Riverside Independent_3/2/2026

BLM nominee Pearce promises Padilla he’ll protect Chuckwalla National Monument; some IE groups oppose Trump’s pick to lead agency

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

At a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Steve Pearce, the nominee for director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, pledged to maintain protections from mining and energy production for the Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, responded to recent moves by the Trump administration to cancel protections for the nation’s public lands during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, highlighting Pearce’s U.S. House voting record on public lands when he represented Congressional District 2 in New Mexico from 2003-09 and 2011-19.

President Joe Biden established the 624,270-acre Chuckwalla National Monument in Riverside and Imperial counties shortly before he left office in January 2025.

“FromaCalifornia perspective, the Bureau of Land Management manages nearly 15% of California’s land mass, so it’s critical for us that BLM and the BLM director maintain these

lands for future generations to enjoy and not just knee jerk sell them to the highest bidder,” Padilla told Pearce at the hearing. “These BLM lands in California include Chuckwalla National Monument. For years, I worked with numerous tribal leaders who led the effort to protect the natural resources in that area and to promote access to what is now Chuckwalla. It was a thoughtfully crafted proposal, as you and I discussed in my office, that took into account the input from stakeholders, conservationists, of course, energy developers, utilities, Tribal leaders, hunters, recreation groups, and others, and we ended up with universal local support from the state and bipartisan support here in the Senate and in Congress.

“As a result, as one of the outcomes of that, five tribes have even formed an Intertribal Commission to solidify their enduring commitment to protecting sacred lands in Chuckwalla,” Padilla said. “My question is clear and simple, Mr. Pearce. If confirmed, are you committed to honoring these monument designations?

Yes or no?”

After Pearce answered affirmatively,Padilla responded, “That’s a great answer. Short, clear, concise, and on the record, and I appreciate your support for maintaining these protections.”

If Pearce is confirmed, Padilla said he would arrange a meeting about Chuckwalla with the new BLM director and members of the Intertribal Commission.

“As a representative of southern New Mexico, we had multiple Pueblos, we had Apache tribes, and we had Navajos,” Pearce replied. “We worked extremely closely with all of those to accomplish objectives they were looking for in their lands. I would visualize very similar. The Native Americans sometimes are overlooked, from Washington.

“We became a voice for them and would continue to do that,” Pearce said.

“Right, and we talked about meaningful, substantive consultation, not just the checking of a box that

has happened so much over the course of history,” California’s senior senator responded.

“Absolutely,” Pearce said.

Padilla and Chuckwalla Monument proponents say the designation safeguards key spiritual and cultural values tied to the land such as multi-use trail systems established by Indigenous peoples, sacred sites, objects and artifacts, traditional cultural places, geoglyphs, petroglyphs, pictographs, native plants and local wildlife. Federal protections also provide more equitable access to nature for eastern Coachella Valley communities and nearby areas.

Last year, Padilla and monument supporters criticized a U.S. Department of Justice legal opinion that could enable federal officials to eliminate or reduce the boundaries of California’s recently established monuments, Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands in Siskiyou County.

A statement to HeySoCal. com from the U.S. Interior

New community within Compass Pointe Master Plan in Ontario now open

By Sta

After a court determined last fall that the city of Canyon Lake’s utility users tax imposed on water and sewer customers is unconstitutional, the city is issuing refunds, officials said earlier this month.

The tax, which voters approved in 2014 and 2018, applied to customers of the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and Eastern Municipal Water District.

In Beck v. City of Canyon Lake a panel from the California Court of Appeal, 4th District, found that the city’s water and sewer UUT

was unconstitutional under Article XIII D of the California Constitution, a law voters established under Proposition 218. The court held that the tax was imposed “as an incident of property ownership” and used for general governmentalpurposes beyond the cost of providing water and sewer services, accordingtoaCanyon Lake ordinance passed in November.

“Based upon this decision, the City of Canyon Lake will pay refunds to all customers of these districts who have paid the water and/or sewer

RiversideCounty residentsandvisitors

seeking an up-close look at rich flower blooms as winter loosens its grip got their first glimpse Friday around Diamond Valley Lake, where the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California opened the Wildflower Trail.

“Thanks to the late fall and early winter storms, colorful blooms are already dotting the hillsides above the reservoir,” the MWD said in a statement Wednesday.

