San Bernardino is a place that people think they know, but honestly, if you’re only reading the national headlines, you’re missing the actual heartbeat of the city. You've probably heard about the logistics warehouses or the traffic on the I-215, but news San Bernardino today is actually a mix of wild weather recovery, major infrastructure shifts, and some heavy local history finally being put to rest.
It’s Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you’re driving through downtown today, you’ve likely noticed the orange cones on Second Street. It’s a mess. Southern California Edison has been tearing things up between K Street and G Street to upgrade the grid for new businesses, including a Dutch Bros Coffee and more EV charging stations. This isn’t just a minor "fix-it" job; they’ve got crews working seven days a week to get it done by the 23rd.
The Major Headlines You Need to Know
There’s a lot moving right now. Just a few days ago, the County Board of Supervisors finally greenlit a relief package for property owners who got hit by the severe winter storms that started back on December 23rd. We’re talking about people in the mountain and high desert areas whose homes were basically buried under mud and debris.
It's a weird contrast. On one hand, you have families trying to figure out how to rebuild their lives after the floods, and on the other, you have the city moving forward with its 2026 Homeless Point-In-Time Count, which is happening this coming Thursday, January 22nd. They’re still looking for volunteers. If you’ve got a few hours, it’s one of those boots-on-the-ground ways to actually understand the scale of the housing crisis here rather than just complaining about it on Facebook.
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A 25-Year-Old Mystery Finally Solved
The biggest story for a lot of locals this week wasn't about the weather or the traffic. It was about Suzanne Sites-Fenton. Back in April 2001, she walked into a Mervyn’s parking lot in Victorville for a break and just... vanished. Her body was found in Hesperia months later, but the case went cold for decades.
Well, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Cold Case team finally caught a break. On Thursday, they arrested 51-year-old Raymond Silva Gonzales in Hesperia. Nearly 25 years later, the family might actually get some semblance of justice. It’s a sobering reminder that "cold" doesn't mean "forgotten" for the detectives working these files in the Inland Empire.
What’s Happening Around Town Today
If you aren't stuck in the Second Street traffic, there’s actually a decent amount of stuff to do.
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- Mega Bailazo at the NOS: The National Orange Show Events Center is hosting a massive bailazo today from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Expect it to be loud, crowded, and probably the liveliest spot in the city.
- 909Tacolandia: Also at the NOS, this is the place to be if you’re looking for the best local vendors. It runs until 10:00 p.m. tonight.
- Evergreen Cemetery Tour: For the history nerds, there’s a tour over at the Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery. It’s a great way to see the "old" San Bernardino before the warehouses took over.
The Safety Situation on the Roads
Look, we have to talk about the I-10. It’s been a rough week. A 21-year-old pedestrian, Gustavo Montes, was killed on the eastbound I-10 near Fourth Street just a few days ago. We’re also seeing a string of tragedies in the mountains. Since the end of December, several hikers have lost their lives on Mt. Baldy, including a 19-year-old who fell 500 feet from the Devil’s Backbone trail.
If you are planning to head up Waterman Avenue toward the mountains today, please, take it slow. The city is currently running a safety survey for Waterman north of the 210, basically asking residents where the danger spots are. Honestly, anyone who has driven that stretch knows it needs more than just a survey, but at least the data is being collected.
Infrastructure and the "New" San Bernardino
The city is trying to shed its old image. They just named Jasmine Glover-McNamara as the permanent Director of Animal Services—she’s been the acting director for a while, and the shelter has been under a lot of heat lately, so people are watching her closely.
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There's also the new Cross Street Bridge. It finally opened after being closed for nearly three years due to structural issues. It’s a small win, sure, but for the people who had to detour every single morning for 36 months, it’s a massive relief.
Why the Secession Talk Won't Die
You might hear people at coffee shops today talking about "breaking up California." It sounds like a fringe conspiracy theory, but it’s a real conversation happening in the county. A local real estate developer has been pushing a plan for San Bernardino County to secede and form its own state.
Why? Because a lot of people here feel like the tax dollars they send to Sacramento never make it back over the Cajon Pass. Whether you think it’s a brilliant move or a total pipe dream, it’s a defining part of the local political climate right now.
Actionable Insights for Residents
If you’re living in or visiting the area, here is the "no-nonsense" checklist for the coming week:
- Avoid Second Street: If you’re trying to get to the 215 freeway downtown, use 5th Street or Mill Street. The Edison upgrades are creating major bottlenecks, especially during peak morning hours.
- Vaccination Drives: The County Public Health department is pushing hard for updated vaccinations this week. Check their site for the mobile clinic schedule—they've been popping up at community centers to curb the post-holiday surge.
- Job Seekers: If you’re looking for a career change, the SBC LevelUP program is active. They’re holding a virtual workshop on January 26th specifically on how to navigate the nightmare that is applying for government jobs.
- Volunteer: Sign up for the Point-In-Time count. It’s one day of work, but it dictates how much federal funding the city gets for the next year.
San Bernardino is a city of layers. It’s the tragedy of the I-10, the relief of a solved cold case, and the chaos of downtown construction. It isn't always pretty, but it's definitely moving. Keep an eye on the Waterman Avenue survey results and the progress of the Second Street upgrades—those are the things that will actually change your daily commute by next month.