The lampooned, ridiculed and feared water tax has returned from the dead-letter box. During the winter, the state Legislature held hearings on Senate Bill 623, which proposed a tax on local water bills to provide funds to disadvantaged communities that do not have access to safe drinking water. Not only did the Association of California…
Shifting to prevention issues and costs In July, state legislative leaders created a special committee, the Wildfire Preparedness and Response Conference Committee, to study and consider legislation “to strengthen disaster preparedness and … appropriate policies to respond to the increasing fire danger.” Initially, the committee focused on Senate Bill 901, which Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa,…
Judges will assess need to stay jailed The California Legislature has passed a revolutionary pretrial detention system which Gov. Jerry Brown signed Tuesday, Aug. 28. After Oct. 1, 2019, bail in the future will no longer be the basis for releasing an accused person from jail pending the next court action. Instead, county superior courts…
Since late Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 14, a series of tremors have occurred in the Aguanga area. The largest was recorded at magnitude 4.4 at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17. Nine were reported through 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15. Another five quakes, including two magnitude 3.3, were recorded, including two on Monday morning, Aug. 20….
The assailant in the Tuesday night stabbing has been arrested. After an extensive investigation, the Riverside Sheriff’s Hemet Station team arrested him Thursday evening. More information will be forthcoming Friday. Tuesday night, a man was stabbed near Highway 243 in the center of Idyllwild. Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident. The victim was…
By Betsy Schwartz Vice President, Public Education and Strategic Initiatives National Council for Behavioral Health As wildfires burn throughout California — making this the worst fire season in years — firefighters on the frontlines are working around the clock to beat back racing infernos. It’s difficult for most of us to imagine the destruction they…
If campaign donations reflect votes, the Democratic challenger, Joy Silver, has more than incumbent Republican state Sen. Jeff Stone. However, the Nov. 6 election is still more than two months away. Not only is Stone the incumbent, but he has represented much of the district as a Riverside County supervisor, giving him a substantial lead…
Lower increase than past years In July, Covered California announced a modest rate change for 2019, and said many enrollees will be able to mitigate the impact if they shop and switch to the lowest-cost plan in the same metal tier. The exchange also described how the recent federal decision to eliminate the penalty for…
Effective Wednesday, Aug. 1, Shawn C. Newman is the new Cal Fire Riverside Unit and Riverside County Fire Department fire chief. Newman began his career with Cal Fire in 1989, as a seasonal firefighter in the San Bernardino Unit and in 1994, promoted to firefighter II in the Riverside Unit, working in West Riverside. In…
WNKI 578 – 1610 AM, is broadcasting 24/7 from Idyllwild Fire and continues to update our community with reports on the Cranston Fire. Roland Gaebert and Bill Tell placed the newly acquired a 10-watt transmitter into service serving greater Idyllwild and Mountain Center areas, informing local populations with evacuation orders, routes, closures and fire updates….