“Visitors can typically expect to see vibrant California poppies, deep blue arroyo lupines, purple Canterbury bells, yellow rancher’s fiddle-

neck, delicate white popcorn flowers and pink red maids.”

The poppy blooms are enormously popular. In 2019, blossoms carpeting hillsides around Lake Elsinore triggered so much attention that Interstate 15 became a virtual parking lot over several weekends.

The Judy Abdo Wildflower Trail abutting Diamond Valley Lake is part of the Southwestern Riverside County MultiSpecies Reserve, encompassing 9,000 acres of protected space.

The trail was scheduled to officially open to trekkers at 6:30 a.m. Friday. Rangers closed it at 4:30 p.m. Afterward, the 1.3-mile path will

Free voluntary tax assistance services available to income-eligible San Bernardino County residents

By Staff

TheSanBernardino CountyTransitional AssistanceDepartment is partnering with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide free tax preparation and e-filing services to eligible low- to moderateincome taxpayers throughout the county. The VITA/ Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program provides free services to eligible individuals and families whose combined household earned income was less than $69,000 in 2025. If you worked in 2025, you may be eligible to receive the:

- California Earned Income Tax Credit, for a refund of up to $3,756.

- Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, for a refund of up to $8,046.

Additionally, current and former foster youth may qualify for the Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC) and could receive up to $1,189. To qualify, you must:

- Have been in foster care at age 13 or older and placed through the California Foster Care System.

- Be between 18 to 25 years old at the end of the 2025 tax year.

- Be eligible for the California EITC.

- Provide proof of a dependency letter as the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) requires foster youth status

to be verified..

“Access to accurate tax preparation and dedicated volunteers creates meaningful change for individuals and communities,” said James LoCurto, director of Transitional Assistance.

The deadline to file tax returns is April 15, 2026.

Federal and California state returns are prepared and e-filed by IRS-certified tax preparers. Day and

Utility tax

evening appointments are available Monday through Friday, and Saturday appointments are available as well. VITA services are offered at many Transitional Assistance offices and additional mobile locations. For more information and to schedule your appointment at a VITA location near you, visit wp.sbcounty.gov/tad/ resources or call 877-4108829 for assistance.

tax and submit a valid, timely claim,” according to the city’s announcement of the refunds.

All customers who have paid a utility users tax on water and sewer service between Sept. 7, 2023, and May 29, 2025 are entitled to submit a request for a refund.

“Because the City does not provide this utility service directly, the City does not have access to your utility bills,” officials advised refund

seekers. “Accordingly, you will have two options for the claim form. One option is to elect the “default” refund of $4.00 per month during the Claim Period. You can also elect to calculate your individual refund more specifically by reviewing your monthly billing statements, calculating the amount you paid, and providing sufficient records to support your claim.”

The claim form must be

2026 Great Race coming to San Bernardino

By Staff

Since 1983, car enthusiasts have been coming out each summer to drive their vintage cars across the country in the Great Race for the chance to win a share of $160,000 in prizes.

This year, the race plans to follow Route 66 in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the historic road from Springfield, Illinois to Pasadena with a stop in the City of San Bernardino.

San Bernardino will host the second to last stage of this year’s 17-stop race on Saturday, June 27 in partnership with the Inland Empire 66ers.

San Manuel Stadium will be the site for the conclusion of the June 27 leg of the race, and special activities are planned to welcome the racers to San Bernardino ahead of the 66ers baseball game. More information about the festivities will be

announced in advance of the event.

Historic Route 66, which was established on Nov. 11, 1926, runs through San Bernardino, paralleling the 215 Freeway starting in Devore, before turning south along Mt. Vernon Avenue.

The Route turns west on 5th Street, which turns into Foothill Boulevard on its way

into the City of Rialto. The Great Race, which currently features cars manufactured before 1974, has been officially recognized as a Route 66 Centennial Event in partnership with the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.

The last time the Great Race stopped in San Bernardino was in 2015.

Ontario International Airport passenger count 3.7% higher in January

By Staff

OntarioInternational Airport (ONT) officials reported a 3.7% increase in passenger volume in January fueled by international travelers.

7.1 million passengers for the year and we are encouraged by our start in 2026,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).

fully completed, signed and dated no later than Feb. 4, 2027.

Claim forms are available at Canyon Lake City Hall, 31516 Railroad Canyon Road, or on the city’s website via tinyurl.com/5y5wjws7. City Hall is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Legible copies of utility bills for the period of refunds must accompany claim forms, officials said.

