State Farm shedding 72,000 home insurance policies in California

State Farm, California’s largest insurer, announced it will discontinue coverage for 72,000 homes and apartments starting this summer, a move likely to sharply inflate housing costs for affected residents in a state that’s reeling from a series of destructive recent wildfires. The Illinois-based insurance giant, which accounts for a fifth of the California home insurance market and is the largest property and auto insurer in the U.S., cited rising costs, increasing catastrophe risk, and outdated regulations as reasons it won’t renew California policies for 30,000 homes and 42,000 apartments. “This decision was not made lightly and only after careful analysis of State Farm General’s financial health, which continues to be impacted by inflation, catastrophe exposure, reinsurance costs, and the limitations of working within decades-old insurance regulations,” State Farm said in a March 20 statement. “State Farm General takes seriously our responsibility to maintain adequate claims-paying capacity for our customers and to comply with applicable financial solvency laws. It is necessary to take these actions now.” The announcement comes less than a year after State Farm announced it would not issue new policies in California citing

Utility commission rejects Norco’s request to make Edison bury power lines for Riverside project

State utility regulators on Thursday, March 21, rejected Norco’s request to make Southern California Edison bury transmission lines for a long-awaited Riverside power project that will run along the Santa Ana River. Norco is now eyeing a legislative fix. City manager Lori Sassoon said they’re working with Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Riverside, to introduce a bill that would suspend the power project until an updated environmental study is completed. If that bill isn’t approved, the unanimous decision by the California Public Utilities Commission likely closes the door on the local chapter of a complicated debate that’s playing out in California right now, as a broad push to locate power lines below ground due to increasing wildfire risks clashes with rising electricity rates and a need to quickly add capacity to the state’s power grid. The state approved Riverside’s $521 million transmission project four years ago to give the city a second connection to the regional electric grid. That plan includes adding steel poles and towers that would soar up to 180 feet and cut through the Hidden Valley Nature Center, where shorter above-ground power lines already

A.B. Miller High in Fontana unmasks new mascot, sheds Confederate imagery

A.B. Miller High School has a new Rebel on campus, designed and chosen by the school community to represent its spirit. The mascot, which underwent a complete rebranding over the past three-plus years, is not one thing or another, the Miller High community says, making it a true rebel. “It is a unique rebel that is unique to our school,” said Joseph Schirmer, assistant principal at Miller in the Fontana Unified School District. The mascot “is much in the rebel spirit of who we are. And we believe that our rebel is whatever you want it to be.” Rebel, the new branded mascot at A.B. Miller High School in Fontana, stands in the school’s cafeteria with junior Melanie Rios on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. The school rebrand started in 2020 after a petition went around that said the old Rebel mascot evoked a confederate ideology which had no place on Miller’s campus, Adrienne Albert, a Miller High teacher said. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) A.B. Miller High School senior Dayanara Gallarzo receives a t-shirt with the school’s newly branded Rebel mascot upon

Landmark Harris’ store donated to San Bernardino in major gift

After a run that spanned most of the 20th century, Harris’ closed in 1999 with an everything-must-go sale at its flagship San Bernardino department store. The three-story building has sat vacant for 25 years. Now, its Spain-based owners have officially given up on finding a tenant or buyer. They are donating the 270,000-square-foot building to City Hall. The donation was accepted at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. I was there. The building should be in the city’s hands within two weeks. “The city’s super fortunate to be offered this building by the ownership group,” City Manager Charles Montoya told me. “We’re grateful for the opportunity.” The building at 300 N. E St. was erected in 1927. From the street it still has a grandeur about it, even boarded up. The interior is a different story — let me come back to that — but the building, seismically strengthened in the past, is sound, Montoya said. Its assessed value is $4 million. The Harris family launched its first store in 1905 and expanded into adjacent buildings before opening the new headquarters on Nov. 7, 1927. Shoppers entered

Catastrophe modeling proposal would reshape California’s home insurance

In an effort to staunch the exodus of home insurers fleeing the state, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Thursday unveiled a proposal for letting those insurers use computer models of possible future catastrophes to justify rate increases. The plan is part of yearlong effort to overhaul regulations and ease the insurance market crisis in the wildfire-stricken state. Insurers use catastrophe models to calculate rates in every other state, but California has instead required the companies to use only historic loss experience based on the past 20 years. Insurers say that keeps them from pricing the growing risks from a warming climate into policies. In recent years, many insurers have stopped offering new coverage and dropped customers in wildfire risk areas, forcing them to buy bare-bones, last-resort policies at two or three times the cost. “We can no longer look solely to the past as a guide to the future,” Lara said in a statement Thursday. “My strategy will help modernize our marketplace, restoring options for consumers while safeguarding the independent, transparent review of rate filings by Department of Insurance experts, which is a bedrock

