Former Riverside County Registrar of Voters (ROV) Rebecca Spencer resigned Sept. 29 after being placed on paid administrative leave from her position at the Sept. 12 board of supervisors’ meeting. In the announcement of Spencer’s resignation, the county said, it had “… entered into a settlement agreement whereby the parties mutually agree that this action…
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several bills into law. Consumers, workers and voters are the beneficiaries of Newsom’s and the Legislature’s actions. Consumers First among these new laws is Senate Bill (SB) 478, which takes effect July 1, 2024. This legislation makes it an unlawful business practice to advertise, display or offer a price…
On Sept. 27, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission released its 340-page report. It included 148 recommendations to the administration as well Congress and state, local and tribal governments. Background The commission was authorized as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It directed the secretaries of Agriculture, Interior and Homeland Security to establish…
An Idyllwild man has been charged with five counts of sexual assault against a female under age 14 that allegedly occurred on or about July 20, 2015. The Riverside Police Department arrested Ralph Ted Jongewaard, 56, at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, on Village Center Drive. He was booked at 4:12 p.m. that day in…
At the Sept. 12 Riverside County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer was placed on paid administrative leave from her position. The supervisors met in closed session for a “Public Employee Performance Evaluation/Title: Registrar of Voters.” “The County of Riverside accepted Rebecca Spencer’s resignation from her position as the Registrar of Voters…
At 11:57 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, Cabazon Sheriff’s Station deputies were dispatched to a rescue call at Mt. San Jacinto Park in the wilderness, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Deirdre Vickers. “The reporting party advised a subject was located not breathing, and medical aid was being provided. “Rescue 9 attempted to reach the location…
FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall. The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at about 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 on the West Coast. The WEA portion of…
California has taken extensive steps to combat organized retail theft. This is a more serious and costly crime than shoplifting or employee theft. Two years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his Real Public Safety Plan, which included $255 million in grants to local law enforcement to combat the growing specter of organized retail theft (ORT)….
