Category: Inland Empire

He may not have been able to hear them all the way in Detroit, but that didn’t stop some of Jayden Daniels‘ biggest fans from roaring with approval when the Washington Commanders announced him as their first-round NFL draft pick Thursday, April 25. Daniels, a Cajon High School graduate, LSU quarterback and winner of the 2023 Heisman Trophy, was the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft at Campus Martius Park in Detroit Thursday. The high-energy crowd of about 100 erupted in cheers every time Daniels appeared on the large screen set up in the Cajon High gymnasium for a draft watch party hosted by the school and San Bernardino City Unified School District. An NFL live feed followed Daniels, wearing a pale blue suit, black sunglasses and a broad smile, as he made his way from the waiting room to the stage in Detroit. Former Cowboy and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is the second pick in the NFL drafted during a watch party at the school in San Bernardino on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Chantay Tucker, center

The Redlands Unified School District has entered into an agreement with the federal government to address concerns that the district failed to respond properly to reports of sexual misconduct against students, including by employees, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced Thursday, April 25. Among a litany of violations detailed by the Office for Civil Rights are claims that Redlands Unified failed to create or maintain sufficient records of its responses to sexual harassment complaints to demonstrate compliance with Title IX, a federal law enacted in 1972 that protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. In 74% of the 35 incidents reviewed involving complaints of sexual assault or harassment against students from 2017 to 2020, Redlands Unified did not provide any evidence that the district took action required under Title IX to “address the effects of harassing conduct on targeted students where necessary and to prevent recurrence of the harassment,” the OCR said in a statement accompanying a 20-page letter to the district. (John Valenzuela/ Staff Photographer) Redlands Unified School District Boardroom.

On April 27, 1994, five presidents and five first ladies came to Yorba Linda to attend the funeral of our 37th president Richard Nixon. On April 22, 1994 Richard Nixon, died after suffering a significant stroke at his home in Park Ridge, New Jersey. He was 81. It was 10 months after his wife Pat died June 22, 1993. Nixon’s body was flown on Air Force One to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and then transported to the Nixon Library. He was the first former president to die in 21 years since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973, while Nixon was president. The funeral was attended by 4,000 people and dignitaries from 85 countries. There are estimates that 40,000 tried to attend. It was the first time that five U.S. presidents and their first ladies attended the funeral of another president. Eulogies were delivered by Rev. Billy Graham, Henry Kissinger, Sen. Bob Dole, California Gov. Pete Wilson and then-President Bill Clinton. Graham said, “The world has lost a great citizen, America has lost a great statesman, and those of us who knew him have lost

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A new novel is titled “Perris, California.” It’s by Rachel Stark, who is from Perris, California. Her book’s debut was celebrated Wednesday night, April 24, at Riverside’s Culver Center for the Arts. Stark was joined by two other Riverside County writers, Susan Straight and Alex Espinoza, who likewise employ Inland Empire settings and are published by New York houses. Several times during the hour-long conversation, Stark referenced her hometown, only a few miles away from where we were gathered, by name and state. “I have a lot of love for Perris, California,” she said at one point. Maybe that’s a reflex born of habit. (Or she’s subtly pushing her book by working its title into casual conversation.) Audiences in most of the cities where she’ll be promoting her novel, which was published March 26 by Penguin Random House, will require the clarification. Especially if she makes a stop in Paris, Texas. Stark joked about how Perris is commonly misunderstood by outsiders in conversation. “Almost any encounter I have, a job interview, whatever,” she said, “when I say Perris, they say, ‘Ohh, Paris,’ and I say

“Living in Harmony With History” is the theme for this year’s Ontario Heritage Historic Home Tour. The tour, featuring four historic Ontario houses and the Chaffey High School Memorial Library, will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 4. This year’s tour will begin at the 1896 Capt. John P. Robertson house at 907 N. Euclid Ave. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the tour, available at ontarioheritage.org. Advance tickets are also available at Logan’s Candies, 125 W. B St., Ontario, according to the event flyer. Ontario Heritage is a nonprofit advocacy organization with a mission to protect, preserve and promote the historical environment and cultural heritage of Ontario. For information, contact Gloria Jones at 909-957-1646 or go to ontarioheritage.org.

