The elusive flying squirrel is the target of the San Diego Natural History Museum and the museum is recruiting “citizen scientists” in its search for the elusive squirrel on the Hill. For several years, SDNHM has worked with residents in the San Bernardino Mountains to capture photos and videos of the nocturnal creature. Now the…

Trial preparations for Robert Pape and Cristin Smith, charged with the 2006 Pinyon murders of Jon Hayward, Vicki Friedli and Vicki’s daughter Becky, began last week. One of the first matters addressed was Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz’s decision to conduct one trial with two juries — one for each defendant. But last…

Editor’s note: Four directors for the Pine Cove Water District are on the August mail-in ballot. The terms for three — Board President Robert Hewitt, Joel Palmer and Lou Padula — expire in December. They and challenger Jeffery Kleefisch are on the ballot for four-year terms. The fourth director, Vicki Jakubac, replaced Tim Lange, who…