At its final meeting Friday, Feb. 6, the Parks Forward Commission will review its final report and recommendations for the future management of the state park system. Collectively, the numerous recommendations will result in a fundamental transformation of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The commission recognizes that change requires planning and needs time;…
Riverside County public health officials have planned a countywide series of community forums to hear about residents’ health-related concerns and create a plan to address them. The meetings will begin this month in Perris and be held into April at locations from Temecula to Blythe. While no meeting has yet been scheduled on the Hill,…
State Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Riverside County) used the historic occasion of the introduction of his first bill as a senator to help fulfill promises made to the people of his district two decades ago during construction of Diamond Valley Lake. Last week, Stone introduced Senate Bill 143, which would allow body contact with the water…
An unencrypted laptop computer reported missing from Riverside County Regional Medical Center in December might have contained the personal information of patients who received ophthalmology and dermatology services at the hospital between Jan. 26, 2012, and Nov. 26, 2014. RCRMC Chief Compliance Officer Jan Remm said the hospital immediately notified law enforcement and began a…
“The governor’s budgeting philosophy continues to be a prudent one for the most part,” is how the California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office described Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2015-16 budget proposal. Although the LAO review noted some differences with the governor, such as the possibility that revenues this year would exceed the administration’s estimates, in general, the LAO…
Soboba Casino gave away a new 2015 BMW 320i to lucky winner Dan Stegall of Mentone on Dec. 28. A valued patron for many years, according to Dan, this was the first big win for the local player. Dan drove home in his new 2015 BMW 320i saying, “I was in a state of shock…
The 2015 California State Parks has brought back the popular “Golden Poppy.” For $125, the Golden Poppy grants vehicle entrance to 112 state parks. The Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass is not valid at the high-demand Southern California beach parks. The annual park pass program consists of many different passes with a variety of…
The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at most of its day-use recreation sites five times in 2015. The next fee-free day is Monday, Feb. 16, in honor of Presidents Day. “Our fee-free days touch on every season and serve as an enticement to new and repeat visitors to come out and enjoy their national…
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is raising awareness about wireless emergency alerts to the public as well as to local public safety agencies with a 20-minute video called “Why Not WEA?” The objective of this short video (www.calalerts.org/videos.html) is to share the benefits of these alerts, dispel any myths associated with them and…
Last week, Riverside County public health officials issued a measles advisory, and earlier Wednesday, Jan. 21, California health officials held a teleconference to discuss the current measles outbreak through the state. Officials advised people who have not had the measles vaccine, particularly children under a year, to avoid locations such as Disneyland. Nearly 48 of…
