Riverside Independent_2/16/2026 by Beacon Media News

IE authorities make dozens of arrests during encampment removals

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies and Banning Police Department ofﬁcers arrested 40 people during encampment removal operations, authorities said Thursday.

Three operations this week in Banning targeted illegal homelessencampments, which were being dismantled after police arrested multiple occupants on suspicion of trespassing, according to the Banning Police Department.

The first operation occurred Tuesday just northeast of the intersection of Hathaway and Ramsey streets. Capt. Brandon Smith said “homeless liaison officers” entered the encampment site along with officers from the Code Enforcement and Animal Control departments.

Encampment occupants received notice 72-hours earlier warning them of the need to vacate the site, police said.

Seven individuals were arrested on suspicion of trespassing, then released from custody. Banning authorities also contacted the owner of the property where the encampment was located and directed the owner to start a cleanup effort that includes removing vehicles that were used as residences, Smith reported.

The next joint operation took place Wednesday near Interstate 10 and Sunset Avenue, according to Smith. Police arrested 13 people for allegedly trespassing, then released them. One camp occupant was arrested in connection with an outstanding felony warrant.

“This location is also private property, and (police are) actively working with the owner to get the encampment debris removed from the property,” Smith said.

A third operation involv-

ing Banning authorities occurred Thursday southwest of Bryant Street and San Gorgonio Avenue. Police made ﬁve arrests for alleged trespassing, then released the individuals.

With the assistance of the Banning Streets Department, four large tent encampments were removed from the property, Smith said.

The captain noted that while local agencies are working to guide residents experiencing homelessness to resources and services in Banning and Riverside County, police “will be enforcing applicable laws with a zero tolerance,” Smith said. “The police department has been able to strengthen efforts in enforcing crimes related to unlawful camping and other quality of life issues that have become a major problem within the city.”

For questions or to report illegal encampments, police asked the public to call the

BPD’s non-emergency line at 951-922-3170. Code Enforcement complaint forms are available online via tinyurl. com/ms6bfxan.

Operation Shelter Me

In the city of Highland and the surrounding areas, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement, or HOPE Team on Feb. 6 conducted Operation Shelter Me that also included deputies from the Highland Station.

The ongoing series of encampment-clearing operations aims to connect county staff members with unhoused residents,offeringthem housing and access to medical care and mental health services while addressing community safety concerns, ofﬁcials said.

“Deputies focused on individuals with signiﬁcant mental illnesses to link them with restorative mental health

pathways,” according to a county statement.

The operation resulted in 15 arrests and the following outcomes:

- deputies interacted with 43 people experiencing homelessness;

-Sevenindividuals accepted referral information to assistance programs;

- Two individuals were arrested for having San Bernardino County felony warrants;

- Two people were taken into custody for county misdemeanor warrants;

- Deputy Michael Castaneda arrested an individual for allegedly being a felon in possession of a loaded ﬁrearm;

- Five individuals were arrested for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance;

- Two people were arrested for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia;

- One individual was arrested for allegedly violating a restraining order;

- One person was arrested for violation of probation terms; and

- One individual was arrested for allegedly bringing a controlled substance into a jail facility

California voters passed Proposition 36, which took effect on Dec. 18, 2024 and reforms multiple laws connected with Proposition 47 enacted in 2014. Critics of Proposition 47 claim its less stringent penalties have been responsible for increasing homelessness, drug addiction and theft. County ofﬁcials said Proposition 36 includes new criminal laws and Health and Safety Code provisions “that deputies can apply during arrests when appropriate. These latest charges can carry

Pharmacy and lab employees at Kaiser Permanente inRiversideCounty, the rest of Southern California and Bakersﬁeld will end their three-day targeted unfair labor practice strike Thursday.

“Our strength and solidarity this week proved we are prepared to escalate again if Kaiser refuses to respect workers,” the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents the striking workers, said in a statement.

The UFCW members walked off the job at 7 a.m. Monday to protest what they call “Kaiser’s labor violations throughout negotiations that have prevented frontline health care workers from getting the fair contract they deserve.”

They are set to return to work at 5 a.m.

UFCW Southern California locals represent over 4,000 Kaiser Permanente frontline health care employees who work as pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians, clinical lab scientists, medical lab technicians and clinical and administrative workers in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and Kern counties. Kaiser Permanente has 50 locations in Riverside, 17 in Palm Desert, nine in Indio and ﬁve in Coachella, according to its website.

Meanwhile, roughly 31,000 members of the United Nurses Associations of California/ Union of Health Care Profes-

The city of Palm Springs completed construction Wednesday on a roughly $2.2 million project aimed at reducing blowing sand and improving driver visibility along the North Gene Autry Trail corridor.

The Gene Autry Wind Wall project is a nearly 590-footlong brick wall that’s designed to make driving conditions safer in an area known for notoriously windy conditions.

“This project addresses a long-standing safety concern for our community and corri-

dors,” Mayor Naomi Soto said in a statement. “We heard the frustrations from drivers and took actions to make the necessary infrastructure improvements. The wind wall will keep this crucial roadway open and safer for everyone.”

The City Council approved the $2.195 million project in April 2025, with the majority of the cost covered by Measure A, a voter-approved half-cent sales tax meant to invest directly in local streets, roads and regional transportation improvements.

A San Bernardino County Sheri ’s Department deputy makes one of 15 arrests during Operation Shelter Me activities on Feb.

6. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County

Riverside County maintains fee waivers to encourage pet adoptions

By City News Service

To reducethe ongoing strainonshelters, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services announced Wednesday that fee waivers on pet adoptions will continue countywide.

A moratorium on adoption fees was implemented last fall and has remained in effect as the county’s four shelters continue to operate over capacity.

Officials have initiated other strategies to free up space, sending out requests for nonprofit organizations to transport the county’s impounded canines and felines to other places across the country for adoption campaigns.OnTuesday, Wings of Rescue flew 24 dogs and a cat previously in local shelters to Seattle, Washington, for placement in the

City Animal Shelter.