In the last few weeks, virtually every news source, online, television and in print, has carried the story of the mother in Arizona who found a jaw bone in the rock collection her son inherited from his grandfather. She turned the bone over to police in 2002, but only recently it became possible, due to advances in DNA testing and genetic genealogy, to determine who the bone belonged to. It turns out the bone belonged to Capt. Everett Leland Yager, who died in 1951. But what caught my attention was the fact that the captain died in Riverside County. What a surprising connection. Yager was born in Missouri and served during World War II in the U.S. Navy. He married wife Betty in January 1944. After the war, Yager returned to his home town in Missouri and became the manager of a service station. Yager and his wife had a son and two daughters. Yager rejoined the military and was training to become a pilot for the Marines and was stationed at El Toro Navy Base when he died. He was on a routine training

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California schools may soon need to provide halal and kosher meal options for students. Dubbed the Halal and Kosher School Meals Act, a proposed bill in the California Legislature would require schools to provide kosher or halal meals if more than 5% of their students request such. Both kosher and halal meals follow specific Jewish and Islamic dietary practices, respectively, for how food is prepared and served. For kosher meals, dairy and meat cannot be mixed, and only certain animals can be eaten. Halal requires animals to be slaughtered in a particular way and does not permit the consumption of pork products. Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, said every student, no matter religion or culture, deserves to feel “supported and included at school” and his bill is one way that schools can do that. “Kids shouldn’t have to choose between hunger and adhering to their religious beliefs,” Newman said. “This bill creates a more equitable system for students who observe halal or kosher dietary practices.” “When suitable meals aren’t available for these students,” he said, “they often have to go without eating at school, something that

By Greg Archer | Contributing Columnist Inland Empire Community Foundation has distributed another round of grants through its Women’s Giving Fund, which is for helping women in need. The grants will provide resources to Inland Empire organizations that offer services to women and their families. A total of $45,000 will be distributed to three nonprofits. Individual grants hit $15,000. This year also marks a significant honor with the 2024 Woman of Achievement award being given to Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, trustee of the San Bernardino County Board of Education. Dowdy-Rodgers also received $5,000 for the charity of her choice that serves women in the region. “We’re incredibly honored to distribute these grants that center the needs of women in the region,” said Nefertiti Long, board chair of IECF and chair of the IECF Women’s Giving Fund. “We are also grateful that this fund has continually grown through the generous support of our donors who believe in what’s possible when you come together.” The San Antonio Regional Hospital Foundation receives a grant for its Women Caring for Women Program. From left, Nefertiti Long, Michelle Stoddard, Laura Carbajal and

A San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy suspected of affiliating with the Mongols and possessing illegal weapons to benefit the outlaw motorcycle gang was ordered Wednesday, April 24, to stand trial. Superior Court Judge Alexander R. Martinez acknowledged, however, that due to the complexity of the case against Christopher Bingham and the legal issues involved, he expects his ruling to be challenged. “I am sure that whatever decision this court makes is going to be appealed by the other side, and I look forward to and invite Fourth District Court of Appeal review and scrutiny of this court’s decision,” Martinez said during proceedings at the San Bernardino Justice Center. During a three-day preliminary hearing that concluded Monday, Bingham, 45, was portrayed as a Mongols “hangaround,” someone who is not an official member but who hangs out with and rides with members, attends rallies and other events, and has earned the gang’s trust. Bingham, an 18-year department veteran most recently assigned to the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino, used the alias “Charles Tate” when associating with members of the motorcycle gang, testimony showed. Related: Jailed San

With a roar of legacy and Lion pride, Wilmer Amina Carter High School recently celebrated the inaugural class of six outstanding inductees into the school’s Hall of Fame. The school honored Samantha Middleborn (Class of 2008), April Pate (Class of 2008), Khalid Wooten (Class of 2008), Shanice Stewart (Class of 2011), Kenny Clark, Jr., (Class of 2013), and Eric Moore (Class of 2014), with a decorated formal ceremony on April 19 the Sierra Lakes Golf Course in the City of Fontana. These outstanding athletes have left quite a legacy at Carter High School. Each has a story that exemplifies dedication, resilience, humility, and extraordinary talent. Collectively, these athletes have risen from Carter High School to compete on big stages from major college athletics to international competitions and the NFL.  The six inductees played a large role in that success and built Carter High School into the powerhouse it is today. Their dedication, talent, and unwavering commitment to excellence have not only brought glory to the Lions’ den but have also inspired countless students to strive for greatness both on and off the field. As Carter High

