Saturday evening, Aug. 31, just prior to the end of the 2023-24legislative session, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation calling fora special legislative session to address concerns about the high priceof gasoline in California. Earlier in August, Newsom had offered a set of bills to address thisproblem, but no action was taken, which is the…
Student use of cellphones in K-12 schools has been criticized for years.Gov. Gavin Newsom has frequently challenged their use in schools,including signing legislation in 2019 that granted school districts theauthority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours. As schools were beginning the current new school year, Newsom wrote toState school districts and stressed,…
The official name for Proposition 35 is “Provides Permanent Funding forMedi-Cal Health Care Services.” California already has a “Managed Care Organization Provider” tax. Thisis imposed on the State’s health care plans, e.g., Aetna, KaiserPermanente, and others. It is generally based on the number of peoplewhom the plan covers, including those in Medi-Cal. The Legislature has…
The official name for Proposition 35 is “Restricts Spending ofPrescription Drug Revenues by Certain Health Care Providers.” Background Currently, Federal law requires drug makers to give price discounts tohospitals, clinics and other providers, who must meet certainrequirements. Among the beneficiaries are public or private nonprofitorganizations that focus on serving low-income individuals. In California, Medi-Cal pays…
The U.S. Forest Service is seeking comments about a proposed project toestablish and maintain community defense fuel breaks across the SanBernardino National Forest. The proposed project is still in the planning stages. While the SBNFteam is considering treatment of 25,000 acres, where and how will bedecided later. The entire SBNF encompasses slightly more than 812,000…
As summer ends, with a peak in COVID-19 cases this year, and as coolerweather approaches when people begin to congregate inside, the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services announced that the opportunityto order free COVID-19 tests through the U.S. Postal Service will returnat the end of September. Currently, this source of ordering is closed. U.S….
On Aug. 20, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Cal Fire announced the awardrecipients for the fiscal 23-24 Wildfire Prevention Grants. TheIdyllwild Fire Protection District was awarded a $940,000 grant lastweek. Wildfire Prevention Grant projects include hazardous fuels reduction inand near fire threatened communities to improve public health and safetywhile reducing greenhouse gas emissions. IFPD’s grant was…
At the Aug. 27 meeting of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors,John Hildebrand, Planning Director, presented the Department’s six-monthreport on the implementation of revised Ordinance 927.2, “RegulatingShort-Term Rentals”. This follows the Feb. 1 opening of the Tier 1 application process fornew STR certificates. The application period ended on May 1. The Reportalso described Code Enforcement’s…
Thursday afternoon, the Edna Fire broke out just south of Banning and north of Poppet Flats, near Mt. Edna Road and Highway 243, which was closed for several hours. The cause of the Fire is under investigation. Although several Facebook posts suggest a traffic collision may have been the cause. The Fire was reported about…
Editor’s Note: California will hold its 2024 Presidential Election onTuesday, November 5. Besides the races for President, the U.S. Senateand Congress, voters will have a choice between incumbent Greg Wallis(Republican) and Democrat Christy Holstege for California’s District 47Assembly seat. Although the election is still two and a half months in the future, theTown Crier wanted…
