Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Sunday, May 20, 2012 – 03:30 p.m.
An interesting turn of events is unfolding in the taxpayer lawsuit filed by Upland lawyer Corey Briggs on behalf of two groups known as The Inland Oversight Committee and Citizens for Responsible Equitable Government.
BY RICHARD K. De ATLEY
STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com
Published: 19 May 2012 05:28 PM
A letter from an attorney to the State Bar of California alleges that Riverside County Public Defender Gary Windom, 62, suffers from memory loss that is affecting his ability to run his office, which represents indigent defendants.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/17/2012 07:23:12 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council has been updated on the condition of the city’s budget and will meet next week to decide where to make cuts.
City Manager Stephen Dunn presented the council with an update on the city’s fiscal condition during a special meeting on Wednesday, asking it to set its priorities so staff could find a way to absorb $3.4 million in obligated expenses.
By Howard Mintz
hmintz@mercurynews.com
Posted: 05/18/2012 05:41:38 AM PDT
Updated: 05/18/2012 05:42:00 AM PDT
California’s judges will now have to post all their financial disclosure information in cyberspace.
In a unanimous decision, the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission on Thursday approved a rule that requires California’s more than 1,700 judges to post their disclosure forms on the Internet, despite objections from judicial leaders that it could jeopardize their privacy and security.
Posted: 05/14/2012 06:14:43 PM PDT
SBD Airport Services’ attempt to convince a federal judge to restore the company’s access to San Bernardinno International Airport’s fueling facilities has been postponed to June 18.
L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in
May 14, 2012 | 1:29 pm
State judicial leaders warned Monday that the proposed cuts for the California courts may jeopardize public access to the justice system.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 14, 2012
The Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation petitioned the 3rd District Court of Appeals today to remove from the November ballot a proposal to abolish the death penalty in California, arguing it violates the state’s “single-subject rule” for initiatives.
Staff report
Posted: 05/12/2012 03:07:54 PM PDT
Attorneys for the bankrupt SBD Airport Services will go before a federal judge Monday to contend that interim San Bernardino International Airport chief A.J. Wilson acted improperly when he cut off the company’s access to jet fuel.
The hearing is scheduled to take place Monday afternoon at U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Riverside.
Ryan Hagen, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 05/10/2012 11:09:14 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The results of the election for city clerk will stand, a Superior Court judge ruled Thursday, rejecting a claim by 15 voters whose ballots weren’t counted because of signature mismatches.
The trial had the potential to change the outcome of the city clerk’s race, in which Georgeann “Gigi” Hanna – a former public relations official and journalist who took office March 5 – gathered six votes more than Amelia Sanchez-Lopez, who heads the county Alcohol and Drug Services Administration.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/09/2012 11:28:12 AM PDT
A trial will begin again Thursday that could change the outcome of the San Bernardino city clerk’s race by forcing the registrar of voters to count mail-in ballots that he initially discarded because he said signatures on them did not match those he had on file.
Saturday, May 5, 2012 – 06:00 p.m.
You gotta love San Bernardino County politics.
The letter to the editor by San Bernardino attorneys Philip Kassel and Sanford Kassel, printed below, says it all.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/04/2012 05:20:47 PM PDT
A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Friday rejected a motion to dismiss a case against a High Desert developer accused of lying to the Grand Jury about his role in a political action committee.
Judge J. David Mazurek denied the motion filed on behalf of John Dino DeFazio, 52, of Apple Valley, who stands charged with six felony counts of perjury. A pretrial hearing is now scheduled for June 22.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
May 5, 2012
SACRAMENTO — It isn’t enough these days for certain state lawmakers to defend their voting records when seeking reelection. Some also have to explain arrest records.
Within the last 20 months, five state legislators and one former state senator with active campaigns have been arrested on suspicion of crimes including drunk driving, perjury, voter fraud, shoplifting and trying to carry a loaded gun through airport security.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/03/2012 08:54:13 AM PDT
Anthony Orlando Sanchez pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Riverside, admitting to conspiracy to commit bribery.
