Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/07/2010 07:01:40 PM PST

A Redlands woman whose allegations of sexual harassment against San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos spurred an investigation has filed a $1.5 million claim against the county, Ramos and two of his high ranking staff.

Cheryl Ristow, a seven-year employee of the District Attorney’s Office, states in her claim that she had a 3 1/2-year affair with Ramos that ended in 2005.

Her claim is a precursor to a lawsuit.

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By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 85,000 jobs in December, cooling optimism on the labor market’s recovery and keeping pressure on President Barack Obama to find ways to spur job growth.

The Labor Department said on Friday that November payrolls were revised to show the economy actually added 4,000 jobs rather than losing 11,000 as initially reported, breaking a streak of consecutive losses that dates back to December 2007.

With revisions to October, however, the economy lost 1,000 more jobs than previously estimated over the two months.

The unemployment rate was unchanged at 10 percent in December, but that reflected a surprisingly large number of people leaving the labor force.

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10:00 PM PST on Thursday, January 7, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A Redlands woman whose sexual harassment complaint against San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos triggered an investigation is seeking $1.5 million in a claim filed Wednesday.

Cheryl Ristow, an investigative technician with the district attorney’s office, states that she was involved in a 17-month intimate relationship with Ramos that ended in 2005. She claims that she was retaliated against starting in May when it appeared that the affair would be publicly revealed, and has been on stress leave since July as a result.

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James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Created: 01/07/2010 02:28:31 PM PST

When a northern California judge ruled that it was illegal for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to order furloughs for some state workers, many state workers based in San Bernardino thought they would be back at work today.

But they aren’t.

“I thought the furloughs would stop,” said Sylvester Hill, a right-of-way agent for Caltrans District 8, which covers San Bernardino and Riverside counties. “But then we got this e-mail … saying they’re keeping the furloughs. That’s about $600 out of my pocket every month. … Ends aren’t meeting because of that.”

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Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 01/07/2010 05:51:43 PM PST

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – City Council approved a stop sign at the intersection of Amethyst Avenue and Hillside Road on Wednesday with a backdrop of political tension between a councilman and a San Bernardino County supervisor.

The unanimous vote followed testimony from 14 speakers, most were residents who believed a stop sign would impede speeders and make their neighborhood safer. Supervisor Paul Biane, who lives less than a mile away from the intersection in question, was the only speaker who opposed the stop sign.

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By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

John A. Pérez was showered with a 64-second standing ovation from Democratic and Republican colleagues alike Thursday after his election as Assembly speaker.

Don’t expect the bipartisanship to last.

“Thank you very much,” Pérez said in a brief acceptance speech to colleagues. “Now let’s get back to work.”

Pérez’s election comes as the state faces a $19.9 billion shortfall and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to unveil a budget proposal today.

Democrats and Republicans have disagreed bitterly in years past on what public services to cut and whether taxes should be raised to balance budgets.

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By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared this week that “the worst is over for California’s economy” and predicted happy days ahead, saying, “Our economy is well-positioned to take advantage of the future.”

Not so fast. Schwarzenegger once again has allowed his characteristic optimism – or hubris – to cloud what should be his better judgment.

The best one can say is that the state’s deepest recession since the Great Depression may – repeat, may – have finally touched bottom. That’s what the University of Pacific’s economic forecasting service said this week, but other economists who study the state have yet to agree.

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By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 11A
Last Modified: Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 – 6:33 am

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will propose ending furloughs for state workers at the end of June but seek permanent pay cuts and higher employee retirement contributions in their place, administration officials said Thursday.

Those two measures, which require legislative approval, would equal a 10 percent cut in gross pay, compared with a 14 percent reduction that state workers now face with three monthly furlough days. State employees would resume a full workweek in July.

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City manager: Selling city-owned prison ‘critical’ for Adelanto in 2010

January 07, 2010 5:26 PM
NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer

ADELANTO • The city is entering 2010 with depleted reserves, long-awaited commercial centers on hold and only a handful of recreational and road projects moving forward — but officials hope to gain financial footing by pawning off city-owned properties.

The city is working to close two property deals they hope will replenish the city’s dwindling coffer: selling the city-owned Adelanto Community Correctional Facility to private operator Geo Group, Inc. and selling or leasing the city-owned Stater Bros. Stadium baseball stadium.

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By JOY JUEDES, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/07/2010 05:57:53 PM PST

Assemblyman and state Senate candidate Bill Emmerson backed an education reform bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday.

“I like the reforms that gives parents more choice of where their children go to school, and it will bring in some federal dollars, which will help during this budget crisis,” said Emmerson, a Redlands Republican.

The Assembly passed the bill in special session Tuesday night, and the Senate passed it Wednesday.

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Rich Beemer

10:00 PM PST on Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County Undersheriff Richard Beemer will retire this month after 37 years of service, the last four as the department’s second in command.

Beemer, a decorated Vietnam veteran, has been credited with foreseeing the county’s declining tax revenues and making spending cuts that averted layoffs and returned millions to the general fund last fiscal year.

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10:46 PM PST on Thursday, January 7, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

The race is on for the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

Former Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron announced Thursday that he is running for the board’s 4th District seat in the June election and challenging newly appointed Supervisor John Benoit.

The district includes the Coachella Valley and much of eastern Riverside County.

Jeandron currently is a Palm Springs Unified School District trustee, whose term is up in November.

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