Gillette’s Records was a longtime favorite for Riverside youth

One of the original shops in the last phase of the new Brockton Arcade was Gillette’s Records, a teen hangout and music mecca in Riverside for about 25 years. For those who remember, its owner was very much a kid-at-heart. Gillette’s Records opened April 11, 1962, along with five other stores. The owner of Gillette’s was Doug Gillette, who, at age 53, could not be considered a “youth.” However, he wanted to connect to the youth of the day, and the way he figured he’d do that was through operating a record store that catered to the under-30 crowd – just modern music, no classical or “adult” genres. Gillette was born May 19, 1909 in Central Village, Connecticut. Sports played a big part in his early life, and for a while, he was actually a minor-league pitcher for a team that fed into the St. Louis Cardinals. He showed promise until he blew out his elbow and his professional baseball hopes came to an end. He then worked for a coal company in Pennsylvania until WWII, when he enlisted in the Army and was a

Catastrophe modeling proposal would reshape California’s home insurance rules

In an effort to staunch the exodus of home insurers fleeing the state, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Thursday unveiled a proposal for letting those insurers use computer models of possible future catastrophes to justify rate increases. The plan is part of yearlong effort to overhaul regulations and ease the insurance market crisis in the wildfire-stricken state. Insurers use catastrophe models to calculate rates in every other state, but California has instead required the companies to use only historic loss experience based on the past 20 years. Insurers say that keeps them from pricing the growing risks from a warming climate into policies. In recent years, many insurers have stopped offering new coverage and dropped customers in wildfire risk areas, forcing them to buy bare-bones, last-resort policies at two or three times the cost. “We can no longer look solely to the past as a guide to the future,” Lara said in a statement Thursday. “My strategy will help modernize our marketplace, restoring options for consumers while safeguarding the independent, transparent review of rate filings by Department of Insurance experts, which is a bedrock

Two Students Crowned San Bernardino County Spelling Bee Champions Headed to Scripps National Spelling Bee

The San Bernardino County Spelling Bee concluded with exhilarating victories, showcasing exceptional linguistic scholars from across the region. Representing a diverse array of school districts and charter schools, the competition culminated in a thrilling event between the county’s finest spellers. San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) hosted the annual competition at San Bernardino Valley College on Mar. 13. This year’s champions emerged from the ranks of Etiwanda School District. Shrey Parikh, a sixth-grade student, and Srikanth Satheesh Kumar, an eighth-grade student, demonstrated exceptional skill and composure throughout the competition. “The San Bernardino County Spelling Bee serves as a testament to the dedication and talent of our students,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “It’s inspiring to witness their hard work and determination on display, showcasing their semantic skills in such a challenging and prestigious competition.” Sixth-grader Parikh solidified his victory after correctly spelling the word “rarefaction.” Satheesh Kumar was named the co-champion after providing the correct spelling of the word “recrudescent.” The champions will now prepare to compete on the national stage where they will represent San Bernardino County during the Scripps National Spelling Bee

Successful 3rd Annual Fishing Day at Glen Helen Hosted by Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

It was all about smiles, laughter, and a bit of friendly competition at Glen Helen Regional Park last weekend. This event was dedicated to our community’s underserved at-risk youth and children from San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS), aiming to provide a joyful and inclusive experience for all participants.  This year’s event was made possible through the collaboration of various partners, including the San Bernardino County Probation Department, Regional Parks, and Bass Pro Shop.  “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make this day happen,” Supervisor Baca shared, “It’s events like these that remind us of the simple joys in life—fishing, laughing, and spending time with each other. It’s about the kids, their families, and seeing those moments of pure happiness. That’s what it’s really all about.”  In addition to the fishing activities, the event also provided free lunch to ensure that all families were fed. “Seeing the community come together for our kids—especially those who’ve had it tough—means the world to me,” Baca added.  In acknowledging the collaborative effort, Jonathan Byers, Assistant Director of Children and

Baldwin Park’s Spring Fest Egg Hunt returns March 30

Baldwin Park’s Spring Fest returns on Saturday, March 30, at Morgan Park beginning at 8 a.m. Festivities will include a pancake brunch, magic show, egg hunt and Arbor Day celebration. “Spring Fest is one of the most fun, jam-packed events we host in Baldwin Park. From the always-entertaining Egg Hunt to the educational Environmental Fair, there is truly something for everyone,” said Baldwin Park Mayor Emmanuel J. Estrada. “Spring is finally here, and this is a wonderful opportunity for our community to reconnect with each other after a long winter.” All ages are welcome to meet and greet the bunny at the VIP Bunny Brunch from 8 to 10 a.m. Tickets for the breakfast are $5 and can be purchased up until 9:45 a.m. After that, enjoy a magic show from Zany Zoe at 9:45 a.m. in the Cesar E. Chavez Amphitheater. This performance will be completely free. Get your egg hunt baskets ready as the main event will begin at 10:45 a.m. There will be over 20,000 eggs and many snacks scattered around Morgan Park waiting to be found. Keep an eye out for

