Category: San Bernardino

The organizing committee for the annual Inland Empire (IE) People’s History Conference is currently seeking proposals for its second annual conference, which will take place on May 3 on the campus of California State University, San Bernardino. Scholars, students, and community members from across the IE and beyond are invited to submit proposals. All subjects and academic disciplines are eligible to participate. Proposals may be submitted online at the I.E. People’s History Call for Abstracts 2025 webpage. The IE People’s History Conference seeks to bridge university research, creative activities, and community activism to explore the art, culture, and histories of Inland Southern California, known as the Inland Empire or IE. Describing the initiative, José Muñoz, professor of sociology at CSUSB and co-organizer of the conference, said, “We want the conference to bring together people doing a variety of research, analysis, and creative work on the IE.” He continued, “We welcome traditional academic research, but we also want to include college students, K-12 educators, artists, poets, scientists, community activists, practitioners, independent researchers, and other members of the community.” The mission of the IE People’s History Conference

San Bernardino officials completed a two-day operation to clear a homeless encampment at Perris Hill Park, the city’s largest public green space. The initiative, which involved extensive outreach over the past month, engaged 150 unhoused individuals, with over 30 accepting services such as temporary housing and rehabilitation programs. “This has been a priority for our city,” said Mayor Helen Tran. “These past two days have been a big success, and I want to thank everyone involved. We have compassionately cleared the park and will be restoring it for use by our residents and families.” A Coordinated Effort with Comprehensive Services Months of planning led up to the operation, according to Jeff Kraus, San Bernardino’s Public Information Officer. The city worked closely with its Homeless Outreach Team, contracted service provider Hope the Mission, and the Peace Team—a specialized group including police officers, mental health workers, paramedics, and support animals. “For the past month, our teams have been out there Monday through Friday, engaging with the encampment,” Kraus said. “We held three outreach events to ensure everyone knew this was coming. Our goal was to document individuals

San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD) San Bernardino High School (SBHS) crowned the 2024–2025 Mr. and Miss Cardinal City and Court on Sept. 21. “As a proud alum of San Bernardino High School, I know firsthand the deep-rooted pride and tradition that our flagship school represents for our entire District and our community at large,” said Superintendent Mauricio Arellano. “The Mr. and Miss Cardinal City pageant embodies that spirit by instilling a strong sense of community, leadership and service in our students. It’s a powerful reminder of the incredible potential within our students when they embrace their school’s legacy and rise to become leaders in their community.” More than just a pageant, the event provides invaluable life skills to participants, helping them hone public speaking, poise under pressure and leadership abilities. The experience also encourages teamwork, goal setting and self-discipline – qualities that will serve all participants well in future endeavors both academically and professionally. The Mr. and Miss Cardinal City pageant was conceived and founded by Bilingual School Outreach Worker Jaime Rios, who hopes to foster confidence and inspire positive values in the

A traffic stop turned deadly Thursday morning after a San Bernardino man armed with a loaded firearm attempted to evade police, resulting in an officer-involved shooting. The incident occurred on November 7, 2024, around 9:19 AM on the 1400 block of West 7th Street in San Bernardino. According to San Bernardino Police Department records, officers stopped a vehicle driven by Albert Jose Rodriguez Jr., 48, for multiple vehicle code violations. Rodriguez, the sole occupant of the vehicle, allegedly refused to cooperate and repeatedly reached inside his shirt, where officers later found a firearm. When officers attempted to remove him from the vehicle, Rodriguez resisted and engaged in a physical struggle. During the altercation, Rodriguez reportedly attempted to drive away, injuring one officer and trapping the other inside the vehicle. As the car continued moving, Rodriguez reached for his firearm, prompting an officer to discharge their weapon. The officer inside the vehicle then managed to steer it to safety, preventing a potential collision with other motorists. After the vehicle was halted, officers retrieved the loaded firearm and provided medical aid to Rodriguez. Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter

In a powerful call for transparency and community involvement, the Just San Bernardino Collaborative and local leaders gathered on November 6 to demand a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) and an open Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the redevelopment of the Carousel Mall in downtown San Bernardino. The coalition, composed of residents, local organizations, and labor representatives, underscored the need to build a redevelopment model that serves the entire community and addresses long-standing economic and environmental inequities. “We’re pushing for affordable housing, local hiring initiatives, and green spaces. Our residents shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent, putting food on the table, or commuting five hours a day for work,” said Celine Perez, Chief of Staff at the Inland Empire Labor Council and a key member of the Just San Bernardino Coalition. “We’re tired of our community being sold out to developers. Past deals have left us with displacement and environmental challenges, without the quality of life improvements we were promised. We need a genuine partnership with city officials and developers—one that reflects the community’s needs, not just corporate interests.” Perez emphasized the need for

A death investigation is underway following the fatal stabbing of a homeless man living in an encampment at Perris Hill Park on Sunday, November 3rd. The San Bernardino Police Department received a call for assistance at approximately 5:20 p.m. from the San Bernardino County Fire Department, reporting a stabbing incident within the park. Upon arrival, officers located the male victim, who had suffered suspected stab wounds as well as injuries from dog bites. Emergency responders swiftly transported the individual to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite efforts to save his life. The exact cause of death is pending a coroner’s autopsy. Homicide detectives have been assigned to investigate the incident, and San Bernardino Animal Services took custody of the dogs involved in the altercation. Though city officials had scheduled a clearance of the park for October 31st, the effort was ultimately canceled that morning. City of San Bernardino Public Information Officer Jeff Krauss confirmed on Tuesday, November 5th, that no new clearance efforts are currently scheduled, stating, “Not this week.” This investigation arrives at a time when San Bernardino is grappling with

The San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) aimed at maintaining and further reducing violent crime within the city. This year, San Bernardino has seen a significant decline in violent crime, with overall aggravated assaults down 17%, robberies reduced by 15%, and, most notably, murders down by a staggering 33% from the same period last year. This follows an impressive 50% reduction in murders the previous year, marking a historic downward trend.  The SBPD attributes much of this success to a proactive approach to law enforcement,  intelligence-led policing, and collaborative partnerships. This new alliance with CHP will build  on these efforts, pooling resources and expertise to enhance citywide safety. With additional CHP support, SBPD will strengthen patrols in high-traffic areas, increase rapid response capabilities, and engage in targeted crime prevention operations.  “Our community deserves to feel safe and secure, and we are committed to sustaining this  positive momentum,” said San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman. “This collaboration  with CHP will amplify our ongoing efforts to keep violent crime down, and we are confident that