On Sept. 27, 2023, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and ManagementCommission (WFMMC) released its 340-page report. It included 148recommendations to the Biden Administration as well Congress and state,local and tribal governments. On March 12, 2024, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and NaturalResources held a hearing with members of the Administration and of thecommittee. Sen. Joe…
Thursday, March 28, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)issued a proposed decision on how large, investor-owned utilities maycharge for electricity in California. In the future, the utility bills will include two charges. One will be aflat rate for the cost of the electric grid, for example, building andmaintaining the industry’s infrastructure, such as power lines….
By JP Crumrine Correspondent Another rainstorm approached Southern California Friday and over the Easter weekend. While most of the previous storms have dropped some rain on the San Jacinto Mountains, the 2024 winter has not been as wet as a year ago. But this storm could bring 2 to 2.5 inches of rain by Easter…
The March 30 meeting of the Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board ofDirectors included the swearing in of Mitch Davis to the fill a seatthat has been vacant for the last year. This also was the first meeting at which interim General Manager (GM)Curt Sauer was able to give a report of his management style in…
State of the County addresses were annual events in Riverside untilCOVID. Supervisor V. Manuel Perez decided to create a State of the 4thDistrict event this year to bring together people he calls partners.Idyllwild was joined to the 4th District, and Perez, in 2021. Every 10years, the county adjusts these boundaries. The event, Monday, March 18, occupied…
When Gov. Gavin Newsom released his proposed $300 billion fiscal year(FY) 2024-25 budget in Jan. , he acknowledged that there would likely bea deficit. Twice since then the Legislative Analysts’ Office (LAO) has advised theLegislature of the deficit potential and the likelihood of it increasingby May. On March 14, the state’s Senate Democrats agreed with…
Elections, including referenda on propositions and constitutionalamendments, can be won overwhelmingly or they can be close and undecidedfor several weeks. Surprisingly, Proposition 1, for mental health services on the March 5ballot, has taken three weeks to reach a consensus on its finaldisposition. As of Saturday morning, March 23, “Yes” is leading by28,000 votes, less than…
Financial questions, plans and a notable local official were the majortopics of discussion during the March 21 meeting of the Fern ValleyWater District (FVWD) Board of Directors. Idyllwild Fire Chief Mark LaMont visited the FVWD meeting to leave acopy of the latest International Organization for Standardization (ISO)report for the fire district. He was both proud…
At its Feb.13 meeting, the Hemet Unified School District (HUSD) Board ofTrustees approved two resolutions to reduce staffing levels in the nextschool year although enrollment is expected to increase slightly. The proposals would have affected 37 classified positions. Eventually,42 district employees were given notice of potential action. Many of thepositions were initially funded with one-time…
