Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Friday, February 28, 2014 – 02:30 p.m.
A motion, related to the execution of a February 2013 search warrant, by the District Attorney, filed by Stephen G. Larson, attorney for Colonies Defendant Jeffrey Burum, is now public.
February 27, 2014
Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach announced Thursday he has the endorsement of Sheriff Stanley Sniff and several police chiefs as he officially began his campaign for re-election.
To read post by Richard K. De Atley in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.
By Greg Cappis, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 02/27/14, 7:37 PM PST |
Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown is abstaining from the game of musical chairs that has enticed numerous Inland Empire pols.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 02/27/14, 8:12 PM PST |
San Bernardino’s largest creditor has permission from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to appeal a bankruptcy judge’s finding that the city is eligible for bankruptcy protection, raising the potential that the court could reverse the 2012 ruling that city officials then called vital for the city’s protection.
Resolution would extend special fire tax until 2037
February 27, 2014 1:57 PM
Rene Ray De La Cruz, Staff Writer
APPLE VALLEY • The Town Council adopted a resolution Tuesday supporting the extension of a special fire tax that will go on the June ballot.
Yuan awaiting outcome of felony vandalism charges
February 28, 2014 5:00 AM
Brooke Self, Staff Writer
ADELANTO • An Adelanto woman has been removed from her local government position as she awaits the outcome of felony charges against her for vandalism of an elementary school classroom, officials said Thursday.
Bob Egelko
Updated 5:21 am, Friday, February 28, 2014
Attorney General Kamala Harris moved Thursday to preserve California’s restrictions on concealed-weapons permits, seeking a rehearing of a federal appeals court ruling that would allow law-abiding citizens throughout the state to carry handguns in public.
By Victoria Kim
February 27, 2014, 5:20 p.m.
Talk or text you may not, but it is legal for drivers to look at maps on their cellphones while on the road, a California appellate court ruled Thursday.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 27, 2014
Gov. Jerry Brown announced Thursday that he has taken out the papers to run for re-election.
By Chris Megerian and Melanie Mason
February 27, 2014, 1:54 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a Republican candidate for governor, was back on the radio Wednesday to talk about firearms, this time fielding questions about his failure to register a handgun he illegally took to an airport in 2012.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 – 10:17 pm
Last Modified: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 – 10:34 pm
The direct primary election was one of the political reforms that California – and other states – adopted during the Populist era a century ago as an antidote to political parties, which were seen as “vessels of corruption” that thwarted popular will.
News
Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Jesse Petrilla was convicted of assault with a firearm when he was 17.
BY TOMOYA SHIMURA / STAFF WRITER
Published: Feb. 27, 2014 Updated: Feb. 28, 2014 9:31 a.m.
Republican Assembly candidate Jesse Petrilla, who is running to replace Diane Harkey in the 73rd District in November, said voters should not judge him based on his conviction as a minor on two felony counts of assault with a firearm.
Kurtis Alexander
Updated 6:40 am, Friday, February 28, 2014
Fresh snow is blanketing the Sierra this week, but not enough to put a big dent in the statewide drought.
By Paloma Esquivel
February 27, 2014, 4:38 p.m.
Attorneys for the man charged with killing eight people in a Seal Beach salon three years ago have accused Orange County prosecutors and sheriff’s deputies of running an unconstitutional jailhouse informant operation that ensnared their client and other inmates.
Thursday, February 27, 2014 – 09:00 a.m.
The fallout from the scandal involving Sacramento lobbyist Kevin Sloat and his firm Sloat, Higgins, Jensen and Associates, has touched several Southern California legislators, in addition to the Governor himself.
February 26, 2014; 03:10 PM
Transportation officials circled the wagons in downtown San Bernardino on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to kick off a $227 million project to bring Metrolink, bus service and, eventually, rail to Redlands together at a single station.
To read column by Cassie MacDuff in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 02/26/14, 7:40 PM PST |
RIVERSIDE >> San Bernardino Councilman Robert Jenkins appeared in court Wednesday for a felony settlement conference related to the 30 felony and misdemeanor charges he’s facing, but the conference was postponed until March 28.
