Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Sunday, August 31, 2014 - 11:00 a.m.
Will the GOP commit resources into the campaign of Paul Chabot (R-Rancho Cucamonga)?
By Chris Megerian
August 30, 2014
It was past dark when a contingent of Republican senators filed into Gov. Jerry Brown’s Capitol office as the deadline loomed for a plan to overhaul California’s aging water system.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 - 12:00 am
The close of the Legislature’s 2012-14 biennial session also marks the end of a noteworthy period – Jerry Brown’s third term as governor and the reigns of the Legislature’s two top leaders.
By Chris Kirkham
August 30, 2014
California’s economic recovery has featured a growing share of lower-wage jobs, raising concerns about the opportunities for middle-class workers hit hard by the Great Recession, a new analysis finds.
Saturday, August 30, 2014 - 01:30 p.m.
The California Senate and Assembly concluded their 2013-2014 legislative sessions early Saturday morning. The end was met with the usual flurry of last minute votes and arguments over the passage of bills covering a wide spectrum of issues.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
The City of Redlands will elect three council members on November 4th. Seven candidates have successfully filed for the race including two incumbents, a former county supervisor, a former public information officer, an insurance agent, a tattoo parlor owner, and a “domestic engineer.” Council member Bob Gardner decided not to seek reelection leaving an open seat.
Published: Aug. 29, 2014 - Updated: 10:46 a.m.
Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, and his Republican challenger, Assemblyman Brian Nestande of Palm Desert, will participate in a televised debate on Oct. 3.
To read column by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 08/29/14, 10:19 PM PDT | Updated: 56 secs ago
HIGHLAND>> The East Valley Water District has implemented outdoor watering restrictions in its 27.7-mile service area, following orders from the state to reduce water use during the drought.
By Patrick McGreevy
August 30, 2014
Lawmakers early Saturday approved a measure that would prohibit elected officials from soliciting contributions for nonprofit groups controlled by the official or a family member and that would limit the personal use of campaign funds.
By Patrick McGreevy
August 30, 2014
California lawmakers approved a measure Saturday that would require the state to develop a new Internet-based campaign filing and public display system and that candidates file electronic disclosures of their campaign finances every calendar quarter, instead of the current semi-annual filing schedule.
By David Siders
[email protected]
Published: Friday, Aug. 29, 2014 - 11:36 pm
Last Modified: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 - 11:44 am
California lawmakers narrowly approved a sweeping plastic bag ban Friday, leaving Gov. Jerry Brown to decide the fate of the controversial bill in an election year.
By Patrick McGreevy
August 30, 2014
The state Senate on Friday acted on stricter ethics rules meant to restore public confidence in the Legislature after three senators were charged with criminal wrongdoing.
By Patrick May
[email protected]
Posted: 08/29/2014 05:51:09 PM PDT61 Comments
Updated: 08/29/2014 08:51:39 PM PDT
Looking around last week at the exhibitor showroom of CannaCon, the huge marijuana-business expo held outside Seattle, Greg James had something of an epiphany: The pot industry in America is growing like, you guessed it, a weed.
By Howard Blume
August 29, 2014
Gov. Jerry Brown filed an appeal Friday of a ruling that struck down traditional job protections for teachers.
NEWPORT R.I. Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:52pm EDT
(Reuters) - Obama, raising money for Democratic candidates as Republicans aim to take over the Senate in the fall, on Friday blamed some Republicans for a calculated effort to undermine faith in government by opposing policy compromises.
By KENNETH P. VOGEL | 8/29/14 4:51 PM EDT Updated: 8/30/14 7:26 AM EDT
DALLAS – Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in a Friday afternoon speech that sounded a lot like presidential red meat, accused President Barack Obama of overstepping his constitutional authority and abdicating national defense at home and abroad.
Published: Aug. 28, 2014 - Updated: 3:30 p.m.
Eastvale City Manager Carol Jacobs resigned, effective immediately, during a closed session at Wednesday night’s city council meeting, City Attorney John Cavanaugh said Thursday.
Cavanaugh will serve as city manager at least until the Sept. 10 city council meeting, when the council may announce an interim city manager.