“This flight was important because a majority of the dogs were larger breeds, which typically stay the longest amount of time in our shelters, sometimes over hundreds of days,” Department of Animal Services spokeswoman Daylin Valencia said.

The current waiver of fees at the county’s shelters means no charge for spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, microchips and engraved collars. Only state-mandated dog license fees are required. They generally run $25 for altered pets.

“With fee-waived adoptions, now is a great time to add a loving companion to your life,” county Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez said.

There are more than 1,000 canines and about 100 cats

available for adoption.

In May, the board approved a “no kill” policy, resolving that the county will make it an objective to preserve the lives of a minimum of 90% of all cats and dogs impounded at the county’s shelters.

The policy entails greater emphasis on free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics, enhanced “return-to-owner” programs that unite lost pets with their loved ones, adoption campaigns with full fee waivers, expedited “trap-neuter- returnto-field” programs that were inaugurated in March 2024 and pet fostering.

The latter provides opportunities for Inland Empire residents to take a dog or cat home for set or open periods, without the obligation to adopt. Fostered pets receive free veterinary care from the

county and can be returned to a shelter anytime.

The no-kill effort dovetails with a reformation initiated by the board after one organization alleged that the county had the highest kill rate in the nation.

Andrew Firestine was sworn in as Cathedral City’s new City Manager Wednesday, and Thursday was his first day in the role.

“Cathedral City is a remarkable community with a confluence of people and cultures that make it welcoming, inclusive and diverse community that it is,” Firestine said.

“Cathedral City stands out in the Coachella Valley. It is a hardworking community that helps support and sustain the regional economy while supporting multitudes of small businesses locally. It was for

Cheech Marin was the first speaker in the seventh season of Palm Springs Speaks, an annual series of interviews benefiting the city’s public library that began last week at the Plaza Theatre.

The event took place 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the theater, located at 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive.

Manny “The Movie Guy” Dela Rosa was in conversation with Marin regarding his book, “Cheech is Not My Real Name ... But Don’t

all these reasons that I was elated to join Cathedral City in 2023 and why I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the organization.”

Firestine was selected to replace Charlie McCelndon, who retired in September 2025 after a nationwide search guided by a recruitment firm.

“The council conducted an extensive and deliberate search to find the right leader for Cathedral City,” Mayor Raymond Gregory said in a statement. “After evaluating candidates from across the country, it became clear that the best person for the job was

By City News Service

already part of our team. Andy’s experience, vision and deep understanding of our community made him the clear choice.”

Before becoming city manager, he served as the city’s director of Community and Economic Development, and had worked 16 years in various planning and management roles before moving to the Coachella Valley in 2019.

Firestine will serve for a term of five years in his new position and will receive a base salary of $280,000, according to the employment agreement documents.

During the city council meeting held at City Hall on Wednesday, he addressed numerous priorities for the year ahead, including implementation of Measure W, which supports road improvements, additional ambulance service, recreational programs and park maintenance through the Desert Recreation District, funding for a future community center, the city’s fiscal standing and housing, city officials said.

“There are many focal areas for the city — executing capital improvement plans to improve streets and build bicycle and pedestrian

In 2024, the board hired Austin, Texas-based Outcomes for Pets LLC Principal Adviser Kristen Hassen to rectify problems within the agency, and last February the supervisors approved the Executive Office’s selection of Mary Martin to head the department following a nationwide executive recruitment drive.

Informationabout shelters’ hours of operation and adoption or fostering opportunities can be found at rcdas.org.

Andrew Firestine begins tenure as Cathedral City’s chief executive

continuing to focus on economic development, enhancing communications and promoting

Cheech Marin opens Season 7 of Palm Springs Speaks

By City News Service

Call Me Chong!” a memoir published in 2017 detailing his life growing up in Los Angeles to his passion for Chicano art.

Born Richard Marin, he gained fame as one half of the comedy duo “Cheech and Chong,” along with Tommy Chong. The pair met in 1969 and recorded a handful of popular comedy albums in the 1970s before starring in eight feature films. Their first film, “Up in Smoke,” was an instant box office hit

in 1978.

Marin was also featured in other films, including “Tin Cup,” “Shotgun Wedding,” “Champions,” “The Lion King” and “Cars.”

He also had a highly successful television career, appearing with co-stay Don Johnson on the hit cop show “Nash Bridges” from 19962001.

Beyond acting, Marin is a preeminent advocate for Chicano art, who began developing a private collec-

tion in the mid-1980s. The collection can be seen at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture of the Riverside Art Museum, which opened in June 2022.

A book signing followed Tuesday’s conversation and presentation.

The next speaker in the series will be author and journalist Wade Rouse on Feb. 24. Tickets and additional information on the series can be found at palmspringsspeaks.org.

public participation and community engagement and sustaining public safety,” Firestine said.

| Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services/Facebook

improvements,

Andrew Firestine. | Photo courtesy of Cathedral City

Cheech Marin, at left, and Manny “The Movie Guy” Dela Rosa share a laugh during the inaugural session of this year’s Palm Springs Speaks series. | Photo courtesy of Palm Springs Speaks/Facebook

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AState DOJ reaches $2.75M accord with Disney over data sharing

settlement with the Walt Disney Co. in which the entertainment giant will pay $2.75 million to resolve allegations it failed to completely honor consumers’ requests to opt-out of the sale or sharing of their data was approved Wednesday by a judge.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel M. Crowley’s order states that Disney also must implement methods that fully stop Disney’s sale or sharing of consumers’ personal information. The suit was filed Wednesday by the Attorney General’s Office and the resolution was made final during a hearing before Crowley.

“Consumers shouldn’t have to go to infinity and beyond to assert their privacy rights,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said. “Today, my office secured the largest settlement to date under the (California Consumer Protection Act)

State of California.

