oḬcials: arson ‘has not been ruled out’ as cause of
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5/8/2017 Officials: Arson 'has not been ruled out' as cause of Bluecut Fire
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MondayPosted at 11:09 AMUpdated at 11:09 AM
By Staff Writer
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CAJON PASS — Investigators have not ruled out arson as the cause of theBluecut Fire that burned more than 36,000 acres in August 2016.
During a press conference Monday morning for Wildfire Awareness and ArsonAwareness week, San Bernardino County Fire Department officials announcedthat investigations into the cause of the fire that blackened the majority of theCajon Pass and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents are stillongoing.
“Arson has not been ruled out as a cause of the Bluecut Fire and that is why theinvestigation is ongoing by the San Bernardino County Forest Service and SanBernardino County Sheriff’s Department,” said County Fire Marshal MikeHorton said.
The 36,274-acre Bluecut Fire, which began Aug. 16 and quickly grew, was thefifth largest wildfire reported in the state in 2016. The blaze erupted in the CajonPass just hours after fire officials announced the Pilot Fire, which burned morethan 8,000 acres in the San Bernardino Mountains and Summit Valley area, hadbeen fully contained.
Firefighters made aggressive attacks, including using 241,414 gallons of fireretardant on the first day, but erratic winds spread the fire quickly and carriedembers up to 2 miles away, touching off new fires.
OḬcials: Arson ‘has not been ruled out’ ascause of Bluecut Fire
5/8/2017 Officials: Arson 'has not been ruled out' as cause of Bluecut Fire
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By the end of the first day, authorities had shut down Interstate 15 in bothdirections and issued mandatory evacuation orders for over 82,000 residents,including those in West Cajon Valley, Wrightwood, Phelan, Oak Hills andsouthwest Hesperia.
The blaze destroyed an estimated 105 homes, 213 outbuildings and more than200 vehicles, mostly in the West Cajon Valley area, before being declared fullycontained on Aug. 23.
At the peak of the battle to control the Bluecut Fire, 2,684 personnel wereactively involved. The Bluecut Fire saw 499,336 gallons of retardant used and thelast estimates showed more than $18 million was spent fighting the blaze.
5/9/2017 County rejects Victorville man's $10.1 million claim over deputy's video threat
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MondayPosted May 8, 2017 at 5:36 PM
By Rene Ray De La Cruz
Staff Writer Follow
VICTORVILLE — A San Bernardino County official said Monday the countyhas rejected a multi-million dollar claim filed by Victorville resident DuncanHicks.
Newport Beach attorney Jerry Steering filed the $10.1 million claim on his behalflast month, said Hicks, who is seeking damages after a San Bernardino CountySheriff’s deputy was recorded on video threatening to arrest him on “trumpedup” charges earlier this year.
But the claim was rejected by the county on Wednesday, county spokesmanDavid Wert told the Daily Press. Wert added the matter could not be resolvedoutside of litigation.
The claim total includes “estimated future medical expenses,” damages, lostwages, and “general” and “other” damages done to the claimant, “Duncanie RayHicks Jr.,” according to a copy of the document.
Hicks, who was not aware of the claim’s rejection, told the Daily Press onMonday that he would have to consult with Steering on how to proceed.
“Every time I go out, I feel like I’m going to get pulled over and arrested fornothing,” Hicks said. “I still wish the Sheriff’s Department would apologize to meand let me know what happened to their investigation against Deputy MichaelBradbury.”
County rejects Victorville man’s $10.1 millionclaim over deputy’s video threat
5/9/2017 County rejects Victorville man's $10.1 million claim over deputy's video threat
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Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Jodi Miller told the Daily Press thedepartment does not comment on pending litigation against the county ordepartment.
“Deputy Michael Bradbury is no longer assigned to the front counter,” Millersaid. “Deputy Bradbury is assigned to investigative follow-ups, primarily missingperson cases.”
In February, Hicks visited the Daily Press with cell phone footage of hisencounter with Bradbury. The video captured the deputy saying that recordinghim was illegal without his knowledge, asking Hicks, “Do you want to go to jailfor that too?”
The video also captured Bradbury saying he would “create something” in orderto arrest and jail the Victorville resident who had visited the station repeatedly toinquire about a domestic incident report that he had filed earlier.
Hicks said Victorville Sgt. Brian Roper later contacted him and apologized.
“I just wish this whole thing was over,” Hicks said. “I feel like I have to watch myback 24/7.”
Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLa
[email protected] or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
5/9/2017 Postmus says $102 million Colonies settlement was ‘the right thing’
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
Postmus says $102 million Colonies settlement was ‘the right thing’
Prosecution witness also denies that San Bernardino County officials received $100,000 each for agreeingto the favorable #102 million settlement
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
and Richard K. De Atley, The PressEnterprise
Monday, May 8, 2017
SAN BERNARDINO >> The San Bernardino County officials whoeach received $100,000 from a Rancho Cucamonga developerfollowing a favorable $102 million settlement in 2006 were notpromised the money as a bribe before the agreement was reached, akey prosecution witness testified Monday.
“No ma’am, that is not true,” former County Supervisor Bill Postmustold a defense attorney as he resumed testimony in the Coloniescorruption case before Judge Michael A. Smith in his San Bernardinocourtroom.
Postmus also defended the settlement, agreeing 11 years later that he still believed it was “the right thing” in theface of continued costly litigation and the prospect of $300 million in damages from the county if the developer,Colonies Partners LP, prevailed on all of its civil court damage claims.
The criminal trial is now in its fifth month. The indictment against the four defendants was filed six years agotoday.
Postmus’ testimony in the Colonies corruption trial contradicts statements from his former aide and theprosecution’s other crucial witness, Adam Aleman, a onetime waiter who worked as an aide for Postmus whenhe was a county supervisor and then as an assistant county assessor when Postmus was elected to that latteroffice in the November 2006 general election.
Aleman turned state’s evidence during a separate corruption investigation of Postmus’s time as assessor. Alemanagreed to wear a concealed recorder for investigators.