To read story by Sandra Stokley in the The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 08/28/14, 1:20 PM PDT | Updated: 55 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> A jury has found a former sheriff’s deputy guilty of two misdemeanor charges for repeatedly kicking a man in the chest and groin as he lay handcuffed on the ground two years ago.
By Grace Wong, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 08/27/14, 8:57 PM PDT |
CHINO HILLS >> A cartoon version of Mayor Ed Graham flexed tattooed arms on the screen Wednesday night in the City Council Chambers during the annual State of the City address. The event, attended by more than 100 people, highlighted the achievements of the city, its current state and the direction that it’s going.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014 - 5:21 pm
As the California Legislature churned toward adjournment this week, it was considering – as usual – new laws to inhibit gun ownership, adding to what are already, for better or worse, the nation’s most restrictive gun controls.
By Maura Dolan
Augs=ust 28, 2014
A state commission decided unanimously Thursday to confirm the appointment of Stanford law professor Mariano-Florentino Cuellar to the California Supreme Court, paving the way for Gov. Jerry Brown’s second high-court nominee this term to take the bench in January.
By Mark Walker2:45 p.m.Aug. 28, 2014Updated4:39 p.m.
An attempt by several cities to overturn a state law that forces them to choose between paying generally higher or “prevailing” wages on most public works projects or lose state construction dollars has been turned aside in a tentative court ruling.
By MAGGIE SEVERNS | 8/28/14 9:34 PM EDT Updated: 8/29/14 9:15 AM EDT
A Los Angeles judge on Thursday affirmed a tentative June ruling that struck down five laws governing job protections for teachers in California.
By Patrick McGreevy and Melanie Mason
August 28, 2014
To address the problem of rape on campuses, California colleges and universities would have to adopt a standard of unambiguous consent among students engaging in sexual activity under a proposal passed by state lawmakers Thursday.
By Jim Miller
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014 - 12:07 pm
The California Senate’s curb on end-of-session fundraising has sharply cut into the flow of political cash to senators’ campaign accounts, even as some in the upper house run afoul of a rule that bans contributions from donors that have Capitol lobbyists.
By Phillip Reese
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014 - 10:22 am
Last Modified: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014 - 8:57 am
Three of the 40 members of the California State Senate have been arrested this year, more than double the statewide arrest rate and higher than the rate in any of California’s 25 largest cities.
By Peter Sullivan - 08/27/14 06:29 PM EDT
Mitt Romney is in demand, and it’s raising speculation about another White House run, however far-fetched that might seem.
By JONATHAN TOPAZ and KENDALL BREITMAN | 8/27/14 3:05 PM EDT Updated: 8/27/14 3:29 PM EDT
The day after Mitt Romney opened the door to another possible presidential run, a new poll shows he has a huge lead among likely 2016 Iowa Republican caucus voters.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 08/26/14, 6:01 PM PDT | Updated: 3 hrs ago
Colton >> City officials are wrapping up final steps this week related to last week’s firing of City Manager Stephen Compton.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 08/24/14, 5:50 PM PDT | Updated: 19 secs ago
UPLAND >> A City Council subcommittee has approved a proposal to provide the police department with on-officer video cameras.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014 - 4:32 pm
Last Modified: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014 - 7:55 am
The arrest of Ben Hueso, a Democratic state senator from San Diego, on suspicion of drunken driving very early one morning was not a particularly unusual event.
By Patrick McGreevy
August 26, 2014
With two of its members accused of accepting payments for favors, the California Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would double the restitution fines for legislators and city council members convicted of accepting a bribe in exchange for influence on official action.
BY EMILY BAZAR / CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
Published: Aug. 26, 2014 Updated: Aug. 27, 2014 8:01 a.m.
A worrisome trend is emerging among some Californians who thought they were safe and secure under Covered California: Their plans are being canceled without consent and sometimes without notice.
Published: Aug. 22, 2014 Updated: Aug. 23, 2014 7:07 p.m.
Former Eastvale City Councilman Jeff DeGrandpre has detailed allegations that some of his former colleagues took part in “back-door dealing” and met illegally – accusations they denounced as lies.
