Regional News

Supervisors approve wellness guest ranch in Garner Valley

At its March 5 session, the Riverside County Board of Supervisorsunanimously approved a zoning change and conditional use permit (CUP)for developing a wellness ranch on a 36-acre parcel on Apple Canyon Roadwithin the Riverside Extended Mountain Area Plan. In her presentation to the Board, Kathleen Mitchell, county projectplanner, described the project as “an eco-conscious guest…

Current county revenues growing, future growth slowing
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Current county revenues growing, future growth slowing

Riverside County CEO Jeff Van Wagenen delivered good news during hispresentation of the midyear review of Riverside County’s fiscal year(FY) 2023-24 budget last week. During his budget report at the Feb. 27 board of supervisors meeting, hereported that revenues for the current FY are expected to be about $60million greater than when the budget was…

Scams that start on social media
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Scams that start on social media

By Bridget SmallDivision of Consumer & Business Education Scammers are hiding out on social media, using ads and offers to market their scams, according to people’s reports to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a new Data Spotlight (www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/data-spotlight/2020/10/scams-starting-social-media-proliferate-early-2020). In the first six months of 2020, people reported losing a record high of almost $117…

Governor signs statewide COVID-19 tenant and landlord protection legislation

By the Office of Gov. Gavin NewsomContributed Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he has signed legislation to protect millions of tenants from eviction and property owners from foreclosure due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. These protections apply to tenants who declare an inability to pay all or part of the rent due to a…

Hang up on business impostor scams

Hang up on business impostor scams

By Jabari Cook Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC  Scammers love to use the same old tricks in new ways. One of their favorites is to pose as a business or government official to pressure you into sending them money or personal information. Now, some scammers are pretending to be popular online shopping websites, phishing…

Being ready — wildfire preparedness

Being ready — wildfire preparedness

By Cal Fire Contributed Being ready for wildfire starts with maintaining an adequate defensible space and by hardening your home by using fire-resistant building materials. Defensible space is the buffer you create by removing dead plants, grass and weeds. This buffer helps to keep the fire away from your home. Hardening your home means using construction…

Interview with Gold Star Mother Cyndy Jones

By Nicole ReisbergContributed “Gold Star” denotes the immediate family members of a service member who died in armed conflict. The term was coined by President Wilson in 1918 following World War I. It’s a title that no one would ever wish for. We’ve been lucky enough to get to know a very special Gold Star…

Vote by mail in May 12 special election

By California Secretary of StateContributed   Tuesday, May 12, 2020 is the Special General Election to fill the vacancy of the State Senate district seat that was left by State Sen. Jeff Stone who resigned to become the Western Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor.  To ensure the safety of all voters and elections…

The bottom-line of fake check scams
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The bottom-line of fake check scams

By Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist, FTC If someone you don’t know sends you a check and asks for money back, that’s a scam. Fake checks (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams) drive many types of scams — like those involving phony job and income opportunities, online classified ad sales and others. In a fake check scam, a person you…

Call for HUSD oversight committee members

The Hemet Unified School District (HUSD) is looking for members to serve on the Measure X Citizen’s Oversight Committee. The measure, a $150 Million General Obligation Bond for HUSD, was passed by voters in November 2018. “The first series of Measure X Bonds (Series A) of $27,500,000 was issued Feb. 13, 2019,” according to the…