High Desert developer John “Dino” DeFazio, charged with two counts of alleged perjury related to testimony he gave before the San Bernardino County Grand Jury last year, appeared before Judge Michael Dest in San Bernardino County Superior Court this morning.

The case was continued and a July court date was set.

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A local San Bernardino Certified Public Accountant probably regrets hooking his wagon to District Attorney Michael Ramos.

CPA Marvin Reiter signed on as Ramos’ official campaign treasurer and now suffers the potential consequences of his decision.

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Uffer

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County’s former top administrator filed a wrongful termination lawsuit Wednesday, accusing supervisors of firing him in November because he was cooperating with corruption investigations.

The complaint was filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court a month after the county rejected an April 1 claim by former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer seeking $15 million in damages.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2010 06:30:04 PM PDT

Former San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer filed a lawsuit against the county on Wednesday alleging whistleblower retaliation for cooperating in an ongoing corruption probe with state and local prosecutors.

Uffer alleges his termination occurred one week after he met with the Grand Jury to discuss questionable use of county-issued credit cards by Mark Kirk, chief of staff for Supervisor Gary Ovitt, and Brian Johsz, Ovitt’s district director.

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10:41 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2010

By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY
The Press-Enterprise

With his opponent Paul Zellerbach in the same room, Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco used a town-hall meeting Wednesday to bring home a centerpiece of his campaign against the judge — that Zellerbach goes easy on sexual predators.

The claims, Zellerbach said, are misleading.

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By PE Politics
on May 26, 2010 4:22 PM

Sexual harassment allegations have surrounded San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos in recent months.

Now, a mysterious campaign sign has picked up on the topic. This one appears in Colton near Interstate 215. It’s unclear who is behind the sign, since it does not list a campaign committee.

Ramos has consistently denied the allegations.

To read entire story, click here.

Rep. Ken Calvert

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2010

A resolution that would trigger the seizure of land from a partnership that includes Congressman Ken Calvert, R-Corona, will come before the Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District board of directors Thursday night.

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Rep. Gary Miller

Rep. Miller signs on to letter of protest
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2010 09:14:55 PM PDT

Rep. Gary Miller is among 26 members of Congress who have signed a letter taking issue with a top federal official who said Immigration and Customs Enforcement might not process illegal immigrants picked up in Arizona.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary John Morton made the comments last week in a meeting with the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board, the Tribune reported.

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Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2010 06:17:45 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – Teachers, parents and principals will have a bigger role in running new district charter schools than an executive board comprised of community leaders.

And that’s not sitting well with members of the executive board, who describe the move by district officials as a “lost opportunity.”

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Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2010 05:37:17 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – A Yucca Valley mother, whose 9-month-old son was killed by the boy’s father following a controversial visitation ruling, spoke out in front of the West Valley Superior Court Wednesday morning, urging voters not to back a judge on the June ballot.

Katie Tagle was denied a request for an emergency restraining order against her ex-boyfriend by Judge Robert Lemkau, a January ruling that took place 10 days before Tagle’s son was shot dead.

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Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2010 06:36:08 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – An attempt to craft a new “code of conduct” for City Council members is still unfinished, and some proposals have aroused fear of censorship among the council’s minority bloc.

“They’re trying to say we don’t get along, but what it is, is we don’t conform,” 2nd Ward City Councilman Jason Desjardins said Wednesday.

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Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/26/2010 09:17:53 PM PDT

CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified school board on Tuesday night approved issuing 41 layoff notices to ensure the district’s financial security.

More than 30 teachers as well as counselors, nonunion managers and a psychologist will receive the notices.

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Developer gets more time

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2010 07:35:12 PM PDT

RIALTO – It took about 60 seconds Wednesday night for the Planning Commission to anger more than 150 residents already upset over plans for a controversial development on the north end.

A public hearing on the Lytle Creek Ranch development was continued to June 2 at the request of Ron Pharris, chairman of the Lytle Development Co., who told the commission in a letter that the company needs more time to prepare the project’s final environmental impact report.

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By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, May. 27, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 6B

Alfred Villalobos, the former CalPERS board member accused of bribing pension fund officials, has squandered $68 million of his fortune and owes more money to one casino than he has in cash, the state said Wednesday.

In a court filing, the state revealed fresh allegations about Villalobos’ spending habits in an effort to maintain a court-ordered freeze on his assets. It is suing Villalobos for $70 million, saying he lavished gifts on three CalPERS officials to influence investment decisions.

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By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, May. 27, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 6B

The state’s teacher pension fund is about to reduce its official forecast of investment returns by half a percentage point, a move that could cost state and local taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

CalSTRS’ staff, which has been wrestling with the issue for months, said Wednesday that the forecast of annual returns should be cut to 7.5 percent. The board of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System will vote on the recommendation next week.

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