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)….
At the Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board of Directors meeting Wednesday, Sept. 20, a ratepayer complained about the new, higher rates approved in June, and appearing since July on IWD bills. This ratepayer is a single senior citizen “doing one load of laundry a week” and engaging in “no outside irrigation.” Her combined sewer and…
The Sept. 22 meeting of the Fern Valley Water District’s (FVWD) Board of Directors was brief with no specific actions on the agenda. Directors reviewed the financial status and discussed water meter problems. Expenses were high in August. But that was due to the first payment to El-Co of $245,000 for the pipeline project in…
A week after the Legislature failed to find a solution or compromise on the recent deterioration of California’s home insurance market, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Insurance Commissioner Richardo Lara stepped up to the microphones and made dramatic announcements regarding this simmering problem. In recent months, several very important insurance companies have either stopped writing new…
Owners of properties who incurred damage of $10,000 or more from Hurricane Hilary can file a claim with Riverside County for disaster property tax relief. The disaster relief covers taxable property such as residences, commercial buildings, boats, aircraft and business personal property that is locally assessed. When major calamities such as fires or floods damage…
As of Monday, Sept. 25, four free COVID-19 test kits may be ordered per household through COVIDtests.gov. The tests will detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants and are intended for use through the end of 2023. The kits will include instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates. Many kits have had their expiration dates…
By David Jerome Correspondent Hemet Unified School District (HUSD) held its board meeting this month at Idyllwild School Tuesday, Sept. 12. The board visits Idyllwild usually once a year. The six members of the board and Superintendent Dr Christi Barrett were joined by five other district employees and an audio-visual team, and over 40 members…
By JP Crumrine Correspondent Riverside County Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer has been placed on paid administrative leave from her position. At the Tuesday, Sept. 12 board meeting, the supervisors met in closed session for a “Public Employee Performance Evaluation/Title: Registrar of Voters.” On Wednesday, Spencer’s administrative leave was revealed in a story from the…
Riverside County Waste is holding its bi-annual, free Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the County Road Yard, 25780 Johnson Road, next to the Idyllwild Fire Station, for residents (not businesses) only. These are the guidelines for disposing HHW at the site: • It is illegal…