By Canan Tasci, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 02/26/14, 11:19 AM PST | Updated: 1 hr ago
GRAND TERRACE >> City Council members were expected to go over their mid-year budget Tuesday evening until they received information that could possibly throw a wrench into their finances.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 02/26/14, 8:07 PM PST |
ONTARIO >> People will need to think bigger and collaborate more to help San Bernardino County meet its future economic, educational and quality-of-life goals, Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Janice Rutherford told more than 1,000 people at Wednesday evening’s State of the County event at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 02/26/14, 8:26 AM PST |
Before Don Thompson, there was Reginald Webb. And Ronald McDonald would never be the same.
It was 1973 when a headhunter recruited Webb, a young, African-American graduate of Cal State Los Angeles, to become a manager at McDonald’s.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 02/25/14, 6:24 PM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Downtown property owners will meet Thursday to discuss banding together to charge themselves an assessment and use the money to make the area clean and safe.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 02/25/14, 1:30 PM PST | Updated: 5 hrs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> County supervisors on Tuesday approved an $11.6 million, 25-year lease agreement with San Bernardino International Airport for more than 61,000 square feet of space that will house the sheriff’s aviation division when it relocates from Rialto Airport next year.
Posted: 02/25/14, 5:53 PM PST |
San Bernardino International Airport officials gave media representatives a sneak-peak at the airport’s new passenger terminal Tuesday.
The $20 million facility took two years to construct and includes all equipment and facilities necessary to bring international flights to the airport, said A.J. Wilson, executive director of the San Bernardino International Airport Authority. A ribbon-cutting ceremony that is open to the public is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at the airport, 294 S. Leland Norton Way.
February 25, 2014 10:32 AM
Rene Ray De La Cruz, Staff Writer
APPLE VALLEY • The Town Council on Tuesday will consider a ballot measure that would increase the amount that homeowners pay for the Apple Valley Fire Protection District’s general obligation bond while extending the tax until 2037.
February 25, 2014 1:38 PM
Rene Ray De La Cruz, Staff Writer
APPLE VALLEY • The Town Council will review its midyear budget report card during Tuesday’s meeting.
By Jessica Garrison and Chris Megerian
February 25, 2014, 10:08 p.m.
The handgun that GOP assemblyman and gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly attempted to take through airport security in 2012 was not registered to him, according to a police report reviewed by The Times.
By Patrick McGreevy
February 25, 2014, 4:38 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — The state ethics agency on Tuesday made public a warning letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, 10 days after it was provided to the chief executive as a caution for accepting improper contributions from a lobbyist.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 – 10:51 pm
Last Modified: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 – 11:42 pm
Revenue volatility, an old issue, is getting new attention this year as Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders pledge not to do what their predecessors often did – overspend windfall revenue.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 25, 2014
Saying Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal “includes little to address the effects of the current drought,” a new report by the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal analyst suggests anti-drought and conservation steps that lawmakers could take.
Posted by Jon Fleischman
12:39 am on Feb 26, 2014
This coming Friday State Senator Rod Wright will be celebrating an anniversary of sorts — he will be celebrating the end of his first month serving in the California legislature while simultaneous being a convicted felon. On January 28th Wright was found guilty in Superior Court of eight felonies. A jury of Wright’s peers found that he had committed perjury and fraudulent voting, after Los Angeles County District Attorney prosecutors successfully made the case that Wright did not, in fact, reside in the Senate District in which he ran. Wright will be formally sentenced in May, but based on the crimes for which he was convicted he could face up to eight years and four months in prison.
By Abby Sewell
February 25, 2014, 6:12 p.m.
Los Angeles County supervisors voted Tuesday to ask the newly appointed inspector general of the Sheriff’s Department to work with interim Sheriff John L. Scott to study setting up a civilian commission that would oversee the department.
BY MIKE REICHER / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Feb. 25, 2014 Updated: 9:36 p.m.
Orange County’s chief operating officer, who was convicted of election fraud in the 1990s, was stripped this week of his position overseeing the county elections office.
By Mark Glover
mglover@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 – 11:50 am
The state Board of Equalization today approved lowering the statewide excise tax rate on gasoline by 3.5 cents.
