Needles California News

06/11/2026

We honor your sacrifice through our continued service. Never forgotten.

Officer Harry Thompson
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (Needles Police Department)
EOW: June 10, 1935

06/10/2026

Route 66 Broadband is back up!

Per Tim, all services have been restored in Needles!

06/10/2026

From Needles Area Transit:

Gas prices keep going up, but the price of your ride doesn't have to. Needles Area Transit (NAT) fare is $1.35 per boarding, and you can skip the exact change with a 30-Punch Pass for just $39.
2 Dump the Pump Day is coming up on June 18, when you can ride NAT and Dial-a-Ride for FREE! Learn more at needlestransit.com.
Did you know students ride NAT for free? K-12 and Palo Verde College students board at no cost with a student ID or class schedule. With gas prices high, that's real money back in your family's pocket. And on Dump the Pump Day, June 18, everyone rides NAT and Dial-a-Ride for free! Learn more at needlestransit.com

06/10/2026

UPDATE

Route 66 Broadband has issued another statement regarding the outage, Amanda from Route 66 Broadbands Golden Valley office stated:

“I've spoken with Tim and our provider has advised him that 'the Network Operation Center is engaged and has isolated the issue. So, it appears the right people are actively working on this.
When we have more information, we will absolutely share it with you. This affects our customers serviced by our Needles branch.”

Please follow the Route 66 Broadband page for the most up-to-date information

Original post:

06/09/2026

REMINDER

Needles California City Council Meeting takes place tonight 6:00pm at the Needles City Council Chambers Office. Link down below for Agenda and Live Virtual Meeting Link.

https://needles-ca.municodemeetings.com/ -ee44f6fad472559b6341f37405c0cc31

06/09/2026

Route 66 Broadband has issued a statement regarding the service outage in Needles including their Needles office, stating their service provider has a compromised fiber in Los Angeles. Route 66 Broadband has also stated they are working diligently to resolve the issues and thank customers for their patience.

Original Post by Route 66 Broadband: https://www.facebook.com/Rt66bb/posts/pfbid0oBHZTs5xWBqF5KdL74NzCQN9nVss9WS25RqEabTZQcusRGrwe4xxwQ7o4idF8A5bl

06/09/2026

The Big Texan BBQ Caravan made its final California stop Monday night outside Palo Verde College, where five contestants took on the famous 72-ounce steak challenge.

The competition featured two teams of two participants and one solo challenger, Tony Rubalcaba of Needles, California. As the one-hour timer began, both teams quickly dug into their massive steaks while Rubalcaba relied on a “cleaver”-style knife he received for Christmas to slice through the sirloin more efficiently.

With 34 minutes and 36 seconds remaining on the clock, teammates Chase Mansen and Albert Pepin successfully completed the challenge, becoming the night’s only winners.

Rubalcaba later tapped out before the contest ended, while the second team was unable to finish within the allotted hour.

06/09/2026

The Big Texan 72oz steak eating competition is LIVE on go route66.com click the link to watch this event in Needles Live!

https://www.goroute66.com/livestream/

06/08/2026

REMINDER TONIGHT: 5:30pm

Route 66 Centennial Caravan & 72 Oz. Steak Challenge: The City of Needles will welcome the Route 66 Centennial Caravan on June 8, 2026, at
the Palo Verde College Needles Center. As part of the evening's activities, community members will participate in a 72 Oz. Steak Challenge, a Route
66-themed event designed to celebrate the historic highway and attract visitors to the community. Participants include Tony Rubalcaba representing the City of Needles, Deputy Smith representing the San Bernardino County
Sheriff's Department, and two community at-large participants. The event will also feature live music, classic vehicles traveling the Route 66 Centennial
Caravan, and opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in the celebration. The event highlights Needles' continued role as a key destination along Historic Route 66 and supports ongoing tourism and economic development efforts within the community.

06/05/2026