Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order affecting voting regulations throughout the country. The first part will require documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship on its voter registration form issued by the Election Assistance Commission. This is intended to address the President’s long-standing opinion that many noncitizens are casting ballots in U.S. elections….
Last week, Cal Fire released the final set of its “Fire Hazard Severity Maps.” These maps depict the three fire hazard zones – Very High, High, and Moderate – for the eight Southern California counties, including Riverside. Idyllwild, Pine Cove, and Mountain Center are considered to be in a “Very High” Fire Hazard Severity Zone….
The release of Cal Fire’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps is a positive step, but not a specific benefit to the local fire departments, according to Idyllwild Fire Chief Mark LaMont. The maps have value for fire departments, insurers, and property owners, but are not sufficient to address the issues of preventing the devastation from…
The March 26 meeting of the Fern Valley Water District Board of Directors was quick and no major issues were apparent. The board met with four directors since former director Mike LaFata resigned after the February meeting. If interested in joining the Board, a letter of interest and resume should be submitted to the FVWD…
Last month, while the embers of the Palisades, Eaton and the other Los Angeles County wildfires were cooling, Senate President proTempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) and a bipartisan coalition introduced the “Fight for Firefighters Act.” This bill, Senate Bill 581, would convert all of Cal Fire’s seasonal firefighters to full-time staff. It is estimated that…
On Jan. 7, former President Joe Biden established two new national monuments in California, using his authority under the Antiquities Act. The Chuckwalla National Monument is in Riverside County just south of the Joshua Tree National Park. The Sáttítla Highlands National Monument is in northern California near the border with Oregon. On Friday, March 14,…
At its Wednesday, March 19 meeting, the Riverside County Planning Commission heard a request to make a change in the County’s General Plan Foundation Component. The site is between Marion View and Highway 243, which it abuts. It is at the end of Saddle Dr. and the terminus of both Linger Lane and Crestview Dr….
More snow last week, a foot or more in most locations. The National Weather Service was forecasting up to two feet near the top of Mt. San Jacinto. According to the NWS, the southern California Sierra mountains’ snowpack is about 84% of normal for the middle of March. Since the beginning of the month the…
On Friday, March 14 State Insurance Commission Ricardo Lara provisionally approved several emergency rate requests sought by State Farm Insurance. These interim increases must be justified and approved at a public hearing on April 8. The pending provisional rate increases are 21.8 % for non-tenant homeowners, 15 % for tenants (renters), 15 % for tenants…
Editor’s note: In early February, State Farm Insurance requested a significant emergency increase for its fire insurance policies. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara did not immediately approve the request. He scheduled a meeting on Feb. 26 to discuss the request and to learn more about State Farm’s financial situation. This a summary of that discussion…
