Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
By PE Politics
on February 16, 2011 11:30 AM
PDF: Read the indictment of Larry Minor
Larry Minor, 70, of San Jacinto, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors this morning to charges that he laundered campaign contributions and conspired to violate the state’s Political Reform Act.
Business
February 16, 2011
By IANTHE JEAN DUGAN
Banks are setting aside billions of dollars to do something that until now was rarely heard of: making big loans to cities, states, schools and other public borrowers that otherwise might have turned to the bond market.
As housing prices drop, mortgage lenders are requiring larger downpayments on homes. Kelsey Hubbard talks to WSJ’s Mitra Kalita about what the changes mean for consumers.
10:18 PM PST on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Larry Minor, whose San Jacinto-based Agri-Empire Corp. is one of the nation’s largest potato growers, was indicted Tuesday on charges he made $66,400 in laundered campaign contributions through family members, friends and business associates.
Three of the 14 charges — conspiracy, perjury and filing a false document — are felonies. The rest are misdemeanors.
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside County supervisors agreed Tuesday to research how much public-safety retirements cost and what options are available to send a pension-reduction proposal to voters.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Supervisors are likely to pursue tighter disclosure requirements.
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone withdrew his proposal Tuesday to impose campaign contribution limits on board and countywide candidates.
Stone’s decision came as colleagues voiced concern that the plan would unleash a torrent of independent expenditures not subject to limits.
10:24 PM PST on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
By STEVEN BARRIE
The Press-Enterprise
PDF: Read the lawsuit
The owners of San Bernardino’s Carousel Mall filed suit last week against the city and other agencies to prevent foreclosure on the mall property and keep it from being sold.
But a federal judge has already dismissed some of the plaintiff’s demands.
Runner
By PE News
on February 15, 2011 9:35 PM
Former state Assemblywoman Sharon Runner has handily defeated a Democratic rival to win the state Senate seat held by her husband until last year.
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
By ALICIA ROBINSON
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside’s budget is in good shape at the midpoint of fiscal 2010-11, with general-fund revenue expected to rebound slightly after three years of declines, City Manager Brad Hudson said Tuesday.
County sees 50% jump with losses often tied to losing job
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/15/2011 08:59:15 PM PST
During the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, San Bernardino County residents lost their health insurance at a higher rate than anywhere else in the state, a UCLA study said Tuesday.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/15/2011 07:45:27 PM PST
Environmental and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich on Tuesday shot off a letter to the federal Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment supporting its proposed public health goal for the cancer-causing hexavalent chromium in drinking water.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 02/15/2011 08:58:27 PM PST
UPLAND – A medical marijuana nursery has filed a petition for a writ of mandate against the city after being denied a business license.
Route 66 Nursery filed the complaint on Feb. 4 at the West Valley Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga after attempting to apply for a business license to operate a private plant nursery for qualified medical marijuana patients.
Mitzelfelt
SANBAG officials want $151 million in federal funds for Devore interchange
February 15, 2011 7:42 PM
BY Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Reporter
It’s reportedly the second worst chokepoint in the interstate highway system, a key route for the goods movement and a juncture that High Desert commuters crawl through every day: the Interstate 15/215 Devore interchange.
Reconstructing the bottleneck was the top transportation priority that 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt and other local officials pitched to congressional representatives in Washington during a lobbying trip last week.
By PE Politics
on February 15, 2011 11:15 AM
A new state audit concludes that some local governments are giving tribal casino-mitigation money to projects that don’t deserve it, in violation of state law.
By PE News
on February 15, 2011 9:56 PM
The Murrieta City Council tonight backtracked on how it will carry out two voter-approved ballot measures.
February 15, 2011 4:31 PM
Beau Yarbrough
HESPERIA • Although Gov. Jerry Brown has said there will be no new cuts to public education, the Hesperia Unified School District is preparing for them anyway.
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
The downtown San Bernardino courthouse has experienced a lot of growing pains since it opened in 1926 as the county building that then housed most services including the sheriff, jail, district attorney, county supervisors’ chambers and two courtrooms.
Court officials will celebrate the three-story courthouse’s history today as they mark the completion of a three-year, $35 million seismic retrofit and renovation project that they say restores the building’s original look.
Before the announcement, he quietly drops a suit to lower California state workers’ checks to the federal minimum wage during a budget impasse.
By Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
February 16, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento —
Gov. Jerry Brown froze statewide hiring Tuesday to help cut the cost of government hours after he dropped a legal effort to reduce government workers’ wages.
State allows employees to increase retirement benefits by buying up to five fictitious years — known as ‘air time’ — to add to their public service. Financial advisors call it a great deal for retirees but bad for taxpayers.
By Anthony York and Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times
February 16, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento —
Tens of thousands of California state workers are taking advantage of a perk that pays them pension benefits for years they don’t actually work, and reformers looking for places to cut have put it at the top of the list.
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