Scott Simon speaks with Conchita Pozar of Mecca, California, as she remembers the late Father Francisco Valdovinos, who passed away from COVID-19 in January. Many people who live in Mecca, Calif., ...

Over 100 years ago, cousins Susie Keef Smith and Lula Mae Graves embarked on numerous explorations of the desert between Mecca and Blythe, documenting what they encountered with photographs. Both ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. Many people who live in Mecca, Calif.

Many people who live in Mecca, Calif., have been mourning this year for a beloved Roman Catholic priest, Father Francisco Valdovinos. He died January from COVID-19. The father had preached at the ...