John Benoit, Riverside County supervisor and chair of the board, died yesterday from pancreatic cancer. He “passed away peacefully this evening at his home in Bermuda Dunes,” according to the Riverside County press release. Benoit represented the 4th District, which is the desert cities and east to the Colorado River. Prior to his appointment to…

Directors of Pine Cove Water District unanimously approved a rate increase effective, April 1. The District’s advanced minimum rate will increase $4 to a total of $57 per billing period and the water usage rates will increase 20 percent. Users will see the new minimum rate on their April bills later this month. PCWD issues…