President Barack Obama released his proposed 2012-13 budget on Feb. 13. If Congress approves the President’s recommendation, the budget would have a $900 billion deficit, about two-thirds of the projected 2011-12 $1.3 trillion deficit. Part of federal spending includes $4.861 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, a $15.5 million increase from the enacted 2012 budget…
Last month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack signaled his department’s intent to issue a new planning rule for America’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. The new rule, which has been years in the making, seeks to deliver stronger protections for forests, water and wildlife while supporting the economic vitality of rural communities. On Jan. 26, the Forest…
The Hemet Unified School District approved a school calendar, and Monday, Aug. 20, will be the first day of the next school year. At its previous meeting, the board asked for new calendar options from staff. At its Tuesday, Feb. 7, meeting, the board chose the Aug. 20 start date, and no major objections were…
About 9:30 a.m. Feb. 7, deputies from the Hemet Station of Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. The incident occurred near the intersection of Gassner Road and Roger Lane in Anza, not far from the Anza RV Resort. When deputies and California Highway Patrol Officers arrived…
After the California Public Utilities Commission approved an opt-out plan for Pacific Gas & Electric, the state’s other utilities, including Southern California Edison, submitted cost proposals for providing their own opt-out plans ..
More county employee layoffs and service level changes will occur in order to balance the 2012-13 fiscal year budget, which starts on July 1, said Larry Parrish, interim Riverside County executive officer. Nearly five months before the fiscal year begins, Parrish and Ed Corser, county finance officer, told the board to expect an $80 million…
California Governor Jerry Brown, as a cost saving measure, is recommending deleting parts of the Hayden Animal Shelter Law that had increased stray animal holding times in public and private animal shelters. Specifically, Brown is seeking to repeal provisions of the law that are “reimbursable state mandates.” The animal rights legislation, passed in 1998, required…
On Tuesday, Jan. 31, about 1,400 of the 5,800 county employees, members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, walked off the job in response to the board of supervisors having declared an impasse in negotiations. In November, the county had imposed mandatory pay and benefit terms including forcing worker contributions to their…
The Riverside County budget promises little improvement through the end of the current fiscal year (June 30). “There are some signs that economic recovery is accelerating in Riverside County,” Interim County Executive Officer Larry Parish told the board of supervisors. Nevertheless Parish reported that revenue fell during the second quarter of this year. Consequently, his…
The state’s Fish and Game Commission made the unanimous decision Friday …