Air travelers who chose the Southern California gateway totaled almost 493,000 in January, a month which included the launch of new daily nonstop service between ONT and Boise, Idaho, on Alaska Airlines.

Ontario’s international volume soared by 64% to more than 66,000, the highest in the history of the airport. The previous singlemonth record of 63,009 was set in December 2025. Domestic passenger count was more than 426,000, a slight decrease of 1.9%.

“We closed out 2025 on a high note with more than

“Our passenger level last month was the highest for any January since the airport’s return to local ownership in 2016. Over those 10 years, passenger volume has grown almost 70%, which shows that Ontario has become a premier gateway for air travel in Southern California, delivering a first-rate customer experience with services and facilities to match.”

The air carriers with the greatest passenger shares in January were:

- Southwest Airlines (34.6%)

American

by 9.3%. Mail volume declined by 12.6%.

“The significant increase in commercial freight tonnage was certainly another bright spot for January,” Elkadi said, likely a reflection of increased air cargo shipments nationally which may be temporary.

“Ontario is a top 10 hub for air cargo with ample capacity to handle more freight at a moment’s notice, and our shipping partners understand that they will receive outstanding customer service and benefit greatly from our world class facilities.”

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Senate leaders warn defense department about procuring generic drugs overseas

By Zara Norman and Naisha Roy, Medill Investigative Lab via ProPublica

Senateleadersare urging the Department of Defense to prioritize the purchase of generic drugs manufactured in the United States, warning that the country’s overreliance on foreign factories poses an “existential risk” to the military.

In a letter Feb. 18, Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., asked Defense Department Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide information about drugs or key ingredients purchased from foreign sources and how long the department’s inventory would last if China restricted exports. They also sought details about whether the Food and Drug Administration had imposed any import bans on the department’s suppliers.

The letter cited ProPublica reporting last year that found the FDA allowed dozens of foreign drugmakers, mostly in India and China, to continue sending generic medication to the U.S. even after the factories were banned because of serious safety and qualitycontrol failures. Since 2013, ProPublica found, the FDA allowed more than 150 drugs or their ingredients into the United States from banned factories, including antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs and chemotherapy treatments.

The agency has said that the exemptions helped prevent drug shortages and that factories were required to conduct extra quality testing with third-party oversight.

“Exempting these drugs or facilities allows for substandard and potentially unsafe drugs to enter the U.S. market,” the senators wrote in their letter. “These exemptions can pose a threat to drug safety for American consumers.”

Scott and Gillibrand also noted they are worried about instability in global trade and politics, which they said can create “profound ramifications for the availability of medications” and pose public health and national security risks.

Nine in 10 prescriptions in the United States are for generics, many of them made overseas. Last year, the senators, who lead the Senate Special Committee on Aging, released an investigative report demanding changes in the FDA’s oversight of the generic drug industry. Among other things, they asked the FDA to alert hospitals and other group purchasers when troubled foreign drugmakers are given a special pass to continue sending their products to the United States.

Last month, Scott and

Gillibrand introduced legislation known as the Clear Labels Act to help patients, doctors and pharmacists know more about the drugs they use and prescribe. The proposal calls for prescription labels to disclose the original manufacturer as well as the suppliers of key ingredients. The generic drug lobbying group has said that the labeling requirements would be costly and that drug manufacturers already disclose country of origin information under U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules. The trade group for brand-name drugmakers said the industry would “welcome conversations” about strengthening the supply chain.

ProPublica had to sue the FDA in federal court last year to learn more about where generic drugs were made and whether the agency’s inspectors had ever flagged those factories for safety and quality lapses. ProPublica ultimately created a first-ofits-kind tool that empowers consumers to find the information themselves.

Now, Scott and Gillibrand are turning their attention to the medications used by millions of U.S. servicemembers, veterans and their families. They requested a briefing by the Pentagon to explore

whether officials are prioritizing the purchase of American-made drugs.

Drug safety experts said the push could ultimately help shore up a vulnerable supply chain.

“Before you can be deployed, you have to be stable on your medications,” said David Light, president of the independent testing lab Valisure, which is conducting drugquality testing for the Defense Department. “If you purposely add more variability to your drugs, you could prevent the deployment of thousands of troops without a single shot.”

Last year, ProPublica engaged Valisure to test several widely used generic drugs and found several samples had irregularities that experts say could compromise their effectiveness.

