Last week, four U.S. Senators asked the General Accounting Office to review the Forest Service’s efforts to develop an air tanker plan to replenish their air attack fleet. The senators’ questions came on the heels of a recent letter from CAL FIRE Director Ken Pimlott expressing his concerns about the strategy. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.,…
Layoffs will be needed to balance the Riverside County budget for fiscal year 2012-13, which starts July 1. Interim County Executive Larry Parish presented preliminary budget information to the board in two days of hearings last week. During the sessions, the board of supervisors heard from public safety department heads, including Sheriff Stan Sniff, District…
Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, is trying to bring the state legislature’s attention to the effects of recently enacted laws on rural mountain communities …
On June 5, California holds its primary election. While the Republican presidential primary race will command most of the attention, primary elections will also be on the ballot for Senator, Congressional representatives, state Assembly and state Senate. But this year, the results will affect the November elections differently. California will no longer vote strictly by…
On March 7, CAL FIRE Director Ken Pimlott wrote a letter to Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell outlining the state’s worries about the Forest Service’s aircraft strategy, including the number of aircraft …
The Anza Municipal Advisory Council selected the members of the Anza Area Groundwater Steering Committee at its Wednesday, March 14, meeting. The group will develop ground rules for how it seeks funding for a comprehensive water study and provide advice on local groundwater management planning. Members serve voluntarily and are not compensated. The 14 members…
At his 7th Annual Economic Development Forum, Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone cited figures that show the county’s unemployment rate is declining, sales taxes are increasing, and the housing market is stabilizing. “All in all,” said Stone, “we are on the mend in Riverside County and moving forward. The future is looking brighter.”…
Republican state lawmakers, a significant minority of the California Legislature, will try to repeal the state fire fee. Various legislators have proposed its repeal within days of its passage in July. On Thursday, Republican legislators from both the Assembly and the Senate held a joint press conference to call attention to the levy, which they…
The California Public Utilities Commission, after approving a smart meter opt-out plan for Pacific Gas and Electric, directed the state’s other power utilities to submit their own plans. Southern California Edison submitted a proposal, which is different in a number of respects. The CPUC asked SCE to provide information on all opt-out alternatives, not just…
Riverside County received a $100 million grant to expand its jail system, only one of three California counties to receive the maximum grant from the California Corrections Standards Authority. The grant will be used for construction, not staffing, and requires the county to come up with a 10 percent or $10 million match in cash…