Like Postmus, he has entered a plea agreement with prosecutors to testify against the Colonies defendants andavoid prosecution on the corruption charges stemming from his time at the Assessor’s office, charges thatinclude the destruction of a countyowned laptop computer and the falsification of meeting minutes presented tothe grand jury.
Under his plea agreement, Aleman provided information leading to the Colonies investigation, in whichprosecutors allege three county officials each took the alleged $100,000 bribes, reported as campaigncontributions, from Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum to gain approval for the $102 million courtsettlement over flood control work at Colonies Partners’ 434acre residential and commercial development inUpland.
Defendants include Burum, former county Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin, former county Supervisor Paul Biane,and Mark Kirk, the chief of staff for former Supervisor Gary Ovitt.
5/9/2017 Postmus says $102 million Colonies settlement was ‘the right thing’
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All four defendants deny any wrongdoing, saying the contributions, which were from Colonies Partners, whereBurum is one of the comanaging members, were public donations to legal political action committees, werepart of the Colonies’ attempts to mend fences after the contentious legal dispute and were available online forpublic review.
One of Aleman’s key claims has been that the money prosecutors claim was a bribe to settle the contentiousColonies case had been promised ahead of the 32 Board of Supervisors vote on Nov, 28, 2006. Postmus, Bianeand Gary Ovitt approved the settlement, and supervisors Josie Gonzales and Dennis Hansberger opposed it.
Under questioning by defense attorney Jennifer Keller, who represents Burum, Postmus discussed Aleman’sclaim as Keller reviewed with him an interview Postmus had in October 2011 with FBI Agent Jonathan Zeitlin.
Postmus told Zeitlin that Aleman was dishonest about a lot of things involving both the Colonies and Assessor’scases. Postmus told Zeitlin there was never any knowledge of anyone being solicited $100,000 before thesettlement.
Aleman had told investigators that Postmus, Biane and Kirk all knew they were getting the contributions beforethe settlement.
Keller asked Postmus if that was so.
“No ma’am, that is not true,” Postmus said.
Keller, who has challenged Postmus’ memory because of his addiction to methamphetamine during the time ofthe Colonies case and settlement, asked him if he was sure.
“Yes, ma’am. I don’t ever recall having a conversation with anyone regarding that,” Postmus said.
Keller played in court one of Aleman’s secret recordings in which Postmus said he thought he did the right thingregarding the settlement.
Postmus said he did not know about or hear the recording until it was played in court Monday.
“You thought it was the right thing?” Keller asked Postmus, regarding the settlement.
“Yes,” Postmus said.
“As you sit here today, you still think you did the right thing?” Keller asked.
“Yes ma’am. It was my priority to get the case settled,” Postmus said.
Although he maintains the settlement was the right thing to do, Postmus testified last week he felt the $102million amount was too much.
Keller also used text messages to examine the relationship between Postmus and Aleman, whom Postmus metwhen Aleman was a waiter and eventually gave him a $124,000 job in the assessor’s office at age 24, with nocollege degree.
As the twin corruption investigations closed in on Postmus in November 2008, he texted Aleman, “I’m so sad.I’ve been betrayed by everyone except you and Greggy,” referring to Greg Eyler, Postmus’s former boyfriendwhom Postmus also had hired at the Assessor’s Office.
But by February of 2010, when Postmus had been arrested in the Colonies case and realized Aleman’s role inthe investigation, he sent a different message to him: “You will always be known as a liar,” Postmus said in onetext message that Keller mentioned in court.
5/9/2017 Postmus says $102 million Colonies settlement was ‘the right thing’
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Initially a defendant in the Colonies case, Postmus, in March 2011, entered into a plea agreement withprosecutors, pleading guilty to 10 felonies in connection with the Colonies and Assessor’s Office corruptioncases. He has agreed to testify against the defendants in exchange for having all but three of the charges againsthim dropped.
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/generalnews/20170508/postmussays102millioncoloniessettlementwastherightthing
© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
5/9/2017 San Bernardino County drops Oaktree convertible bond strategies Pensions & Investments
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San Bernardino County drops Oaktree convertible bond strategiesBy: Rob KozlowskiPublished: May 8, 2017
San Bernardino County (Calif.) Employees' Retirement Association terminated Oaktree Capital Management from $70 million inconvertible bond portfolios, said Adam Sands, pension fund spokesman, in an email.
The $9 billion pension fund's board approved the termination at its May 4 meeting. In a memo to the board recommending thetermination, Jake Abbott, investment officer, said the investments “were made at a time when there was a dislocation in theconvertible market and valuations were highly attractive. Looking forward, staff no longer believes that the potential benefits oftoehold positions in dedicated convertible bond strategies justify the allocation.”
Mr. Sands said the funds will “be deployed to meet the asset allocation needs of the portfolio.”
The $70 million portfolio was made up of Oaktree High Income Convertible II, OCM Convertible Trust and NonU.S. ConvertibleSecurities Portfolio.
The pension fund still has about $9.5 million invested in closedend real estate fund Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V, towhich it originally committed $25 million in 2012.
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5/9/2017 Police, school officials review San Bernardino school shooting to be better prepared
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
Police, school officials review San Bernardino school shooting to be better prepared
San Bernardino City Unified reviews April 10 shooting at North Park Elementary to be better prepared
By Beau Yarbrough, The Sun
Monday, May 8, 2017
SAN BERNARDINO >> Should another school shooting occur, likethe one at North Park Elementary on April 10 that left a teacher andstudent dead, San Bernardino City Unified wants to be betterprepared.
“The process isn’t about pointing blame,” San Bernardino CityUnified Superintendent Dale Marsden told the more than 100 peoplein attendance. “It’s about getting better, so we’re better next time wego out.”
First responders, school staff, parents and community residents gathered Monday night to look back on theshooting at North Park Elementary in an “after action review,” similar to one that took place after the Dec. 2,2015, San Bernardino terrorist attack.