The Duarte Dispatchhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 013893 City of Duarte, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The Rosemead Readerhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 048894

adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017174 City of Baldwin Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The Burbank Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016728 City of Burbank, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The Glendale Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016579 City of Glendale, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The Monterey Park Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016580

By City News Service

over Disney’s failure to stop selling and sharing the data of consumers that explicitly asked it to.”

California law is clear that a customer’s opt-out right applies wherever and however a business sells data, said Bonta, who added that asking a business to stop selling one’s data should not be “complicated or cumbersome.”

The Department of Justice’s investigation into Disney stems from a January 2024 investigative sweep

of streaming services for potential CCPA violations.

Effective ways to get out of the sale or sharing of a person’s information is one of the “bare necessities” of complying with the CCPA, according to the department, which alleged that Disney’s opt-out processes did not allow a consumer even when logged into their account to completely stop all sale or sharing of their data.

The department’s probe uncovered methods Disney provided allegedly had key

gaps that allowed Disney to continue to sell and share consumer data, including that Disney only applied an opt-out request to the specific streaming service the user was watching and often only the specific device the consumer was using.

If a user pulled out using Disney’s webform, the company stopped the sharing of personal data through the company’s own advertising platform and offering, but allegedly continued to sell and share consumer data with specific third-party ad-tech companies whose code Disney embedded in its websites and apps, according to the department.

Disney also failed to provide an in-app, opt-out method in many of its connected TV streaming apps, instead directing consumers to its webform, effectively leaving consumers with no way to stop Disney’s selling and sharing from the apps, the department further alleged.

LA28 executive board backs Wasserman amid calls for his resignation

By City News Service

Despite calls for his resignation, the LA28 Executive Committee Board Wednesday supported Casey Wasserman to continue in his role as chair of the Olympic organizing effort, citing an independent investigation that examined his past interactions with Ghislaine Maxwell, who’s been convicted of sex trafficking for her role in a widespread sexual abuse scandal involving the late Jeffrey Epstein.

The Board -- the leaders responsible for planning and executing the preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles -- said in a statement that the organization takes allegations of misconduct seriously, and is committed to thoroughly reviewing any concerns related to the organization’s leadership.

LA28 hired outside counsel O’Melveny & Myers LLP to conduct a review of Wasserman’s past interactions with Maxwell and Epstein. The board said Wasserman fully cooperated with the review.

“We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not

go beyond what has already been publicly documented,” the board said in a statement.

“Twenty-three years ago, before Mr. Wasserman or the public knew of Epstein and Maxwell’s deplorable crimes, Mr. Wasserman and his then-wife flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein’s plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation. This was his single interaction with Epstein. Shortly after, he traded the publicly known emails with Maxwell,” the board said in its statement.

The executive committee determined that based on these facts, and Wasserman’s “strong leadership” exhibited over the past 10 years, that he should continue to lead LA28 and deliver the 2028 Games.

Earlier this month, three Los Angeles City Council members and County Supervisor Janice Hahn, among other elected officials, called on Wasserman to resign from LA28 over a string of racy emails with Maxwell, and his alleged connection with Epstein.

Wasserman’s name

surfaced when the latest batch of Epstein documents were made public late January by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its investigation into Epstein, who died in a jail cell in August 2019 of a reported suicide as he awaited trial on federal charges.

The former financier was accused of procuring underage girls to perform sexual favors for various highly influential millionaires and billionaires at a private island.

The documents revealed multiple salacious email exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell, Epstein’s associate who was convicted in 2021 on federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy for helping Epstein procure girls and young women.

The newly released emails are from 2003. They feature flirtatious remarks from both parties, including Wasserman writing that he wanted to see Maxwell in a “tight leather outfit,” and Maxwell offering to give him a massage that can “drive a man wild.”

The 51-year-old Wasserman is the founder and CEO of Wasserman, a sports marketing and talent agency, and grandson of legendary Hollywood agent Lew Wasserman.

Wassermanrecently traveled to Milan, Italy, with the LA28 delegation for the Winter Olympics.

In a statement to various media outlets, Wasserman said, “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light. I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. As is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.”

| Photo courtesy of BoliviaInteligente/Unsplash

| Image courtesy of LA28

CSULB, state officials to study veteran suicides

By City News Service

CalStateLongBeach

is partnering with the California Department of Veteran Affairs to support a research initiative aimed at reducing veteran deaths by suicide, officials announced last week.

The initiative will focus on enhancing data collection, analysis, and reporting to better understand and address underlying risk factors for suicides.

“This collaboration represents a new chapter in how data and public service can work hand in hand. By building an integrated, county- and state- level view of veteran health, we are creating datadriven solutions that turn information into meaningful impact for practitioners, policymakers, and veterans alike,” said Jeremy Ramirez, principal investigator for the CSULB Research Foundation.

The project aims to produce recommendations on standardizing the system for collecting and reporting veteran suicide data in all 58 California counties. Those recommendations will be

designed to provide coroner and medical examiner offices with clear steps to consider following when classifying, reporting and analyzing such cases.

“This innovative partnership positions California as a national leader in providing the most accurate, comprehensive, and action-

able reporting on veteran suicides,” CalVet Deputy Secretary Roberto Herrera said. “We are grateful for our partnership with CSU Long Beach and look forward to this research making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families.”

UC Berkeley is also a partner in the project.

South Coast AQMD approves $30M for non-polluting school buses

By City News Service

South Coast Air Quality Management District governorshave approved $30 million to help communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution replace older school buses with new, zero-emission models, the agency announced Tuesday.

The initiative is expected to significantly reduce air pollution, including smogforming nitrogen oxides and particulate matter -- tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Reducing exposure to these pollutants is especially critical for children, whose lungs are still developing and who are more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

Zero-emission school

buses help create cleaner air around schools and along bus routes, improving longterm health outcomes for students and surrounding communities, according to the SCAQMD.

Eligible existing school buses must be dieselcompressed natural gas- or propane-fueled, have a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,501 pounds, be currently registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and comply with the California Air Resources Board’s Truck and Bus Regulations.