Sanchez, 36, was charged with acting as a conduit between an Upland business and former Mayor John Pomierski. Pomierski pleaded guilty last week in the bribery case.
Liset Márquez, Staff Writer
Created: 05/03/2012 06:01:14 PM PDT
ONTARIO – A local senator may soon revive a bill aimed at helping this city gain autonomous control of the struggling LA/Ontario International Airport.
Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, created Senate Bill 446 in early 2011 in an effort to move discussions along between officials from Ontario and Los Angeles World Airports, which operates ONT under a 44-year joint-powers agreement.
May 3, 2012 | 4:30 pm
Moving swiftly after a judge dismissed its case, the district attorney’s office refiled 24 perjury and voter-fraud charges late Thursday afternoon against Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife, Flora Montes De Oca Alarcon.
The new charges make the same allegations as a case thrown out by Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy on Thursday morning, accusing the Alarcons of lying about living in a house in Panorama City so that the councilman could run for his 7th District office.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/02/2012 11:26:32 AM PDT
Document: Read the amended complaint (.pdf file)
An attorney who filed a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for taxpayers of the $102 million settlement made by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in 2006 with Rancho Cucamonga-based developer Colonies Partners LP has made slight amendments to his complaint.
Cory Briggs said he added some language to the complaint, which he filed in February in San Bernardino County Court, in order to fill in information that attorneys for the Colonies said was needed.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/30/2012 05:26:19 PM PDT
View: Complaint
A complaint has been filed against San Bernardino County supervisor candidate and former San Manuel tribal chairman James Ramos, alleging that he failed to report his income and real property interests on state campaign disclosure forms.
The complaint, dated April 3 and received by the state Fair Political Practices Commission on April 12, alleges that Ramos failed to report on his form 700 Statement of Economic Interest a house he owns in Big Bear Lake and shares of stock in Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical company, and General Electric Co.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 04/30/2012 03:31:53 PM PDT
View: Initiative
The newly proposed three-strikes initiative to scale back California’s tough sentencing law has gotten opposing reactions from two local district attorneys.
Supporters, who submitted more than enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, bagged the endorsement of the measure by Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Apr. 30, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
A professional-quality video clip that popped up on YouTube depicts physical deficiencies in California courtrooms and makes the case for building new courthouses and rehabbing old ones.
The video, containing scene after scene of overcrowded courtrooms, mouse traps and water damage, was produced for the Judicial Council, the San Francisco-based policymaking body for California’s court system.
Sunday, April 29. 2012 – 01:00 p.m.
As a service to many of our readers. Here is today’s legal definition courtesy of Cornell University Law School.
Intentional Tort defined: A type of tort that can only result from an intentional act of the defendant. Depending on the exact tort alleged, either general or specific intent will need to be proven. Common intentional torts are battery, assault, false imprisonment, trespass to land, trespass to chattels, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Sunday, April 29, 2012 – 09:30 a.m.
Here’s some interesting factoids from across the financial and political transom:
First Quarter GDP Revised Lower
First quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was revised lower last week to 2.2%. The revised number was mainly supported by strong auto sales. A component that may not be sustainable looking ahead.
Why? Consumer spending has been outpacing non-existent wage growth.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/28/2012 07:19:08 PM PDT
UPLAND – Former Upland Mayor John Pomierski’s admission to accepting a $5,000 bribe from an Upland business does not worry city officials from a legal standpoint.
Pomierski pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Riverside to accepting a bribe from the owners of Chronic Cantina restaurant as part of a plea agreement.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/27/2012 06:01:18 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Scratch another $300,000 from the school district budget.
Following its earlier ruling that former Personnel Director Abe Flory was wrongfully terminated and should be given more than $550,000 in back pay and interest, the Personnel Commission decided Wednesday that the San Bernardino City Unified School District must pay Flory’s legal costs – more than $250,000 in attorney fees and nearly $13,000 in court reporter fees.
Friday, April 27, 2012 – 09:00 a.m.