“The community that plans together, stands together,” Marsden said. “We found this to be true after Dec. 2.”
The review was intended as an initial discussion of how the shooting could have been prevented and how theresponse could have been improved. Cameras at schools in the district are a result of the review after the 2015terrorist attack, Marsden said.
Although Marsden and others praised how well the district worked together after the North Park shooting,parents at Monday’s meeting said communication problems were frustrating for them.
“As parents, we didn’t have that cohesive information that employees had,” parent Stella Malone said. “Itseemed confused, it seemed disorganized.”
Parents asked for active shooter training for themselves, so they could know what to expect in the event of acrisis.
“Speaking as a parent, if each school had a place they always evacuated to, that would help,” parent Mark Greensaid.
North Park was closed for a week after the April 10 shooting. Riverside resident Cedric Anderson, 53, enteredthe special education classroom of his estranged wife, Karen Smith, and opened fire, killing her and 8yearoldstudent Jonathan Martinez and wounding student Nolan Brandy, 9.
At the time of the shooting, Smith, 53, was inside her classroom with two aides and 14 special needs studentsbetween first and fourth grades.
Anderson and Smith had been married Jan. 28, but had separated in March, police officials said. Smith hadapparently not told anyone at the school about the separation.
5/9/2017 Police, school officials review San Bernardino school shooting to be better prepared
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Anderson reportedly signedin at the front desk and told office staff he was there to drop something off for hiswife. Once inside the classroom — without a word — he pulled out a sixshot .357 Magnum revolver andstarted firing, striking Smith. Anderson then reloaded using a speedloader, firing a total of 10 bullets. StudentsJonathan and Nolan were struck in the exchange. Anderson then turned the gun on himself.
About 150 police officers from the San Bernardino Police Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’sDepartment, San Bernardino City Unified school police, Rialto Police Department and California HighwayPatrol responded to the shooting, along with the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
North Park students were evacuated to Cal State San Bernardino and then shuttled to Cajon High School aftertheir parents arrived and showed proof of identification.
The district made its share of mistakes, Marsden said.
“We were tweeting a lot of things via Twitter, but we forgot that Twitter and social media are shut down during(standardized) testing,” he said.
On Monday, some parents expressed frustration with how long it took to pick up their North Park students atCajon High School after they were evacuated.
“Our goal was to make sure each child was released to the appropriate parent,” Marsden said. “That took longerthan we wanted.”
The district stepped up security measures at North Park in anticipation of the students’ return, including theinstallation of a camera alert system that will allow someone in the front office to see a visitor before allowingthe person access to the school. Other security upgrades are also in place, officials said, but those details wouldnot be made public. On the day the school reopened, North Park also had 10 additional teachers from otherdistrict schools and crisis counselors on hand for students who needed additional support.
“Amidst it all, there was a strong sense of coming together as a community,” said April Clay, who works as acontracted counselor for the district.
Suggestions coming out of Monday’s meeting, as well as others held with North Park parents and districtemployees, will show up as ideas brought before the San Bernardino City Unified school board forimprovements and changes to facilities and processes as soon as June, Marsden said.
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/socialaffairs/20170508/policeschoolofficialsreviewsanbernardinoschoolshootingtobebetterprepared
© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
5/9/2017 Cracker Barrel on deck as construction along Restaurant Row in Victorville progresses
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MondayPosted May 8, 2017 at 1:28 PMUpdated May 8, 2017 at 4:06 PM
By Rene Ray De La Cruz
Staff Writer Follow
VICTORVILLE — The construction of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store isprogressing at a “normal pace,” according to officials who believe the HighDesert will be home to the company’s first California store.
Victorville spokeswoman Sue Jones told the Daily Press the construction alongAmargosa Road, south of BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, is an 11,300-square-foot, multi-tenant building located near the Cracker Barrel pad.
“(The) Habit Burger (Grill) will be built on the next construction pad south ofthis multi-tenant building,” Jones said. “Cracker Barrel will be built just south ofHabit Burger.”
The burger restaurant submitted its plans to the city on Wednesday. CrackerBarrel is currently in “plan check,” with officials expecting construction of thestore to begin within a month and completion by the end of the year.
The multi-tenant building currently under construction on Restaurant Row willinclude Starbucks, Nekter Juice, Which Wich Sandwiches, Pieology, OnoHawaiian BBQ and Café Rio.
Cracker Barrel is part of a larger development planned on 1.3 acres of the 5-acrelot located on the south end of Restaurant Row. Plans for the Southern-themedrestaurant and gift shop include a 9,550-square-foot eatery with 1,284 squarefeet under a covered porch.
Cracker Barrel on deck as construction alongRestaurant Row in Victorville progresses
5/9/2017 Cracker Barrel on deck as construction along Restaurant Row in Victorville progresses
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City officials said Cracker Barrel and the other eateries will join Restaurant Row,which is currently home to 14 dining establishments and is adjacent to Interstate15 and Bear Valley Road, offering visibility to more than 98,000 cars traveling I-15 daily.
Regarding a rumor that a Cracker Barrel is currently being built in NorthernCalifornia, Jones said, “We aren’t aware of competition with another city.”
The Sacramento Business Journal reported that Cracker Barrel may be comingto the Arden-Arcade neighborhood on the east side of town.
The last filing with Sacramento County appears to be a design reviewapplication for a possible site in the high-traffic Arden-Arcade neighborhood,SBJ Digital Editor Sonya Sorich told the Daily Press on Monday.
The document was filed in February, with a pre-application filed in September.Earlier this year, the company posted a job ad online for a human resourcesmanager covering the Western states, with the ad listing Sacramento as thelocation for the position, Sorich said.
Cracker Barrel has over 640 locations, with two restaurant recently opening inLas Vegas.
Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLa
[email protected] or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
5/9/2017 Fiery Highland crash claims life of child, 2 adults
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
Fiery Highland crash claims life of child, 2 adults
By Doug Saunders, The Sun
Monday, May 8, 2017
HIGHLAND >> Fire officials confirmed Monday evening a mansuffering from third degree burns over 90 percent of his body as theresult of a fiery crash in Highland has died.
