February 13, 2010 – 3:53 PM
By Administrator

In iePolitics’ always-continuing quest to assist San Bernardino County administrators in balancing their budget, we have happened upon an obvious cost-cutting measure. We know that District Attorney Mike Ramos and Public Defender Doreen Boxer have already joined . . . um . . . forces, in a Biblical sense of course, so the next step only makes sense. It’s time to consolidate the two departments and allow District Attorney Ramos to have the final decision over all criminal proceedings in San Bernardino County.

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February 13, 1010 – 3:05 PM
By Administrator

One can only imagine the discussion during the special closed-door San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, called by Supervisor Josie Gonzales. I wonder which of the four remaining supervisors will be blessed with the duty of having to explain to Gonzales the identities of John Does 4 and 5. At least it will be entertaining for the others.

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State Senator Bob Dutton

“Rumors that I am running for San Bernardino County Supervisor are inaccurate. I am the Senate Republican Leader-Elect and my future political goal is to become the GOP Senate Leader later this year. In the past, I have considered running for County Supervisor in 2014 — four years from now — but not in 2010.”  — Bob Dutton

Greg Devereaux

Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Created: 02/13/2010 06:08:19 AM PST

ONTARIO – In 12 years as Ontario’s city manager, Greg Devereaux has helped bolster the city’s economy, build its cash reserves and launched several successful redevelopment projects, including the construction of Citizens Business Bank Arena.

On Tuesday he will begin his new post as San Bernardino County chief administrative officer.

Devereaux didn’t start on the best of terms with Ontario’s city staff.

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11:40 PM PST on Saturday, February 13, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County faces a $90 million budget shortfall for next fiscal year, leaving supervisors grappling with ways to overcome it. Widespread budget cuts are likely.

Starting this week, supervisors must begin adjusting to work with a new county administrative officer, his new leadership style and other possible management changes he may want.

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Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/13/2010 05:02:59 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – When county supervisors gather Tuesday to decide what to do about the massive government corruption alleged by state and local prosecutors, four of the five board members say they will remain objective despite close personal ties to the scandal’s key figures and events.

Last week’s arrests of former county Supervisor Bill Postmus and former assistant assessor Jim Erwin raised new questions about the county’s $102 million payout to settle a lawsuit with developer Colonies Partners four years ago.

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February 13, 2010 4:44 PM
Brooke Edwards

APPLE VALLEY • The town has quietly paid Finance Director Bill Pattison more than $100,000 to quit his job as he waits to go to trial on charges of domestic violence, the Daily Press has learned.

Pattison, 45, was arrested in Las Vegas on Dec. 26, with officials from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reporting that he kicked his girlfriend in the back.

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11:33 PM PST on Saturday, February 13, 2010

By PAUL LAROCCO and ALICIA ROBINSON
The Press-Enterprise

Nearly 10 years ago, Russ Leach took over an agency still reeling from a shooting that brought widespread calls for reform.

Despite lingering mistrust of Riverside police, community leaders found the new chief personable. Officers found him galvanizing.

“I came in when this department had a horrible reputation,” Leach said. “I’d like to think we improved that over several years, and I left it a better place.”

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12:09 AM PST on Sunday, February 14, 2010

By LAURIE LUCAS
The Press-Enterprise

Frank West, a former Moreno Valley councilman, feels as if the “black cloud” that has shadowed him for more than a year has disappeared.

After a 15-month investigation, a state regulatory agency exonerated West from accusations that he misused campaign funds, a claim that West has denied.

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By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 – 9:25 am

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and several state employee unions have restarted long-dormant contract talks aimed at a long-shot breakthrough during the roughest economic patch California has seen in the three decades that the state work force has been organized.

At first glance, the sensitive discussions seem like a fool’s errand.

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California Watch

Public Safety

February 13, 2010 | Ryan Gabrielson

Sobriety checkpoints in California are increasingly turning into profitable operations for local police departments that are far more likely to seize cars from unlicensed motorists than catch drunken drivers.

An investigation by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley with California Watch has found that impounds at checkpoints in 2009 generated an estimated $40 million in towing fees and police fines – revenue that cities divide with towing firms.

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The scheduled March 1 hike of up to 39% for individual health insurance policies will not take effect before May 1. In the meantime, California regulators will analyze the legality of the increases.

By Marc Lifsher

February 14, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento – Anthem Blue Cross on Saturday announced it would delay until May 1 controversial price increases of up to 39% for its individual health insurance policyholders in California, but maintained its rates were fair, legal and necessary.

The announcement followed a barrage of criticism in recent weeks from policyholders, consumer advocates, regulators, state legislators, members of Congress and the Obama administration.

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