As expected, two measures proposed by Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) related to pension forfeiture and disqualification from office have stalled in an Assembly committee.
By Joe Nelson
Posted: 04/26/2012 05:53:53 PM PDT
A jury on Thursday ruled in favor of the city of Colton and against its former police chief, Ken Rulon, in a wrongful termination lawsuit Rulon brought against the city in 2007.
Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 11:45 a.m.
Former Upland Mayor John “J.P.” Pomierski entered into a plea agreement before Federal Judge Virginia Philips in U.S. District Court in Riverside on Thursday morning.
The plea agreement stems from charges related to influence peddling.
Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.
Here’s some interesting news on the transom this week.
Retirement savings plans under attack.
Yes, it’s finally happening. The feds are discussing the taxation of various retirement savings accounts to generate revenue. As their coffers dwindle, expect federal, state and local government to squeeze taxpayers.
Draft report done; findings expected out in June
April 25, 2012 11:37 AM
Brooke Edwards Staggs, City Editor
VICTORVILLE • Three years after the Daily Press first reported that the San Bernardino County Grand Jury was investigating the city of Victorville, sources confirm a draft report of the citizen group’s findings is complete and will likely be released within the next two months.
City Manager Doug Robertson said he was recently given an opportunity to review the draft report. He was then asked to sign a confidentiality form on April 16, prohibiting him from discussing any of the report’s contents.
RICHARD K. De ATLEY, STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com
Published: 25 April 2012 05:56 PM
President Obama has nominated Jesus Bernal, who heads the Inland-area public defender’s office in Riverside, as a judge for the vacant federal court bench in Riverside, Sen. Barbara Boxer’s office announced Wednesday.
April 25th, 2012, 3:25 pm
Posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
We told you recently about a stunning study which found that putting a condemned prisoner to death in California cost $308 million per man.
“Executing the Will of the Voters? A Roadmap to Mend or End the California Legislature’s Death Penalty Debacle ” had unusual authority, written as it was by folks from both sides of the debate: U.S. 9th Circuit Judge Arthur L. Alarcon, who has prosecuted death penalty cases, and Loyola Law School professor Paula M. Mitchell, who argues against them.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/24/2012 06:12:19 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposal to discourage the hiring of illegal immigrants by requiring restaurants to inform customers if they use the federal E-Verify system.
Supervisor Neil Derry proposed amending the county health code to require restaurants to add a green or red overlay to their letter-grading window placards. A green overlay would indicate the restaurant uses the E-Verify system. A red overlay would mean a restaurant does not use the system.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/24/2012 12:32:42 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council on Monday approved a contract with a Chino-based law firm Gutierrez, Fierro & Erickson to provide interim legal services while the city seeks a permanent firm to serve as city attorney.
April 24, 2012 5:41 PM
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Brooke Edwards Staggs, City Editor
VICTORVILLE • The class action lawsuit over Victorville’s red light cameras has been moved from state to federal court, with the city motioning to dismiss the case while a local attorney gears up for a potentially precedent-setting battle.
The venue change came at the request of Redflex Traffic Systems, the private company that operates 10 cameras in Victorville and is a codefendant in the case alongside the city.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 – 12:15 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 – 03:00 p.m.
In a Romper Room fashion, an embarrassing display of incompetence decended on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting just before noon on Tuesday.
Neither Chairperson Josie Gonzales nor County Counsel Jean-Rene Basle knew Robert’s Rules of Order or their own procedures regarding the conduct of voting among the boards members.
Gonzales is of no surprise. But Basle, a licensed and practicing attorney, is a another story.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 23 April 2012 06:12 PM
Restaurants in San Bernardino County would be required to inform customers if they perform immigration background checks on their employees under a proposal that will go before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Supervisor Neil Derry is proposing to amend the county’s restaurant grading ordinance so that placards would be color-coded to indicate whether an establishment uses E-Verify, a federal database to check a person’s immigration status.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 23, 2012
Californians voters going to the polls in November will again decide the fate of the death penalty.
