News

In the spring, as COVID-19 halted the economy, automobile use plummeted. And so did greenhouse gas emissions. Now, a whitepaper from the University of California Riverside's(U.C.R.) Center for Economic Forecasting and Development says this will not last and, instead, California’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions may be out of reach. 

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

1. The “Festival of Lights” in Riverside will go ahead as planned during the Christmas season, but with limited city funding.
2. Youth sports are allowed to resume in Riverside County amid Coronavirus protocols.
3. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians made the decision to cancel California’s largest pow wow which was planned for October.
4. New research shows that atmospheric rivers and snow droughts could become more common.

Like so many annual events, California’s largest pow wow is facing cancellation this year due the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In an announcement by the San Manuel Pow Wow Committee on August 4, the members say they made the decision to cancel this year's event with a heavy heart.

The pow wow was planned for October at the San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino. But the committee says cancellation is the most responsible decision in order to protect the health and safety of their tribe and traveling guests.

Lillian Vasquez speaks with Dr. David Lo, a Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Sciences and the Senior Associate Dean for Research at the UC Riverside School of Medicine. Dr. Lo reviews the history of vaccines and discusses the vaccine situation regarding COVID 19.

For more information about Dr. Lo, visit profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/davidlo

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

The U.S. Marine Corp has now identified the Marines killed during a training accident off the coast of San Diego on July 30th. This includes two Marines from Riverside County.

Among the nine Marines killed are 18-year-old Pfc. Brian Baltierra of Corona and 21-year-old Cpl. Cesar Villanueva of Riverside.

Their unit was on a routine shore-to-ship training exercise when their amphibious assault vehicle started taking on water a half mile from San Clemente Island.

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

1. The Apple Fire, which started Friday afternoon near Cherry Valley, is continuing to spread with 26,850 acres burned.
2. Health officials advised San Gorgonio Pass residents to avoid outdoor activity to minimize spoke exposure and ash from the Apple Fire.
3. Cases of COVID-19 in LA have surged since June and many suggest that the Black Lives Matter protests are to blame for the increase.

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

1. Some state lawmakers want to raise taxes on the wealthiest Californians to boost funding for schools and unemployment benefits.
2. Governor Newsom announced a broad plan to help prevent future water challenges.
3. California lawmakers advance three bills spurred by the coronavirus.
4. Some California schools want waivers to allow classroom instruction despite the coronavirus.

Lillian Vasquez speaks with Dr. Patrick Porter, a neuroscience expert and founder of BrainTap. Dr. Porter discusses the importance of sleep and some of the challenges faced when it comes to sleeping.

For more information, visit braintap.com

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

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

The Inland Empire Funders Alliance is partnering with the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire to launch the Black Equity Fund, a regional fund with a goal of raising $5 million to support long-term investments in Black communities.

The I.E. Black Equity Fund brings together regional funders, private donors, and corporate philanthropy to partner with the Inland Empire Black Equity Initiative.

They’ll work on key issues affecting the Black community in the Inland Empire, including housing, criminal justice, and labor issues.

Homicide detectives have confirmed that the suspect who shot a U.S. District Judge’s son in New Jersey this week is the same suspect responsible for the murder of a men’s rights lawyer in the San Bernardino Mountains in July.

On Monday, detectives began working with investigators in the Newark FBI office to determine if there was a connection to the murder of Marc Angelucci and members of Judge Esther Salas’ family in New Jersey.

On Wednesday, the FBI confirmed there was evidence linking the two murder cases.

A coalition of environmental groups is suing the city of Moreno Valley for approving the World Logistics Center, a sprawling mega-warehouse that they say would worsen air quality and other environmental indicators in the region. 

The 40-million-square-foot World Logistics Center, which will be about the size of 700 football fields, has been in the works since 2012.

After being tied up in legal challenges since then, the city of Moreno Valley approved it again last month with a revised environmental impact report – one of the project’s main sticking points.

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

1. A fire in Banning that burned for nearly three hours destroyed a business before being extinguished.
2. The FBI confirms investigation into men’s rights lawyer who was found dead in the San Bernardino mountains.
3. False and misleading claims on Facebook say that wearing a mask can be harmful to one’s health.
4. People of color are leading the charge to protect 30% of California’s public land and oceans by 2030.

The FBI has confirmed they are investigating a possible connection between the shooting of a men’s rights lawyer in the San Bernardino Mountains to the suspect in the ambush shooting of a federal judge's family in New Jersey. 

Attorney Marc Angelucci was shot to death in his home in Cedar Pines Park in the San Bernardino Mountains on July 11.

Federal authorities said Wednesday they have evidence this shooting is linked to the Sunday shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas which claimed the life of Salas’ son.

Lillian Vasquez speaks with Robert Villegas, spokesperson for Southern California Edison, and Kristine Scott, Senior Public Affairs Manager for SoCalGas, about relief programs in place to help customers pay utility bills during the pandemic.

For more on reduced electricity rates, call the Customer Service number on your electric bill or visit sce.com

For more information on assistance programs and more from SoCalGas, you can visit socalgas.com or call 1-800-427-2200.