On Jan. 27, the California Energy Commission adopted first-in-the-nation energy standards for the next generation of light bulbs. The standards cover screw-in LED light bulbs a consumer would purchase for almost any household use. They also cover more specialized bulbs, called small-diameter directional lamps, used in commercial applications, such as track lighting. The standards focus…
For the first time in this century, Hill voters will cast a November vote — rather thank spring — for the person to represent them as county supervisor for the next four years. In 2016, incumbent Supv. Chuck Washington has two challengers — Randon Lane and Shellie Milne. The June 7 primary will send the…
With 10 months until the November election, Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz already has $1.5 million in cash. Two years ago, in anticipation of his challenge from former Assemblyman Brian Nestande, Ruiz had $1.2 million in cash. By the election, he had collected more than $3.4 million and spent about $3.1 million for his re-election. During…
Riverside County Executive Officer Jay Orr presented his dismal projections and tough budget recommendations for fiscal year 2016-17, which begins July 1, to the Board of Supervisors last week. Besides stressing the county’s expected costs will be significantly greater than its revenues, Orr urged the board to maintain the county’s reserve levels at a minimum…
In January, the state Assembly passed a bill requiring employers to pay double time or twice the regular rate of pay for having someone work on Thanksgiving. Assembly Bill 67 is now before the state Senate. The double time is limited to employees of large retail or grocery stores. The legislation was approved on a…
Despite County Executive Jay Orr’s optimistic view that significant savings can be found in the county’s public safety budgets, Sheriff Stan Sniff is considerably less confident. Orr is focusing on the public safety budgets, which have grown in the past several years, while the other departments have taken cuts of nearly 45 percent or more…
On Friday, Jan. 22, Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang of the Sacramento Superior Court granted the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association’s motion to notice a class of litigants pursuing the overturn of the state’s SRA Fire Fee. “We now have the judge’s approval of the Class Notice’s contents and the ways it will be publicized,” HJTA wrote…
The Board of Supervisors has approved a revised ordinance regulating short-term rentals in Riverside County. The board’s vote was 4-1, with Supv. Kevin Jeffries (1st District) opposing. Supervisors Chuck Washington (3rd District) and John Benoit (4th District) had originally brought the ordinance forward in November. But after two sessions discussing it, Benoit said they would…
The Riverside County Registrar of Voters is seeking people interested in becoming members of the local Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee. On Jan. 28, the Riverside County Registrar of Voters will hold a VAAC meeting for the senior community and those with disabilities in the county. The committee provides a forum for the community to advise,…
As directed in Gov. Edmund Brown Jr.’s November executive order, the State Water Resources Control Board has drafted a revised set of emergency regulations to create water savings during the drought. SWRCB issued its initial regulations in March 2015, but in November, when Brown issued a new executive order, he extended the urban water use…
