Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
.
Joshua Green and Sahil Kapur
January 31, 2016 — 9:09 AM PST
Over the last several weeks, the story of the Iowa caucuses has become the battle between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
Sunday, January 31, 2016 – 10:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, January 31, 2016 – 04:20 p.m.
The campaign finance filings for the declared California Attorney General candidates are in, and the disparate numbers speak for themselves.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 01/30/16 – 5:30 PM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Two seats on the City Council — enough to swing the balance of a city government that’s recently made controversial decisions and is slated to make others — are up for grabs Tuesday.
Capitol Alert
By Alexei Koseff
akoseff@sacbee.com
January 30, 2016 3:23 PM
Despite an unusual challenge from a fellow Democrat, Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown received enough support at a delegate vote in her San Bernardino-area district Saturday to secure the party’s endorsement at its upcoming convention.
.
By Jessica Calefati
jcalefati@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 01/30/2016 – 01:24:46 PM PST
After months of nonstop cable TV chatter and a political story line worthy of an Aaron Sorkin parallel universe, it’s finally time for the country to start picking its presidential nominees. But this time might be different — Californians’ votes could really count for the first time in decades.
By Mark Gutglueck
Saturday, January 30, 2016
County civil grand jurors who have taken up investigations deemed highly problematic for top elected officials, senior county staff members and department heads and the county itself have been forced to drop those lines of inquiry and threatened with prosecution if they persist in exploring those issues, the Sentinel is informed.
By Jeffry Bartash, Reporter
Published: Jan 29, 2016 – 1:30 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The economy bogged down at the end of 2015, raising questions about whether U.S. growth is losing momentum.
Capitol Alert
By Jim Miller
jmiller@sacbee.com
January 29, 2016 3:07 PM
Assemblyman Eric Linder could be a Democratic target this year, with at least three Democrats so far announcing candidacies for Linder’s western Riverside County district.
By Josh Gerstein and Rachael Bade
Published: 01/29/16 – 03:27 PM EST
Updated: 01/29/16 – 08:39 PM EST
The furor over Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email account grew more serious for the Democratic presidential front-runner Friday as the State Department designated 22 of the messages from her account “top secret.”
Published: Jan. 28, 2016
Updated: Jan. 29, 2016 – 8:04 a.m.
Speech highlights tech, jobs plans and infrastructure projects.
By Jim Steinberg, The Sun
Posted: 01/28/16 – 10:54 PM PST |
FONTANA >> Mayor Acquanetta Warren said Thursday that “inclusiveness for all citizens” is vital to the city of more than 204,000 residents.
By Jason Henry, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
and Rebecca Kimitch, LA Daily News
Posted: 01/28/16 – 10:19 AM PST |
The state’s top fiscal officer has audited the city of Industry and concluded “the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse of public resources was extremely high” in the city over the past decade.
Dan Walters
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 28, 2016 – 4:00 PM
California’s attorney general has responsibilities and powers second only to those of the governor, and the office’s occupant is always in position to climb the political ladder.
By David R. Baker
January 28, 2016
Updated: January 28, 2016 – 3:44pm
The solar industry scored a major victory Thursday when a divided California Public Utilities Commission voted to keep largely intact the system that compensates solar homeowners for excess electricity that they place on the grid.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 01/27/16 – 11:09 AM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> A plan to outsource the city Fire Department and add a parcel tax of $148 per year took a big step forward Wednesday with the unanimous approval of the agency in charge of overseeing that process.
John Myers
January 27, 2016
Almost four decades after he signed a law mandating strict sentences for the most serious crimes, Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday moved to ease its effect, proposing inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses be given a chance at early release.
The State Worker
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
January 27, 2016 11:12 AM
California faces a $74.1 billion obligation to cover state retirees’ medical expenses over the next three decades, according to a new report released by state Controller Betty Yee.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 – 09:00 p.m.
The ongoing dust-up between GOP front runner Donald Trump and Fox News is highlighting the schism that is developing between Fox News and its conservative viewers.
After Fox News put out a childish and unprofessional press release mocking Trump and his concerns about the impartiality of debate moderator Megyn Kelly, he announced he would boycott the Thursday’s debate. The network then spent the entirety of Tuesday night lampooning Trump and attempting to stake out the moral high ground.
By Rene Ray De La Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted Jan. 26, 2016 at 12:01 AM – Updated at 10:54 PM
HESPERIA — During a boisterous and historic public meeting, a standing-room-only crowd at City Hall watched as the City Council voted to approve the massive Tapestry Project on Tuesday night.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 26, 2016 5:09 PM
Jerry Brown distances himself from embarrassing situations in the state government he ostensibly commands, never adopting Harry Truman’s “the buck stops here” attitude.