By Noam N. Levey
February 25, 2014, 5:32 p.m.
WASHINGTON – Enrollment in health plans sold on marketplaces created by President Obama’s healthcare law has hit 4 million, the administration announced Tuesday, marking another milestone in the law’s implementation.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 02/23/14, 7:33 PM PST | Updated: 32 secs ago
A federal appeals court has upheld an earlier ruling to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an Upland real estate executive’s widow who alleges that her husband’s suicide occurred after authorities failed to conduct a proper medical and psychological screening following his arrest more than three years ago.
February 24, 2014; 05:18 PM
Riverside County’s hospital reduced its current budget shortfall to $36 million, an improvement over the expected $54 million gap for the Moreno Valley facility.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Posted: 02/24/14, 10:15 PM PST |
The departure of two incumbents has tipped the political dominoes in San Bernardino County.
February 24, 2014 12:20 PM
Rene Ray De La Cruz, Staff Writer
HESPERIA • The Hesperia City Council reviewed the city’s mid-year budget at its most recent meeting and established new goals for the future.
By Patrick McGreevy
February 24, 2014, 4:45 p.m.
SACRAMENTO – Senate leaders said Monday they will give Sen. Ronald S. Calderon (D-Montebello) one week, until March 3, to either resign or take a leave of absence, after which he will face a possible Senate vote to suspend him from office.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 – 6:19 am
One seat was conspicuously empty when the state Senate convened Monday because Sen. Ron Calderon was, to use the official parlance, “excused on personal business.”
By Lori Montgomery
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The long-awaited simplification of the tax code being drafted by House Republicans would slash the top income tax rate to 25 percent from 39.6 percent and impose a surtax on some of the nation’s wealthiest households.
Monday, February 24, 2014 – 03:00 p.m
The appeal of a U.S. District Court ruling, dismissing two civil rights claims, by Rachel Lewis, widow of real estate executive David Lewis, was denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday.
Monday, February 24, 2014 – 11:30 a.m.
InlandPolitics.com has obtained and uploaded appellate briefs, related to a lawsuit over the suicide death of real estate executive David Lewis, filed in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 02/23/14, 7:33 PM PST |
The widow of a deceased Upland real estate executive has sued San Bernardino County’s district attorney, the California Highway Patrol and several others, alleging they caused his suicide by forcing him to cooperate as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption and failing to take into account his unstable mental condition.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 02/23/14, 6:56 PM PST |
ONTARIO >> County officials and working professionals will likely have a lot to talk about this year at the State of the County address.
By Rong-Gong Lin II
February 23, 2014, 5:10 p.m.
Get ready, L.A. — the winter storms headed to Los Angeles this week could be the wettest in two years.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 – 7:08 am
Nearly 30 years ago, yours truly wrote a series of articles about dramatic changes in California’s economics, demographics, culture and politics that were creating a “New California.”
By Ed Mendel
Monday, February 24, 2014
Getting CalSTRS back to full funding, if rates are steadily increased over the next half dozen years, would take an annual increase reaching more than $5 billion a year by 2020 — about what the state general fund currently spends on UC and CSU combined.
By J.D. Harrison
Monday, February 24, 2014
After a slow start, the pace of enrollment is starting to pick up on the health-care law’s new insurance marketplace for individuals and families, with more than 1 million people signing up for coverage last month, including strong showings in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
By DAVID NATHER | 2/23/14 10:59 PM EST
When you go to all this trouble to cover the uninsured, is it really that unreasonable to ask how many uninsured people Obamacare has covered so far?
The answer, apparently, is: Yes. It’s unreasonable.
Sunday, February 23, 2014 – 7:25 p.m.
InlandPolitics.com has uploaded documents, from the respective state and federal court databases, related to the breaking story on deceased real estate executive David Lewis, published by The San Bernardino County Sentinel website on Sunday evening.
By Mark Gutglueck (www.sbsentinel.com)
Sunday, February 23, 2014 – 05:00 p.m.
(February 23) David Lewis, a third generation member of the Lewis Homes homebuilding and shopping center development dynasty, was driven to suicide in 2010 by pressure put on him by district attorney Mike Ramos to act as a cooperating witness against members of his family, according to a lawsuit filed by his widow and surviving son.