To read story by Sandra Stokley in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 08/25/14, 6:30 PM PDT | Updated: 6 mins ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> The statements voters will find on their ballots arguing for and against changing the city charter are decided.
By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 08/25/14, 2:55 PM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago
Rep. Gary Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga, whose 31st Congressional District seat was considered the most vulnerable in the upcoming election, has formally handed the baton to candidate Paul Chabot, announcing his endorsement in a news release on Monday.
CRIMINAL COURTS
After long delays, sexual battery case looms next week
SHEA JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER
Posted Aug. 25, 2014 @ 4:42 pm
Updated Aug 25, 2014 at 4:58 PM
Delayed for years by attorney changes, ongoing investigation and scheduling conflicts, the misdemeanor sexual battery trial for former Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez is expected to finally get underway next week, the case’s prosecutor said Monday.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Monday, Aug. 25, 2014 - 9:21 pm
Last Modified: Monday, Aug. 25, 2014 - 11:11 pm
As the 2012-14 biennial legislative session entered its final week Monday, it was evident – with very few exceptions – that big public policy issues have given way to conflicts among moneyed interests.
Katie Orr
Monday, August 25, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
California Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins says she’ll have to consider whether to create rules about drinking in the Assembly following the alleged drunken driving arrest of Senator Ben Huseo. Hueso is a San Diego Democrat and was photographed on the Assembly balcony with a drink in his hand several hours before his arrest.
By Scott Bland and Adam Wollner
August 22, 2014
Super PACs spent July beefing up for the fall campaign. Many groups filed new disclosure reports this week, leaving a paper trail littered with big checks from big names.
Post Politics
By Sebastian Payne
August 25, 2014 at 5:59 PM
House Republicans will pay up to $350,000 to sue President Obama, according to a contract Chair of the House Administration Committee Candice Miller (R-Mich.) signed Monday with Washington legal firm BakerHostetler.
“Bad, bad, bad,” and other critiques
James Fallows
Aug 24 2014, 11:30 PM ET
If David Letterman can put out a Top Ten list night after night for decades, we can certainly make it all the way to 10 in our chronicles of the California High-Speed Rail debates. As a reminder, this is No. 8 in a series on the most ambitious and consequential infrastructure project now under consideration in our infrastructure-degraded land. It is the plan for a north-south California High-Speed Rail system, which had its genesis before Jerry Brown’s second coming as California’s governor but is now his signature project as he runs for reelection to an unprecedented fourth term. For previous installments see No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Monday, Aug. 25, 2014 - 12:22 am
Last Modified: Monday, Aug. 25, 2014 - 12:31 am
It’s no secret that quite a few state legislators actually live outside districts they represent even though state law and constitution require them to reside in their districts.
By Ed Mendel
August 25, 2014
Last week was not a good one for CalPERS, which carefully tracks mentions of the giant pension system in the media and gives each story a rating of positive, neutral or negative.
By Chris Kirkham
August 24, 2014
When California rolled out a $750-million plan this year to attract and retain businesses, many aspects mirrored longtime perks used by Texas — where officials love nothing more than stealing jobs from the Golden State.
By Nick Anderson
August 25, 2014 at 12:01 AM
The top universities in the latest rankings look much the same as they did a year ago, with only slight ups and downs.
Sunday, August 24, 2014 - 12:00 p.m.
Just when you think things might start getting better. They don’t.
It seems the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department couldn’t buy good luck these days.
By JULIET WILLIAMS and FENIT NIRAPPIL, Associated Press
Posted: 08/23/2014 10:57:42 AM PDT
Updated: 08/23/2014 11:17:57 AM PDT
SACRAMENTO — Democratic state Sen. Ben Hueso was arrested Friday on suspicion of drunken driving, the latest black eye for the state’s majority party and the 40-member chamber that suspended three other Democrats facing legal troubles.
By Dan Balz, Chief correspondent
August 23, 2014 at 11:00 PM
In a time of political polarization, one thing still unites left, right and center: the disdain people have for Washington, their elected leaders and the political system.
Saturday, August 23, 2014 - 10:30 a.m.
From political/campaign consultant to water consultant! Really?
The political blogs down in the O.C. are buzzing this week over the new candidacy of campaign consultant Dave Ellis.