Man whose wife, daughter were killed in Redlands train accident sues city, Metrolink

A man whose wife and 11-year-old daughter were fatally injured when their vehicle was struck by a Metrolink Arrow train in Redlands has sued the city and Metrolink, alleging they were negligent and created dangerous conditions at the rail crossing. The lawsuit, filed March 12 in San Bernardino Superior Court on behalf of Redlands orthodontist Jason Chiakowsky, also names as defendants the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, San Bernardino County and several others believed to have been involved in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the rail crossing on Alabama Street, north of Redlands Boulevard. A Metrolink Arrow train crosses Alabama Street in Redlands. Heather Woolard, 47, and her 11-year-old daughter, Presley Chiakowsky, were killed after an Arrow train collided with their vehicle at the crossing about 8:25 p.m. on April 4, 2023.  (Photo by Joe Nelson/SCNG) Heather Woolard, 47, of Redlands was driving a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E when it was broadsided at the Alabama Street crossing by a westbound Metrolink Arrow train traveling about 50 mph at 8:24 p.m. on April 4, 2023. The impact sent the SUV into a 180-degree spin and

Clarissa Cervantes leads Ronaldo Fierro by 133 votes in 58th Assembly District election

The seesaw appears to be level in the race for the second and final November ballot spot in the 58th Assembly District. Results posted on the secretary of state’s website Wednesday morning, March 20, show Clarissa Cervantes with a 133-vote lead over fellow Democrat and Riverside City Council colleague Ronaldo Fierro in the 58th Assembly District, which covers Jurupa Valley, Grand Terrace and parts of Riverside, Corona and Eastvale. Republican Leticia Castillo remains in first, meaning that she and either Cervantes and Fierro will face off in November for a two-year term representing the 58th because California’s primary system advances the top two vote-getters, regardless of party. Cervantes and Fierro leapfrogged each other in initial results after election night. The race has been incredibly tight, with the margin between the two hovering around 10 votes at times. Related Articles Election | Jose Medina, Richard Roth appear to be in runoff for Riverside County supervisor seat Election | Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington appears to win reelection to 4-year term Election | California’s state Senate is set to hit gender milestone Election | Prop. 1 backers

Jose Medina, Richard Roth appear to be in runoff for Riverside County supervisor seat

Jose Medina and Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside, were colleagues in Sacramento. Now it appears they’ll be opponents in the race for a Riverside County Board of Supervisors seat. Roth and Medina, a former Democratic assemblymember, will apparently face each other in a November runoff for the 1st District seat after finishing first and second, respectively, according to unofficial March 5 primary results. Results posted by the county Registrar of Voters on Wednesday morning, March 20, show Roth with 32% of the vote and Medina with 25%. Community activist Debbie Walsh is third with 23% and Western Municipal Water District board member Gracie Torres is fourth with 21%. Roth and Medina have consistently held the first two spots since election night. If no one gets 50% plus one of the vote, the top two finishers advance to a November runoff. Roughly 1,700 ballots that are damaged or require further review remained to be counted entering Wednesday. Also, 2,400 provisional ballots must be reviewed to see if they should be counted. The 1st District represents Good Hope, Highgrove, March Air Reserve Base, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook, Perris, Riverside

Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington appears to win reelection to 4-year term

Chuck Washington appears poised to become Riverside County’s senior-most supervisor after avoiding a November runoff and winning reelection to a four-year term outright. Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington is poised to serve another four years on the board after apparently winning reelection in the March 5, 2024, election. (File photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG). The latest results posted by the county Registrar of Voters on Wednesday morning, March 20, show Washington with 53% of the vote. He needs 50% plus one to avoid a runoff and has been consistently above 50% since election night Tuesday, March 5. Roughly 1,700 ballots that are damaged or require further review remained to be county entering Wednesday. Also, 2,400 provisional ballots have to be reviewed to see if they should be counted. Washington’s two opponents — former Murrieta mayor Jonathan Ingram and 2022 Republican state treasurer candidate Jack Guerrero — have 27% and 20% of the vote, respectively, in the race for the 3rd District seat, which represents Aguanga, Anza, De Luz, East Hemet, French Valley, Green Acres, Homeland, La Cresta, Lake Riverside, Menifee, Murrieta, Sage

