News

Friday News Wrap With Cassie MacDuff: Altavita Village, Raul Ruiz Versus Raul Ruiz, And More

By Benjamin Purper & Cassie MacDuff • Sep 13, 2019

Longtime Inland Empire journalist and KVCR contributor, Cassie MacDuff and KVCR's Rick Dulock review some of the big Inland Empire news stories from the past week, including:

9/12 Empire KVCR Midday News: Female Business Owners, Animal Testing Alternatives, and more

By Shareen Awad • Sep 12, 2019

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

Riverside-San Bernardino area has the fourth highest percentage of female business owners.
UC Riverside among universities to receive federal funds to find alternatives to animal testing.
Eastbound 60 closures coming to an end next weekend.
California poised to enact a sweeping law that will require companies to reclassify their contract workers as employees.

Report: Riverside-San Bernardino Has Fourth Most Female Business Owners Among Large Metro Areas

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 12, 2019

A new report finds that the Riverside-San Bernardino area has the fourth highest percentage of female business owners in large metropolitan areas across the country

The report comes from software company Volusion, who analyzed the latest employment data from the U.S. Census Bureau to identify the metropolitan areas that have the most female business owners.

Riverside Megachurch Pastor And Mental Health Advocate Dies By Suicide

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 11, 2019

A pastor at the Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Riverside who spoke openly about his battles with depression died by suicide Monday night.

Jarrid Wilson was known for giving impassioned sermons on mental health issues, including his own struggles with depression.

Hours before he took his life, Wilson tweeted a message about suicide, saying “Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure suicidal thoughts.”

Wilson joined the church in 2018 and founded Anthem of Hope, a mental health nonprofit helping people deal with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Federal Funds Go To UC Riverside For Alternatives To Animal Testing

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 11, 2019

Federal officials announced yesterday that UC Riverside and three other universities will receive federal funds to find alternatives to animal testing.

UC Riverside will receive about $850,000 in federal grant funds for research aimed at finding alternatives to using animals for testing chemicals.

The total grant is $4.25 million going to four universities – UC Riverside, Johns Hopkins, Oregon State and Vanderbilt.

9/11 Empire KVCR Midday News: Riverside Warehouse Center, Freeway Toll Lanes Opposed, and more

By Shareen Awad • Sep 11, 2019

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

1. A planned 1 million-square-foot warehouse in Riverside County will go forward.

2. Board opposes idea to install freeway toll lanes in Riverside.

3. Research shows that California’s vulnerable housing market may not be all bad news.

4. California could soon change how it approves new charter schools.

1 Million-Square-Foot Warehouse Center In Riverside County Survives Challenge, Will Go Forward

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 10, 2019

A 1 million-square-foot warehouse center planned for a site off the 215 freeway narrowly survived a challenge today as Riverside County supervisors voted to reject an appeal that would have blocked the project.

The vote was close – it was 3-2 in favor of rejecting the appeal.

It upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of Majestic Realty Company’s project in Mead Valley, west of Perris.

The project is three buildings planned for a 72.5-acre site off of Cajalco Expressway.

9/10 Empire KVCR Midday News: Tenaja Blaze, Scuba Diving Boat Fire, Vaccine Bill, and more

By Shareen Awad • Sep 10, 2019

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

9/9 Empire KVCR Midday News: Tenaja Fire, Trump Administration Challenges Automakers, and more

By Rick Dulock • Sep 9, 2019

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

1. Tenaja fire burned 1,940+ acres and is 73% contained.

2. Two women suspected of beating an 84 year old woman at Pechanga Casino in Temecula could be eligible for the death penalty.

3. Five days remain for California lawmakers to decide the fates of nearly 700 bills.

4. California's deal with automakers to reduce car and truck emissions receive more pushback from the Trump administration.

Friday News Wrap With Cassie MacDuff: Inland Empire Wages, Redlands Discrimination Claim, And More

By Benjamin Purper & Cassie MacDuff • Sep 6, 2019

Longtime Inland Empire journalist and KVCR contributor, Cassie MacDuff and KVCR's Benjamin Purper review some of the big Inland Empire news stories from the past week, including:

Tenaja Fire: Nearly 2,000 Acres Burnt, Hundreds Evacuated

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 6, 2019

The Tenaja Fire near Murrieta scorched nearly 2,000 acres and caused hundreds to evacuate as of this morning.

The fire was 20 percent contained as of Friday morning. It caused hundreds to evacuate their homes and schools in four districts to close.

Nearly 900 firefighters from Riverside County, Cal Fire, Murrieta Fire & Rescue, the Hemet Fire Department, Corona Fire Department, the Orange County Fire Authority and U.S. Forest Service responded to the fire.

