This Week in City Hall: December 9, 2024

Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worthy of your attention in the next week. This guide is part of our mission to provide everyday Riversiders like you with the information to speak up on the issues you care about. City Council City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, December 9, in afternoon sessions at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes: Mayor Lock Dawson will recognize California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR) for their historic 2024 football season. (Item 5) Certifying the results of Ballot Measure L from the November 5, 2024 election where Riverside voters approved creating a new Inspector General position to investigate waste and misconduct in city government. (Item 7) Considering spending $250,000 of funds received from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for a roof repair project for the Blindness Supportive Services office on Beatty Drive. (Item 29) Launching a pre-approved plans program for accessory dwelling units, which modifies the permitting process and provides standardized designs as part of the City’s response to state housing requirements. (Item 30) Considering final reallocations of $7.2

Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District Named 2024 Organization of the Year

The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) is making waves in the environmental education scene. They’ve just been named the 2024 Organization of the Year by three major California environmental education groups. This recognition comes from the Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE), Ten Strands, and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI). They’re impressed with RCRCD’s creative programs and educational projects. The state honor follows a national win for RCRCD District Manager Shelli Lamb, who recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Conservation Districts. Diana Ruiz, the recently retired Public Affairs Manager who spearheaded many of the celebrated programs, says, “We’re thrilled to receive this recognition from California’s leading Environmental Education organizations.” RCRCD’s award-winning projects include the LandUse Learning Center demonstration garden, the Fresh and Local food and farm guide, and Riverside’s Mayor’s Monarch Challenge. The district has given new life to a 100-year-old USDA research facility in Riverside, turning it into a Resource Conservation Center. It now houses a nursery for growing native plants and a 3-acre demonstration garden showcasing sustainable practices for Southern California’s main land uses. Estrella Risinger

Ram Pride: Kayla McCarty’s YoungArts Triumph

Kayla McCarty, a Ramona High School’s Fine Arts program senior, was recently named a 2025 National Winner with Distinction for Musical Theater by the YoungArts Program. She is one of only 13 national honorees. This accomplishment highlights both Ramona’s Fine Arts Magnet’s success and Kayla’s commitment to excellence. Kayla will participate in the National YoungArts Week and Gala in January 2025 in Miami, Florida, as part of her award. During YoungArts Week, she’ll connect with other top young artists across ten disciplines, receiving masterclasses, collaborative opportunities, and invaluable mentorship from internationally recognized arts leaders. Alumni of the YoungArts Foundation include Viola Davis, Timothée Chalamet, and Josh Groban, placing Kayla among an elite group of emerging artists. Kayla’s success extends far beyond this award. As a standout student in Ramona High’s Fine Arts program, she has been instrumental in elevating the program’s reputation. Ramona Theater Arts instructor Jessica McCarty says, “Kayla is an exemplary student and performer who showcases the high quality of Ramona’s Performing Arts. Acting, dancing, and singing bring her a profound sense of joy that she shares with audiences. Her achievements have confirmed

Man Reported Missing from Long Beach Found

A 55-year-old man who was reported missing in Long Beach has been found, authorities said Monday. Pedro Renteria Jr. was last seen Sunday morning near the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and West Wardlow Road, and authorities had sought the public’s help to find him. On Monday, the Long Beach Police Department reported that he had been found. Other details were not released.

West Covina Seeks Dismissal of Former Fire Captain’s Discrimination Suit

Arguing there are no triable issues, the city of West Covina is seeking dismissal of a former Fire Department captain’s lawsuit that alleges he was forced to resign in 2022 in the face of possibly losing his retirement medical benefits for complaining that the fire chief was not following coronavirus safety measures. Curtis McCart’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations include disability and age discrimination as well as retaliation. He seeks reinstatement along with unspecified compensatory damages. But in court papers filed Thursday with Judge Peter A. Hernandez, attorneys for the city dispute McCart’s allegations, saying the plaintiff was placed on paid administrative leave for legitimate reasons because of worrisome statements he made to colleagues. The same lawyers also say the plaintiff did not file a grievance or complaint about alleged COVID-19 regulation violations during his employment. McCart also was unable to state any specific coronavirus regulation violated by Fire Chief Vincent Capelle or others, the West Covina lawyers further maintain in their pleadings. McCart was put on paid administrative leave in July 2022, in part for allegedly stating in a conversation with colleagues that

