Five Things You Need to Know Today

TODAY'S WEATHER: It's going to be hot again. National Weather Service officials predict today will be sunny with a high near 93 degrees and a calm west wind between 5 and 10 mph. Overnight, the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a low around 64 degrees. 

MEDICAL MILESTONE: Loma Linda University Heart and Surgical Hospital recently performed its 1000th robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. On June 27, Dr. Herbert Ruckle performed a robotic prostatectomy on 67-year-old James Rose, of Santa Maria, a patient with prostate cancer. The milestone makes the hospital the most experienced robotic-assisted surgery program in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Loma Linda University Medical Center officials said.

SUPER VOLUNTEER: In an effort to recognize the work done by their volunteers, the Redlands Animal Shelter has begun a Volunteer of the Month program. The first honoree is Amber Houck. Amber has been volunteering at the shelter for a little over a year, shelter officials said. She spends 20 hours a week at the shelter, plus 10 hours working on promotional materials like posters, and additional time emailing, networking with rescues and adopters, and transporting animals, officials said.

SOFTBALL NEWS: We’ve said this many times in the past, with the Quakes in Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Empire 66ers in San Bernardino, but this is a baseball town. Many of you don’t know that just up Interstate 215 is Little League Western Regional Headquarters and Al Houghton Stadium. But the region is also known for softball. Today is the second day of action in Little League Softball's Western Regional Tournament. If you’re a sports fan, you may want to stop by and cheer the teams on. Admission is free. For information check out the Little League Baseball website. 

TWO-WEEK WARNING: A message to parents of school-age children, the end of summer is quickly approaching. Schools in the Redlands Unified School District will begin classes Aug. 10, so that leaves about two-and-a-half weeks before school starts, including the reopening of Mission Elementary School. The first day back at Mission will be a half day, followed at 6:30 p.m. with Back to School night activities. The district has also announced that the last day of school for 2011-12 will be June 7, instead of the previously announced June 5.