Vic Suarez, a retired Army medical supply-chain commander, said he hopes the effort in the Senate will lead to stronger drug acquisition policies.

“This is a national security issue. It is an economic security issue. And it is a patient safety issue,” he said. The Department of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.

Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

Democrats demand answers for federal prison staffing shortage after corrections officers flee for ICE jobs

By Keri Blakinger, ProPublica

FourHouseDemocratsdemandedthe

top Federal Bureau of Prisons official explain how he plans to address the agency’s “persistent, unsafe conditions” and “pervasive shortage of critical staff,” driven in part by corrections officers fleeing the bureau for more lucrative jobs at Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Outlined in a six-page letter sent Feb. 20 to BOP Director William Marshall III, the lawmakers’ questions come after a ProPublica investigation found that workers at federal lockups from Florida to California had been lured away by the $50,000 starting bonus and higher pay at ICE, which more than doubled its number of officers and agents last year during the Trump administration’s monthslong recruiting blitz. The prisons bureau, meanwhile, lost a net of more than 1,800 workers last year.

“We are deeply concerned that these developments compromise the safety and security of both inmates and

staff,” Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Lucy McBath of Georgia, Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Joe Neguse of Colorado wrote in their letter.

“The shrinking existing workforce has been left to contend with an ever-growing use of overtime, which leads to fatigue, burnout, and increased attrition.”

The representatives said that short staffing, in turn, has led to more lockdowns, more violence and less access to recidivism-reducing programs for prisoners. Their letter also raised questions about the cancellation of the union contract, which they noted critics have said “appears retaliatory,” and the ongoing reliance on “augmentation” — the practice of forcing nurses, teachers and plumbers who work in the prisons to fill in as corrections officers — to plug staffing gaps.

“We believe these deeply troubling issues require concrete answers,” the lawmakers wrote. They set a 30-day deadline for the

bureau to respond in writing.

Prison union officials have also pressed the case, urging lawmakers to insist that Marshall and his deputy, Josh Smith, testify before Congress on the issue.

The prison agency declined to answer questions from ProPublica about the lawmakers’ letter, saying it would respond directly to Congress.

In a statement, a spokesperson said that the BOP “continues to prioritize

efforts” to increase staffing, adding that some staff will always have to step in as corrections officers “for the safety and security of staff, inmates and the public.”

The BOP has long struggled to hire and retain enough workers to staff its facilities, where roughly 34,700 employees are responsible for more than 138,000 prisoners.

As of 2023, union officials said some 40% of corrections officer jobs remained vacant. That same year, the lack of staff helped land the prison system on a government list of high-risk agencies with serious vulnerabilities.

As part of a long-term hiring push, the bureau turned to signing bonuses, retention pay and a fasttracked hiring process. Although those efforts drew in a net of more than 1,200 people in 2024 — the bureau’s largest workforce increase in a decade — the cost of hiring incentives, along with raises, overtime and inflation, strained an already-stagnant budget.

Early last year, the agency paused hiring and retention incentives to save money,

a move that threatened to undermine the prior year’s staffing gains. Still, the financial strain continued and, by the fall, dozens of staff and prisoners were telling ProPublica about unusual scarcities in facilities across the country. Some prisons fell behind on utility and trash bills, while others ran out of staple foods including eggs and beef. At one point, a prison in Louisiana came within days of running out of food for inmates before union officials intervened and urged agency leaders to fix the problem.

In their letter last month, the representatives said they were “alarmed” by the financial shortfalls ProPublica reported, as well as by the worsening staffing figures.

Last year, the bureau’s net loss of employees was larger than in any other year since 2017, according to data ProPublica obtained through an open records request.

With a dwindling workforce, the bureau’s overtime costs have soared. According to a recent Congressional Resarch Service report, in 2025 the federal prison system spent more than $387 million on overtime, a number surpassed only once in the past decade.

Several prison officials who asked to remain anonymous told ProPublica last month that officers at some facilities are often forced to work two to four double shifts per week, sometimes putting in so many overtime hours that prisoners have expressed concern.

“The only ones who like it are the predatory inmates,” one corrections officer told ProPublica. “Inmates don’t

like super cops, but they at least want to feel like if they are attacked, someone will see it and stop it as quickly as they can. You ain’t getting that with a CO on a double who can barely keep his eyes open.”