A measure to abolish the death penalty and replace it with a maximum sentence of life behind bars without parole has qualified for the Nov. 6 ballot, the Secretary of State confirmed today. The measure, backed by a coalition that includes the American Civil Liberties Union and some law enforcement and victims rights groups, would apply to inmates currently on death row.
By Marc Lifsher
April 23, 2012, 1:10 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — Federal securities regulators sued a former chief executive and a former director of the country’s largest public pension fund, accusing them of scheming to defraud an investment firm of more than $20 million in fees.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed the lawsuit Monday against the former CEO, Federico Buenrostro Jr., and the former CalPERS board member, Alfred J.R. Villalobos, alleging that they fabricated documents provided to Apollo Global Management in New York.
Monday, April 23, 2012 – 03:00 p.m.
A lawsuit filed by an Upland lawyer to force San Bernardino County to recover $102 million it paid Colonies Partners L.P., in a 2006 settlement over a flood control land use dispute, appears to have hit a snag.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Apr. 22, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The California Legislature has a bad habit of making sweeping decisions in the moment without giving much thought to their long-term consequences.
The syndrome’s most striking example was an immense overhaul in 1996 of the state’s electric power system, misnamed “deregulation,” based on blithe, untested assertions that it would lower power bills.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/20/2012 12:11:17 PM PDT
A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Friday lifted bail for four defendants in the Colonies Partners corruption scandal, freeing them from having to pay an annual bond premium as the one-year anniversary of their arrest nears.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 20 April 2012 11:42 AM
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge agreed Friday to lift bail for three former county officials and a developer facing corruption charges.
Judge Michael Smith agreed to allow the four men to remain free on their own recognizance as the case continues to remain in the pre-trial stage almost a year after the defendants were indicted.
BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com
Published: 20 April 2012 05:50 PM
The state Department of Finance has rejected payment of nearly $159 million in projects and debts from Riverside’s former redevelopment agency, potentially leaving the city’s general fund on the hook for at least some of that amount.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/19/2012 06:17:07 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Attorneys for the bankrupt SBD Airport Services are asking a federal judge to force San Bernardino International Airport administrators to restore the company’s access to the airport’s fueling facilities.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/18/2012 08:11:29 PM PDT
As Superior Courts around the state look for ways to grapple with staggering budget cuts in the next fiscal year, San Bernardino County officials say courtroom closures are one option being looked at here.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/17/2012 10:50:07 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The special oversight committee in charge of unwinding the Inland Valley Development Agency’s redevelopment powers has yet to finish compiling a list of financial obligations that could determine whether planned improvements around San Bernardino International Airport are accomplished or not.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/17/2012 11:43:29 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – In a court case that could change the outcome of the city clerk election, the registrar of voters will be required to explain why he didn’t count votes by people whose signature didn’t match records but signed affidavits swearing they had voted.
The decision by Judge Donna Gunnell Garza on Tuesday modifies her earlier decision not to allow any outside evidence.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/17/2012 05:46:09 PM PDT
UPLAND – The city will be going out to bid for a new city attorney contract.
The City Council recently agreed to begin the search for a new city attorney contract due to increasing legal costs.
Council also to view changes to agenda policy
April 17, 2012 8:54 AM
From Staff Reports
VICTORVILLE • The two-year Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, twice-delayed water service hikes and proposed changes to a controversial policy about how issues end up on the agenda to begin with are all before the Victorville City Council Tuesday night.
During the closed session meeting starting at 5 p.m., before the regular session, the council will discuss the ongoing SEC investigation. The agency has been looking into Victorville’s bond expenditures since summer 2010, recently issuing a new subpoena and conducting interviews with city staff and officials.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
April 17, 2012 | 1:26 pm
A proposal by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) that could make it easier to open medical marijuana shops in California was approved by the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee A proposal that could make it easier to open medical marijuana shops in California was approved Tuesday by the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee despite objections from cities and law enforcement agencies that it unreasonably ties their hands.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 – 10:55 a.m.
