Regional News

The 2012 race for the 36th Congressional District is heating up. At least, the candidates — Rep. Mary Bono Mack and her Democratic challenger, Dr. Raul Ruiz — were beneficial recipients of donors’ largesse during the fourth quarter of 2011. Ruiz raised $100,000 in individual contributions during the latest reporting period. From July 1 through…

On Monday, Jan. 30, a Riverside County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting 248 nurses and other essential health care workers, members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, from joining a scheduled one-day strike on Tuesday, Jan. 31. A spokesperson at the union office in Riverside said on Monday…

Last week, after significant debate, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors narrowly approved a policy of three-person teams, composed of a captain, apparatus engineer and firefighter for all county engine companies. Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone proposed the policy. He strongly defended it, even in anticipation of limited budget resources again next fiscal year. “We’ve…

Local Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack is planning her re-election strategy. Redistricting resulted in some adjustments to her old 45th District, but the foundation of the desert and Hill communities remained together and unchanged. “I’m really not worried right now,” she said Thursday. Ten months prior to the election, Dr. Raul Ruiz is the announced candidate…

Public safety and education in jeopardy Gov. Jerry Brown announced his proposed 2012-13 budget last week. The $92.5 billion budget is balanced and could produce a $1.1 million surplus for future reserves. Both the projections and plan are delicately balanced on the assumption that state voters will approve his proposed tax increases on upper-bracket taxpayers…

Although it is unlikely all will qualify, it is possible that 83 ballot initiatives and referenda could wind up on the November 2012 ballot. Were that to happen, voters could be swamped with choices and, in frustration, wind up nixing all initiatives and referenda, a possibility State Senator Bill Emmerson (R-37) suggested. “I support the…

California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced a new state e-crime unit designed to investigate and prosecute multijurisdictional cybercrimes. Prior to formation of the unit, according to Harris, many e-crimes in the state went unprosecuted because the crimes crossed jurisdictional lines and required resources that many counties did not possess. Harris made the announcement at a…

The California Legislature enacted about 750 laws during 2011. Some counted 745 and other reports say 760 laws were passed and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Most of these became effective Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, although some are delayed until July 1, 2012. Below is a list of some of the new laws which Californians…

Who: For drivers with outstanding traffic tickets that were due to be paid in full before Jan. 1, 2009. All of the following also must apply: You either failed to appear in court or failed to pay in full. The last date you made a payment was on or before Jan. 1, 2009. You don’t…