The West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of inmates who allege that they were repeatedly abused by deputies in the detention center. (Jennifer Cappuccio Maher — Staff photographer)

By Joe Nelson, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 05/08/14, 9:33 PM PDT |

RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> In the middle of the night, San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies Brock Teyechea and Andrew Cruz would enter the cells of inmates at the West Valley Detention Center and awaken them with electric shocks from their stun guns, laughing out loud while inmates screamed in pain and begged for them to stop, inmates said.

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In wake of FBI probe, lawsuit alleges West Valley inmate abuse
May 08, 2014 2:21 PM
SHEA JOHNSON, STAFF WRITER

Lawsuit: Click here to read the full complaint.

A $135-million federal lawsuit alleges six inmates at West Valley Detention Center were subjected to beatings and torture, including “electric shock to their genitalia, sleep deprivation … and sodomy” by jail officials under the color of authority over the course of a 14-month period beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

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By Melissa Pinion-Whitt, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 05/08/14, 2:00 PM PDT |

SAN BERNARDINO — San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon on Thursday declined to comment on a federal lawsuit filed by six West Valley Detention Center inmates alleging abuse by sheriff’s employees, but said the department is taking the allegations seriously.

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DA candidate Mike Hestrin speaks during the debate with Incumbent DA Paul Zellerbach at Riverside County Bar Association Friday in Riverside, CA. May 2, 2014. (Terry Pierson/Staff Photographer)

May 08, 2014; 09:21 PM

Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach and challenger Mike Hestrin squared off in a sometimes-heated forum Thursday evening, with Zellerbach calling “a stupid mistake” the Indio campaign sign-tampering case for which he is under police investigation, and Hestrin repeatedly challenging Zellerbach’s integrity.

To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press Enterprise, click here.

In wake of FBI probe, lawsuit alleges West Valley inmate abuse
May 08, 2014 2:21 PM
SHEA JOHNSON, STAFF WRITER

A $135-million federal lawsuit alleges six inmates at West Valley Detention Center were subjected to beatings and torture, including “electric shock to their genitalia, sleep deprivation … and sodomy” by jail officials under the color of authority over the course of a 14-month period beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

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May 08, 2014; 12:31 PM

Two members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department are in the June 3 election to head the office – incumbent Sheriff Stan Sniff and Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Bianco.

The men differ on law-enforcement styles. Bianco said he is looking for ways to put more deputies on patrol, and said more effective policing might reduce the need for additional jail space in the county. Sniff said Bianco’s ideas disregard the balance the department needs to serve its several missions.

To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press Enterprise, click here.

By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/08/14, 7:41 PM PDT |

RIVERSIDE >> Continued assurances from San Bernardino and CalPERS that mediation is going well, without further details, are threatening to wear out the patience of the city’s fire union, police union and perhaps the bankruptcy judge handling the case, it was reported in court Thursday.

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By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 05/08/14, 10:14 PM PDT |

An independent committee, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union, is spending half of a million dollars in support of Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod’s bid for Fourth District County Supervisor.

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By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, May. 8, 2014 – 10:36 pm
Last Modified: Thursday, May. 8, 2014 – 10:46 pm

An agreement between Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders on a rainy-day fund Thursday came uncharacteristically early in the state’s annual budget-making process, with none of the public rancor that seemed likely only recently.

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By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, May. 9, 2014 – 12:00 am

State Controller John Chiang reported Thursday that after counting April’s income tax payments, revenue is running $2.2 billion above assumptions in the current state budget.

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Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 8, 2014

Responding to a campaign finance transgression that produced an unprecedented fine, the California Assembly voted on Thursday to ban fundraisers at the homes of lobbyists.

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By Paul Rogers
progers@mercurynews.com
Posted: 05/08/2014 12:54:58 PM PDT
Updated: 05/09/2014 05:35:25 AM PDT

Drought-weary California, heading into a long, hot summer of water shortages and extreme fire risk, received some potentially good news Thursday: Federal scientists announced there is now a 4-in-5 chance of El Niño conditions developing by the end of the year.

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By Zachary A. Goldfarb
Friday, May 9, 2014

LA JOLLA, Calif. — President Obama acknowledged Thursday that the executive actions he has been taking to work around an uncooperative Congress will go only so far in achieving his agenda, and said Democrats need to win control of the legislative branch to set the country on the right path in the final two years of his tenure.

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