By Peter Fimrite
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 – Updated 4:04 pm
The heavens have opened up this winter and are dumping gobs of snow on the Sierra Nevada.
Tuesday, January 26, 2015 – 01:30 p.m.
The Trump train has left the station and it’s gaining steam.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 01/25/16 – 9:10 PM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> The city and one of its most consistent legal adversaries, the fire union, have a tentative agreement that ends all of their legal disputes, after the City Council approved it during a closed session meeting Monday, according to City Attorney Gary Saenz.
By Jeff McDonald
Jan. 25, 2016 | Updated – 5:05 p.m.
A San Francisco Superior Court judge on Monday rejected the California Public Utilities Commission’s request to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at forcing regulators to release dozens of emails to and from Gov. Jerry Brown’s office regarding the San Onofre nuclear plant failure.
Allen Young, Staff Writer
Sacramento Business Journal
Jan 25, 2016 – 2:27pm PST
Standard & Poor’s, one of the nation’s top three credit ratings services, has forecast another year of economic growth for the California economy. But in a report released Monday, the agency also warned that the growth may soon end.
By Debra J. Saunders
Monday, January 25, 2016 – Updated 8:15 pm
When Bernie Sanders hits rival Hillary Clinton for taking humongous speaking fees from big banks — notably the $675,000 Goldman Sachs paid her for three speeches while she eyed the Oval Office — he struck Clinton’s Achilles’ heel. Both the former secretary of state and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have cashed in since they left the White House in 2000. The New York Times reported last year that the Clintons earned $139 million from 2007 to 2014. The Clintons’ focus on accumulating wealth clouds their judgment.
.
By Niall Stanage
01/25/16 – 06:00 AM EST
The 2016 presidential candidates are entering the final sprint to the Iowa caucuses, which take place one week from today.
By Rene Ray De La Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted Jan. 24, 2016 at 1:05 PM
HESPERIA — After a year of discussion and debate by the public, the City Council is finally expected to vote on the proposed Tapestry project on Tuesday at City Hall.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 24, 2016 – 9:02 AM
The single most important factor in writing a new state budget is determining how much money there is to spend.
Sunday, January 24, 2016 – 10:30 a.m.
A large polling data release on Sunday morning has GOP Front-runner Donald Trump fully in the lead in all early voting states.
Published: Jan. 22, 2016
Updated: Jan. 23, 2016 – 9:06 p.m.
The city of San Bernardino hopes that a provision of its bankruptcy-exit plan will erase more than $49 million from the books by allowing it to pay only 1 percent – $500,000 – to its unsecured creditors.
To read story by Brian Rokos in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: Jan. 22, 2016 – 3:58 p.m.
For the first time since the recession, the Inland unemployment rate dropped below the 6 percent figure, hitting 5.9 percent for December in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area.
To read Staff Report in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 23, 2016 – 9:55 AM
Gov. Jerry Brown delivered a mixed economic message to the Legislature last week – hailing California’s strong recovery from the Great Recession but warning it could quickly turn sour.
A run by the former New York City mayor could upset an already volatile contest
By Mara Gay
Updated Jan. 23, 2016 – 11:59 p.m. ET
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is seriously considering a run for president and is asking aides to explore a potential bid.
Patrick McGreevy
January 22, 2016
Faced with plummeting gasoline tax revenue, state transportation officials have announced plans to cut funding for road and transit projects by $754 million over the next five years, the greatest reduction in two decades.
Paloma Esquivel and Brittny Mejia
January 22, 2016
The family of Sierra Clayborn, who was killed in the Dec. 2 San Bernardino terror attack, filed three claims against San Bernardino County this week, alleging it failed to prevent her death. The claims seek $204 million in damages.
Capitol Alert
By Jim Miller
jmiller@sacbee.com
January 22, 2016 – 5:56 PM
If your monthly cellphone or landline bills seem higher these days, take a look at the state surcharges.
Chris Kirkham
January 22, 2016
California employers added 60,400 jobs in December, according to state data, one of the largest single-month gains in the last three years.
Friday, January 21, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.
The attack on GOP Front-runner Donald Trump by the editor’s of the National Review is, well, to be blunt, quite rich to say the least.
Friday, January 22, 2016 – 09:30 a.m
Price Alert! The average price of unleaded gas in California has dropped to a whopping $2.701 per gallon, according to tracking website Gasbuddy.com.
Capitol Alert
By Taryn Luna
tluna@sacbee.com
January 21, 2016 12:23 PM
The state’s political watchdog adopted a new lobbying rule Thursday intended to shine a spotlight on ex-lawmakers for hire who use their clout to influence legislation, powerful interest groups behind misleading advertising campaigns and activities currently concealed in a catch-all category of regulatory filings.
