Regional News

The Idyllwild Water District (IWD) board began a process that may take many meetings to ultimately resolve. General Manager Terry Lyons reported that Idyllwild Arts staff has approached IWD for a “will serve” letters in anticipation of new construction at the school beginning this fall. IWD can provide sufficient water for a new health center,…

If you drive and text, talk (without a hands-free device) or tweet, you’re in trouble. And, that trouble now extends to riding a bicycle, if Governor Jerry Brown signs Senate Bill 28 into law, cyclists can also be cited. “Distracted driving” is already against state law, but distracted bicycling had not been. Original legislation that…

At their Tuesday, Aug. 16 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors agreed to hold an October workshop on the possibility of revising the county’s emergency medical services dispatch system. Last month, Supervisor and Board Chair Bob Buster (1st District) recommended that the county evaluate the current system and suggested that several changes be considered….

New power-conservation devices being installed on computers used in Riverside County government facilities are expected to net the county tens of thousands of dollars in annual savings, an official said Wednesday.

Tuesday (Aug. 23) is the last day for the Registrar of Voters to receive voters’ mailed requests for vote-by-mail ballots for the Aug. 30 election. The Registrar must receive mailed requests by 5 p.m. Tuesday for voters to receive a ballot by mail. After Tuesday’s deadline, only in-person requests made at the registrar’s office can…

On Thursday, Aug. 11, the California State Parks announced service reductions due to the spring budget cuts. The budget reductions total $11 million this fiscal year (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012) and another $22 million in fiscal 2012-13. Mt. San Jacinto State Park’s hours of operation will be reduced, according to Superintendent Garret…

The State Board of Forestry has until Sept. 1 to adopt emergency regulations to implement Assembly Bill 29, which authorizes a $150 fire prevention fee. The board has scheduled a special meeting for Aug. 22 to discuss and consider the regulations necessary for the fee. Meanwhile, other state agencies, such as the Department of Finance…

Local fire and public safety officials convened their quarterly Mountain Area Safety Taskforce (MAST) session last Wednesday, Aug. 10. Fortunately, no significant or major fires have occurred on the Hill this fire season. The July 14,000-acre Eagle Fire in north San Diego County was the closest and the involved officials requested consultation with Riverside County’s…