Shortly after 8 p.m. CalFire spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Brown saidthe man succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a horrific crash thatalready claimed the lives of another adult and a child in the same car.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m., two vehicles collided at Palm Avenue andCypress Street. One of the vehicles erupted in flames.
Firefighters found the adult and child inside the burned car, both dead, Brown said.
An occupant in the other car had to be extricated and was transported to LLUMC in critical condition, Brownsaid.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the cause of the crash.Officials haven’t said if drugs or alcohol are a factor, but at the time of this report, investigators haven’t ruledthat out.
The area was expected to be closed for several hours during the investigation.
The identification of the victims is being withheld pending nextofkin notification.
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/generalnews/20170508/fieryhighlandcrashclaimslifeofchild2adults
© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
5/9/2017 This is the latest scam trend according to Yucaipa sheriff’s officials
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
This is the latest scam trend according to Yucaipa sheriff’s officials
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Monday, May 8, 2017
YUCAIPA >> Law enforcement officials are warning of ongoing phone call scams received by Yucaiparesidents this time with the caller identifying themselves as a representative of Southern California Edison.
The caller will tell a resident they are using too much electricity and must update their account, San BernardinoCounty sheriff’ Yucaipa Station officials warn. Then the resident is told to purchase a MoneyPak at Walgreensor Rite Aid, according to the sheriff’s new release.
Police advise residents that if creditors call to collect funds, or notify them of possibly fraud on their account,residents should tell them they will call back and then use the phone number on an actual bill. Police say this isthe safest way to know the resident is talking to the real company.
In another San Bernardino County scam, victims receive a call from a person identifying themselves as SanBernardino County Sheriff’s Department personnel and alerts them to a warrant being issued for arrest becausethey did not appear for jury duty. The victim is instructed to clear up the warrant by paying a fine through greendot cards, Western Union, money gram or other types of wire transfer, according to police.
Similar scams include callers claiming to be from the IRS or Immigration.
Police advise residents not to give out any personal information when called by outside parties and not to wireany money. Those who believe they are a victim of a scam should contact their local sheriff’s station.
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/generalnews/20170508/thisisthelatestscamtrendaccordingtoyucaipasheriffsofficials
© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
5/9/2017 Why Redlands Unified created a budget cut prioritization list
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
Why Redlands Unified created a budget cut prioritization list
The move is a proactive measure should the district receive less funding from state
By Kristina Hernandez, Redlands Daily Facts
Monday, May 8, 2017
REDLANDS >> The Board of Education adopted a list outliningpotential cuts should the Redlands Unified School District face a $3million shortfall next year.
The adoption of the General Fund Budget Reduction PrioritizationList on April 25 puts the district a step ahead in case Gov. JerryBrown’s preliminary budget for 201718 is adopted in May. Thebudget allocates less funding for education due to lowerthanpreviously projected state revenues, and comes at a time when RUSDis facing an increase in yearly employer contributions to stateemployee retirement funds, and planned pay increases for educators.
“We have to have a plan in place,” said Donna West, BOE president, after the plan was unanimously approved.
The district learned of the cut in funding in January, and if approved asis RUSD will receive $1.45 million ingeneral funds for the upcoming school year, leaving the district with a $3 million gap in 201718 and aforecasted $4 million unfunded balance for 201819.
Instead of waiting for the budget’s approval, the district decided to take proactive measures by using the samebudgetreduction process used during the last economic downturn. Bernie Cavanagh, RUSD’s assistantsuperintendent of business services, told this news organization in March the move was necessary to “maintainfiscal integrity.”
Per the district, more than 70 items were submitted from stakeholders and reviewed to help create the plan. Inputgroups, composed of staff, community members and parents, participated in the process and used a list ofcriteria outlined by the school board when taking potential cuts into consideration. This included placingpotential “operational” cuts at the top of the list and staying far away from the classrooms.
The district’s list is a “prioritized list of approximately $3 million that may be used in descending order asbudget reductions are needed beginning July 2017,” per a document provided by RUSD officials. The list iscomposed of four levels. Sample cuts at level one include moving Orangewood High School to nonpotableirritation and increase facilities use charges. Other cuts include the replacing of old thermostats with new“controlled” thermostats (level 2), the reduction of the management team by two positions and classified teamby six employees (level 3), and the elimination of nonrequired Special Education preschool transportation(level 4).
The actual “cut line” will be determined following the state budget’s approval later this month if necessary.
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/socialaffairs/20170508/whyredlandsunifiedcreatedabudgetcutprioritizationlist
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5/9/2017 Former CSUSB president Al Karnig’s memorial to be held Thursday
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Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)
Former CSUSB president Al Karnig’s memorial to be held Thursday
By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Monday, May 8, 2017
SAN BERNARDINO >> Al Karnig, who led Cal State SanBernardino as president for 15 years, will be remembered in amemorial service held at the university’s Coussoulis Arena onThursday, a week after his death.
Karnig, 75, died suddenly on May 4, after returning from a trip toEurope, according to his family. He had picked up a virus andbronchitis, according to his oldest son, Todd.
Karnig, who retired in 2012, presided over graduations at CoussoulisArena during his 15 years as university president. The third president
of CSUSB, he also oversaw the university’s expansion with the Palm Desert satellite campus, which opened in2002.
Born in Queens, New York, to Armenian immigrants, Karnig worked as a professor of Political Science at TexasTech, the Director of the School of Public Affairs and then the Assistant Provost at Arizona State University andthe Provost of the University of Wyoming before coming to Cal State San Bernardino in 1997.
He is survived by three sons and 12 grandchildren.
The memorial service will be held at the arena at 2 p.m. on Thursday. A reception at the CSUSB reflecting poolwill follow. Attendees are asked to park in university Parking Lot N.
