Final decision awaits CPUC decision The Riverside County Board of Supervisors narrowly approved moving forward with the creation of Community Choice Aggregation, which would have the county provide electricity. County residents should not expect to hear anything about its implementation until late summer. The vote was 3-2, with supervisors Kevin Jeffries (1st District) and Chuck…
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors only approved the final fiscal year 2017-18 budget in late September. Days later, on Sept. 30, the first quarter ended. Now, six weeks into the second quarter of the fiscal year, County Executive Officer George Johnson, County Finance Officer Don Kent and the whole board are already worried about…
Now through Dec. 1, high school seniors with a passion for science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) can apply for Edison International’s $1.2 million scholarship program that awards $40,000 — paid over four years — to each of as many as 30 students seeking to make a difference in the world. In 2017, four Riverside…
By Paul Netter Southern California Edison There were eight home-cooking fires in Orange County last Thanksgiving. That’s eight more than necessary. Unfortunately, it fits a national trend that typically brings nearly four times as many reported home-cooking fires on Thanksgiving than a typical day, according to the National Fire Protection Association, and unattended stovetop cooking…
James Elia of El Cajon is a Democrat running for California’s 71st Assembly seat. Republican incumbent Randy Voepel of Santee is just finishing his first term. Elia was in Idyllwild last Thursday night to introduce himself to Riverside County voters at an Idyllwild Indivisible meeting at Town Hall. About 90 percent of the district is…
The House of Representatives passed “The Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017” on Nov. 1. The legislation (H.R. 2936) has moved to the Senate for review. While it addresses many national forest management issues, such as environmental reviews and litigation, funding for fighting wildfires is the issue, which affects Hill communities. After its passage, Rep….
The state, as well as Riverside County, is reviewing and developing ordinances and regulations for California’s future cannabis industry. Last month, the State Water Resources Control Board approved a set of policies to protect stream flow and water quality in areas where cannabis will be cultivated. Commercial cannabis cultivation is expected to grow significantly in…
There is little doubt about the devastation caused by the Santa Rosa fires in Northern California last month (see “Former FSC president loses home in Santa Rosa fires” in the Nov. 9 issue of the Town Crier). The Tubbs Fire, one of several in Napa and Sonoma counties, burned through Santa Rosa with estimated damage…
Last week, local Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-Cal 36) and New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker introduced into both houses of the U.S. Congress the Environmental Justice Act of 2017. The bill’s purpose is to “eliminate environmental injustice … [by] requir[ing] federal agencies to address environmental justice through agency actions and permitting decisions, and strengthens legal…
The June 2018 primary is about eight months from now and the November general election is only a year in the future. Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz continues to solicit and receive substantial campaign contributions. Through the end of September, Ruiz had nearly $1.8 million in available cash. At this point two years ago, Ruiz had…