The SCAQMD’s AB 617 Clean Community School Initiative is an incentive program supporting schoolrelated projects in overburdened communities identified through the program. Applicants must be the operators of privately owned school buses contracted with and servicing public school districts within the identified communities.

The application deadline is April 7. Applications may be made on the agency’s AB 617 Community Action Plan Incentives page at aqmd.gov/cleancommunityschools.

Buses must also have a valid California Highway Patrol certificate at the time of application, with continuous CHP safety certificates for at least the past two years. Existing buses must be crushed or dismantled upon replacement, the agency said.

| Photo courtesy of sydney Rae/Unsplash

| Photo courtesy of Pedro Gandra/Unsplash

Firefighters wore gear containing ‘forever chemicals.’ The Forest Service knew and stayed silent for years.

By Abe Streep, ProPublica

This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week.

Officials at the U.S. Forest Service knew gear worn by wildland firefighters contained potentially dangerous “forever chemicals” years before the agency publicly acknowledged the issue, according to internal correspondence obtained by ProPublica.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, have been linked to negative health impacts, including certain cancers and delayed development in children. For years, PFAS chemicals were commonly used to treat the heavy gear worn by municipal firefighters to help it repel water and oil.

Federal agencies have said little about whether the compounds were also found in the lighter heatresistant clothing worn by wildland firefighters. In February 2024, when ProPublica was reporting on the dangers of wildland firefighting — including the risk of cancer — the news organization asked both the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior if federal wildland firefighting gear contained PFAS. Both agencies gave nearly identical answers, writing that they did not have “specific measured concentration data showing that PFAS is contained in protective clothing and gear.”

But email correspondence obtained by ProPublica shows that government officials were alerted to the presence of PFAS in pants used by wildland firefighters as early as 2021. In April 2022, a senior Forest Service official asked colleagues if they had an obligation to tell firefighters that PFAS had been found in their gear.

According to the emails, the agency decided not to immediately share the information, instead waiting for the results of a study into whether PFAS can be absorbed through the skin.

The Forest Service declined to answer questions about the records, PFAS chemicals in its gear, and firefighter health. In 2024, the agency said in a statement to ProPublica, “The Forest Service is deeply committed to not only understanding occupational risks to employees but mitigating these risks.”

The Department of the Interior did not answer questions about PFAS.

By 2021, public awareness of the ubiquity and risks of PFAS was rising.

At the beginning of that year, Congress ordered the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a subagency of the Department of Commerce, to find out if firefighting gear contained PFAS. Researchers from the agency began collecting hoods and gloves worn by municipal firefighters — who tackle building fires — as well as various samples of wildland firefighting gear.

In April, according to the documents, a Forest Service equipment specialist emailed one of its suppliers, TenCate, which produces fabric used in wildland firefighting gear. At the time, the company’s “Advance” fabric, a Kevlar blend used in some pants, was treated with a finishing product called Shelltite. “Question,” asked the Forest Service specialist. “Does the Shelltite finish on the Advance fabric have any PFAS presence?”

A TenCate manager quickly responded by attaching a document confirming that one of its finishes contained a form of PFAS that had been applied to repel hydrocarbons and gasoline. The manager also said that TenCate was “in the final stages of developing” a finish without the compound.

TenCate did not respond to repeated requests for comment from ProPublica. PFAS is a broad class of chemicals. According to emails sent from TenCate to the Forest Service, the company’s finish used a form of PFAS with six or fewer fluorinated carbon atoms. According to experts, these “short-chain” PFAS chemicals are less harmful than other ones, but some can linger in the environment for years and in the

The emails were released last week in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed in 2022 by George Broyles, a former Forest Service employee who for years studied smoke exposure among firefighters, and who has repeatedly raised concerns about the agency’s reluctance to acknowledge cancer among its workforce. “They just obfuscate,” said Broyles. “It’s just a continuation of the same thing: ‘We’re going to stick our heads in the sand and hope that nobody notices.’”

human body for months. Their full impact on human health is not known.

All firefighters have significantly higher cancer risks than the general population, but less is understood about the health of wildland firefighters than of their counterparts who battle blazes in buildings and other structures. This is largely the fault of the government: As ProPublica has reported, the Forest Service has known of carcinogenic elements in wildfire smoke for decades but the government dragged its heels in studying the impacts on wildland firefighters. Researchers have found elevated levels of some PFAS in the blood of structural firefighters, but less is known about these chemicals in their wildland peers.

While structural firefighting departments often require garments that repel oil and water, experts say it is not always necessary for wildland firefighters, who often wear the same gear for weeks in remote locations.

“From the wildland firefighting perspective, I don’t see any reason to have the PFAS treatments in their gear. They don’t really need the oil repellency,” said Bryan Ormond, an associate professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science at North Carolina State University, in an email. “It would be a safer option to not have the PFAS treatment.”

According to a former fire service official with direct knowledge of the dynamic, the presence of PFAS in pants was a topic of discussion around 2021 by a risk management committee made up of senior officials from multiple agencies, including the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. The official said that committee members wanted to know: “Is it a big deal, little deal, or no deal?”

In April 2022, a full year after TenCate told the Forest Service about the PFAS treatment used on its fabric, a senior agency official named David Haston raised the issue again. An assistant director of operations at the Forest Service at the time, Haston emailed colleagues asking whether TenCate’s fabric was “still coming with PFAS in the finish? Can Tencate tell us whether or not this is hazardous to people that

wear these garments? Do we have a duty to notify employees?”

The email was forwarded to a Forest Service equipment specialist named David Maclay-Schulte who said he’d asked the company if its PFAS-free fabric was ready. “They said they will look into it and get back to me,” wrote the specialist. “I am hopeful it’s sooner rather than later.”

