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
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-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
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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