9/5 Empire KVCR Midday News: Highway 330 Closure, Murrieta Wildfire, License Plate Lawsuit

By Shareen Awad • Sep 5, 2019

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

1. A hard closure of Highway 330 will last 12 days for safety renovations.

2. Wind-driven wildfire scorches 1400 acres west of Murrieta.

3. A federal judge declines to throw out lawsuit against DMV over a misunderstood personalized license plate.

Possible Lightning Strike Sets Brush Ablaze Near Murrieta, Schools Closed

By City News Service • Sep 5, 2019

MURRIETA (CNS) - A wind-driven wildfire that may have been started by
a lightning strike has scorched about 1,400 acres just west of Murrietta,
prompted evacuations and the closure of schools and is 7% contained this
morning.
The blaze was first reported about 3:55 p.m. Wednesday in the area of
Clinton Keith and Tenaja roads, in the unincorporated community of La Cresta,
according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
In the course of an hour Wednesday night, the fire exploded from 250

Candidates Jump Into The Race For Riverside Mayor After Rusty Bailey Announces Retirement

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 4, 2019

Candidates are jumping into the race for Riverside mayor after current Mayor Rusty Bailey announced his retirement.

Bailey announced his retirement Tuesday.

That same day, Riverside City Council member Andy Melendrez announced he would run for the open seat.

Citing his experience as a four-term City Council member and his background coming from a low-income community of color, Melendrez said he expects to connect with voters in Riverside.

He said one of his top priorities will be homelessness.

9/4 Empire KVCR Midday News: Dive Boat Fire Victims, Racial Slurs, Dior Fragrance Ad

By Shareen Awad • Sep 4, 2019

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

1. Thirty-three bodies of dive boat fire victims were recovered near Santa Cruz Island.

2. Riverside County could settle lawsuit alleging racial slurs in waste management department.

3. Dior criticized for appropriating Native American culture with fragrance ad.

Loma Linda Pulmonologist On The Health Risks Of Vaping

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 3, 2019

Last Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory warning against the use of e-cigarettes after a spike in vaping-related illnesses this summer. In this report, KVCR’s Benjamin Purper speaks with a Loma Linda pulmonologist about the health risks associated with vaping.

In August, public health officials in Illinois announced that a patient died from a mysterious lung illness linked to vaping.

While this was the first death related to the disease, there have now been 193 reported cases in 22 states.

9/3 Empire KVCR Midday News: Tuberculosis Exposure, Microplastic Pollution, and more

By Shareen Awad • Sep 3, 2019

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News gives a daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

1. Health officials are notifying those who could have been exposed to tuberculosis at the Kaiser Permanente Moreno Valley Oncology clinic.

2. Victorville man who drowned in Oceanside identified.

3. Mental health experts weigh in on a California strategic plan for suicide prevention.

4. Microplastics have become an issue in Lake Tahoe.

Is ICE Circumventing State Law By Contracting Directly With Private Prison Groups?

By Benjamin Purper • Sep 2, 2019

The immigrant detention facility in Adelanto was recently cited in a massive lawsuit decrying conditions for immigrants in privately-run centers. The city of Adelanto terminated its agreement with ICE earlier this year, but that doesn’t mean the center will close – in fact, it may even expand, thanks to a direct contract between ICE and the private prison company GEO Group.

In September of 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General paid an unannounced visit to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.

Friday News Wrap With Cassie MacDuff: Lovingood Seat Open, Ontario Airport Update, And More

By Benjamin Purper & Cassie MacDuff • Aug 30, 2019

Longtime Inland Empire journalist and KVCR contributor, Cassie MacDuff and KVCR's Rick Dulock review some of the big Inland Empire news stories from the past week, including:

1. A nonprofit senior citizens community near March Air Reserve Base may be sold in a bankruptcy sale.

2. San Bernardino County Supervisor Robert Lovingood has said he won't run for re-election.

3. Recently, there's been some good news and some bad news about Ontario International Airport.

4. The La-Z-Boy factory in Redlands has announced it will close.

8/29 Empire KVCR Midday News: Adverse Childhood Experiences

By Shareen Awad • Aug 29, 2019

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News gives a daily news rundown. Today's highlighted story:

1. New research shows that Loma Linda University Health's "Whole Child Assessment" improves identification of adverse childhood experiences.

Research Shows LLU Health's Assessment Tool Effectively Screens For Adverse Childhood Experiences

By Benjamin Purper • Aug 29, 2019

New research shows that Loma Linda University Health’s “Whole Child Assessment” improves identification of adverse childhood experiences.