Meanwhile, the lawmakers said they were “gravely concerned” about some of the ways BOP leaders have tried to save money and minimize the use of overtime, including by locking down facilities and skimping on staff, which, lawmakers said, the bureau then attempted to cover up.

When the Office of Inspector General visited one facility last year, the housing units were all well staffed, “a trick” the lawmakers said was accomplished only by extreme use of augmentation. “Reportedly, after the visit, the facility immediately resumed shortstaffing units,” the lawmakers wrote. “Committee staff have reviewed housing unit staffing and augmentation rosters documenting this apparent effort to mislead the OIG.”

Last year, prison employees worked more than 700,000 augmentation hours, the most in any single year for at least a decade, according to the Congressional Research Service report.

“That’s why I left,” one former prison official told ProPublica last year, explaining that he chose to retire instead of being forced to abandon his duties resolving discrimination complaints to instead work as an officer on a housing unit two days a week.

Republishedwith Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

Why have student test scores been declining for a decade in America?

By Matt Barnum for Chalkbeat via Stacker

It’s hardly breaking news that American students are behind academically from where they used to be.

But the specifics can get lost in a haze of headlines and data points. Chalkbeat reviewed multiple pieces of testing data to find out where U.S. students stand on learning loss and recovery.

In sum: Test scores have been trending down for over a decade. There are some signs of recovery in math, but not many in reading. Learning declines are not a distinctly U.S. phenomenon and are not even limited to schoolchildren. Researchers are only just beginning to wrap their heads around the causes of this.

Confident claims about what’s going on here are unwarranted, though policymakers can’t wait for perfect evidence to act.

“We should resist the notion of trying to put our finger on the one thing we can change that will solve this problem,” says University of Virginia researcher James Wyckoff, who recently released a paper on declining achievement. “I think it really results from many things in and out of school.”

Here are some key takeaways from the review of the data.

Learning declines have been substantial and pervasive.

Consider one example from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP: In 2013, 74% of American eighth graders scored at the basic or above level in math, the highest figure since the test started in 1990. In the most recent round that number fell to 61%, hitting levels last seen in 1996. Scores have fallen in other grades and subjects, too.

Despite a small handful of relative bright spots, these declines have been remarkably widespread. Eighth grade math scores fell in almost every single state during this period; no states saw increases. Although schools that were closed longer during the pandemic tended to experience bigger declines, even those that quickly reopened have been hit hard by learning loss.

This trend started before the pandemic.

Test scores, particularly in math, had generally been marching upwards for a few decades until about 2013. Then a period of stagnation and decline hit. The aftershocks of the Great

Recession on families and school budgets may have been an initial cause. Yet even by 2019 there was still no sign of recovery. Then the bottom fell out further after the pandemic.

Two groups have been hit hardest: low performers and girls.

On a wide variety of tests, starting before the pandemic, the gap between the lowestand highest-performing students has grown. That’s not because high performers have surged ahead but because low performers have fallen further behind.

More recently, since the pandemic, girls’ scores have tended to fall more sharply than boys’.

Some good news: Math scores are starting to trend up again.

Every state with consistent testing data shows that more students are reaching proficiency in math now compared to 2021. Math results have also ticked up on the NWEA exam and on the fourth grade (but not eighth grade) NAEP. Still, most data indicates that these scores have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels.

There’s been inconsistent recovery at best in reading.

Reading and math results have followed curiously different trajectories. On the most recent NAEP, reading scores actually fell even further. On state exams, reading achievement has been all over the map. Pennsylvania, for instance, has had solid recovery in math, but reading scores have kept sliding downward.

The U.S. is hardly alone in its achievement woes.

Many other countries are grappling with falling test scores, too. This has shown up on an exam of 15-yearolds known as the PISA, as well as on the TIMSS, a math and science test of fourth and eighth graders. Relative to the rest of the world, the U.S. trends look a bit worse on TIMSS, but a bit better on PISA.

The U.S. is unusual in its sharply growing gap between the highest- and lowestperforming students. Also, test scores may be lower among adults and very young children.

Some data indicates that children who are just entering school are doing so with lower levels of readiness in reading and math. Another study of adult skills showed drops across the age distribution between 2017 and 2023 in literacy and numeracy.

This adds a new wrinkle. “Factors outside of school might play a considerable role” in learning declines, writes Nat Malkus of the American Enterprise Institute in a report from last year.

How concerned should we be? Pretty concerned!