Five months later, in September, Maclay-Schulte wrote to Forest Service officials that he still hadn’t heard back from TenCate. In the email, Maclay-Schulte said he would contact the company again, but added that the Forest Service had decided to wait until the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health had completed studies, including one about whether PFAS can be absorbed through skin, “before any decisions would be made.” In the same email, he asked colleagues whether he should respond to questions about PFAS that Broyles had asked on behalf of a labor advocacy group called Grassroots Wildland Firefighters. The other officials all agreed that they would not immediately tell Grassroots about the PFAS. “They need to send the FS an official request asking for this information,” wrote a physiologist for the agency.

According to multiple wildland firefighters and governmentofficials familiar with contracting and purchasing, the Forest Service never told rank-and-

file wildland firefighters that their pants might contain PFAS.

“To me it demonstrates that managers high up in the agency over several years have never really prioritized the health and well-being of the actual firefighters,” said Riva Duncan, the president of Grassroots and a former Forest Service fire chief. Duncan noted that many wildland firefighters wear their pants even in the offseason. “They’ve known about this. They’ve known about other threats to health and well-being yet they have chosen to not be proactive and share the information with employees. It seems it’s only when they’re forced to provide information that we find out about it.”

In the past few years, under pressure from labor groups and lawmakers, the federal government has begun to acknowledge cancer in the workforce, and the Forest Service last year made masks available to wildland firefighters in response to reporting from The New York Times. But a full accounting of the risks is still not available; the government’s preparedness guide for incoming wildland firefighters, produced in 2022, makes no mention of cancer. When ProPublica asked the Department of the Interior if it planned to update the guide, a spokesperson directed the news organization to a blog post about research into workplace hazards that does not mention cancer.

In January 2023, almost

two years after the Forest Service learned of the PFAS treatments, TenCate finally responded to MaclaySchulte. “To the best of our knowledge wearing ADVANCE with Shelltite or Supershelltite has not caused deleterious health impacts,” wrote a senior director at the company. But the company also informed the agency that it was now producing its PFAS-free finish for the pant fabric. It is unclear if the government began purchasing pants with the new finish or if it continued to purchase the pants with PFAS.

In 2024, NIST released the study of PFAS in firefighting gear that Congress had mandated in 2021. The study found that some wildland firefighting gear contained PFAS. Most of it had modest amounts of the chemicals. But, NIST wrote, in a summary of the study, “there were some cases that had notably high levels.” According to Heather Stapleton, an exposure scientist and professor at Duke University, the study showed levels in certain samples “similar to what has been reported in structural firefighting gear.”

The study did not specify the companies it had sourced its gear from, and NIST did not respond to questions from ProPublica. The NIOSH study that the Forest Service officials had been waiting on when deciding how to act, however, is still ongoing. Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

Firefighter sprays hotspot at the Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest in California. | Photo courtesy of Mike McMillan/U.S. Forest Service/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

AMY EDWARDS CASE NO. 26STPB01092

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of AMY EDWARDS.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by DARROW ANN LAWSON in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that DARROW ANN LAWSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

03/05/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 79 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner BRITTANY DUKE - SBN 279489

BARBARO, CHINEN, PITZER & DUKE LLP

301 EAST COLORADO BOULEVARD, SUITE 700 PASADENA CA 91101-1911

Telephone (626) 793-5196

2/5, 2/9, 2/16/26 CNS-4010031# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

CAROL RYOKO FUNAI CASE NO. 26STPB00929

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of CAROL RYOKO FUNAI.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by HELEN FUNAI ERICKSON in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that HELEN FUNAI ERICKSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of

Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/27/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 79 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

Attorney for Petitioner

ROBERT M. RASCH - SBN 81061

LAW OFFICE OF ROBERT M. RASCH, APC 901 DOVE STREET, SUITE 120 NEWPORT BEACH CA 92660

Telephone (949) 234-3454

BSC 228033 2/9, 2/12, 2/16/26

CNS-4011404# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF LAURA ADLER

Case No. 26STPB00993

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of LAURA ADLER A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Alisa Adler in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Alisa Adler be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on March 2, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 62 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed

LEGALS

by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner: AMY OSRAN JACOBS ESQ SBN 109786

WEBSTER KAPLAN LLP 16830 VENTURA BLVD STE 130

ENCINO CA 91436

CN124283 ADLER Feb 12,16,19, 2026

BURBANK INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF DONNA JEAN HART aka DONNA J. HART

Case No. 26STPB01027

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of DONNA JEAN HART aka DONNA J. HART

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Los Angeles County Public Administrator in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Los Angeles County Public Administrator be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on March 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 29 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

Attorney for petitioner: SUSAN LONG PRIN DEP CO COUNSEL DAWYN HARRISON

OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNSEL

500 WEST TEMPLE ST STE 648

LOS ANGELES CA 90012

CN124288 HART Feb 12,16,19, 2026

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

PRISCILLA SALINAS AKA

PRISCILLA JOSEPHINE

GURULE SALINAS CASE NO. PROVA2600077

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of PRISCILLA SALINAS AKA PRISCILLA

JOSEPHINE GURULE SALINAS.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by RUBY ANN FIERRO in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that RUBY ANN FIERRO be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 03/25/26 at 9:00AM in Dept. F1 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

Attorney for Petitioner

PAUL HORN, ESQ. - SBN 243227

PAUL HORN LAW GROUP, PC 11404 SOUTH STREET CERRITOS CA 90703

Telephone (800) 380-7076 BSC 228016 2/12, 2/16, 2/19/26 CNS-4010462# ONTARIO NEWS PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MARIANNA FORINGER AKA HARIANNA R FORINGER, HENDERSON; M R FORINGER; MARIANNA R FORINGER; MARY R FORINGER; MARIANNA FORLINGER

CASE NO. 26STPB01293

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MARIANNA FORINGER AKA HARIANNA R FORINGER, HENDERSON; M R FORINGER; MARIANNA R FORINGER; MARY R FORINGER;

MARIANNA FORLINGER.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

03/09/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 62 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

Attorney for Petitioner

BRETT WAKINO, DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL - SBN 162417 OFFICE OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COUNSEL

500 W. TEMPLE STREET, 6TH FLOOR LOS ANGELES CA 90012

Telephone (213) 584-1431 2/12, 2/16, 2/19/26

CNS-4011417#

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF SARGIS SARGSYAN CASE NO. 26STPB00253

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: SARGIS SARGSYAN A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ELLA MKRTCHYAN in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ELLA MKRTCHYAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority . (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on 03/11/2026 at 8:30 am in Dept. 9 located at 111 N. HILL ST. LOS ANGELES CA 90012 STANLEY MOSK COURTHOUSE.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: Rafael Hagopjanian, Esq. SBN 336247

HAGOPJANIAN LAW GROUP, PC 1180 S Beverly Drive, Ste 200 Los Angeles, CA 90035

Telephone: (323) 238-5591 2/12, 2/16, 2/19/26 CNS-4008081# GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ROY ALTON STRINGER AKA ROY A. STRINGER AKA ROY STRINGER CASE NO.

