission will review the 238-page study on Aug. 20. Also in question is whether the new developers will honor a promise made by the previous developers to build a new school in replacement of the Zimmerman Elementary School, which sits next door to the planned warehouse. 

Read the story at The Press-Enterprise: It’s been almost 4 years. Are 2.1 million square feet of warehouses coming to Bloomington?

The newspaper also is reporting on Banning’s election to decide the fate of 5 million square feet of potential warehouses,  and a new economic study on the impact of warehouses in the IE.

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