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, can include things like physical and sexual abuse, neglect, parent separation, domestic violence and more.

Medical literature shows that ACEs affect neurological development and cause increased risk for many medical problems, including mental health and substance issues, as the child gets older.

8/28 Empire KVCR Midday News: National Forest Projects, School Lockdown, Teacher Supplies, and more

By Shareen Awad • Aug 28, 2019

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News gives a daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

1. National forests may see more commercial projects in the near future.

2. Reports of gunfire lead to school lockdown in Eastvale.

3. California public school teachers spend on average more than $650 of their own money on school supplies each year.

4. A Salton Sea Odor Advisory is extended until Wednesday for higher than normal hydrogen sulfide concentrations.

Man On Run From Authorities Located In Mexico, Returned To Riverside County

By Benjamin Purper • Aug 27, 2019

A man on the run from authorities with his young son for nearly two years has been located in Mexico and returned to Riverside County to face justice.

Yasar Bader Aqel took off with his son, who he does not have custody of, in February 2018. Aqel was on probation at the time for child concealment and resisting arrest.

After the man failed report to family services, a felony warrant was issued for his arrest.

8/27 Empire KVCR Midday News: SB Finances, Medical Marijuana in School, and more

By Shareen Awad • Aug 27, 2019

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News gives a daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include:

1. San Bernardino City leaders approved 3.5% pay raises for police personnel.

2. California schools may soon allow parents to administer medical marijuana to their children on K-12 campuses.

3. The California Senate approved a bill that would require Kaiser Permanente to disclose revenue and profits for each hopsital individually.

4. California orders halt to oil spill flowing since 2003

San Bernardino Approves Pay Raises For Police, City Manager

By Benjamin Purper • Aug 27, 2019

The city of San Bernardino has approved pay raises for the police officials and the city manager.

The city approved 3.5% pay raises for police personnel and City Manager Teri Ledoux.

Last month, Ledoux received a $50,000 raise to move from assistant city manager to city manager for the next 18 months.

With this raise in effect, she is now expected to earn about $270,000 per year.

The new city police chief, who has yet to be appointed after Jarrod Burguan retired earlier this month, will make about $256,000 annually.

Corona Costco Shooting: Wounded Couple Files Claim Against Officer

By Benjamin Purper • Aug 26, 2019

A Riverside couple wounded when an off-duty LAPD police officer fatally shot their developmentally disabled son has filed damages claims against the officer, the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD.

The shooting occurred at a Costco in Corona. The French family was shopping for groceries when an altercation began between their developmentally disabled son, Kenneth, and an off-duty police officer named Salvador Sanchez.

The officer’s attorney describes this as a life-threatening assault by Kenneth – the French family and their attorneys dispute that.

Southern California Man Accused of Shooting Arrows at Vehicles

By Associated Press/SB Sun • Aug 26, 2019

A Southern California man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting arrows at passing vehicles. The Sun reported Saturday that San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies arrested the Big Bear City man on August 23. The sheriff's department says witnesses reported seeing the 37-year-old man shooting arrows at traffic from the tailgate of his truck in the mountain town east of Los Angeles. The department says deputies found Jathon Musella in possession of multiple bows and arrows. The department says deputies did not see him shooting the arrows and could not find damage.

Corona Costco Shooting - News Conference Monday

By CITY NEWS SERVICE • Aug 26, 2019

A Riverside couple wounded when an off-duty Los Angeles police officer fatally shot their developmentally disabled son during what the lawman contends was an act of self-defense at a Costco in Corona are scheduled to speak publicly today about what happened.
Russell and Paola French, as well as their attorney, Dale Galipo, and other members of the French family are slated to join for a news conference at the Ayres Hotel in Corona, where they will give first-hand accounts of their experience on the night of June 14.

Swimmers & Surfers Warned as High Surf Pounds the Coast

By Associated Press • Aug 25, 2019

High surf is pounding much of the Southern California coast and beachgoers are warned of dangerous waves and rip currents. The National Weather Service says a strong southeast swell from Tropical Storm Ivo off Mexico could bring waves up to 6 feet to some areas from San Diego to Ventura. Swimmers and surfers are urged to stay near lifeguards and never turn their backs on the ocean. Forecasters say big waves will last into Tuesday, with peak swells coming Sunday and Monday. Flooding is possible in some low-lying areas. Beach erosion is also possible.

Eighty-Acre Brush Fire on Sunday Prompts I-15 Closure

By CITY NEWS SERVICE • Aug 25, 2019

A brush fire south of Corona burned about 80 acres near Interstate 15 and Temescal Canyon Road Sunday before being contained by firefighter in the afternoon.

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