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Riverside breaks ground on Northside Agricultural Innovation Center; PS bridge construction to begin
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San Bernardino dairy cows test positive for H5N1 bird flu By Staff
By Joe Taglieri
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he H5N1 bird flu virus was found in four dairy farms in San Bernardino County, officials announced Thursday. The risk of infection from H5N1 remains relatively low, and no person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected in the state, but health officials cautioned the public against consuming raw milk and sought to raise awareness about reducing the risk of exposure. “While the risk of bird flu to the general public remains low, the detection of this virus in animals across multiple farms serves as a reminder to practice caution when handling animals or animal products,” San Bernardino County Health Officer Sharon Wang said in a statement. “It’s crucial to avoid raw milk consumption and follow proper food safety practices to reduce any potential risk of exposure.” Bird flu symptoms usually appear within two to eight days after exposure, but may take up to 10 days and include eye redness or discharge, cough or sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea or vomiting, muscle or body aches,
joet@beaconmedianews.com
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groundbreaking ceremony took place Tuesday for Riverside’s Northside Agricultural Innovation Center, which aims to show how sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural technologies can boost crop yields amid climate change while preparing the next generation of farmers. The NAIC will be the first facility of its kind in the nation to feature solarpowered greenhouses and solar panels over farm fields that will use the sun’s energy to provide electricity to the center and return up to 1 megawatt of renewable energy to the grid each year, according to a city statement. The solar greenhouses are projected to produce three times the yield of a typical farm and consume 80% less water. “This transformative, sustainable and innovative project will bring lasting benefits to Riverside’s Northside neighborhood,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in a statement. “It also will help us as a city, a region, a state and a nation be more resilient in growing food in an environment that is getting warmer and drier — and to do it all with less water while creating renewable energy. We were on the cutting edge of ag 125 years ago when we exported the Washington navel orange using new
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See Bird flu Page 28
Work on upgrades to begin at Lake A planned educational room in the forthcoming Northside agricultural center. | Photo courtesy of the city of Riverside
refrigeration techniques. We continue to lead in the agritech space.” Lock Dawson noted that the U.S. Agriculture and Energy departments have recognized the NAIC as one of the top five ag projects in the nation to help future proof farming. The center will facilitate training for at least 135 people and assist six to 10 new farmers and ag tech startups annually, launching 25 companies during the next decade. Planned features for the NAIC’s 8-acre site include safe routes for walking and
biking, improved access to open spaces, a tree nursery, a community garden, a farmers’ market and a carbonsequestering orchard. The center will provide resources for sustainable living, local economic growth and workforce development as well as hands-on training for residents, including education programs for young people. “With more than $10 million in local, state, and private funding, the project will establish a state-of-theart facility for sustainable agriculture training,” according to a city statement.
“It will offer educational opportunities for everyone from K-PhD students to the general public in the Northside.” City Councilman Philip Falcone represents the Northside area. “The center adds another game-changing new development to enhance our Northside community — the city’s oldest neighborhood,” Falcone said in a statement. “In Riverside we care deeply about where we have been and where we are going. See Projects Page 28
Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park By City News Service
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iverside County officials said plans are in place Thursday for a groundbreaking ceremony and lease renewal signing at Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park on Saturday. Local leaders, veterans representatives and county officials were scheduled to deliver speeches at the 10 a.m. ceremony on March 8 aimed at recognizing another three decades of a secured recreational space. The ceremony was expected to be followed by a community celebration at 11:30 a.m., with free food and music. “Updated amenities will mean more activities for people of all ages to utilize this park,” Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said in a statement. “This lease agreement See Lake Cahuilla Page 28
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