Local news

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.

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:

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:

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.

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.

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

Lillian Vasquez speaks with returning guest Dr. Manfred Keil, Inland Empire Economic Partnership’s Chief Economist. Dr. Keil talks about trends and new data related to business and employment in our region.

For more information about IEEP, visit ieep.com

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

The coming trend of automation has been looming over the logistics industry for a while, especially in places likes the Inland Empire, as more and more jobs are becoming automated. University of Redlands economist Johannes Moenius says COVID-19 could accelerate that trend, transforming the job market in the Inland Empire quicker than expected. 

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

1. Rite Aid is expanding its COVID-19 testing capacity with nearly 100 new drive-thru testing sites today across California, including more than a dozen in Riverside County.
2. Many Californians have been participating in outdoor activities during the pandemic, which is considered low-risk if precautions are taken.

The application window for the United Lift rental assistance program in Riverside County opened yesterday, allowing residents to apply for rental assistance payments. 

The program is administered by Inland SoCal United Way.

The money comes from the CARES Act funding awarded by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to support 10,000 households affected by COVID-19 and behind on their rent.

Residents can apply at UnitedLift.org or by calling 2-1-1. The application portal is available in English and Spanish until July 25.

Lillian Vasquez speaks with Blanco Castro, California Advocacy Director for AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. She talks about how AARP is looking at the coronavirus pandemic, having reported more than 50,000 senior deaths so far due to COVID-19.

For more information, visit AARP.org/nursinghomes

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:

Lillian speaks with veterinarian and pet happiness expert Dr. Rolan Tripp. Dr. Tripp shares how the stay at home order has had an effect on pets, specifically how pets will cope once their owners return to work.

To learn more about Dr. Rolan Tripp and pet happiness, visit behaviorvet.net

Lillian speaks with author and domestic abuse expert Mannette Morgan about domestic violence as it Relates to COVID-19. Mannette shares how the pandemic has affected domestic violence and how to stop the cycle of abuse.

To learn more about Mannette Morgan, visit mannettemorgan.com

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

1. The Governor’s recommended closure of bars in Riverside County has become mandatory.
2. A small plane on a 15-minute flight from Big Bear to the Redlands Airport on June 5 descended into clouds and killed all three people onboard.
3. A wildfire burns homes in Niland, a desert town near the Salton Sea.
4. Coronavirus cases are skyrocketing at a Bay Area prison, where more than one in four inmates have tested positive.

Lillian speaks with Jose Arballo, the Public Information Specialist for Riverside County Department of Public Health. Jose talks about COVID-19 testing sites, the process of getting tested, and future plans for testing.

To learn more about The Riverside County Department of Public Health, visit www.rivcoph.org

Lillian Vasquez speaks with Dr. Sam Zidovetzki, an emergency room doctor who volunteered to serve on the front lines. Dr. Z shares his experience of volunteering for a hospital in the South Bronx in New York. He also teaches medical students at UC Riverside.

To learn more about Dr. Sam Zidovetzki, visit gme.riversidecommunityhospital.com/Faculty/Samuel-Zidovetzki-MD-MPH.aspx

Lillian Vasquez speaks with Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis. She discusses the coronavirus pandemic and her part in the battle, and also talks about recent protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing.

To learn more about Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, visit ltg.ca.gov

The coronavirus pandemic may have upended the world of live theatre, but the Theatre Department at the University of California, Riverside has found a way around it. They created a hybrid play, film, and radio drama called “At the Pass” which will soon be turned into a podcast. KVCR’s Benjamin Purper spoke with some of the key players behind “At the Pass.”

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: