Flu deaths double state-wide in a week
During the week ending Jan. 18, 50 more people under age 65 died from influenza, for a total of 95 confirmed flu deaths this flu season, including three children …
Regional News
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Jeff Stone new chair of county supervisors
Two weeks ago, 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone was chosen chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors for 2014. He succeeds Supervisor John Benoit (4th District) as chair and this will be his second term as chair. He also served as chair in 2009. The new vice chair is 5th District Supervisor Marion Ashley….
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Public has chance to object to forest plan
U.S. Forest Service officials have released Draft Records of Decision for a proposed amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California national forests (Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino). A legal notice published in each National Forest’s newspaper of record begins a 60-day public objection period. Objections will be accepted from…
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Flu death rate increases rapidly; officials urge vaccination
The 2013-14 flu season continues to worsen. Last week, Riverside County reported two more deaths related to influenza. A man, 63, and a girl, 9, died after being hospitalized, according to Barbara Cole, director of disease control for the Riverside County Department of Public Health. The man died last week and tested positive for the…
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EPA proposes new standards for woodstoves
Earlier this month, the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to regulate new wood burning stoves in the future. EPA has regulated residential wood heaters since 1988. The proposed updates would strengthen the emissions standards for new woodstoves, while establishing federal air standards for other new wood heaters, including outdoor and indoor wood-fired boilers (also…
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Flu deaths above normal
County, state and federal health officials intensified their admonishments to the public to obtain flu vaccines. State officials confirmed seven deaths already this season, as cases of influenza are well ahead of normal. “For this time of year, seasonal influenza activity continues to rise in California. This week it reached the level of activity considered…
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Stone is new chair of board
Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone was chosen as the new chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors this week. At its first meeting of 2014 on Tuesday, the board unanimously elected Stone chair and Supervisor Marion Ashley (5th District) vice chair. “I consider it a tremendous honor,” Stone said to his colleagues after the…
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State majority favors legalized marijuana use
In recent years, voters in Colorado and Washington have approved legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana under state regulation. Coloradans may begin purchasing pot at stores in 2014. Unsurprisingly, the attitude of Californians toward legalizing marijuana also has evolved over the years. In a Field Poll released in December, nearly 55 percent of…
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State and county still growing, but slower
California grew by 332,000 people between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, to total more than 38.2 million, according to official population estimates the California Department of Finance released. The growth rate of 0.9 percent and the 332,000 numeric gain are the largest for California since the pre-recession year of 2003-04. Riverside County’s population…
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Assembly Democrats send budget ideas to governor
Nearly a month before Gov. Jerry Brown releases his budget for fiscal year 2014-15, which begins July 1, Assembly Democrats offered their “2014-15 Blueprint for a Responsible Budget.” “By following this budget blueprint we can ensure fiscal stability in California by establishing a real rainy-day fund and building the state’s budget reserve,” Speaker John Pérez…