Saturday, February 22, 2014 – 05:30 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 23, 20134 – 08:45 a.m.
The filing period for the June Primary Election closes on March 7.
Two of the sure to be hotly-contested Inland races, will be that of Riverside County and San Bernardino County District Attorney.
February 22, 2014; 04:28 PM
Riverside could increase spending this fiscal year by more than $5.8 million, in part by tapping the general fund reserve, but finance officials are cautioning the council about growing costs in 2014-15.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 02/22/14, 2:24 PM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> The cheers for attorney Eloise Gomez Reyes and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, on Friday were meant to celebrate the lift her campaign for the 31st Congressional District expected from the endorsement of the fourth-ranking Democrat in Congress.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 02/22/14, 4:42 PM PST |
REDLANDS >> Foodies are traveling from within and beyond Southern California to find artisan foods, craft beverages and locally sourced ingredients in Redlands.
Word of the town’s many local restaurants, wineries and breweries has gotten out, helping to brand the city as a food and beverage destination.
By Kevin Smith, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Posted: 02/22/14, 6:40 PM PST |
America’s slow but steady recovery from the Great Recession has been fueled at least in part by government stimulus.
By Paul Rogers
progers@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/22/2014 04:09:15 PM PST
Updated: 02/22/2014 07:20:33 PM PST
Here’s something you haven’t heard much around California during the past 14 months: Get out your umbrellas.
By Chris Megerian and Melanie Mason
February 22, 2014, 7:39 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — For a while it looked like the state Legislature was shedding its reputation as a political punching bag, its ratings in public opinion polls climbing out of the cellar as the budget crisis eased and the economy began to recover.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 – 12:00 am
It’s not that California politicians haven’t talked about the state’s uncertain water supply.
They have – constantly, for decades.
By Catherine Saillant
February 22, 2014, 7:35 p.m.
NBC correspondent Maria Shriver said she sees no need to step down from her news job while campaigning for her brother, Bobby Shriver, a candidate for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
By Dan Balz,
Published: February 22, 2014
In Washington, the focus right now is on the Senate: Who will control it after the November midterm elections? But the National Governors Association winter meeting this weekend is a reminder that the outcome of this year’s gubernatorial elections will be equally important in shaping the political future.
Saturday, February 22, 2014 – 10:30 a.m.
The primary campaign to replace retiring Congressman Gary Miller (R-Rancho Cucamoga) has turned somewhat interesting in recent weeks.
The original field of four democrats and one republican incumbent, has morphed into four democrats and three republicans, with no incumbent.
Saturday, February 22, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.
Hurray! State Senator Norma Torres (D-Pomona), after just a few short months in the California Senate, is now running for Congress.
February 21, 2014; 06:21 PM
Candidates are flocking to two Inland congressional races – seven in one district alone – now that incumbents Gary Miller and Gloria Negrete McLeod not seeking re-election.
Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga, announced his retirement earlier this month so he can focus on raising his three grandchildren. Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, who is in her first term, wants to run for San Bernardino County supervisor.
Here’s a rundown of their potential replacements.
To read column by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Party says it will hold tainted funds in trust for now
By Jeff McDonald
Feb. 21, 2014
One month after pledging to dispose of $30,000 pegged by prosecutors as an illegal campaign contribution from a foreign national, the Democratic Party of San Diego County has yet to send back or donate the money.
Carla Marinucci
Updated 6:29 am, Saturday, February 22, 2014
Peter Thiel, the billionaire co-founder of PayPal and an increasingly active force in conservative and libertarian politics, says the country has a problem: It’s not embracing tech.
Worse, said Facebook’s original investor, it’s making the tech culture a whipping boy for its problems.
Friday, February 21, 2014 – 10:30 p.m.
A decision to unseal a fifth dismissal motion in the highly-publicized Colonies case has been delayed until February 28.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 21, 2014
Tim Donnelly will not face legal action in San Bernardino County for his heavily publicized use of firearms at campaign events in recent weeks, the local prosecutor saying Friday that terms of Donnelly’s probation do not prohibit such activities.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 21, 2014
Calderon Bribe Case – Indictment
Sen. Ron Calderon and his brother, former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, have been indicted by federal authorities on multiple criminal charges, including money laundering.