On Wednesday, a visitation will be held at Bobbitt’s Funeral Home, located at 1299 E. Highland Avenue in SanBernardino, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Karnig’s family has asked that memorials in his name be given to Riversidebased Community Foundation’sInfantToddler Parenting Success Program or to the President Albert and Marilyn Karnig ScholarshipEndowment at CSUSB.
URL: http://www.dailybulletin.com/generalnews/20170508/formercsusbpresidentalkarnigsmemorialtobeheldthursday
© 2017 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)
5/9/2017 Great news regarding job growth in the Inland Empire
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Chart Top ten counties by employment growth
Sunday, May 07, 2017
By S. E. Williams
The U.S. Census Bureau reported San Bernardino and Riverside Counties were among the top threemunicipalities that experienced the largest job gains in the nation between 2014 and 2015—the communitiesranked just behind another California County, San Francisco.
Although San Francisco experienced the most significant gains with a 6.6 percent increase, Riverside Countywas second with an increase of 4.9 percent or 25,284 people, for a total of 540,169 employees; and SanBernardino County delivered a strong, third place finish with a 4.4 percent increase—the county added 24,396workers, for a total of 578,755 employees.
The report indicated job growth in the inland region was largely driven by expansion in the area’s transportationand warehousing sector; for the most part however, Riverside County was the greatest beneficiary of thisit grewan astonishing 32.3 percent. San Bernardino County, by comparison, experienced a more modest, but stillnotable growth rate of 16.2 percent.
The U.S. Department of Commerce noted that California had more places of employment, more employees (14.3million) and a larger annual payroll ($857 billion) than any other state in 2015.
The same week as the census bureau report, Californians received more positive employment news when theEmployment Development Department (EDD) reported statewide, unemployment fell to 4.9 percent in March—thelowest point in ten years. The unemployment rate for San Bernardino County remained stable at 5.2 percent.
Other good news from the EDD, included updated information on the state’s job growth so far this year.According to the agency, California continued to lead the nation in job growth in March. The state added 19,300new jobs—nearly 20 percent of all jobs created in the United States. The state has added more than 2.5 millionjobs since 2010.
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5/9/2017 Inland Empire may get light rain Tuesday and Wednesday
http://www.dailybulletin.com/generalnews/20170508/inlandempiremaygetlightraintuesdayandwednesday&template=printart 1/1
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)
Inland Empire may get light rain Tuesday and Wednesday
By Alejandra Molina, The PressEnterprise
Monday, May 8, 2017
Light rain and cool temperatures may be in store Tuesday, May 8, andWednesday across the Inland area, the National Weather Service said.
Pockets of light rain or drizzle are expected to hit mainly Tuesdaynight into Wednesday morning, the Weather Service said.
Additionally, low clouds and cool marine air will keep temperatures inthe 60s and low 70s, according to the Weather Service.
Highs on Tuesday are forecast to be 68 to 73 degrees, with lowsranging from 48 to 55 at night. Light winds are expected Tuesday.
Light winds may also be in store Wednesday, with highs ranging from 67 to 72 degrees. At night, temperaturesare expected to be between 48 and 54 degrees.
Warmer temperatures are expected Thursday through Saturday, with highs ranging from 75 to 81 degrees.
URL: http://www.dailybulletin.com/generalnews/20170508/inlandempiremaygetlightraintuesdayandwednesday
© 2017 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)
5/9/2017 Take Two® | Inland Empire airports look to spread their wings | 89.3 KPCC
http://www.scpr.org/programs/taketwo/2017/05/08/56637/inlandempireairportslooktospreadtheirwings/ 2/9
Travelers pass through L.A./ Ontario International Airport. David McNew/Getty Images
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Southern California travelers usually have to look west when booking departure flights. But LAX, John Wayne, and even Burbank Bob Hope Airport are all quite ahike for air travelers from inland counties.
There is change on the horizon. More people are moving inland, drawn by affordable housing. Local airports are starting to serve more commercial travelers and arelooking to expand to meet growing travel demand.
John Husing is chief economist for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership. He joined A Martinez totalk about the business of air travel in the I.E.
The LA/Ontario International Airport officially switched to local control in November. For years they'd been operated by the samegroup that runs LAX. How's it going now that Ontario is on its own?
"We've seen two things so far in the first quarter this year. Passenger traffic is up 6.8 percent [over last year]. Air cargo tonage is up a little over 10percent.
"So in fact we're seeing the best growth we've looked at since the great recession and the downturn at Ontario International."
What accounts for that change? Is it just a fresh face?
"I think it's a combination of a new fresh face and the fact that the economy in the Inland Empire is one of the strongest in California. We've beenadding jobs faster than any other metro area in California except L.A. in absolute terms."
There have been some changes at the Ontario airportlittle things like valet services and music in the terminals. What else is beingdone to upgrade the facility?
5/9/2017 Take Two® | Inland Empire airports look to spread their wings | 89.3 KPCC
http://www.scpr.org/programs/taketwo/2017/05/08/56637/inlandempireairportslooktospreadtheirwings/ 3/9
"Basically it's a change in management, and management is working very close with the various airlines to try and increase the amount of service that'scoming in.
"That plus it's just a fresh attitude all the way around. People in the area...I get asked constantly 'how's the airport doing?' Just as you are doing."
Is making the airport a simply more attractive place the key to getting more passengers to Ontario? Or is it something else, a littleless superficial?
"The most important thing is to use the data about the catchment are of the airport, which is the Inland Empire as well as the San Gabriel Valley andNorthern Orange County, and sit down with airlines and talk about the fact that we are enormously underserved, and it's crazy for people to go fromhere to LAX to try and get anywhere."
Moving now to San Bernardino International Airport. This is the former site of Norton Air Force Base, before it closed in 1994.How are they taking advantage of increased air travel demand in the I.E.?
"Up until almost right now there's been no [commercial] air service at the airport. It's been used for repair of aircraft and for private trips. There's aleasing office there where you can fly in a leased plane.