Political Whispers
August 23, 2014
The City of Highland has decided, under threat of litigation, to place a measure on the November Ballot that requests the voters of Highland to determine whether or not they want the City Council broken into district representation.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 08/23/14, 12:59 AM PDT |
Colton >> The City Council has voted unanimously to fire City Manager Stephen Compton.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014 - 12:00 am
On average, rain and snow storms drop about 200 million acre-feet of water on California each year – 65 trillion gallons of the life-giving liquid.
By Dale Kasler
[email protected]
Published: Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014 - 12:00 am
CalPERS, still feeling the effects of the 2008 financial markets crash, is working to dial back the risk in its investment portfolio.
By David Siders
[email protected]
Published: Friday, Aug. 22, 2014 - 12:22 pm
Last Modified: Friday, Aug. 22, 2014 - 12:48 pm
Hours before state Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, was arrested on Friday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, he and four other lawmakers were photographed reveling on a Capitol balcony, drinks in hand.
By Jim Miller
[email protected]
Published: Friday, Aug. 22, 2014 - 12:59 pm
A revamped casino compact between the Brown administration and a prominent San Diego County tribe seems headed for quick ratification after brief informational hearings this week and Assembly approval Friday morning.
By Justin Sink - 08/22/14 03:44 PM EDT
Leisure activities like golf “are a good way for release and clearing of the mind,” the White House said Friday, amid criticism over the optics of President Obama hitting the links just minutes after delivering a speech on the death of journalist Jim Foley at the hands of Islamist militants.
Published: Aug. 21, 2014 - Updated: 1:22 p.m.
California’s Senate on Thursday passed legislation that would restore vehicle license fee revenue to four fledgling cities in Riverside County.
To read post by Jeff Horseman in the P-E Political Empire Blog, click here.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 08/21/14, 9:02 PM PDT |
UPLAND >> Residents would not support tax measures on the November ballot, according to a recent city poll.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 - 10:01 pm
Last Modified: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 - 11:13 pm
Two years ago, Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature agreed to a mild reform of public employee pensions aimed, they said, at reducing manipulation of the system and reducing long-term costs.
By Dale Kasler
[email protected]
Published: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 - 8:29 am
Last Modified: Friday, Aug. 22, 2014 - 7:55 am
California homeowners and pension funds will receive $800 million from Bank of America Corp., the state’s share of a record-breaking settlement over toxic mortgages issued and packaged as investment securities during the housing bubble.
By Veronica Rocha
August 21, 2014
The severe drought gripping nearly all of California eased ever so slightly this past week, but the state’s reservoirs remain “seriously low,” according to the latest figures released Thursday.
By Chad Terhune
August 21, 2014
About 100,000 Californians who haven’t yet proved their citizenship or legal residency in the U.S. face losing their Obamacare coverage in October, state officials said.
By PETER BAKER and JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
AUG. 21, 2014
WASHINGTON — He had just hung up the telephone with the devastated parents before heading in front of the cameras. Unusually emotional, President Obama declared himself “heartbroken” by the brutal murder of an American journalist, James Foley, and vowed to “be relentless” against Islamic radicals threatening to kill another American.
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 08/19/14, 10:44 PM PDT | Updated: 11 hrs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> The city is expected to expand its waste-hauling service and gain new revenue with the expiration of franchise agreements for two long-standing companies working here.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 08/20/14, 1:41 PM PDT | Updated: 3 hrs ago
COLTON >> City Manager Stephen Compton will be terminated without providing a reason, officials decided Tuesday night at a City Council meeting.
By Jeremy B. White
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 - 8:45 pm
The Assembly on Wednesday deferred for two years the public’s vote on a constitutional amendment empowering lawmakers to strip wayward colleagues of their salaries.
By Jon Ortiz
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 - 11:10 am
A divided CalPERS board approved a regulation Wednesday that will allow nearly 100 different types of supplemental pay to count toward pension calculations for state and local government employees.
By Jim Miller
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 - 7:00 am
Even as voting by mail becomes increasingly common in California elections, more mail ballots are not being counted, according to a study of mail voting in three counties, including Sacramento.