Intel gets $20 billion in US grants, loans for chip plants

By Mackenzie Hawkins | Bloomberg The US will award Intel Corp. $8.5 billion in grants and as much as $11 billion in loans to help fund an expansion of its semiconductor factories, marking the largest award from a program designed to reinvigorate the domestic chip industry. The package will support more than $100 billion in US investments from Intel, including efforts to produce cutting-edge semiconductors at large-scale plants in Arizona and Ohio, the Commerce Department announced Wednesday. The money also will help pay for equipment research and development and advanced packaging projects at smaller facilities in Oregon and New Mexico. In addition, Intel has indicated that it plans to tap investment tax credits from the Treasury Department that could cover as much as 25% of capital expenditures, according to the Commerce Department. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden will tour an Intel campus in Phoenix and announce a preliminary agreement with Intel for a major award from the 2022 Chips and Science Act. Intel is the first company to land a preliminary Chips Act funding deal for advanced chipmaking facilities. Intel shares were up 3.5% in

Who is Pomona’s new city manager, and what does she plan to do?

She adjusts her glasses as she sits down at a large oval wooden table in a conference room. Setting down her two iPhones, she settles into a large leather office chair and prepares to talk about her vision and game plan for Pomona. Though she may be the newly appointed city manager, Anita D. Gutierrez certainly is not new to Pomona. Gutierrez began her career in Pomona as a planning manager, supervising planning staff and activities, before moving on to director of development services, overseeing divisions such as building and safety, planning and code compliance. Eventually, she stepped into the role of assistant city manager, then acting city manager and now she’s the official city manager. In each of her different government positions held over the years, she brings with her the knowledge and experience she gained in her previous roles, she says. Now taking on the city’s highest executive position, Gutierrez says she brings with her a self-starting attitude that’s a characteristic of her A-type personality. Just six weeks into the job, she’s already identified her priorities: bringing in additional revenue, creating jobs for

Kolb MS Student Earns Best in Show at Young Artists’ Gallery

Leah Delgado, an eighth-grade student from Kolb Middle School in the Rialto Unified School District, recently made waves by clinching the prestigious Best in Show Award for the Middle School Division at the Young Artist Gallery. Delgado showed off her artistic talent with a creative charcoal drawing capturing the playful essence of her beloved cat, Tanji, adorned in a bunny outfit. In her artist’s statement about the piece, Delgado reflected that she wanted to capture the essence of her pet cat while also showcasing textures, details, and shadows as she practiced realism. Delgado shared, “I really wanted to focus on creating a more realistic work of art, so I decided to take a photo of my cat wearing a bunny outfit. I wanted to show off my cat’s fun and playful side while creating different textures and values to practice my realism. I focused on the eyes because I wanted it to feel like the cat was looking at the viewer. I wanted the eyes to be realistic so I focused on making them have the glare from the light as he stared at the

San Bernardino Forward Hiring Event: Bridging Gap Between Job Seekers and Employers Amid Worker Shortage and Rising Unemployment Crisis

The San Bernardino Forward Hiring Event is set to take place on March 27th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the New Hope Family Life Center, located at 1505 W Highland Ave., San Bernardino.  This event, organized in collaboration with the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, Sista’s Making a Difference, Rebound Inland Empire Reentry Services, and San Bernardino County Workforce Development, aims to connect over 300 job seekers with potential employers to address the ongoing worker shortage despite the rising unemployment rate in California. Recent data from California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) indicates that unemployment increased to 4.9 percent in November 2023, highlighting a worker shortage amidst rising unemployment rates. Ronnie Miller, the founder of Sista’s Making a Difference and a member of the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, shared insights into the current employment landscape. “I believe there is a disconnect between businesses and job seekers, with many applications on job hosting platforms not progressing from the business side of things,” Miller explained. This event is designed to benefit both employers and the community by removing barriers that job seekers may

Arcadia firefighters raise funds to help fight pediatric cancer

Arcadia firefighters hosted an annual event last week to help fund research for the treatment of — and hopefully eventual cures for — children afflicted with cancer For more than two decades, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has organized the head-shaving fundraising drive that supports children battling cancer. According to the organization’s website, Thursday was the 23rd Foothills Event at Matt Denny’s restaurant. Members of the Arcadia Fire Department volunteered to shave their heads in solidarity with children undergoing cancer treatment.  “Our Arcadia firefighters have been involved with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for over 15 years,” Arcadia Fire Chief Chen Suen told Arcadia Weekly. “We were excited to hear the event come back after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Suen noted the bravery of children battling cancer. “Each day, our firefighters put their lives on the line to save and help Arcadians and those who pass through our great city each day. Many call us heroes,” Suen said. “As brave as our firefighters are, our personal heroes are the kids who valiantly take on cancer every day. To partner with such an amazing organization such