Gov. Edmund Brown last Friday signed legislation sponsored by a state senate Republican to increase penalties for committing arson in California. Assembly Bill 930 extends the current sunset provisions until January 2019. They expired on Jan. 1, 2014. It will also increase the value of property damage from $6.5 million to $7 million. Re-instating the…

Highway 74 southbound at Strawberry Creek Bridge has been backed up since 1:52 p.m. due to a big rig blocking the lane.

The County Service Area 36 Advisory Committee learned more about the pickleball courts, the Idyllwild Community Center board’s recreation contract with the county and street lights at last Thursday’s meeting. Also, two new members, Ten Janka and Mark Garrett (both are profiled separately in this edition), were seated. Washington’s new Chief of Staff Jeff Comerchero…

Water supply for the Pine Cove Water District is satisfactory and unthreatened, according to General Manager Jerry Holldber, who gave his annual water report at the board meeting Wednesday, June 8. “We’ll stay in Stage 2 [emergency water restrictions] but still apply Stage 1 rates to customers,” he announced. “Moisture is almost normal … and…

California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Darren Meyer reported two crashes on Hill roads over the last week. At about 1:50 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, a 2015 white Chevy Tahoe was discovered by Cal Fire responders over the side on Highway 74 just east of mile marker 54.35. The driver was no longer with the…