International Star Wars Day on May the 4th is days away and Chalice Collectibles at The Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia will be hosting a fan event featuring stars from across the franchise’s galaxy to raise funds for two of LucasFilm’s favorite charities: the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Starlight Foundation. Fans in the San Gabriel Valley, and beyond, will have the opportunity to meet:  Chris Bartlett, the voice and human behind C-3PO and 1-JAC on the Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Bartlett has played the role of C-3PO in various projects when Anthony Daniels was unavailable. Bartlett has also played Q9-0, or “Zero,” and The Ferryman on “The Mandalorian”; Kat Cressida, the voice of Princess Leia in “Star Wars: Rebellion,” “X-Wing Alliance” and “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron,” as well as the voice of Dee Dee from “Dexter’s Laboratory,” Jessie the Cowgirl from “Toy Story,” Constance Hatchaway from “The Haunted Mansion” and Marvel’s Elektra;  Misty Rosas, who portrayed Kuiil and Frog Lady on “The Mandalorian”; and  Leilani Shiu, who portrayed Teeka The Jawa on “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Tatooine Jawa and Offworld Jawa on “The Mandalorian,” and Tatooine Jawa

At the Colton City Council meeting on April 16, Council Member Dr. Luis S. González honored Kathy Dunsmore, owner of So Cal Locksmith, with the “Business Focus” Recognition Award. The award highlights her remarkable achievements in operating a successful local business that has been a cornerstone in the Colton community and a regional leader in locksmith services. Originally founded in 1975 as Any Hour Lock & Safe Company on Mt Vernon Avenue, the business evolved into a family-owned venture in 1989 under the name So Cal Locksmith. Since relocating to its current address at 1646 E Washington Street, So Cal Locksmith has been a key business partner in Canyon Bluffs Plaza. Under Dunsmore’s sole ownership since 2011, the company has flourished over the past 23 years, building a strong reputation for exceptional customer service and technical expertise. Their team of skilled technicians offers comprehensive locksmith services not just in Colton, but across the surrounding areas and neighboring counties. The company’s commitment to reliability and professionalism is reflected in their service pledge. “We will respond to your situation with reliable, honest, and professional service,” their website

The state attorney general’s office is going to court to stop the Chino Valley Unified School District from enforcing its revised parent notification policy. On Wednesday, April 24, the office filed a motion asking the court to make a final decision in its lawsuit against the district’s parent notification policy and is trying to block a revised policy approved by the school board in March. “Today’s motion seeks to ensure no child becomes a target again by blocking Chino Valley Unified from ever adopting another forced outing policy,” California State Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. Chino Valley revised its parent notification policy March 7 in an effort to address some of the court’s concerns about the original policy, Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center, which is representing the school district, said in a Wednesday  email. In October, San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael Sachs granted a preliminary injunction requested by Bonta, preventing the district from implementing portions of the policy. The original policy, adopted by the board in July, would have required schools to notify parents if students requested to change their name or

U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler are demanding the federal Department of Justice intervene to address a litany of sexual abuse allegations and other wrongdoing in Los Angeles County’s juvenile camps. More than 600 former detainees have filed lawsuits since December 2022 alleging they were sexually abused or harassed while in custody in the county’s juvenile facilities. The allegations date back as far as 1972. In a letter Tuesday, April 23, to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the California senators asked why the department stopped monitoring the camps after discovering abuses in the late 2000s and to detail the actions it will take now that the allegations have resurfaced. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division initially started monitoring the camps in 2008 after investigators concluded the county had “violated youth’s constitutional and federal statutory rights and subjected them to harm,” according to the letter. The county, in response, agreed to address 41 areas of concern under the supervision of a DOJ-appointed monitoring team. The process, originally supposed to take four years, dragged out for more than six before the DOJ declared the county in compliance in