Police questioning man in Pennsylvania in CEO murder, sources say

By Mark Prussin Updated on: December 9, 2024 / 12:13 PM EST / CBS New York Search continues for murder weapon in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting Search continues for murder weapon in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting 02:48 NEW YORK — A man in Pennsylvania is being questioned in connection to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City , police sources tell CBS News New York.  A source close to the investigation said that a person of interest was being questioned about Thompson’s murder after Pennsylvania authorities took him into custody on an unrelated incident in Altoona.  The person being questioned was in possession of a gun with a silencer and a fake New Jersey driver’s license, sources said.   After Thompson was fatally shot outside the Hilton Midtown hotel on Dec. 4 , police identified a person of interest who they said had used a fake New Jersey ID  to check into a hostel  on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Police have not confirmed if the man being questioned is the same person of interest seen at the hostel.  Over the weekend, NYPD  continued

Daniel Penny found not guilty in NYC subway chokehold death

CBS News Live CBS News New York Live NEW YORK — Daniel Penny has been found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway car in 2023. Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran , pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The judge  dismissed the manslaughter charge  Friday after jurors said they could not come to a unanimous decision. The jury could only consider the negligent homicide charge if Penny was cleared of manslaughter. About 15 protesters lined up outside the courthouse Monday, chanting “justice for Jordan Neely.” Inside, Penny’s defense team asked for a mistrial and once again was denied.  Word of the verdict came after jurors  deliberated for more than 20 hours . Penny appeared to smile, as his attorneys hugged each other. CBS News New York’s Alice Gainer was inside the courtroom, where she reported chaos unfolded after the verdict was announced. Some cheered in support of Penny, while Neely’s father had to leave the room because he stood up and was swearing.  “Our call to action

Dec 9: CBS News 24/7, 10am ET

Dec 9: CBS News 24/7, 10am ET – CBS News Watch CBS News Syrian rebels take control after Assad flees to Moscow; “The Wizard of Oz” ruby slippers sell for $28M at auction. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Man in Pennsylvania being questioned in connection to UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, sources say

Man in Pennsylvania being questioned in connection to UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, sources say – CBS News Watch CBS News Police sources tell CBS News New York that a man in Pennsylvania is being questioned in connection to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. CBS News’ Anna Schecter has the latest confirmed details. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Man in Pennsylvania being questioned over UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: sources

Editor’s note: This video above was filmed during a Dec. 4 news conference concerning the investigation into the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. NEW YORK (WPIX) – A man in Pennsylvania was being questioned Monday in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, sources told Nexstar’s WPIX. The man is in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles west of New York City, according to sources. He’s believed to have a gun similar to the one used to kill Thompson in front of a Midtown hotel, sources said. The New York City Police Department was en route to question the man, according to those sources. The development came as dogs and divers returned Monday to New York’s Central Park while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. Investigators have been combing the park since the Wednesday shooting and have been searching at least one of its ponds for three days, looking for evidence that may have been thrown into it. Thompson was arriving at an investors meeting at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel just before 7 a.m. when he was shot

Veteran Daniel Penny not guilty in NYC subway chokehold case over Jordan Neely’s death

NEW YORK (AP) — A Marine veteran who used a chokehold on an agitated subway rider was acquitted on Monday in a death that became a prism for differing views about public safety, valor and vigilantism. A Manhattan jury delivered the verdict, clearing Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s death last year. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed earlier in deliberations because the jury deadlocked on that count. Both charges were felonies and carried the possibility of prison time. Penny, 26, gripped Jordan Neely around the neck for about six minutes in a chokehold that other subway passengers partially captured on video. Penny’s lawyers said he was protecting himself and other subway passengers from a volatile, mentally ill man who was making alarming remarks and gestures. The defense also disputed a city medical examiner’s finding that the chokehold killed Neely. Prosecutors said Penny reacted far too forcefully to someone he perceived as a peril, not a person. The case amplified many American fault lines, among them race, politics, crime, urban life, mental illness and homelessness. Neely was Black. Penny is white.

Review: Taylor Swift finishes ‘my beloved Eras tour’ with the assurance of a pro

VANCOUVER —  To get a sense of how long Taylor Swift’s Eras tour lasted, consider that both a big-budget concert film and a hardcover photo book documenting the road show came out while the show was still on the road. Consider that one of the superstar’s former opening acts, Sabrina Carpenter, has become a superstar herself. Or consider that Swift’s latest LP contains a song she wrote about her experience on the Eras tour — a song she went on to add to the very production that inspired it. And now, believe it or not, it’s a wrap. After 149 dates spanning five continents over nearly two years, the Eras tour — the highest-grossing concert tour in history, with estimated ticket sales in the neighborhood of $2 billion — came to an end at last Sunday evening with the third of three sold-out concerts at BC Place. It was the series finale of a cultural phenomenon that reshaped fan culture, that launched countless memes, that grew so popular that people started buying so-called no-view seats to hang out behind the stage and sing along with the