30-2026-01544626-PR-PWCMC

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of ROY ALTON STRINGER AKA ROY A. STRINGER AKA ROY STRINGER. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by VALERIE ANNE LASSETER in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that VALERIE ANNE LASSETER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/09/26 at 1:30PM in Dept. CM07 located at 3390 HARBOR BLVD., COSTA MESA, CA 92626 NOTICE IN PROBATE CASES

The court is providing the convenience to appear for hearing by video using the court’s designated video platform. This is a no cost service to the public. Go to the Court’s website at The Superior Court of California - County of Orange (occourts.org) to appear remotely for Probate hearings and for remote hearing instructions. If you have difficulty connecting or are unable to connect to your remote hearing, call 657-622-8452 for assistance. If you prefer to appear in-person, you can appear in the department on the day/time set for your hearing.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of

accordance with Section 2924m(e) of the California Civil Code, use file number CA25-1025213-NJ and call (866) 645-7711 or login to: http://www.qualityloan.com.

The above statutorily mandated notices to Tenant, Prospective Owner-Occupant, and Prospective Post-Sale Over Bidders are brief summaries of what may be required under Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. Compliance with all relevant provisions will be required. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address or other common designation, if any, shown herein. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney. If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holders right’s against the real property only. Date: QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION 2763 Camino Del Rio S San Diego, CA 92108 619645-7711 For NON SALE information only Sale Line: 916-939-0772 Or Login to: http://www.qualityloan.com Post-Sale Information (CCC 2924m(e)): (866) 6457711 Reinstatement or Payoff Line: (866) 645-7711 Ext 5318 QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION TS No.: CA-25-1025213-NJ IDSPub #0292729 2/2/2026 2/9/2026 2/16/2026 BURBANK INDEPENDENT

Trustee Sale No. 187278 Title No. 250535099 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 01/19/2007. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On 02/18/2026 at 11:00 AM, PRIME RECON LLC, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 02/02/2007, as Instrument No. 20070227455, in book xx, page xx, of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of LOS ANGELES County, State of CALIFORNIA, executed by LUIS PONCE, AND MARY A HORTON, HUSBAND AND WIFE AS JOINT TENANTS, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK/CASH EQUIVALENT or other form of payment authorized by 2924h(b), (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States), AT THE COURTYARD LOCATED AT 400 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, POMONA, CA 91766. All right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State, described as: FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE ABOVE DEED OF TRUST. APN 5610-008-053 The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 3071 MANHATTAN AVE, CITY OF GLENDALE, CA 91214. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $468,628.51 IF THE TRUSTEE IS UNABLE TO CONVEY TITLE FOR ANY REASON, THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY SHALL BE THE RETURN OF MONIES PAID TO THE TRUSTEE, AND THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER SHALL HAVE NO FURTHER RECOURSE. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned caused a Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. Dated: 1/20/2026 PRIME RECON LLC By: Josh Bermudez, Authorized Signer PRIME RECON

der at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (844) 901-0998 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this internet website - HTTPS:// SALESINFORMATION.PRIME-RECON. COM - for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case: TS#187278. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (844) 901-0998 for information regarding the trustee’s sale, or visit this internet website HTTPS://SALESINFORMATION.PRIME-RECON.COM for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case TS#187278 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. NPP0484385 To: GLENDALE INDEPENDENT 02/02/2026, 02/09/2026, 02/16/2026 GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

Fictitious Business Name Filings

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Royal IV Hydration Incorporated 1749 South Euclid Avenue, suite A Ontario, CA 91764 San Bernardino County Royal IV Hydration Incorporated (CA, 1749 South Euclid Avenue Ste A, Ontario, CA 91764 San Bernardino County

LEGALS

Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202510323 Pub. 10/16/2025, 10/23/2025, 10/30/2025, 11/06/2025 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. FBN20260000577

The following persons are doing business as: GummiByte, 12760 Golden Leaf Dr, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739. Mailing Address, 12760 Golden Leaf Dr, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 . # of Employees 1. Steven Tran. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ Steven Tran. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on January 26, 2026 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20260000577 Pub: 02/02/2026, 02/09/2026, 02/16/2026, 02/23/2026 San Bernardino Press

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20250012120

eral, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20250012120 Pub: 02/02/2026, 02/09/2026, 02/16/2026, 02/23/2026

San Bernardino Press

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as ROBERTO VAZQUEZ TRUCKING 24935 McPherson Rd Perris, CA 92570

Riverside County Roberto Vazquez Matias, 24935 McPherson Rd, Perris, CA 92570

Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 2006. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. Roberto Vazquez Matias

Statement filed with the County of Riverside on February 3, 2026

NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202601573 Pub. 02/09/2026, 02/16/2026, 02/23/2026, 03/02/2026 Riverside Independent

ment is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. Anthony Espinoza Cuevas Statement filed with the County of Riverside on February 3, 2026 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202601539 Pub. 02/09/2026, 02/16/2026, 02/23/2026, 03/02/2026 Riverside Independent

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as The Goddard School 2490 River Road Norco, CA 92860

subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202602010 Pub. 02/16/2026, 02/23/2026, 03/02/2026, 03/09/2026 Riverside Independent

entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bid-

This business is conducted by: a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on December 20, 2023. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. Ky-Anne Faith Roye, CFO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on August 20, 2025 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

The following persons are doing business as: Families First 1, 12376 Reche Canyon Rd, Colton, CA 92324. Mailing Address, 30 N Gould Ste N, Sheridan, WY 82801. # of Employees 1. Inter Axis Holdings LLC (WY-B20250438399, 30 N Gould St Ste N, Sheridan, WY 82801; james gibbs, Managing Member. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on November 21, 2025. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ james gibbs, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on December 30, 2025 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under fed -

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as CUTZ N STYLES 1683 7th street Coachella, CA 92236 Riverside County Anthony Espinoza Cuevas, 1683 7th Street, Coachella, CA 92236 Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this state -

Riverside County Mailing Address, 51 Monte Vista, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Riverside County Meena Norco LLC (CA, 51 Monte Vista, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. Jesal Mehta, Member Statement filed with the County of Riverside on February 11, 2026 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in

Starting

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Kissprom 2785 Cabot Dr # 7-165 Corona, CA 92883 Riverside County Medon Inc (CA, 2785 Cabot Dr # 7-165, Corona, CA 92883 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. Chuanrong Zhang, CEO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on February 2, 2026 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202601482 Pub. 02/16/2026, 02/23/2026, 03/02/2026, 03/09/2026 Riverside Independent

San Bernardino County opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center

By Sta

Heavy rain and ﬂooding in late December 2025 impactedhomes, rental properties and businesses across San Bernardino County. Homeowners, renters, nonproﬁt organizations and business owners who experienced uninsured damage or economic losses may be eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans.

To support those affected, the San Bernardino County Ofﬁce of Emergency Services (OES), in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), has opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) to provide in-person assistance with disaster loan applications.

SBA representatives will be available on-site to answer questions, explain available programs and assist appli-

cants throughout the process. Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as veriﬁed by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible

mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural

cooperatives, nurseries and private nonproﬁt organizations, including faith-based organizations, that suffered ﬁnancial losses directly related to the disaster. Physical damage is not required to qualify. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises. EIDLs

Encampments

enhanced sentencing and prevent offenders from being cited and released before their court appearance.”

The HOPE Team and additional county staff will continue similar operations over the next year, “thanks to special ‘Community Concerns’ funding, approved by the Board of Supervisors,” ofﬁcials said.

Everyone arrested during encampment operations are contacted in the county jail by the Sheriff’s Transitional Assistance Reentry Team, or START, and are offered resources and reentry services, according to the county.

Ofﬁcials urged the public to report individuals experiencing homelessness who need services by calling

909-387-0623 or emailing hope@sbcsd.org.

San Bernardino County homeless count

San Bernardino County on Thursday released a video from this year’s Point-inTime Count, which captured hundreds of volunteers, members of the Board of Supervisors and Assessor-RecorderCounty Clerk Josie Gonzales as they canvassed cities, towns and unincorporated areas to support unhoused residents and collect data on current homelessness.

The annual count for 2026 had additional ﬁeld resources and enhanced coordination, ofﬁcials said. A mobile team was available to respond in real time and connect people experiencing homelessness with emergency housing, temporary shelter and supportive services.

“This is our opportunity to ﬁnd out who is displaced in our community, how many of

Palm Springs Airport launches online portal

By City News Service

Palm Springs International Airport launched an online portal Thursday designed for travelers to view found items in real time.

In partnership with Liff Happens, a digital lost-andfound software platform, PSP is the ﬁrst airport to implement this service. The company was mainly used at major events and destinations worldwide, including Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival, Stagecoach Festival, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo and EDC.

“Every touchpoint matter when it comes to our

guests’ experience, and this is a meaningful improvement,” Executive Director of Aviation Harry Barrett, Jr., said in a statement. “By partnering with Liff Happens, we’re reducing the stress and uncertainty that comes lost items while making it easier for travelers to recover them.”

Ofﬁcials said the platform catalogs items using photos and key descriptive details and masks personal information for security reasons.

Once a guest can verify ownership of an item, the

person can securely ﬁnish the claim process and have their belongings shipped to a residence or to a preferred address.

“We’re excited to partner with Palm Springs Airport as our ﬁrst airport client,” Benji Friedl, co-founder of Liff Happens, said in a statement. “Airports present a unique opportunity to improve the lost and found experience at scale, and PSP is leading the way by putting convenience and guest experience ﬁrst.”

The online portal can be found at ﬂyPSP.com/lost.

are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay ﬁxed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.875% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

The deadline to return physical damage applications is April 6. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 3.

The Disaster Loan Outreach Center is located at San Bernardino County Fire Station 40’s Community Room (6584 Caliente Road, Oak Hills). The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. but will be closed for Presidents’ Day. To apply online, visit sba. gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-6592955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Recoveryinformation can also be found online by visiting prepare.sbcounty.gov and navigating to the Storm Recovery Resources page.

those individuals have been impacted by homelessness and what we as a community can do to better serve them,” said Marcus Dillard, San Bernardino County Homeless Services chief.

“By identifying individuals today, it provides the data we need to try to address problems in the near future,” Joe Baca Jr., vice chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, said on the day of the count in late January.

To further strengthen the effort, the county expanded how information was shared with volunteers by launching a “Story Map.” The Story Map provided materials that helped prepare volunteers and supported them in the

ﬁeld.

Ofﬁcials noted the 2025 PIT Count that found 3,821 individuals were experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness countywide, which reﬂected a 10.2% decrease compared with the previous year. The overall homeless population increased by 1% in 2024, 26% in 2023 and 6.6% in 2022.

“Last year’s results indicated progress in addressing homelessness,” according to the county.

The PIT Count is a key part of securing state and federal grant funding to support individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.

Results from the 2026 PIT Count will be released later this year, ofﬁcials said.

