Regional News

The U.S. Forest Service firefighting air tanker fleet has been slowly dwindling for years. Last month, Sen. John McCain, Arizona, with support from California’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Florida’s Sen. Bill Nelson introduced a bill (S 3441) to direct the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force to transfer 14 excess C-27J Spartan…

The Board of Supervisors received a report on the status of jails, prisoners and realignment of functions between the state and county since implementation of A.B. 109 in October 2011. The immediate result was jail overcrowding and the release of more than 3,000 inmates. The county’s sheriff and the probation departments analyzed these results and suggested several options, which should have significant positive results.

There are 11 statewide ballot propositions on the November ballot. They propose both statutes and amendments to the state constitution and continue the right, begun in 1911, for citizens to pass laws on an equal footing with the legislature. But “confusing” is a word many voters apply to the wording of California ballot initiatives. Voters…

As of Friday, June 29, and as the seasonal fire danger rises, forest officials are increasing fire use restrictions in the San Bernardino National Forest. This past winter the forest experienced less than average winter snow and rainfall, and the seasonal outlook expects a warmer and drier summer this year with below average summer “monsoonal”…

The trustees of Hemet Unified School District are soliciting input to respond to the question: What personal and professional qualities for an incoming superintendent will be a match for the Hemet Unified School District? Peggy Lynch and Michael Escalante of Leadership Associates were selected to advise the board in this important process. They will be…

The Board of Supervisors appointed a subcommittee composed of supervisors Jeff Stone (3rd District) and Bob Buster (1st District) to review the ideas for a proposed vacation home rental ordinance. The ordinance under consideration would apply to and regulate vacation homes being rented out by individual owners, not by management companies that are already county regulated.

On Friday, June 22, the Riverside County Registrar of Voters certified the totals from the June 5 primary election. The certification deadline is Wednesday, June 27. Once again, Hill voter turnout for the June 5 primary exceeded both the statewide and countywide voter participation. The Pine Cove turnout, poll voters and vote-by-mail ballots, was 44.5…

As 5 p.m., Monday, nearly 5.3 million ballots had been cast in the June 5 Primary election, about 400,000 remain to be counted, of which about 7,000 are in Riverside County. Statewide turnout was 30.8 percent. Riverside County’s turnout was less, 27.3 percent. On the Hill, based just on ballots counted on June 5 and…