When children know more, as measured on tests, they tend to lead more productive lives. Countries with higher test scores tend to see stronger economic growth. These scores are incomplete measures of students’ skills, but they do matter.

Test scores are not in entirely uncharted territory, though. A long-running test of 13-year-olds shows that math scores in 2023 were at the lowest point in recent decades but remain comparable to scores from the ‘80s and early ‘90s and higher than those in the ‘70s. Reading scores have dipped to levels last seen in the early 2000s.

So what explains all this? Researchers aren’t quite sure.

Two detailed analyses, by Wyckoff and Malkus, have tried to parse what is driving these trends. Neither concluded with definitive answers. “There is remarkably little understanding of the nature of either the sustained achievement gains prior to 2013 or the subsequent losses thereafter,” writes Wyckoff in his paper, titled “Puzzling Over Declining Academic Achievement.”

That said, it’s very likely that the pandemic and its associated disruptions to life in and out of school played a significant role. Another theory is that easing off school accountability pressure — which research found drove learning gains in the early 2000s — has contributed to recent score declines.

Perhaps the leading hypothesis is the proliferation of phones and screens, although Wyckoff notes that “direct causal evidence” on this question “is limited.” That’s beginning to change.

One recent study linked school phone restrictions to better test scores.

These learning challenges are not particular to American schools and may not even be largely caused by changes within schools. Yet they remain a challenge that schools and educators must confront.

This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

CA leaders urge Bureau of Land Management to stop new oil and gas leases

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

California groups are speaking out against moves by the Bureau of Land Management to open up new leases for oil and gas drilling in the Bakersfield area and on the Central Coast.

Public comment is open now through March 13 on the Environmental Impact Statements for both regions.

Felipe Perez, former mayor and current city council member in Firebaugh in Fresno County, said the area is already choked with dirty air from existing wells.

“In Kern County, anyone can smell the pollution there from oil and gas operations,” Perez pointed out. “People breathe it in all the time; areas where mainly

people of color live. People’s lives should always come before corporate profits.”

President Donald Trump has made it a priority to support the oil and gas industry, promising regulatory relief if they contributed $1 billion to his campaign.

Angel Alfaro Carranza, energy security solutions program officer for the group Elected Officials to Protect America, said drilling sites can emit toxic air pollution, bring increased truck traffic and contaminate the water.

“Public lands belong to all Californians and should be managed for their ecological, cultural and recreational values,” Carranza contended. “Not sacrificed for extractive

industries looking to make profits.”

Dr. Ashley E. McClure, a primary care internist and cofounder and codirector of the nonprofit Climate Health Now, said Californians need to make their voices heard.

“We can succeed,” McClure emphasized. “But it’s going to take a lot more people calling up our representatives to say, ‘I do not want over a million acres in California of our public lands to be opened up for new oil and gas drilling. I want you to oppose this.’”

References:

Study: https://hsph. harvard.edu/environmentalhealth/news/fossil-fuel-airpollution-responsible-for1-in-5-deaths-worldwide/

EL Monte City Notices

CITY OF EL MONTE CITY COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Hablamos Español - Favor de hablar con Sandra Elias (626) 258-8626

TO: All Interested Parties

FROM: City of El Monte Community & Economic Development Department

LOCATION: Citywide

TO BE The City Council will hold a public hearing to CONSIDERED: consider an extension of Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 3057, extending the Interim Moratorium on the approval of any pending tobacco retail permits and the issuance of land use and zoning approvals or entitlements for a significant tobacco retail use within the City limits.

ENVIRONMENTAL Pursuant to the California Environmental DOCUMENTATION: Quality Act (“CEQA”) (Pub. Res. Code § 21000 et seq.) and CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.) the proposed Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it is reasonably foreseeable that the adoption of the proposed Ordinance would result in a physical change in the environment, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, no additional environmental analysis is required.

TIME AND PLACE Pursuant to State Law, the City Council will OF PUBLIC hold a public hearing to receive testimony, HEARING: orally and in writing, regarding the proposed Ordinance. The public hearing is scheduled for:

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: El Monte City Hall East –City Council Chambers 11333 Valley Boulevard El Monte, California 91731

OPTIONS TO Observe the Meeting Remotely

PARTCIPATE: (1) Turn your TV to Channel 3; or (2) City’s website at http://www.elmonteca.gov/378/Council-Meeting-Videos; or (3) In person.