"However...There is about to be a Mexican airline that will connect San Bernardino to Guadalajara, so that will be the first time they have regularcommercial service."
Looking big picture, what do you think the expansion of airports and commercial air travel means for the future of jobs and theeconomy in Riverside and San Bernardino counties? Should LAX be worried?
"LAX is going to get what it gets...it'll do quite all right. For the Inland Empire the crucial thing is that...air service almost evaporated at Ontario inparticular. [That] really hurt the business community that needed to get its executives around the country or its customers coming in. The fact that theairport is now under local control and will be aggressively going after new service is extraordinarily important to this economy."
Click on the blue media player above to hear the conversation.
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What Emmanuel Macron's win means for the FrenchLA economySouth Korea votes: Local community watches closelyInland Empire airports look to spread their wingsHikes to the Hollywood sign have left a trail of lawsuitsNeil deGrasse Tyson encourages us all to stay curious
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5/9/2017 How you can protect yourself and others from the dangers of wildfires
http://www.sbsun.com/generalnews/20170508/howyoucanprotectyourselfandothersfromthedangersofwildfires&template=printart 1/2
San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
How you can protect yourself and others from the dangers of wildfires
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Monday, May 8, 2017
SAN BERNARDINO >> This being wildfire and arson awarenessweek, the San Bernardino County Fire Department and its partnersheld a kickoff event in front of the burnarea of last year’s Blue Cutfire in the Cajon Pass on Monday to share these five things you shouldknow about protecting life and property from the devastation of awildfire:
• Wildfire season is yearround.
The landscape in California burns on a regular basis, regardless ofhow much moisture we have, according to Glenn Barley, unit chief for
Cal Fire in San Bernardino. While the fire season is yearround, it does peak, according to San BernardinoCounty Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez, around the end of September and the beginning ofOctober, when the Santa Ana winds pick up.
• The recent rains were a doubleedged sword.
Despite bringing needed moisture, the recent rains created more fuel for fires to burn by replenishing chaparralbushes, which are highly flammable, and then allowing finer fuels, such as smaller hillside grasses, to grow,officials said.
“Light fuels have a whole summer to continue to dry before the hot weather comes in the fall with the Santa Anawinds,” said San Bernardino County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig.
• If you live in wildfire country, make a defensible space.
Fire agencies say people living in areas prone to brush fires should maintain a defensible space around theirproperty, meaning that flammable vegetation should be cleared away from the home. Hard surfaces, such asconcrete, stone and brick, should be used in landscaping, and grass should be trimmed to 4 inches in height,except where soil erosion is an issue. Tall shrubs, small trees and lowhanging branches should be eliminated.
• If authorities tell you to go, get out.
After a home is prepared, residents should be on alert for red flag warnings from authorities via media or socialmedia and should leave immediately when told to evacuate by the authorities, officials say.
“When you don’t go, you not only put yourself at risk, you put firefighters at risk,” Hartwig said. “When you’reasked to evacuate, we ask you to go.”
• There’s an app for all of this.
State fire officials designed a new smartphone app called Ready for Wildfire to provide critical wildfireinformation. The app provides checklists for users that allow homeowners to track progress on creating
5/9/2017 How you can protect yourself and others from the dangers of wildfires
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defensible space, improving their homes with fireresistant construction, assembling an emergency supply kitand creating a family communication and evacuation plan, officials said.
Users also will be able to receive notifications through the app that will alert them to wildfires in their area,officials said.
People can go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for Cal Fire to download the app.
Information: http://www.sbcfire.org/Programs/ReadySetGoFire.aspx
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/generalnews/20170508/howyoucanprotectyourselfandothersfromthedangersofwildfires
© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
http://voiceofoc.org/2017/05/ocsheriffwantstoexpandimmigrationdetentionincountyjails/ 1/3
Orange County Sheri Sandra Hutchens speaksto county supervisors in 2013. (Photo by NickGerda/Voice of OC)
NICK GRDA (HTTP://VOICOFOC.ORG/AUTHOR/NGRDA/) h (HTTP://TWITTR.COM/NICHOLAGRDA) Ma 4, 2017
Orange County Sheri Sandra Hutchens is seeking permission from the Board of Supervisors to expandthe number of federal immigration detainees who can be held in county jails.
e move would oset more than half the capacity U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) lost when actions by Santa Ana ocials prompted the federal agency to cancel its city jail contract.
e expansion “will allow the Sheri to accommodate a larger ICE bed capacity for detainees whenneeded,” according to a report by Hutchens’ sta (http://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-
content/uploads/2017/05/Sheri-proposal-to-expand-ICE-contract.pdf ) .
If approved by supervisors at their public meeting Tuesday, the Sheri’s Department would be allowed tohold an additional 120 immigration detainees at a time (http://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7.wpengine.netdna-
cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Sheri-proposal-to-expand-ICE-contract.pdf ) , increasing the maximum capacityfor ICE detainees in the county’s jails from 838 to 958.
e Santa Ana City Council voted in December to reduce the ICE bed capacity for the city jail from 200detainees to 128, before phasing out the ICE contract entirely.
ICE responded in February by canceling its Santa Ana contract (http://voiceofoc.org/2017/02/immigration-agency-
cancels-santa-ana-jail-contract/) . As the City Council tries to ll an $11 million hole in the budget from losingthe contract, city ocials are now looking at converting part of the mostly-empty jail into a mentalhealth center (http://voiceofoc.org/2017/04/santa-ana-may-convert-part-of-jail-to-mental-health-center/) .
e Sheri’s Department expansion would bring the county an extra $5 million per year without a needfor additional sta “at this time,” according to the sheri’s sta report(http://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Sheri-proposal-to-expand-ICE-
contract.pdf ) .
ICE pays the county $118 per day for each immigration detainee held in county jails, and the expansionwould increase county income from the contract from the current $22 million to $27 million, accordingto the sheri’s department.
e sheri’s request comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has stepped up eorts to deportimmigrants in the U.S. illegally, particularly those accused of crimes. Trump’s expansion of deportationsis expected to require additional space to detain those arrested by ICE.
