A steady diet of lizards may explain why the Southern Pacific rattlesnake species in this area has such a highly toxic venom, said a local expert. Dr. William Hayes, professor of biology at Loma Linda University, said research in the San Jacinto, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains show that the snake’s venom is unusually…

For 22 years George Companiott has commuted from the Hill to teach in Hemet. Now, the longtime Idyllwild resident won’t face that challenge. He commutes six miles to classroom 20 at Idyllwild Middle School where he teaches social studies to sixth through eighth grades and language arts to eighth graders. And he is already literally…

The Common Core standards will be the subject of a forum on Nov. 4. Hemet Unified School District began implementing the Common Core State Standards this year and will discuss and explain them to parents and the community next month. Since 2010, 45 states have adopted the same standards for English and math. These standards…