Provide Public Comment in Person Persons wishing to address the City Council in person are asked to attend the City Council meeting on the date and at the time noted in this notice. Persons will be asked to fill-out a blue speaker card providing their name and identifying the agenda item. Speaker cards should be submitted to the City Clerk or the Sergeant at Arms (a uniformed El Monte Police Officer) before the City Council’s approval of the agenda, if possible.

The City Council shall be under no obligation to entertain comments from persons who submit a speaker card after the City Council closes the applicable commenting period. With this in mind, speakers are strongly encouraged to submit cards or call in as early as possible to avoid missing the opportunity to speak. The City Council shall be under no obligation to respond to or deliberate upon any specific questions or comments posed by a speaker or take action on any issue raised by a speaker beyond such action as the City Council may be lawfully authorized to take on an agendized matter pursuant to the Brown Act (Govt. Code Section 54950 et seq.) (“Brown Act”).

Members of the City Council may provide brief clarifying responses to any comment made or questions posed. Persons who wish to address the City Council (in person or by calling-in) are asked to state their name and address for the record. Speakers may not lend any portion of their speaking time to other persons or borrow additional time from other persons. All comments or queries presented by a speaker/ caller shall be addressed to the City Council as a body and not to any specific member thereof. No questions shall be posed to any member of the City Council except through the presiding official of the meeting, the Mayor.

If you challenge the decision of the City Council, in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at

the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing. For further information regarding this proposed Ordinance please contact Steven Fowler at (626) 258-8626 or sfowler@elmonteca.gov, Monday through Thursday, except legal holidays, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The staff report and attachments on this matter will be available 72 hours in advance on the City of El Monte website, which may be accessed at https://www.elmonteca.gov/AgendaCenter.

AMERICAN WITH In compliance with Section 202 of the Americans DISABILITIES ACT: with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132) and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof, the agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability. Should you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office by calling (626) 580-2016. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City of El Monte to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

PUBLISHED ON: Monday, March 2, 2026

EL MONTE EXAMINER

Temple City City Notices

TEMPLE CITY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on the project described below. You are receiving this notice because your property is located near the project, the project may directly, or indirectly affect you, or because you have requested to be notified.

Project Location: Citywide, City of Temple City, County of Los Angeles

Project: PL 26-5325: Code Amendments for Accessory Dwelling Units. The Planning Commission will discuss various amendments to Title 9 (Zoning Regulations) of the Temple City Municipal Code (TCMC) relating to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs). The proposed amendments to the TCMC are necessary to bring the City’s existing ADU and JADU regulations into compliance with state ADU law. The Planning Commission will review and make a recommendation to the City Council.

Applicant: City of Temple City, 9701 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City, CA 91780

Environmental

This Ordinance is not subject to environmental Review: review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Section 15282(H) of the CEQA Guidelines regarding projects involving the adoption of an ordinance regarding ADUs and JADUs in a single-family or multifamily residential zone by a city or county to implement the provisions of Sections 65852.1 and 65852.2 of the Government Code as set forth in Section 21080.17 of the Public Resources Code.

The Planning Commission Public Hearing will be held:

Meeting Date & Time: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 7:00 P.M.

Meeting Location: City Council Chambers, 5938 Kauffman Avenue, Temple City, CA 91780

If you have a request for reasonable modification or accommodation due to a disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act please contact staff 48 hours in advance of the meeting at planning@templecityca. gov or (626) 656-7316.

For questions or concerns regarding this project, or if you wish to review the project file, please contact:

Project Planner: Adam Gulick, Associate Planner (626) 285-2171, extension 4313 agulick@templecityca.gov or visit the Community Development Department offices at City Hall located at: 9701 Las Tunas Drive,

Temple City, CA 91780

Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A separate public hearing for the project will be held before the City Council. When scheduled, the hearing will be separately noticed. If you challenge any of the foregoing actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the hearing body at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Date: February 26, 2026

Signature: Adam Gulick, Associate Planner

Publish March 2, 2026 TEMPLE CITY TRIBUNE

TEMPLE CITY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on the project described below. You are receiving this notice because your property is located near the project, the project may directly, or indirectly affect you, or because you have requested to be notified.

Project Location: Citywide, City of Temple City, County of Los Angeles

Project: PL 22-3598: An Ordinance to amend Chapter 2 (Subdivision Regulations) of the Temple City Municipal Code. The proposed amendments will update the City’s Subdivision Ordinance to reflect recent changes in State law, clarify applicable procedures and standards, and maintain compliance with current statutory requirements related to the division of land. In addition, this amendment will implement policies of the Housing Element. The Planning Commission will review and make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will make the final decision on this project.