OC heriff Want to xpandImmigration Detention in CountJail
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Hutchens says her deputies do not, and will not, enforce immigration laws in local communities. But shehas publicly supported an expanded role for county jails in holding federalimmigration detainees, saying fewer criminals would be released into communities.
Among other steps, she has spoken out against a state bill (http://www.ocregister.com/2017/04/05/orange-county-
sheri-california-bill-could-cost-department-26-million-contract/) that would limit local law enforcement fromhelping federal ocials enforce immigration laws, saying the sheri’s department would take a majorbudget hit from losing the ICE contract.
Hutchens also traveled to Washington in February to meet with the president and top TrumpAdministration ocials, and oered additional help to the administration to hold unauthorizedimmigrants (http://www.ocregister.com/2017/03/13/orange-county-sheri-sandra-hutchens-asks-trump-administration-to-help-
her-hold-undocumented-immigrants/) .
Among the Trump Administration ocials Hutchens oered extra assistance in detaining undocumentedimmigrants is U.S. Attorney General Je Sessions, who has advocated expanded deportations. Hutchensspoke with Sessions directly over the phone, according to the Orange County Register(http://www.ocregister.com/2017/03/13/orange-county-sheri-sandra-hutchens-asks-trump-administration-to-help-her-hold-
undocumented-immigrants/) .
At the same time, the U.S. Department of Justice, which Sessions oversees, is investigating whetherHutchens’ department has a pattern of civil rights violations (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-
opens-investigations-orange-county-california-district-attorney-s-oce-0) connected to misuse of jailhouse informantsand alleged withholding of key records from courts.
e federal investigation of the jailhouse snitch scandal was announced in December before Trumpbecame president, and soon after a state appeals court found Hutchens’ department repeatedly violateddetainees’ civil rights (http://1ccaxf2hhhbh1jcwiktlicz7.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Dekraai-
CoA-opinion-on-recusal-appeal-1.pdf ) through an illegal informants program.
Hutchens went to Washington in her role as president of the Major County Sheris of America, anassociation of elected sheris who collectively serve over 100 million people.
Just before her trip, Hutchens’ sta conrmed they had dropped their request for nearly $130,000 incompensation from Trump’s campaign (http://www.ocregister.com/2017/02/02/sheris-department-wont-ask-for-
129194-from-trumps-costa-mesa-rally-to-be-reimbursed/) for law enforcement services at a rally he held in CostaMesa last April.
During her trip, President Trump gave a speech on Feb. 8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=7Fb87rR0SuQ&feature=youtu.be&t=11m8s) in which he thanked Hutchens for her leadership, said she’s “hadgreat service,” and called her “legendary.”
At the end of February, Sessions announced his department will “pull back” from civil rightsinvestigations into local law enforcement, saying such eorts have made communities less safe. It’sunknown if that decision will aect the investigation of the Sheri’s Department and OC DistrictAttorney’s Oce.
But in March, after U.S. U.S. Attorney General Eileen Decker and 45 other U.S. attorneys were asked toresign by Trump, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Central District of California oce in Los Angelessaid it would not aect the investigation. (http://voiceofoc.org/2017/03/u-s-attorneys-oce-resignation-wont-aect-oc-
jailhouse-snitch-investigation/)
“e investigation is continuing,” said spokesman om Mrozek in a brief email statement. “edeparture of the U.S. Attorney will not aect the investigation.”
e Board of Supervisors meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the county Hall of Administration inSanta Ana (http://cams.ocgov.com/Web_Publisher/agenda05_09_2017.htm) , with public comments heard at thebeginning.
Nick Gerda covers county government and Santa Ana for Voice of OC. You can contact himat [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
5/9/2017 The Cities (Plus New York State) Sponsoring Legal Services for Undocumented Immigrants The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/shouldtaxpayerssponsorattorneysforundocumentedimmigrants/525162/ 1/8
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Updated on May 5 at 10:28 a.m. ET
Should Taxpayers Sponsor Attorneys forUndocumented Immigrants?
A handful of cities and states are funding pro-bono legal counsel for deportationproceedings—and making a political statement about the Trump administration in
the process.
March's Solidarity Rally Against Deportation in New York City, near the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices
MAURA EWING
MAY 4, 2017 | THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE
John Moore/Getty Images
5/9/2017 The Cities (Plus New York State) Sponsoring Legal Services for Undocumented Immigrants The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/shouldtaxpayerssponsorattorneysforundocumentedimmigrants/525162/ 2/8
Unlike most criminal defendants in the United States, undocumented immigrants
facing potential deportation are not constitutionally guaranteed counsel if they
aren’t able to afford a private attorney. While for years attorneys and advocates
have pressed for publicly funded lawyers in immigration courts, it wasn’t until
Donald Trump’s political ascendency that immigrant-friendly local governments
began turning those calls into policy—by allocating funding for pro-bono legal
services.
While it’s still unclear how sustainable these programs will be, each one offers a
one-two punch: a benefit for people lawmakers at least ostensibly want to assist,
and another show of defiance against an administration these cities and states
largely oppose. Trump’s repeated pledge to deport millions, as well as executive
orders widening enforcement authorities’ net, “brought the need into focus,” said
Seattle City Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez, who sponsored a unanimously
passed bill to offer legal representation within city limits.
When Mayor Ed Murray signed that legislation late last week, allocating $1 million
to local legal organizations, Seattle joined a handful of other cities and states
who’ve started similar programs. Lawmakers in Los Angeles; San Francisco;
Chicago; Washington, D.C.; and New York City have likewise designated public
dollars for counsel in immigration courts, and Austin’s city council is temporarily
drawing money from its emergency-relief fund for the same purpose. New York
recently created the first statewide immigrant-defense fund, and California is
poised to do the same.
