Category: San Bernardino

Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) today named Eunice Abel, a youth advocate and undergraduate student, as 2025 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 45. Assemblymembers, including Ramos celebrated their honorees on the Assembly floor today. “Eunice is a tireless and steadfast advocate for young people in the Inland Empire and is dedicated to eliminating inequities,” Ramos said. “She is especially committed to addressing youth homelessness, a legislative priority for me since my election. Even at her young age of 22, she has built an exemplary record of positive action and contributions to our community,” Ramos stated. Abel, born in Aba, Abia, Nigeria, immigrated to the United States at 11 years old and navigated life as an unaccompanied minor throughout her childhood. She confronted countless obstacles, including unstable housing, poverty and difficulty in accessing an education. This struggle fueled her passion for advocacy and inspired her to become a youth homeless advocate. “This award is a testament to youth who are fighting to empower other youth, showing that our work is valuable and that standing up for others is not a waste of time,” Abel said.

The Aquinas High School boys basketball team etched its name into the record books on March 1st, capturing the CIF-Southern Section Division 3A championship with a hard-fought victory over San Dimas at Toyota Arena. The win marks the Falcons’ first CIF title since 2021 and the first under head coach Daryl Pegram. “This season has been all about consistent growth,” Pegram said. “At the beginning of the year, we set goals, and as the season progressed, we went on this incredible run.” Despite entering the playoffs with a 16-16 record, Aquinas battled through a challenging postseason, proving that early-season adversity helped prepare them for the championship stage. The Falcons finished second in league play behind Arrowhead Christian Academy but turned their season around when it mattered most. “We played a lot of Division 1 and 2 schools early in the year, and while we took some tough losses, it helped us get ready for league and the playoffs,” Pegram said. “Competing against high-level teams put us in a position to succeed when it counted.” Led by standout seniors Laron Hall and Malachi Jones, the Falcons

A bombshell legal complaint given to Inland Empire Community News exposes an alleged deep-rooted culture of corruption, manipulation of investigations, and retaliation within San Bernardino’s city government. The complaint, authored by former Acting City Manager Rochelle Clayton and exposed by a credible but anonymous source, details explosive allegations against top city officials, including document tampering, unethical hiring practices, intimidation, and the suppression of critical information. The document, which surfaced just hours before the Wednesday, March 5, 2025, City Council meeting, paints a damning picture of misconduct at the highest levels, alleging a coordinated effort by city attorneys, councilmembers, and senior officials to control investigations, silence dissent, and protect their own interests. Manipulation of Investigations & Document Suppression Hostile Work Environment Investigation: Clayton alleges that City Manager Charles Montoya instructed Deputy City Manager Suzie Soren to pressure investigator Jason Kravetz into finding damaging information against Lydie Gutfeld, former Director of Parks and Recreation, despite initial findings showing no evidence of wrongdoing. When no misconduct was found, Montoya allegedly redirected the investigation to scrutinize Gutfeld’s credit card transactions. Document Redaction & Tampering: The complaint alleges that City

Former San Bernardino Mayor John Valdivia is firing back at allegations made by recall organizer Arthur Anderson, calling claims that he accepted cash donations while in office “completely false” and “bogus.” Anderson, executive director of The People of San Bernardino, accused Valdivia of unethical fundraising practices during his tenure, linking him to ongoing recall efforts against Ward 1 Councilmember Theodore Sanchez. Valdivia, however, insists the accusations are baseless and warns they could have legal consequences. “That is completely false and bogus,” Valdivia said. “I’ve never even had a cup of coffee with him. I don’t know him. For him to make these false claims is open to libel, which I might explore.” While rejecting Anderson’s claims, Valdivia questioned why his name was being pulled into the controversy surrounding Sanchez’s potential removal from office. “The real issue is Ted Sanchez,” Valdivia said. “If [Anderson] has a bone to pick with Ted Sanchez, it shouldn’t be about Valdivia or [Councilman Fred] Shorett. This is a Ted issue, and Ted will face this giant in his district. To drag current or former elected officials into it is foul.”

Pic ‘N’ Save Bargains & Groceries (PNSBG) is making a highly anticipated debut to Southern California this spring. After nearly a decade since its acquisition by Big Lots, the iconic discount store Pic ‘N’ Save Bargains is being revived under new ownership and a refreshed concept, Pic ‘N’ Save Bargains & Groceries. Led by President and Founder Mark J. Miller (former CEO of the original Pic ‘N’ Save), along with a team of investors, PNSBG is bringing a unique, elevated shopping experience to familiar locations once occupied by 99Cent Only Stores. The newly reimagined Pic ‘N’ Save Bargains & Groceries will continue its legacy of offering quality, brand-name products at unbeatable prices. In addition to its core selection of home goods, general merchandise, and treasure hunt closeouts, the store will also feature a variety of produce including fresh milk, eggs, deli products, and groceries. This expanded range of offerings ensures that Pic ‘N’ Save Bargains & Groceries can meet all of its customers’ shopping needs in one convenient location. “While we’re bringing back the same commitment to unbeatable bargains, we’re also offering a wider variety