MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 - JANUARY 11, 2015
riversideindependent.com
Improved Conditions for Hens Increase Egg Prices By JENNIFER SCHLUETER As of January 1st, eggs sold in California must come from hens that live in a space of at least 116 square inches in which they are able to stretch their limbs and turn around, which means about 70 percent more space compared to the previous minimum. This new law, Proposition 2, resulted from a voter initiative and was passed in 2008 with a majority of over 60 percent. Because of the changes farmers were forced to make, consumers now see an increase in egg prices. The president and CEO of the California Grocers Association Ronald Fong told NPR: “We can confirm that egg prices have gone up at least 35 percent. Some have reported going up 70 percent.” With California being the largest consumer of eggs nationwide, according to the Los Angeles Times, farmers all over the US have adjusted to the new regulation because challenging it in court failed. California’s state veterinarian, Dr. Annette Jones reported to NPR that egg producers have switched to newly constructed
Creativity Gets “Back to the Grind” Back on its Feet by Vickie Vértiz
to the scene to assist with the search. During a yard to yard search, the police canine apprehended the suspect. Two weapons were recovered from the suspect’s vehicle. The subsequent investigation resulted in the suspect, Charlie Hernandez, 21, of Riverside, being arrested for two counts of attempted murder and additional charges
A Riverside café wellknown for open mics and other artists, from painters to writers to musicians, is in need of support to keep its doors open after several required repairs have sent them into financial difficulties. According to The PressEnterprise, since 2001, Back to the Grind has been the center of Saturation Fest, an art and music festival that features the best in local art, music and more. After 18 years, Back to the Grind is hosting a series of fundraisers to “help [them] come into the 21st century,” said owner Darren Conkerite to the paper. Paintings have always graced the coffee house walls. Now, customers can drink coffee and paint its image at the same time. The Enterprise reported that Selena Wilson, 37, an artist and teacher, is excited about helping the café by getting the public excited about visual art and to help Back to the Grind. Wilson hosted a fundraiser and workshop last Sunday at the cafe. Among the physical building upgrades needed are a cooling system and expanding electrical and gas lines, and a coffee roaster, said the paper. The shop needs to be more accessible to disabled clients as it was recently named in a lawsuit about failure to comply with
Please see page 2
Please see page 4
-Courtesy Photo by Matt MacGillivray
free-range henhouses, built larger cages, or cut down the number of hens in already existing ones. “In general, poultry farmers are trying to move in that direction, to provide more space and the ability for their
hens to exhibit more natural behaviors,” NPR quoted her. However, the website also notes that even though “[f]reerange houses allow chickens Please see page 4
Shooting Suspect Arrested After Pursuit On Friday, December 26th, around midnight, a Riverside Police officer in a marked police unit attempted to stop the driver of a white Jeep Cherokee in the of 5200 block of La Sierra Avenue. The Jeep Cherokee matched the suspect vehicle description from three incidents that occurred earlier in the morning at three separate locations in that part of Riverside. Two of those incidents were shootings and the
VOLUME 2, NO. 1
third, the suspect brandished a weapon. None of the victims were injured during the shootings. The suspect refused to stop and a short pursuit ensued. A records check of the vehicle showed if was reported stolen. The suspect eventually drove down the dead end of Pruitt and fled from the vehicle on foot. A perimeter was set around the area and a Riverside Police canine responded
2 | JANUARY 5, 2015 - JANUARY 11, 2015
California Leads in Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Nationwide in 2014 Law enforcement fatalities in the U.S. rose 24 percent in 2014, reversing what had been two years of dramatic declines in line of duty deaths, based on preliminary data compiled and released today by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). “With the increasing number of ambush-style attacks against our officers, I am deeply concerned that a growing anti-government sentiment in America is influencing weak-minded individuals to launch violent assaults against the men and women working to enforce our laws and keep our nation safe,” declared NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd. “Enough is enough. We need to tone down the rhetoric and rally in support of law enforcement and against lawlessness.” According to the NLEOMF report, 126 federal, state, local,
tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty this year, compared to 102 in 2013. The number of officers killed by firearms in 2014 (50) was 56 percent higher than the number killed by gunfire in 2013 (32). Ambushstyle attacks, as evidenced earlier this month by the shooting deaths of New York City Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos while sitting in their marked patrol car, were the number one cause of felonious officer deaths for the fifth year in a row. Fifteen officers nationwide were killed in ambush assaults in 2014, matching 2012 for the highest total since 1995. Forty-nine officers were killed in traffic-related incidents this past year, which was an 11 percent increase from 2013. Twenty-seven officers died due to other causes in 2014, including 24 who suffered from job-related illnesses—such as heart attacks—
Change lives. Make wishes come true.
Become a Make-A-Wish ®
VOLUNTEER
Volunteers for Make-A-Wish give their time and talents to help bring hope, strength and joy to children who are battling life-threatening medical conditions. We have a special need for volunteers in the Inland Empire to help local children.
Get Involved Today ocie.wish.org | 714-573-9474
while performing their duties. In 2011, officer fatalities spiked to 171, which led to a number of new initiatives and policy changes aimed at promoting law enforcement safety. The result was a sharp decline in lineof-duty deaths to 123 in 2012 and 102 last year—the lowest fatality figure since 1944. Over the past decade the average annual number of officer deaths has been 151. The deadliest year ever for law enforcement was 1930 when 300 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. The deadliest single incident was the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, resulting in 72 officer deaths. There are more than 20,000 names of officers killed in the line of duty inscribed on
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, dating back to the first known death in 1791. “We issue this report each year as a stark reminder that some 900,000 sworn law enforcement officers go out each and every day putting their lives on the line for our safety and protection,” explained NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd. “These brave men and women are willing to lay down their lives for us. The least we should do is honor and remember their service and sacrifice, support their families and do all that we can to make it safer for Please see page 4
Fatal Traffic Collision On December 27, 2014, shortly after noon, Riverside Police and Fire personnel responded to Central Ave. E/ of the 91 freeway regarding a collision involving a vehicle vs. a bicyclist. The 68-year-old cyclist, who was a Riverside resident, was pronounced deceased at the scene. A witness described the bicyclist riding EIB on Central Ave. weaving back and forth in the number three lane. For unknown reasons, the bicyclist crossed the E/B lanes and was struck in the number one lane by a vehicle
also traveling east. Although there were no signs of impairment, the 64-year-old Moreno Valley resident submitted to a voluntary blood test. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending family notification by the Coroner's Office. The department's Major Accident Investigation Team responded and the collision is currently under investigation. Anyone with information related to this investigation is urged to contact Detective Rick Prince at 951826-8722.
Shooting suspect arrested Continued from page 1
related to the stolen vehicle and weapons recovered. He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center. Homicide detectives are also investigating this suspect’s involvement in the attempted murder of an 18 year old man on Christmas Eve. That shoot-
ing occurred in the field area of the dead-end of Geranium on December 24th. The victim remains hospitalized but is expected to recover from his injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Adrian Tillett at 951-353¬7105.
JANUARY 5, 2015 - JANUARY 11, 2015 | 3
hlr media EDITORIAL editor@riversideindependent.com Editor Jennifer Schlueter Publisher HLR Media Advertising advertising@hlrmedia.com Submissions:
Please send all press releases to: editor@riversideindependent.com HLR Media, LLC .All contents herein are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily that of the management and staff at HLR Media, LLC 3800 Orange street Riverside CA, 92501
Phone: (626) 386-3457 Fax: (626) 600-4452
Alhambra PRESS
Baldwin Park
INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT
California’s New Paid Sick Leave Law Widely Misunderstood; Spells Trouble for Small Businesses California’s new paid sick law goes into effect January 1, but many small businesses don’t understand the law or its impact for their operations. Lonnie Giamela – a partner at national labor and employment firm Fisher & Phillips LLP – is counseling his clients to educate themselves and prepare. “Small businesses are going to be the most heavily impacted by this new statute, something most don’t even realize,” said Giamela. “There’s a real lack of clarity, so many small businesses are ignoring the new statute. That’s a big mistake.” Giamela is seeing three primary misconceptions: 1. “I don’t need to comply until July 1, 2015.” There is no time to waste. California employers must post a new poster and distribute a new Wage Theft Protection Act Notice by January 1, 2015. Failure to do so may subject the employer to unnecessary penalties. 2. “Small businesses aren’t covered by the statute.” This is just wrong. Every California employer is covered by the new statute. Moreover, all employees, regardless if exempt or non-exempt, full-time or part-time are covered by the statute so long as they work 30 days and do not qualify for one of the limited exemptions. 3. “I already have a sick leave policy so I don’t need to worry about the statute.” Many small businesses already have a PTO or sick leave policy that provides for at least six days annually of PTO, but that is not enough. The law also requires that policies be modified to notify employees that they can take leave for a number of situations. For example, most sick leave policies do not permit an employee to take leave for matters related to being a victim
of domestic violence. The new paid sick leave does. About Fisher & Phillips LLP (www.laborlawyers.com): Fisher & Phillips LLP is a national law firm committed to providing practical business solutions for employers’ workplace legal problems. Labor and employment law is all the firm does, offering deep and broad knowledge and experience in the area of the law the attorneys know best. Fisher & Phillips attorneys help clients avoid legal problems, are dedicated to provid-
ing exceptional client service, and are there when you need them. The firm has 300 attorneys in 31 offices. In addition to Los Angeles, the offices are in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Gulfport, Houston, Irvine, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Louisville, Memphis, New England, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.
Long Beach Office 3780 Kilroy Airport Way Suite 360 Long Beach, CA 90806 Ph. (562) 472-0071 Fx. (562) 689-0071 Los Angeles Office 5701 South Eastern Avenue Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Ph. (323) 727-1144 Fx. (323) 727-9198 www.heger-industrial.com Lic. #00814086
4 | JANUARY 5, 2015 - JANUARY 11, 2015
Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Continued from page 2
those who continue to serve.” The statistics released by the NLEOMF are based on preliminary data compiled and do not represent a final or complete list of individual officers who will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2015. For a complete copy of the preliminary report on 2014 law enforcement fatalities, go to:www. LawMemorial.org/FatalitiesReport. Key Data as of December 29, 2014: Firearms-related incidents were the number one cause of officer deaths in 2014, with 50. This was a 56 percent increase over the 32 officers shot and killed in 2013. Ambush attacks resulted in 15 officer deaths, the leading felonious cause of deaths among officers in 2014 and for the fifth straight year. The other leading categories of felonious deaths in 2014 were traffic stops or pursuits (8), investigating sus-
picious persons or activities (7), disturbance calls (6), attempting arrests (4), investigative activities (3), accidental shootings (2), burglary in progress (2), investigating drug-related matters (1), robbery in progress (1), and tactical situations (1). Traffic-related incidents were the second-leading cause of officer fatalities in 2014, with 49. This was an 11 percent increase over the 44 traffic-related deaths in 2013. Of these 49 officers, 35 were killed in automobile crashes, nine officers were struck and killed outside their vehicle and five officers were killed in motorcycle crashes. Of the 27 officers who died due to other causes this year, 24 were caused by job-related illnesses; one officer was strangled to death; one officer drowned; and one officer was killed in a fire-related incident. During the past year, more officers were killed in California (14) than any other state; followed by Texas (11); New York (9);
Florida (6) and Georgia (5). Six officers killed in 2014 served with federal law enforcement agencies. Two of the officers who died during the past year served with correctional agencies,
two were tribal officers and one was a military officer. Three of the 126 fatalities were female. On average, the officers who died in 2014 were 41 years old and had served for 12 years.
“Back to the Grind” Continued from page 1
the Americans with Disability Act. Back to the Grind customers and local businesses such as Anam Cara Yoga Studio have also pitched in to help save the café, donating proceeds from their classes on select dates. “Without this place, Riverside is nothing,” Riverside musician Mikey Faust told The Enterprise. Visible from the front door, a large painting hangs on one of the brick walls and says: “Back to the Grind is a place for all to come together leaving all labels outside.”
The owner always has a friendly face and has helped nurture artistic renaissance that has come to the Inland Empire, said the paper. “He opened it up for art, for music, for poetry,” said Mario Sandoval to the paper. Sandoval is a Riverside resident who runs the open mic on Monday nights since 2009. Locals know that the café is the place to go when you want to be inspired, Faust told The Enterprise. Perhaps many more people who also feel the same way will be there on Sunday.
Improved Conditions for Hens Increase Egg Prices Continued from page 1
to move around freely, … critics say the birds are more frequently injured than those in cages.” On the other hand, the LA Times claims that “animal advocates say [squeezing chick-
ens into cages] causes needless suffering and boosts the likelihood of salmonella contamination.” Representing almost all of the US’ egg farmers, president
of the Georgia-based United Egg Producers Chad Gregory, told the LA Times that egg farmers are adapting to consumers’ demands of more farm-animal-friendly conditions in several states. Lon Allan, questions the new law in his piece in the San Luis Obispo Tribune: “Come on, folks, they’re only chickens. […] you can fool them into laying more eggs by turning the lights on in the hen house so the day seems longer to them. “Come [Jan 1], all that is supposed to change. Backers of the law reasoned we’d have healthier chickens if they had more room to literally spread their wings. “I do not know whether happy chickens lay more eggs. How do you know if a chicken
is happy?” The LA Times visited Frank Hilliker’s egg ranch in San Diego County, a thirdgeneration family business established in 1942, which underwent layout changes to conform to the new space regulations. Since these changes, Hilliker’s hens are now able to move more freely and “exhibit behavior he had never seen before — like a pecking order when it comes to feeding or their playful beak-tapping on old CDs and colorful string he’s hung from the beams,” reported the LA Times. The egg farmer himself feels “reinvigorated” about this “new challenge” and said: “I don’t know if the chickens know any better, but it’s made farming fun again.”