The jurisdictions taking these steps aren’t exactly a surprise. The governors of New
York and California vehemently oppose Trump’s policies. The major cities have
long been the destination of immigrants, and tend to be run by Trump-opposing
Democrats, too. And all of them, except for Los Angeles, have “sanctuary” status:
Broadly speaking, their law enforcement doesn’t cooperate with federal
immigration authorities.
This is not to say that undocumented immigrants in these areas are entirely
shielded. Particularly for those in the criminal-justice system, sanctuary cities have
5/9/2017 The Cities (Plus New York State) Sponsoring Legal Services for Undocumented Immigrants The Atlantic
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few means to prevent them from being swept into deportation proceedings—a
matter that immigrant advocates have pressed some local politicians on. Federal
immigration authorities can learn about arrests without local law-enforcement
help, thanks in part to the FBI’s national fingerprinting database, and take steps to
detain people on their own. Trump has issued an executive order threatening cities’
federal funding if they continue being uncooperative; though a federal judge
blocked the order last week, the administration has indicated it will appeal.
Deportation proceedings involve “complex legalquestions that most of us who are not lawyers don’t have aclue to know how to navigate.”
The funding measures in these cities and New York state passed with broad
support. But one sticking point for lawmakers of all stripes was how to finance
them. It’s not clear that jurisdictions can budget enough money to cover everyone,
or for very long: With these initial efforts, spending levels range from $200,000
(San Francisco) to $10 million (Los Angeles and New York state) over the next one
to two fiscal years. If the California state bill passes, it would create the largest
fund: $12 million.
There were also a few dissenters. For example, the sole Chicago alderman to vote
“no,” Nicholas Sposato, called the money “the legal defense fund for the illegals.”
And Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, also the only person to vote
against the fund there, argued that because immigration is a federal system, it
should always be under the purview of that level of government. “It is obvious to
me and frustrating to me that the system is broken, and yet at the state and local
level we are trying to fix what is just merely putting a Band-Aid on the problem,”
Barger said at a December hearing, when the measure to earmark $3 million for
the fund was passed.
At the national level, these funds have attracted opposition from advocacy groups
who support stricter immigration laws. Jessica Vaughan, the director of policy
5/9/2017 The Cities (Plus New York State) Sponsoring Legal Services for Undocumented Immigrants The Atlantic
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studies at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, said that if more
public dollars are used in immigration courts it should be to increase their
efficiency in dispatching cases. “Why should taxpayers subsidize their efforts to
prolong their stay?” Vaughan wrote in an email. “The vast majority of these
individuals have no basis to remain here, no legitimate claim to be allowed to stay,
and are simply taking advantage of our clogged and dysfunctional immigration
court system.”
The typical low-income defendant can have difficulty securing legal counsel,
despite their right to have it. Public defenders are often overworked, and there
aren’t typically enough of them to go around. This emerging system of
government-sponsored immigration counsel won’t add to the burden, because the
funds will be funneled to nonprofit legal organizations that have experience in the
courts. (An exception is San Francisco, where the money will be used by the public-
defenders’ office to hire immigration lawyers.)
These groups could also be stretched thin, especially over time. But any counsel
may be better for defendants than no counsel at all: To contest deportation without
even bare-bones legal representation is to do so with “hands tied behind their backs
and their eyes blindfolded,” said César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, an
associate professor at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, who
supports the new funds. Deportation proceedings involve “complex legal questions
that most of us who are not lawyers don’t have a clue to know how to navigate. In
fact, ones that most lawyers—if they’re not immigration lawyers—have a very hard
time navigating,” he said. For that reason, these city and state programs have the
potential for “enormous impact.”
“Someone’s life or liberty is at stake. We have decided as asociety to support indigents, to fund that defense.”
A 2015 national study published in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review
reported that detained immigrants with legal counsel were 10 times more likely to
5/9/2017 The Cities (Plus New York State) Sponsoring Legal Services for Undocumented Immigrants The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/shouldtaxpayerssponsorattorneysforundocumentedimmigrants/525162/ 5/8
be granted legal residency than those without. For immigrants who were not
detained, those with a lawyer were five times more likely to avoid deportation than
those without. As it stood then, only 37 percent of undetained immigrants were
able to secure representation during deportation proceedings; that number fell to
14 percent for immigrants in detention.
This new batch of immigrant-defense funds are based on a model developed in
New York City. The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, launched in 2013
by the Vera Institute of Justice and funded by the city, won 31 percent of the cases
it represented between November 2013 through June 2016, according to as yet
unpublished data from the institute.
Local officials have needed to adjust the model to fit their needs. Take California,
where a debate is still playing out at the city, county, and state level over which
people the defense funds should cover. Some lawmakers have said that criminal
history should be a disqualifier, arguing that it is a waste of public dollars to provide
support for defendants who have less of a chance of winning. That argument has
drawn opposition from immigrant-advocacy groups and legal organizations, who
say that grounds for deportation aren’t always so clear-cut and that denying
services for this reason violates due process.
Carmen Iguina, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said
proposed disqualifying convictions have included offenses as grave as rape and
murder, but also relatively less serious crimes like burglary. The latter class, she
said, doesn’t necessarily lead to deportation—particularly if a lawyer is in place to
negotiate a plea deal or describe any extenuating circumstances to a judge. In some
cases, “even if you have one of those convictions you still have a path to release,”
Iguina said.
To her, it would seem, the process of picking favorites undermines the philosophy
behind the funds. The lawmakers’ work can perhaps be summed up as part social-
justice quest, part political statement. “Someone’s life or liberty is at stake. We
have decided as a society to support indigents, to fund that defense,” Iguina said.
5/9/2017 The Cities (Plus New York State) Sponsoring Legal Services for Undocumented Immigrants The Atlantic
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“Providing exclusions feeds into a rhetoric about who deserves representation and
who doesn’t.”
This article is part of our project “The Presence of Justice,” which is supported by a grant from the JohnD. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MAURA EWING is a writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Beyond the age of mass incarceration
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This project is supported by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthurFoundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge.