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CalFresh recipients impacted by recent fires eligible for additional aid
Riverside ‘snake burglar’ admits dozens of charges, sentenced to probation
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M O N D AY, J U LY 31- A U G U S T 06, 2023
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Fire roundup: Big brusher erupts near Cahuilla reservation; several other blazes burn countywide
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Norco assemblyman seeks restrictions on colleagues caught drinking and driving
By City News Service and Staff
By City News Service
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n Inland Empire lawmaker announced Wednesday that he’s proposing restrictions on state legislators’ use of taxpayer-funded vehicles if they’re charged or convicted of driving under the influence. Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Norco, has introduced House Resolution 51, which would mandate that any member of the Assembly who is arrested and charged with DUI lose — until his or her case is resolved — the privilege of using a “pool vehicle” provided at no cost to lawmakers while they’re in Sacramento. The resolution would also require that an Assembly member be prohibited from access to pool cars for a minimum of three years following a conviction. “Last year, over 1,000 Californians died as a result of drunk drivers,” Essayli said. “When I was a prosecutor, I fought to keep our roads safe by prosecuting and convicting drunk drivers. Now as a member of the Assembly, I am troubled by recent incidents of legislators and candidates drinking and driving. “Public officials must be held to the highest standards given the public trust placed in us, which is why I’ve introSee Restrictions Page 28
| Image courtesy of the Riverside County Fire Department/OpenStreetMap (CC BY-SA)
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brush fire that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga was approaching 1,000 acres Friday, as crews contended with a cluster of spot fires breaking out ahead of the main blaze. The Bonny Fire was reported about 2:50 p.m. Thursday in the area of Bonny and Barber lanes, and as of 11:30 a.m. Friday, the brusher was close to 950 acres and 10% contained, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Officials said that multiple spot fires were occurring ahead of the blaze, as the flames pushed toward the northeast. Some structures were in the path of the flames, but it was unclear whether they were imminently threatened. Four Cal Fire air tankers
and two water-dropping helicopters were rotating in and out of the area, providing support to an estimated 150 personnel on the ground, comprised of county engine and hand crews, as well as firefighters from the Corona Fire Department, Hemet Fire Department, Murrieta Fire & Rescue and other agencies. On Thursday evening, the head of the fire jumped a road amid light winds and moved into hills, creating challenges for ground personnel. An evacuation order went into effect a short time later for the area south of Bailey Road, north of Running Springs Road, west of Chapman Road and east of Bonny. Evacuation warnings followed for the area south of Tulle Peak Road, north and east of the Cleveland
National Forest boundary and west of Terwilliger Road. The area is sparsely populated. A care and reception center was established at Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Road, in Anza. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services stationed personnel at the location to assist with displaced animals. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Brush fire burns 103 acres in Banning A brush fire in Banning that burned 103 acres of brush was 70% contained Friday with its forward rate stopped. The Sunset Fire was reported at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Mesa and Gilman streets, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The fire had burned
about 20 acres by 7:30 p.m. Thursday and had grown to 103 acres by around 8:50 p.m. Thursday, the department reported. Evacuation orders for the area south of Silver Star Drive, east of Sunset Avenue, north of Wilson Street and west of 16th Street were downgraded to an evacuation warning, the department reported. This area will be reopened to residents only, as fire resources continue to work in the area, the department said. An evacuation warning issued for the area north of Wilson Street, east of 16th Street, south of Repplier Road and west of San Gorgonio was lifted. The road closure on Sunset Avenue from Wilson Street See Fire Page 27
2 men suspected in fatal 2018 shooting of jiu-jitsu instructor charged By City News Service
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wo men suspected in the 2018 fatal shooting of a jiu-jitsu instructor in Cathedral City were charged Thursday with murder. Troy Walter Edmund, 44, and Kipko Griffin, 48, additionally face a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, according to court records. Edmund was also charged with one felony count of being a convicted felon and narcotic addict in possession of a firearm as well as a sentence-enhancing allegation of discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury. They were both set to be arraigned Thursday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Detectives worked numerous leads in the March 28, 2018, murder of Ramon Diaz but it wasn’t until the department’s detective bureau got a lead in June 2023 that they were able to identify Edmund and Griffin as the suspects, according to Investigative Commander Rick Sanchez of the Cathedral City Police Department. Griffin was arrested Tuesday while Edmund was already behind bars on unrelated charges. “I want to thank the local police for not giving up on this case. So many people have been needing closure on Professor See Shooting Page 28