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 Marian 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…
On Wednesday, March 12, Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, took major steps to deregulate environmental protection rules. In 31 separate actions, Zeldin announced proposed changes or modifications to how EPA will address future major environmental issues such as coal plants, electric vehicles and clean water. “Today is the greatest day of deregulation…
At its Wednesday, March 19 meeting, the Riverside County Planning Commission will consider a rezoning request of a five-acre parcel in Idyllwild. This is located south of Marian View Drive, north of Saunders Meadow Road, east of Highway 243, and west of Crestview Drive. The applicant proposes to change the current designation from Rural: Rural…
While drought conditions still overlay most of Riverside County, the past four weeks have taken a toll on the dry weather. This weekend more than a foot of snow fell on the Hill and some more is expected this week. This is in contrast with the warm weather at the end of February, when Idyllwild…
On March 1, President Donald Trump signed two more Executive Orders. One is intended to increase timber production on the forested lands of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Its purposes are to increase timber production and to improve land management. The EO specifies a schedule of actions, with which both…