Is there a plea deal in the long-running Upland corruption case against former Upland Mayor John “J.P.” Pomierski?
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Published: 15 April 2012 07:07 PM
Democrats and Republicans have spent recent days trading accusations that the other party has engaged in a so-called war on women.
First came the Democratic talking points: the GOP’s support for anti-abortion laws and opposition to the 2009 equal-pay legislation shows that probable presidential nominee Mitt Romney and Republicans are waging a war on women.
Romney’s camp fired back, enlisting his female surrogates — including Inland Rep. Mary Bono Mack — to discredit the accusations.
BY RICHARD K. De ATLEY
STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com
Published: 15 April 2012 02:18 PM
Advocates and opponents of California’s medical marijuana clinics are in a legal no-man’s land after a flurry of appellate court decisions that contradict each other on whether local governments can ban the dispensaries.
The decisions also conflict on how the clinics can supply themselves with marijuana.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 14 April 2012 06:22 PM
With drag racing at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana halted due to a court order, racing enthusiasts are lobbying the county to get the racetrack reopened.
Supporters have formed a group called Save Auto Club Dragway, created a Facebook page and signed petitions. More than two dozen of them spoke at the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting last week, urging the county to help the speedway get the approvals it needs.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/13/2012 05:40:59 PM PDT
The Victor Valley Economic Development Authority (VVEDA) has sued the state, alleging a new state law that dissolved California’s roughly 400 redevelopment agencies does not apply to VVEDA because it is not a redevelopment agency.
VVEDA filed the lawsuit in the state Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the applicability of Assembly Bill x126, known as the “Dissolution Bill,” which shuttered redevelopment agencies up and down California.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
April 13, 2012 | 5:12 pm
As state lawmakers consider proposals to reduce pension costs in California, they face legal obstacles to restricting the retirement benefits enjoyed by many local officials, including some city council members, experts warned Friday.
BY RICHARD K. De ATLEY
STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com
Published: 11 April 2012 05:38 PM
The California Supreme Court decided Wednesday to review a trial judge’s order removing the Riverside County public defender’s office from a death penalty murder case.
BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com
Published: 11 April 2012 08:33 PM
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors wants to marry you.
To your sweetheart, that is. Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to back a state bill giving them the power to perform marriage ceremonies.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/11/2012 08:12:10 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The stench of urine and stale beer assault the senses as soon as Steve Willkomm opens the door to the foreclosed home.
But after years of similar experiences, the new head of the city’s code enforcement division focuses immediately on the gutted remains of a radiator.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 10 April 2012 08:38 PM
A legal challenge to San Bernardino City Clerk Gigi Hanna’s election victory suffered a setback Tuesday when a judge ruled that voters whose ballots were disqualified cannot testify.
BY JEFF HORSEMAN AND DAVID DANELSKI
STAFF WRITERS
jhorseman@pe.com | ddanelski@pe.com
Published: 09 April 2012 03:14 PM
Assemblyman and Riverside County supervisor candidate Kevin Jeffries can describe himself as a small business owner on the June 5 ballot but must drop or revise language about his voting record on taxes, a court commissioner ruled Monday.
By Catherine Saillant, Los Angeles Times
April 8, 2012, 8:51 p.m.
A high-profile perjury and voter fraud case against Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife could be in trouble based on a judge’s warning at a court hearing last month, transcripts show.
In the March 2 hearing, L.A. County Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy sharply criticized the prosecution’s case and scolded Deputy Dist. Atty. Jennifer Lentz Snyder for being “very dismissive” of defense evidence submitted to a grand jury in 2010. Those jurors returned a 24-count felony indictment against the Alarcons, who have pleaded not guilty.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/06/2012 01:20:31 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The attorney for an Apple Valley businessman linked to a sweeping San Bernardino County corruption case filed a motion Friday in Superior Court seeking dismissal of the case.
John Dino DeFazio, 52, is charged with six felony counts of perjury for allegedly lying to the county’s civil Grand Jury in 2009 about his involvement with a political action committee prosecutors allege was used to conceal a $100,000 bribe to former county Assessor Bill Postmus.