The new lost-and-found portal shows photos of phones and other types of items lost at PSP. | Photo courtesy of Palm Springs International Airport

Homeless Services Chief Marcus Dillard and an unidentiﬁed colleague participate in the annual homelessness count Jan. 22.

| Photo courtesy of County of San Bernardino/YouTube

| Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County

Construction began in June 2025.

City officials said the wall isn’t a “magic shield,” but a smarter, stronger way to deal with desert winds and sand challenges.

“This wind wall represents the kind of proactive infrastructure investment our community deserves. I want to especially thank our engi-

neering team and Director Joel Montalvo for their leadership and quick work in bringing this project to a successful completion,” said City Manager Scott Stiles.

sionals will continue their strike, vowing to stay on strike until they receive a satisfactory contract offer.

UNAC/UHCPmembers include registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians and other

San

specialty health care professionals.

According to union officials, in December, UFCW and other unions with the Alliance of Healthcare Unions filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging Kaiser unlawfully refused to bargain in an attempt to bypass the agreed-upon national

Prosecutors to retry alleged conspirator in Riverside carjack-murder

By City News Service

Prosecutorsconfirmed Wednesdaythatthey intend to retry an alleged conspirator in the carjacking and killing of a 24-year-old Riverside man, with retrial proceedings tentatively set for April.

A Riverside jury was unable to overcome an impasse in deliberations last week during the trial of Qevon Xavier Harvey, 27, of Desert Hot Springs, leading to a mistrial.

bargaining process and interfere with good-faith negotiations that had been ongoing since April 2025.

They say the contract covering UFCW pharmacy employees across Southern California expired on Nov. 1, and the contract covering UFCW CLS/MLT employees across Southern California expired on Feb. 1.

Bernardino County Registrar of Voters

launches

voter registration dashboard

By Staff

SanBernardinoCounty

Registrar of Voters now offers a voter registration dashboard that gives residents an easy way to see voter registration activity and trends. This online tool is designed to make voter information more transparent and accessible. What you’ll find on the dashboard

The dashboard tracks five key metrics:

- Overall number of registered voters in the county.

- How many people have newly registered.

- Updates made to residential and mailing addresses.

- Voters who may have moved or failed to respond to address confirmation notices.

- Records of voters who are no longer eligible or have requested cancellation. How it works

Data comes from the county’s official voter registration system.

You can filter by political party, district and date range (by week, month, quarter or year).

Why it matters

This dashboard provides the public with a clear view of registration trends. It’s part of the county’s commitment to transparency and election integrity.

Explore the Voter Registration Dashboard at https:// elections.sbcounty.gov/ voterregistration/dashboard/.

Harvey is charged with first-degree murder, robbery, carjacking,burglaryand special circumstance allegations of killing in the course of a burglary, killing during a kidnapping and killing during a robbery in the 2022 slaying of Benjamin Chanes.

During a status hearing Wednesday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office acknowledged Harvey will be retried, prompting Superior Court Judge Charles Koosed to schedule the start of jury selection for April 14.

A separate jury last week convicted Harvey’s co-defendant, Trezell Lamone Heckard, 30, of Vallejo, of the murder count, as well as robbery, carjacking, burglary and a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a burglary. Jurors hung on the other special circumstance allegations. Heckard is slated to be sentenced on April 24.

Harvey is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail. Heckard is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

A third alleged conspirator, Anthony Antoine Wright, 33, of Indio, is also accused in the killing. He’s charged identically to Heckard and

Harvey, but is additionally charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations. Trial proceedings for Wright are tentatively scheduled to begin at the same time as Harvey’s.

Wright is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail.

According to an arrest warrant declaration filed by the Riverside Police Department, on the afternoon of March 6, 2022, Chanes and his girlfriend, identified in documents only as “N.D.,” were returning to Riverside from Los Angeles in her vehicle, with him at the wheel, when they came to a stop in an unfamiliar area after exiting the freeway and were immediately approached by one of the defendants, wielding a handgun.

Thedefendant “approached the driver’s side and ordered Benjamin out at gunpoint,” the affidavit stated.

Chanes complied, at which point additional males “told (N.D.) to get out of the car, and they took her to another waiting vehicle and told her to keep her head down. She did what she was told,” the declaration said.

The woman later told detectives that Chanes was seated in her car, while she was forced to drive with several of the defendants in their vehicle, a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The trip lasted 15 minutes, after which both vehicles were parked outside the Boulder Creek Apartment Complex on Iowa Avenue, according to the declaration.

Police alleged the defendants hustled Chanes and N.D. into the victim’s apartment, pushing the woman into a closet, then demanding to know from Chanes “where the money was” kept. For about 10 minutes, the defendants ransacked the apartment, with N.D. in the closet, unable to see where her boyfriend was being held, the affidavit alleged.

When the men were distracted, Chanes abruptly bolted from the apartment. While he was attempting to run away, Wright allegedly opened fire on the victim, inflicting multiple gunshots to his back, causing Chanes to collapse on the sidewalk, according to the affidavit.

The young man died a short time later at Riverside Community Hospital.

The defendants fled in the woman’s vehicle, leaving behind their own Chevy sedan, police alleged.

N.D., who was not injured, emerged from the closet and called 911 moments after the gunfire.

Detectives gathered fingerprint and other evidence from the Chevy, leading them to one of the defendants’ social media accounts, in which revelations about the shooting ultimately came to light, according to the affidavit.

The men were arrested at different times over an 18-month span.

Their co-defendant, Kahlin Cynque Erwin, 30, of Pittsburgh, Calif., pleaded guilty in 2024 to kidnapping and is due for sentencing on June 8. He’s free on a $55,000 bond.

Details regarding his and Wright’s prior convictions were unavailable.

| Photo courtesy of UFCW 770

This nearly 600-foot brick wall along the North Gene Autry Trail corridor is designed to reduce blowing sand, improve visibility and make driving through this notoriously windy stretch safer and smoother. | Photo courtesy of Palm Springs City Government/Facebook

Qevon Xavier Harvey. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside Police Department