By Tim Logan
August 20, 2014
Los Angeles and Orange counties are the least-affordable housing market in the country. And it’s likely to only get worse.
By MANU RAJU | 8/20/14 5:07 AM EDT Updated: 8/20/14 7:29 PM EDT
HENDERSON, Ky. — Mitch McConnell has a game plan to confront President Barack Obama with a stark choice next year: Accept bills reining in the administration’s policies or veto them and risk a government shutdown.
By S.A. Miller - The Washington Times
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
BECKLEY, W.Va. — When Mitt Romney stumped here Tuesday for a trio of Republican candidates for Congress, the event had all the trappings of a “Romney for President” rally.
By Christopher Cadelago
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 - 12:00 am
A California initiative on the fall ballot requiring that health insurance rate changes be approved by the elected insurance commissioner is receiving strong support from voters statewide, according to the latest Field Poll.
By Patrick McGreevy
August 18, 2014
Amid criticism over three state Senators continuing to collect salaries as they serve suspensions, a ballot measure that would allow lawmakers to suspend colleagues without pay has missed the deadline for the 2014 ballot.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 - 12:00 am
Last Modified: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 - 12:16 am
When schoolchildren visit the Capitol, they often receive sheets of paper purporting to describe how a legislative bill becomes law.
By Jon Ortiz
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 - 12:00 am
More than a year after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law he said would tamp down pension spiking, the state’s biggest public pension fund is on the verge of adopting rules critics say would undermine its intent.
By Patrick McGreevy
August 18, 2014
The state Assembly on Monday approved a measure that would lower the gift limit to elected officials from $440 to $200 and prohibit them from accepting free entry to professional sports and entertainment events, golf tournaments, spa treatments and amusement parks.
It lets him play victim, among other things.
By Lucia Graves
August 18, 2014
After the schadenfreude surrounding news of Rick Perry’s indictment subsided on Friday night, America awoke this weekend to a general consensus that the case against the Texas governor was overblown. Obama adviser David Axelrod deemed it “sketchy,” Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz dubbed it “outrageous,” and MSNBC’s Tim Noah tweeted, “I’m no fan of Rick Perry & I’m no lawyer. But this indictment looks pretty thin to me.”
Published: Aug. 17, 2014 Updated: Aug. 18, 2014 1:33 a.m.
Candidates and committees spent a combined $86,000 in the June recall election in which former Moreno Valley Mayor Tom Owings lost his seat, according to the latest campaign finance statements.
To read story by Imran Ghori in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
ANNELI FOGT
STAFF WRITER
Posted Aug. 17, 2014 @ 11:09 am
Updated Aug 17, 2014 at 11:29 AM
APPLE VALLEY — Council members from Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville still had several questions this week after they were presented with the findings of a feasibility study for the creation of a joint powers authority to manage the Victor Valley’s police and fire services.
By MATTHEW FLEMING / STAFF WRITER
Published: Aug. 16, 2014 Updated: Aug. 17, 2014 6:45 p.m.
When Jim Brulte ran for California Republican Party chairman, he campaigned on three things: Help maintain the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, eliminate the Democrats’ supermajority in the Assembly and rebuild the party from the ground up.
By Marc Lifsher
August 17, 2014
California is one of the most expensive states for businesses to operate, mainly because of high pay and related labor costs, says a new report commissioned by an arm of the state Chamber of Commerce.
By JONATHAN TOPAZ | 8/18/14 6:17 AM EDT
Less than 20 percent of voters believe most members of Congress deserve reelection, on track for the lowest mark in at least two decades, a new poll says.
Published: Aug. 16, 2014 Updated: 6:31 p.m.
The man they call “Working Joe” is working on another comeback.
Joe Baca is running to become mayor of Fontana, where he and his wife bought a home two years ago. The campaign follows an unsuccessful bid earlier this year to return to Congress, where the Democrat served seven terms representing part of San Bernardino County.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: Aug. 16, 2014 Updated: 8:19 p.m.
In a way, the 2014 Inland congressional races are about what happened two years ago.
Democrats gained ground in 2012 by capturing an open seat and ousting a veteran Republican incumbent. Those first-term Democrats are now running for re-election in a test of how much the Inland Empire is changing politically.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.