Kurtis Alexander
Published 11:33 am, Friday, February 21, 2014
(02-21) 11:31 PST SAN FRANCISCO — Federal officials announced Friday that many California farmers will receive no water this year from the federally-run system of reservoirs and canals fed by the drought-stricken Sierra Nevada, a crippling blow for the state’s agricultural industry.
By Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Daily News
and Mike Sprague, Whittier Daily News
Posted: 02/21/14, 9:21 AM PST | Updated: 17 mins ago
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Attorney’s Office is expected to file federal charges today in a political corruption matter and a case involving a massive health care fraud scheme.
A law enforcement source told this newspaper the charges are related to the FBI investigation of state Sen. Ron Calderon.
Posted: 02/21/14, 9:21 AM PST | Updated: 13 secs ago
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Attorney’s Office is expected to file federal charges Friday in a political corruption matter and a case involving a massive health care fraud scheme.
A press conference is being held at noon at the federal building in Los Angeles.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 02/20/14, 7:22 PM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Carey Davis will make $103 more per month as mayor than his predecessor, a raise required by a city charter formula similar to the one that controversially sets the pay for police and firefighters.
By Marc Lifsher
February 20, 2014, 6:00 p.m.
SACARAMENTO — Californians, who already pay some of the highest gasoline prices in the nation, could soon be asked to pay more.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 – 10:33 pm
Last Modified: Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 – 12:01 am
Darrell Steinberg, the president pro tem of the state Senate who will leave the position and the Legislature later this year, proposed Thursday that gasoline taxes be increased sharply to fight global warming and provide new financial support for low- and middle-income families.
By Jeremy B. White
jwhite@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 – 11:00 pm
A pair of bills requiring greater transparency from electioneering nonprofits are one step away from Gov. Jerry Brown.
By Patrick McGreevy and Paige St. John
February 20, 2014, 10:51 a.m.
SACRAMENTO — An attorney who aided an investigation that resulted in fines against lobbyist Kevin Sloat said the settlement of the matter approved Thursday by the state Fair Political Practices Commission falls short and fails to address some of the most serious allegations involving elected officials.
By David Siders and Jim Miller
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 – 11:00 pm
STOCKTON — Tim Donnelly parked his campaign RV outside a Stockton house one night last week, asked for a Monster Energy drink and walked inside to the applause of a small crowd.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 20, 2014
Moody’s Investors Services, a major bond rating house, warned Thursday that if bankrupt California cities don’t reduce their pension obligations, they risk returning to insolvency.
By Christina Villacorte, Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 02/20/14, 8:13 PM PST | Updated: 9 hrs ago
Realizing they both have a lot to lose if public employee retirement costs continue spiraling out of control, Los Angeles County and its labor unions have agreed to what they called “sweeping reforms” that could save as much as $840 million over the next 30 years.
By Chris Megerian
February 20, 2014, 4:45 p.m.
WEST SACRAMENTO — When the glass-sheathed headquarters of the California teachers’ pension fund opened five years ago, it was supposed to help anchor developments along the blighted riverfront on the capital’s outskirts.
BY DAVID MONTERO / STAFF WRITER
Published: Feb. 19, 2014 Updated: Feb. 20, 2014 1:59 p.m.
The Orange County sheriff loosened requirements Wednesday for obtaining a concealed-weapons permit in light of a recent federal appellate court decision that deemed many urban counties in California to be overly restrictive in saying who can and can’t carry a concealed weapon.
By Michael A. Memoli and Kathleen Hennessey
February 20, 2014, 7:13 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Seeking to present a unified Democratic front in an election year, President Obama is backing away from a proposal to restrain spending on entitlement programs, focusing instead on economic priorities likely to please his party’s base.
By Seema Mehta
February 20, 2014, 7:00 a.m.
Without offering a hint as to her plans, Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday lamented the departure of longtime congressional colleagues from California — including retiring Reps. Henry Waxman and George Miller –and said their institutional knowledge and ability to compromise in Washington would be missed.