Residents of California’s 36th Congressional District who lost homes or businesses in the recent wildfires may be eligible for federal assistance. The office of Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Desert) is available to assist those affected by damage to homes or businesses with claims to the Small Business Administration. Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has…
The San Bernardino National Forest is offering a fee-free day on Saturday, Sept. 28, in conjunction with the 20th-annual National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. No Adventure Pass is required for using standard amenity fee sites that day, whose focus is to instill a sense of shared stewardship…
The Southern California Air Quality Management District offers a leaf blower exchange program for professional landscapers and gardeners within a four-county area, including Riverside County. The program allows them to trade in an old leaf blower for a new, low-emission and low-noise model at a 50-percent discount. For more information, sign up for an email…
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $21,931,657 in grant awards to 129 California health centers operating 1,221 sites to enroll the uninsured in new health coverage options the Affordable Care Act made available. In California, health centers served 3,261,720 patients last year, 42 percent of whom were uninsured. With these funds, the awardees…
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey got underway in Riverside County on Aug. 30. The program monitors the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population. Public health officials, legislators and physicians use the information to develop effective health policies and programs. Also, national references are produced and standardized growth charts are created for…
Dr. Ron Chapman, state health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health, recently urged Californians to get immunized from influenza to prevent health problems. “Thousands of serious illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths can be prevented if Californians receive a flu vaccine as soon as possible,” Chapman said. “We can’t predict exactly when flu…
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors adopted a $4.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2013-14, which began July 1. The new budget is about $278 million less than the 2012-13 level. However, the board’s discretion applies to only $630 million. This year, County Executive Jay Orr projects discretionary county revenue will grow by $19 million…
Last week, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office announced the launch of its new, revamped website at www.rivcoda.org. The re-design has been in the works for more than a year. “A website can be one of the best ways for this office to communicate with the public,” said District Attorney Paul Zellerbach in a press…
Historians, researchers, and people exploring genealogy will have an new window to the past thanks to a new law Secretary of State Debra Bowen sponsored and the governor approved last Friday. California voter rolls will be available to the public after 100 years. Personal identifiers, such as Social Security and drivers license numbers, were not…
The federal 2013-14 fiscal year begins Oct. 1, about four weeks from now, and the U.S. Congress has yet to enact an appropriations bill to fund the U.S. Forest Service operations or other federal agencies. However, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have reported bills. As expected, the House and Senate strategies differ. The House…
