7 chapters across the catalog
NPR reports on the destruction of historic landmarks, including the Will Rogers State Historic Park ranch house and the Topanga Ranch Motel. The Getty Villa is noted for having a close call with the flames, though its staff and art collections remained safe due to proactive vegetation management.
Navy SEALs Training in Washington State Parks
A lawsuit has been filed against the Washington State Parks Commission for allowing Navy SEALs to conduct undercover surveillance training on unsuspecting park visitors. The Navy is also permitted to prevent boaters from using certain waterfronts. This is compared to a previous incident in Miami where military jets conducted "fake strafing" runs over public streets.
New York City Coronavirus Crisis, Hospital Capacity Challenges
New York City faces record-breaking 911 calls and hospital capacity shortages, leading to the conversion of the U.S. Open tennis stadium into a medical facility. Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, tested positive for the virus as the state death toll continues to rise. Medical workers are being honored with light displays at the Empire State Building while families plead for plasma donors.
Adam Curry broadcasts from McKinney Falls State Park in Texas to inaugurate the I Love Laundry Tour in a new Airstream Flying Cloud 23D. The hosts discuss the technical setup of the mobile rig, including the surprisingly high number of over-the-air digital television channels available in the park. Curry outlines plans to travel toward Colorado, Yellowstone, and potentially Canada while testing mobile connectivity via T-Mobile and Verizon.
Plans are finalized for a new Airstream trailer, which will be parked at a dealership and tested at McKinney State Park. A producer offered to provide vinyl decals for the trailer, leading to the branding of the upcoming road trip as the "Love Laundry Tour."
The TSA has begun ordering valet attendants at Rochester Airport to search the trunks and engines of private vehicles. Officials justify the searches by claiming valet cars parked near the terminal pose a greater explosive risk than those in long-term lots. The hosts criticize this as an expansion of the police state into private enterprise, noting that passengers are being conditioned to accept warrantless searches of their property in exchange for a false sense of security.
Cuba New Mexico, Route 126 Mud, and Off-Road Towing
A travel emergency occurs in Cuba, New Mexico, after a propane truck overturns, closing the main highway. The travelers attempt a detour through Route 126 near Fenton Lake State Park, which turns into a dangerous 20-mile stretch of unpaved mud. Despite warnings from other drivers, the Dodge Ram successfully tows the 6,000-pound trailer through the inclement weather at ten miles per hour.