‘Emilia Pérez’ leads Golden Globe nominations with 10, followed by ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Conclave’

By JAKE COYLE, Associated Press Jacques Audiard’s audacious musical “Emilia Pérez,” about a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender affirming surgery to become a woman, led nominations to the 82nd Golden Globes on Monday, scoring 10 nods to lead it over other contenders like the musical smash “Wicked,” the papal thriller “Conclave” and the postwar epic “The Brutalist.” The nominations for the Globes, which will be televised by CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Jan. 5, were announced on Monday morning by Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut. Related Articles Entertainment | James Taylor’s 2025 tour includes two San Diego shows. Here are all the dates. Entertainment | Trump’s re-election fueled cutting-edge composer Rand Steiger’s ‘Rage/Resolve’ Entertainment | Tony-winner Jefferson Mays plans unique, solo ‘Carol’ ghost tale at Old Globe Entertainment | John Waters ready to make merry with annual naughty-and-nice Christmas show Entertainment | Curious about the Hotel del Coronado’s $550 million renovation? Go behind the scenes in this documentary The embattled Globes, which are no longer presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are still in comeback mode after years of scandal and organizational

Syrian prime minister says government is still functioning but foreign and domestic challenges loom

By SARAH EL DEEB, BASSEM MROUE and TIA GOLDENBERG DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers are still working from offices in Damascus after rebels entered the capital over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad. Streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future. But there were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country, which is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the General Command said in a statement on social media. Meanwhile, some key government services had shut down as state workers ignored calls to return to their jobs, a U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian

Hike of the week: Enjoy fall colors and 360-degree views from Stonewall Peak

It always feels like a treat to drive up to the Cuyamaca Mountains, passing by the campgrounds, open space and farms on state Route 79. And luckily, the destination for the drive this week was just as scenic. Stonewall Peak, at 5,730 feet, is situated south of Lake Cuyamaca and directly across from the Paso Picacho Campground. It’s a roughly 4-mile, easy-to-moderate hike along the Stonewall Peak Trail to the summit and back. At the top, after about 1,000 feet of elevation gain, hikers get a 360-degree view of the surrounding and distant wilderness, including the Laguna Mountains to the southeast and San Gorgonio, the tallest peak in Southern California, to the north. There are two trails that lead to Stonewall Peak, but this is the more straightforward route. Hikers can also reach the peak via the Vern Whitaker Trail, which connects with the Stonewall Peak Trail from the northeast. Changing fall leaves on the oak trees along the Stonewall Peak Trail. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune) The trail, though predominantly switchbacks, also offers some more technical hiking near the summit, where hikers

Golden Globe nominations: ‘Emilia Pérez’ leads with 10, followed by ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Conclave’

Jacques Audiard’s audacious musical “Emilia Pérez,” about a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender-affirming surgery to become a woman, led nominations to the 82nd Golden Globes on Monday, scoring 10 nods to lead it over other contenders like the musical smash “Wicked,” the papal thriller “Conclave” and the post-war epic “The Brutalist.” The nominations for Globes, which will be televised by CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Jan. 5, were announced on Monday morning by Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut. ‘Duck Dynasty’ star Phil Robertson diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, family confirms The embattled Globes, which are no longer presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are still in comeback mode after years of scandal and organizational upheaval. Working in the Globes’ favor this year: an especially starry field of nominees. Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Denzel Washington, Ariana Grande, Glen Powell and Selena Gomez all scored nominations. The young Donald Trump drama “The Apprentice” also landed nominations for its two central performances, by Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn. The president-elect has called “The Apprentice” a “politically disgusting hatchet job” made by “human scum.”

Thousands lost power as Red Flag Warning is set to go into effect

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Thousands of Ramona residents lost power early Monday morning, hours before a Red Flag Warning for elevated fire danger is set to go into effect. The outage for some 3,358 customers in the community appeared to be unplanned, according to San Diego Gas & Electric’s outage map. The power disruption was first reported around 5 a.m. and was restored to all but about 400 customers about two hours later, just before 7:30 a.m. In an update to its outage map around 8 a.m., SDG&E said the service disruption was caused by equipment it found that was in need of repairs. The estimated time of restoration for the remaining households impacted is around 11 a.m. Dry rainy season sparks wildfire concerns The outage comes amid warnings from SDG&E of potential public safety shutoffs due to “extreme fire weather” throughout the region’s inland valleys, northern coast and backcountry, including Ramona. These dangerous conditions, which prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning over the weekend, stem from the onset of dry, gusty Santa Ana winds during a time of