News

Both Riverside and San Bernardino County announced Tuesday April 13 that they are following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration(FDA) recommendation to pause the use of the Johnson & Jonson vaccine. This follows the report of six patients developing a rare and serious type of blood clot after the one dose shot.

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

Five Inland Empire non-profits received grants to support their affordable housing projects from the Southern California Association of Governments in March. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson reports that the association called SCAG for short, says these awards are part of a commitment to elevating policy solutions with a racial equity lens.

“It’s been a difficult history in America with housing policy," said President of SCAG and Vice Mayor of Long Beach, Rex Richardson. "You can’t point to the good old days of housing policy. It’s an area that needs to continue to improve.”

The California Redistricting Commission, which is responsible for determining district boundaries for the State Senate and State Assembly, is seeking public input on its work. 

The California Redistricting Commission, or CRC, uses census data to redraw government districts across the state.

Ray Kennedy is a commissioner with the CRC. He brings to the position decades of experience both domestically and internationally with election assistance, including time at the United Nations and work in several countries including Haiti, Mexico and Afghanistan.

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

1.  As case rates drop and vaccinations increase, more Californians are attending live events.
2. California high school sports are back in full swing, but after a year long break, some coaches and health experts are worried about injuries.
3. Traffic lanes and a connector bridge will be shut down beginning tonight on the 91 Freeway in Riverside and Corona between Van Buren Blvd and La Sierra Ave.

The Voice on KVCR is a weekly discussion with the Black Voice News editorial team about important issues in the inland region. This week KVCR's Megan Jamerson spoke with Alex Reed a Digital Coordinator with Mapping Black California, a Black Voice News initiative about a data centered series called Black California: Reporting on the Impacts of COVID-19.

In California, it can be hard to keep track of county level elections because not all races require runoffs and the timing of when elections happen varies. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson reports that a proposed state senate bill aims to reduce confusion for voters across the state including here in the inland region.

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

1. Riverside County expands vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older.
2. Riverside County moves into the less-restrictive COVID-19 orange tier today.
3. California is aiming to fully reopen its economy on June 15, ending the state’s county-by-county color tier system of business restrictions.

Riverside County has expanded vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older, and the Riverside University Health System celebrated this milestone with a vaccination event at their medical center in Moreno Valley today.

About 1,100 people are expected to come through the Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley today, Apr 6, to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

There are balloons, photo booths, and signs that say “pandemic finish line.”

Heather Jackson, Senior Public Information Specialist with RUHS, says it's a day to celebrate.

San Bernardino made the move to open up COVID-19 vaccinations immediately to people age 16 and older who live and work in the county Tuesday. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson reports on this and other recovery news.

Nine days before the state guidance to do so, Board of Supervisors Chair Curt Hagman said it is time to fully expand vaccine eligibility. The county is currently receiving 60,000 doses of vaccine per week and is expecting that number to continue to increase weekly by 10,000.

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

The city of Riverside is accepting items for a time capsule that will be buried at the new Main Library in downtown Riverside.

Residents can bring items like photographs, documents and objects no bigger than two inches through April 30.

“We are excited to bring the new main library to our Riverside community,” said the City of Riverside’s Library Director, Erin Christmas in a news release. “This time capsule is a fun way to show the future stewards of our libraries what it was like to be a Riversider in the 21st century.”

One in ten Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reported hate crimes and hate incidents in 2021, according to survey results released by AAPI Data and SurveyMonkey Tuesday. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson reports, this rate which is higher than the national average is driven by a specific harmful stereotype.

Riverside County partners gave the one millionth COVID-19 vaccination dose at a clinic in Beaumont Wednesday. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson reports.

The milestone dose was given to 65-year-old retired nurse Shirley Ann Gruenke of Cherry Valley.

“It was a surprise, but I sure thank you all,” said Gruenke, in a news release. “You know, I went back and forth saying I was not going to get the shot, but when I got COVID in December and I felt sick, I said I’m ready for it. I’m getting my shot.”

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

1. The Riverside University Health System has a system in place that they say improves patients’ experience and treating colon cancer.
2. A new police chief has been appointed to lead the Corona Police Department.

The Voice on KVCR is a weekly discussion with the Black Voice News editorial team about important issues in the Inland region. This week KVCR's Megan Jamerson spoke with Executive Editor Stephanie Williams about her report Coronavirus Pandemic Past Due Utility Bills' Crisis Continues for California Households. 

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and the Riverside University Health System has a system in place that they say improves patients’ experience screening and treating colon cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women, excluding skin cancers. It’s also the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

Riverside County health officials say the latest COVID-19 numbers are looking good, but there are concerns about a fourth wave and how new virus variants might play a role. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson has more from Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting.

Cal State San Bernardino received recognition for several of its graduate programs in U.S. News and World Report’s latest school rankings. 

Under the 2022 edition of Best Graduate Schools, its public affairs, public health and part-time MBA graduate programs were listed.

Caltrans would like to extend the Brightline West high-speed rail project from Apple Valley to Rancho Cucamonga.

The proposed project called the Cajon Pass Segment would add 50 miles of track along the I-15 corridor, ending with a station near the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink train station.

Inland News Today reports that the privately funded rail project would first connect Apple Valley to Las Vegas over 170 miles of track.

The public can provide feedback on the Cajon Pass Segment before April thirteenth.

U.C. Riverside’s Center for Social Innovation is hosting an Inland Empire Policy Summit this week with a focus on building a more equitable future during COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts.

While this is the third policy summit the center has hosted, Director Karthick Ramakrishnan says this time it’s different.

While signatures in support of a recall of Governor Gavin Newsom still need to be counted, there will probably be a special election later this year. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson spoke with a U.C. Riverside political science professor about the big questions leading into what will likely be the state’s second ever recall election of a governor.

Some of the questions Professor Shaun Bowler is asking are who is going to run other than Governor Newsom and what kind of voter turnout will the recall election bring?

The city of Redlands is partnering with local groups and faith organizations to host a vaccine clinic at Citrus Valley High School on March 30. KVCR’s Megan Jamerson has more on the clinic that aims to reach the underserved community. 

For people without transportation who live in the North Redlands area, a bus may be available to bring them to the clinic. Residents should ask about this service when they register for the vaccine according to a city news release.

Three San Bernardino County women allegedly were co-conspirators in an operation to smuggle large amounts of fentanyl and heroin through Southern California airports. 

Inland News Today reports that Chavon Amber Sayles, 28 of Chino was arrested by federal authorities at her home on Wednesday on indictment charges of recruiting drug couriers.

According to the indictment, from June 2018 to March 2019, the couriers moved the drugs through Hollywood Burbank Airport, Long Beach Airport and Ontario International Airport to Ohio, Oregon and elsewhere in the country.