John Myers
January 21, 2016
In a short speech with a long view of California, Gov. Jerry Brown used his State of the State address to challenge lawmakers to better balance the cyclical nature of success and setback that has dominated state government for the better part of two decades.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 21, 2016 6:08 PM
No Latin phrases. No paeans to pioneer ancestors. No quotes from obscure philosophers. A brief reference to climate change. Just a couple of mild quips.
By Tracy Seipel
tseipel@mercurynews.com
Posted: 01/21/2016 – 12:01:48 PM PST
Updated: 01/21/2016 – 07:01:54 PM PST
California’s four largest health plans may be on the hook for $10 billion in state back taxes — and at least $1 billion every year going forward — if a closely watched legal case does not break their way.
.
By Alex Isenstadt
01/21/16 – 11:15 PM EST
Donald Trump, riding a wave of momentum with less than two weeks until the Iowa caucuses, is about to get the backing of a cash-flush super PAC funded by a major GOP donor.
.
By Shane Goldmacher
01/21/16 – 09:04 PM EST
For months, Republican leaders have worried about how to stop 2016 frontrunner Donald Trump. Now, one of the conservative movement’s most influential publications is taking matters into its own hands.
Thursday, January 21, 2016 – 09:30 a.m.
San Bernardino County’s pension fund, San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association (SBCERA), will pay out a 2% across-the-board cost of living (COLA) adjustment effective April 1, 2016.
Thursday, January 21, 2016 – 09:00 a.m.
There is new local news coverage of the long-running San Bernardino County Colonies case.
To read the coverage, click the following links:
The Sun / Daily Bulletin: Key conspiracy charge still out in San Bernardino County’s Colonies case
The Press-Enterprise: SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Supreme Court rejects Colonies appeal
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 01/20/16 – 8:18 PM PST |
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday appointed board chairman James Ramos and vice chairman Robert Lovingood to serve on a committee that will appoint a successor to Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector Larry Walker, who retires on March 5.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/20/16 1:34 PM PST |
ONTARIO >> An East Coast aviation veteran has been tapped to lead L.A./Ontario International Airport when a local authority assumes control later this year.
By Shea Johnson
Staff Writer
Posted: Jan. 20, 2016 at 2:54 PM
Updated: Jan 20, 2016 at 5:28 PM
VICTORVILLE — The investment banking firm entangled in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s crosshairs for an allegedly fraudulent municipal bond offering at the city’s airport says it can’t fund a defense and it was never actually the bond underwriter.
Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
January 20, 2016 – 5:43 PM
Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez, campaigning Wednesday in Sacramento, again put aside conventional political subtleties and cut right to the point: “I think we need a Latina in the U.S. Senate.”
Soumya Karlamangla and David Zahniser
January 20, 2016
A panel of justices Wednesday threw out the perjury and voter fraud convictions of former L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife, ruling that the trial judge had issued improper jury instructions.
.
By Jake Sherman
01/20/16 – 05:18 AM EST
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy raised more than $11 million last year, a sum that places him near the top of the Republican fundraising pyramid on Capitol Hill, according to sources familiar with his operation.
.
By Lauren French
01/20/16 – 05:14 AM EST
A group of senior House Democrats is pushing for Nancy Pelosi to stay on as minority leader until 2018 — a nod to the California Democrat’s leadership and fundraising prowess, despite growing tension in the party around the need to elevate younger members.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 – 09:00 a.m.
There’s more under the microscope in San Bernardino County than meets the eye.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 19, 2016 3:42 PM
With no thought to long-term financial consequences, California politicians, both state and local, have saddled taxpayers with hundreds of billions of dollars in debt for pensions and retiree health care.
Emily Alpert Reyes and Matt Lait
January 19, 2015
The Los Angeles City Council agreed Tuesday to pay more than $24 million to settle lawsuits from two men who alleged that investigations by dishonest LAPD detectives led to their wrongful murder convictions and caused them to spend decades behind bars.
Ben Adler
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | Sacramento, CA
California voters could be asked this fall to touch what’s been an untouchable law: the property tax initiative known as Proposition 13. A potential November ballot proposal would raise taxes on the state’s highest-value properties and spend the money on anti-poverty programs.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 – 08:00 a.m.
In less than two weeks the presidential primary cycle will commence and GOP front-runner Donald Trump has maintained or expanded his lead in the polls.
Richard Wolf
USA TODAY
January 19, 2016 – 9:57 a.m. EST
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will give President Obama a final shot at implementing his plan to shield more than 4 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 17, 2016 4:58 AM
Fair warning: This column is about state accounting practices, which means you are in danger of being stupefied.
Associated Press
Posted: 01/18/2016 – 10:51:49 PM PST
Updated: 01/18/2016 – 10:52:19 PM PST
SACRAMENTO — The California budget that Gov. Jerry Brown proposed this month marks a shocking financial turnaround for a state that just a few years ago faced a $26 billion deficit.
Stephen Battaglio
January 19, 2015
The Republican National Committee has made good on its promise to cut NBC out of its primary debate schedule.
Monday, January 18, 2016 – 11:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 18, 2016 – 05:00 p.m.
As crude oil prices hit multi-year lows, California continues to get hosed by gasoline refiners.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 17, 2016 – 9:06 AM
Gov. Jerry Brown was still explaining his new budget to reporters on Jan. 7 when advocates for the poor, who didn’t like what he was saying, began firing email blasts.
Evan Halper and David Lauter
January 18, 2015
After a succession of Democratic presidential debates that largely avoided the acrimony and personal affronts that have defined the GOP face-offs, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders clashed sharply Sunday on guns, healthcare and President Obama’s legacy.
.
By Isaac Arnsdorf
Published: 01/17/16 – 09:05 AM EST
Updated: 01/17/16 – 12:30 PM EST
Sen. Marco Rubio says people who immigrated to the U.S. illegally but haven’t committed any major crimes could be allowed to stay.
Patrick McGreevy
January 16, 2015
The dire warning arrived in a mailer to thousands of state voters from a group called the California Drivers Alliance.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 16, 2016 9:54 AM
It’s time once again for some fun with numbers, in this case the data on California’s serious – and worsening – housing crisis.
By Philip Rucker and Robert Costa
January 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM
As the presidential primary race moves into a more urgent and combative phase, there is growing acceptance among Republicans, including the Washington and financial elite, that Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are the two candidates most likely to become the party’s nominee.
By Elliot Smilowitz
January 16, 2016 – 07:11 am
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump took aim at rival Ted Cruz in a series of Saturday morning tweets, taunting Cruz over challenges to his citizenship and reports that he did not disclose campaign loans.
Saturday, January 16, 2015 – 09:00 a.m.
There has been updated news coverage of recent developments in a high-profile San Bernardino County criminal courts case.
To read the articles, click the following links:
The Sun / Daily Bulletin: San Bernardino judge denies defense motion to dismiss Colonies indictment
The Press-Enterprise: COLONIES: Judge refuses to toss out charges in corruption case
Published: Jan. 15, 2016 – Updated: 10:45 p.m.
Twelve Riverside County cities looking to save money on law enforcement costs could decide next month whether to pursue a feasibility study on forming their own police force.
To read article by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/15/16 – 8:02 PM PST |
UPLAND >> Three months after voting to change the city’s guiding development plan, three Upland City Council members are facing a recall attempt.
Friday, January 15, 2016 – 08:30 a.m.
GOP Presidential Contender and Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has stepped in it.
.
By California Water News Daily
January 15, 2016
Before leaving Washington for Christmas break, nine Members of Congress sent a letter to Neil Kornze, the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), encouraging him to reconsider the agency’s recent guidance regarding the Cadiz Water Project.
Published: Jan. 14, 2016 – 11:25 a.m.
CVB Financial tops Forbes 2016 list of America’s best banks.
To read article by Fielding Buck in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: Jan. 14, 2016 – Updated: 8:11 p.m.
March Air Reserve Base near Riverside gives the Inland area an economic boost worth $579 million a year, an analysis has found.
To read Staff Report in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Capitol Alert
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
January 14, 2016 4:01 PM
In an ongoing shift in public opinion about the death penalty in California, the number of state voters who favor doing away with capital punishment has grown to virtually the same size as those seeking to speed up the execution process, according to a new poll.
By Jessica Calefati
jcalefati@bayareanewsgroup.com
Updated: 01/15/2016 – 06:54:32 AM PST
SACRAMENTO — When Gov. Jerry Brown delivers his annual State of the State address next week, he’s expected to cheer California’s good financial fortune, continue to hail the bullet train and stress the need to tackle climate change before it’s too late.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
January 14, 2016 3:39 PM
There’s nothing like a family feud to expose jealousies and rivalries that have been percolating for years.
By Paul Rogers
progers@mercurynews.com
Posted: 01/14/2016 – 05:42:25 PM PST
Don’t even think about putting that umbrella away.
Abby Sewell
January 15, 2016
Los Angeles County’s spending on lawsuit-related attorney fees, settlements and judgments rose 24% last year — an increase driven largely by litigation against the Sheriff’s Department.
By Jonathan Martin and Patrick Healy
January 14, 2016
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Donald J. Trump and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas sharply attacked each other on Thursday night over the Canadian-born Mr. Cruz’s eligibility to be president and Mr. Trump’s “New York values,” shedding any semblance of cordiality as they dominated a Republican debate less than three weeks before the Iowa caucuses.