The U.S. Forest Service is seeking comments about a proposed project toestablish and maintain community defense fuel breaks across the SanBernardino National Forest. The proposed project is still in the planning stages. While the SBNFteam is considering treatment of 25,000 acres, where and how will bedecided later. The entire SBNF encompasses slightly more than 812,000…
Last month, Peter Aldana, Riverside County’s Assessor-CountyClerk-Recorder, announced that the County’s total real estate assessmentvaluation has exceeded $430 billion for the first time. The 2024assessment of $433 billion is $29 billion (7.1%) more than the 2023total. “This year’s Assessment Roll not only demonstrates the dynamic nature ofour real estate market but also the substantial growth…
The Nixon Fire, the latest Riverside County Fire, was located inAguanga. It started on July 29 and was fully contained 10 days later, onAug. 7. While burning more than 5,200 acres, twenty-three structureswere destroyed and three more damaged. During the first days of the fire, evacuation notices were issued, andthe County Emergency Management Department had…
Last week, End Citizens United, a pro-active group in favor ofoverturning the Supreme Court decision in “Citizens United’ and favoringDemocratic candidates, filed a formal complaint with the Office ofCongressional Ethics over Rep. Ken Calvert’s disclosures regardingrental properties and potential conflicts with congressional earmarks. In the complaint, Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United,requested an investigation…
Last week, Insurance Commissioner Richardo Lara released his plan toexpand homeowner fire insurance to areas threatened by high or very highrisk of wildfires. “Californians in every corner of our state are frustrated with outdatedregulations and desperate for change,” said Lara in his June 12statement. “Whether you live in the Sierra or the foothills, along thecoast…
Several areas within Riverside County have been closed to public accessbecause of high potential fire danger. This is one of several steps theRiverside County Fire Department is taking to reduce wildfire threatsand prepare residents in case of an emergency, even earthquakes orfloods. At its May 21 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors approved CountyFire Chief…
At its May 21 meeting and again at the June 4 meeting, the County Boardof Supervisors will approve two ordinances raising their salaries andthose of the County’s other elected officials, e.g., the Sheriff and theCounty Auditor. “For most of these elected officials, these ordinances were lastaddressed in 2014,” County Executive Officer, Jeff Van Wagenen, wrote…
Thursday, May 9, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)unanimously approved a change in how large investor-owned utilities maybill for electricity in California. In late 2025, electric bills will be the total of a fixed or flat rateand a usage charge. Current bills are based on usage alone. The changeintroduces the separation of the electric bill…
At the end of April, the American Lung Association (ALA) released itslatest air quality report, “State of the Air 2024.” The results analyzedata through 2022. “We have seen impressive progress in cleaning up air pollution over thelast 25 years, thanks in large part to the Clean Air Act. However, whenwe started this report, our team…
At its Dec. 12, 2023, meeting, the county board of supervisors asked thechief executive and Cal Fire to develop a strategy to alleviate theshortage of firefighter II/paramedics vacancies in the Riverside CountyFire Department (RCFD). This was approved without any discussion and the board expected a reportwith recommendations for a solution to be given to its…
