Education and healthcare top priorities The California Legislature approved a $215 billion budget for fiscal year 2019-20, which begins July 1. Educational spending dominates the budget, but Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders agreed on several new programs, including health insurance for the poor, immigrants and many non-citizens. Families of four who earn as much…
At its June 18 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a tentative fiscal year 2019-20 budget. This included five adjustments that the County Executive Office must incorporate into the final budget proposal, which was on the June 25 agenda for approval. The entire board heard the public opposition to a proposed reduction in…
On May 30, representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D., D-CA, and Phil Roe, M.D., R-TN, introduced H.R. 2815, the “Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act.” This bipartisan legislation is intended to improve rural communities’ access to physicians. The bill reauthorizes and expands the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program to address the physician…
By Jack Clark Co-publisher and General Counsel UPDATE 11:28 a.m. Wednesday, June 19: The U.S. Attorney’s public information office responded to the Town Crier that it plans to file the papers Judge Wright ordered either today or tomorrow. It did not provide a response as to why it did not file the papers before the…
Caltrans and other public officials met with the Idyllwild community Thursday night, June 13. Although repair of Highway 74 will continue for months, road officials are hoping that it can be opened 24 hours a day with flagging control by Labor Day. Until then, at the suggestion of 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington,…
Anza Municipal Advisory Council needs members. Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington is seeking applicants to serve on the council, which makes recommendations on community issues in the Anza area. Council members are appointed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and serve in an advisory capacity. The council discusses and provides recommendations on…
By Paul Netter Energized by Edison Writer How likely is it — three-and-a-half months apart — for the very same customers at nearly the very same time of day to experience power outages caused by adrift metallic balloons? As it turns out, very likely for nearly 4,000 Southern California Edison customers in Santa Monica, first…
The Catastrophic Wildfire Cost and Recovery Commission issued a draft report last week. The report and commission were authorized and established in September 2018, when the state Legislature passed Senate Bill 901 and Gov. Jerry Brown signed it. The commission has focused on three main issues created from the recent massive state conflagrations. And utilities…
Opposition to bill curbing personal exemptions mischaracterized In 2015, the California Legislature passed and then Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill revoking a parent’s ability to exempt their children from the measles vaccine. Beginning in 2016, a vaccine exemption required a doctor’s justification. This year, with measles spreading rapidly again, Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, introduced…
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the severe winter storm in Riverside County that occurred Feb. 13 to 15, SBA Acting Administrator Christopher M. Pilkerton said. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a request received from…
