Nicky Loomis

1 month ago | desertsun.com | Nicky Loomis

I have had the distinct privilege of being The Desert Sun’s opinion and engagement editor for the past two and a half years. Though I am moving back to Los Angeles to be closer to my family and to shift my focus from editing to writing, what I can conclude, wholeheartedly, is that this is a community that cares tremendously about local news – at a time when local news continues to disappear at an alarming rate.

Jan 11, 2025 | desertsun.com | Nicky Loomis

A crowd of at least 100 people stood organizing piles of donated clothes, toiletries, diapers and cases of water at a pop-up aid center for fire vicitims at the Santa Anita Race Track parking lot 3 Friday evening as the Eaton Fire continued to burn in the foothills in the distance. “We started at Brookside with a hot dog cart,” said Jimmy Medina, owner of Tacos Los Huicholes. Over the past two days, Medina said he had served hundreds and hundreds of people hot dogs and breakfast burritos for free.

Jan 10, 2025 | usatoday.com | Nicky Loomis

I started up Mt. Wilson Trailhead Thursday afternoon. I was trying to see if a monastery had survived the Eaton Fire and I had taken a wrong turn. Two fire trucks were parked at the trailhead – one from Morongo Valley, a small town in Southern California's high desert – though I didn’t see the firemen. As I write this, the Eaton Fire, first reported Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, is at 3% containment and has burned more than 13,956 acres.

Sep 29, 2024 | desertsun.com | Nicky Loomis |Jose Marfori

As The Desert Sun’s opinion and community engagement editor, I’m always looking for ways to collaborate with you, the readers — which is why I jumped at the opportunity to work with horticultural experts at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens to explore what “desert gardening” is, why it matters, and how you, the reader, can begin building your own desert garden.

Mar 14, 2024 | desertsun.com | Nicky Loomis

Two Desert Sun journalists and one Desert Sun alum were among the honorees Feb. 28 at the inaugural Coachella Valley Media Hall of Fame, presented by the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation, at Thunderbird Country Club.