Debra J. Saunders
Friday, April 6, 2012
Why is the federal government under President Obama arguably tougher on medical marijuana operations than it was under George W. Bush? That’s the question that antidrug-war groups have been asking themselves for months.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 04/05/2012 06:20:21 PM PDT
To view Assembly Bill 2552 introduced by Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Chino, visit http://tinyurl.com/potbill.
To read a letter from the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition group asking Torres to withdraw the bill visit http://tinyurl.com/potletter.
A group of former California police officers, prosecutors and judges have asked Assemblywoman Norma Torres to withdraw her bill that would criminalize motorists who operate a vehicle with any level of marijuana in their blood or urine.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition members said standards created by Assembly Bill 2552 have nothing to do with actual impairment behind the wheel and would criminalize California’s legal medical marijuana patients.
BY DUG BEGLEY
STAFF WRITER
dbegley@pe.com
Published: 04 April 2012 06:35 PM
San Bernardino Associated Governments on Wednesday hired Sacramento City Attorney Eileen Teichert as its first general counsel, ending a practice of getting its legal advice from the county.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/04/2012 04:19:12 PM PDT
A federal court judge in Riverside is considering a request to postpone former Upland Mayor John Pomierski’s trial for the third time.
By Carol J. Williams, Los Angeles Times
April 3, 2012
Civil rights groups and aspiring minority college students have lost the latest bid to get the University of California to resume considering race in its admissions decisions.
Proposition 209 banned the state’s public universities from using racial preferences to increase the ranks of black, Latino and Native American students, and the 1996 voter initiative has already withstood several constitutional challenges.
By David G. Savage, Washington Bureau
March 31, 2012, 5:05 p.m.
WASHINGTON — When the incoming Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. came before the Senate for confirmation seven years ago, President Reagan’s solicitor general gave him a warm endorsement as a “careful, modest” judge.
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com
Published: 30 March 2012 11:18 AM
Norton Property Management Services LLC, a company affiliated with Scot Spencer that filed for bankruptcy in December to avoid eviction from a hangar at San Bernardino International Airport, was granted another 90 days to either keep or reject the amended lease it has had with the airport since October 2010.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
March 30, 2012
Democratic campaign treasurer Kinde Durkee pleaded guilty this morning to defrauding her clients of at least $7 million, bringing to a close a case that one official has called the “most extensive campaign treasurer fraud in the history of California.”
IMRAN GHORI
ighori@pe.com
Published: 29 March 2012 10:36 AM
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge Thursday delayed sentencing for former Assessor Bill Postmus on corruption charges until July 19.
Postmus pleaded guilty last year to taking part in a conspiracy involving bribery and extortion in exchange for his vote for the county’s controversial $102 million legal settlement with developer Colonies Partners.
Ryan Carter, Staff Writer
Created: 03/28/2012 07:23:04 PM PDT
Attorneys for developer Colonies Partners LP are seeking dismissal of a civil lawsuit that would force the developer to pay back a $102 million legal settlement to taxpayers.
By Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/28/2012 07:50:12 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The agency formed to revive the former Norton Air Force Base plans to file a lawsuit next week to keep from falling under the clutches of the state law that has dissolved more than 400 municipal redevelopment agencies across California.
The Inland Valley Development Agency will ask a state court judge next week for an injunction to shield it from the effects of ABx1 26, the law which abolished redevelopment agencies and requires them create oversight boards to proceed with the liquidation of assets, Tim Sabo, attorney for the agency’s board, said Wednesday.
March 28, 2012 4:06 PM
Tomoya Shimura, Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE • A former Victorville deputy accused of failing to report illegal sexual acts between a fellow deputy and a teen Explorer was acquitted in his misdemeanor trial Wednesday.
After a few hours of deliberations, a Victorville jury found Erik Alexandro Orduno, 32, not guilty of failing to report suspected child abuse as a mandated reporter.
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