Applicant: City of Temple City, 9701 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City, CA 91780

Environmental This Ordinance is not subject to environmental Review: review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (activities that will not result in physical change in the environment) and 15162 (subsequent environmental review) of the CEQA Guidelines.

The Planning Commission Public Hearing will be held:

Meeting Date & Time: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 7:00 P.M.

Meeting Location: City Council Chambers, 5938 Kauffman Avenue, Temple City, CA 91780

If you have a request for reasonable modification or accommodation due to a disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act please contact staff 48 hours in advance of the meeting at planning@templecityca. gov or (626) 656-7316.

For questions or concerns regarding this project, or if you wish to review the project file, please contact:

Project Planner: Andrew Coyne, AICP, Associate Planner (626) 285-2171, extension 4344 acoyne@templecityca.gov or visit the Community Development Department offices at City Hall located at: 9701 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City, CA 91780 Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A separate public hearing for the project will be held before the City Council. When scheduled, the hearing will be separately noticed. If you challenge any of the foregoing actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the hearing body at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Date: February 26, 2026

Signature: Andrew Coyne, AICP Associate Planner

Publish March 2, 2026

TEMPLE CITY TRIBUNE

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 of the Deed of Trust has executed and delivered to the undersigned a written request to commence foreclosure, and the undersigned caused a Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically 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 bidder 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 this 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 (866)-960-8299 or visit this Internet Web site https://www.altisource. com/loginpage.aspx using the file number assigned to this case 2025-01757-CA. 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 Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction, if conducted after January 1, 2021, 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 (855)-976-3916, or visit this internet website https://tracker.auction. com/sb1079, using the file number assigned to this case 2025-01757-CA 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, by remitting the funds and affidavit described in Section 2924m(c) of the Civil Code, 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. Date: February 24, 2026 Western Progressive, LLC, as Trustee for beneficiary C/o 1500 Palma Drive, Suite 238 Ventura, CA 93003 Sale Information Line: (866) 960-8299 https://www.altisource.com/loginpage. aspx ___________ Trustee Sale Assistant. Run Dates: 03/02/2026, 03/09/2026, 03/16/2026 SAN BERNARDINO PRESS

Fictitious Business Name Filings

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

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 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. 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

LEGALS

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

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 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

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 ex-

ceed 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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20260001215

The following persons are doing business as: Oh Snap Rentals, 1493 N Yucca Ave, Rialto, CA 92376. Mailing Address, 1493 N Yucca Ave, Rialto, CA 92376 . Erika Ballina. 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/ Erika Ballina, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on February 18, 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#: FBN20260001215 Pub: 02/23/2026, 03/02/2026, 03/09/2026, 03/16/2026 San Bernardino Press

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as SILVER SPRINGS SENIOR LIVING 32175 Cathedral Canyon Drive Cathedral City, CA 92234

Riverside County Mailing Address, 535 N Detroit St, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Riverside County Silver Springs, Inc. (CA, 535 N Detroit St, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Los Angeles 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. RICHARD ROZ, CEO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on February 24, 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-202602655 Pub. 03/02/2026, 03/09/2026, 03/16/2026, 03/23/2026 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20266736092. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: (1). AI MORTGAGE LENDING (2). AI FUNDING (3). AI PRIVATE LENDING , 3240 El Camino Real Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92602. Full Name of Registrant(s) Aiton Capital Inc (CA, 388 E Valley Blvd suite 200, Alhambra, CA 91801. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on January 28, 2023. Aiton Capital, Inc. /S/ Bill Liau, CEO )Chief Executive Officer). This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on February 19, 2026. Publish: Anaheim Press 03/02/2026, 03/09/2026, 03/16/2026, 03/23/2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. fbn20260001462 The following persons are doing business as: Gaytan & Pineda Insurance Agency LLC DBA Fiesta Auto Insurance, 9885 Central Ave Suite B, Montclair, CA 91763. Mailing Address, 423 E Fallbrook Ave #105, Fresno, CA 93720. # of Employees 3. Gaytan & Pineda Insurance Agency LLC (CA, 423 E Fallbrook Ave #105, Fresno, CA 93720; Jose Gaytan, CEO. 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 February 25, 2026. 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

Detectives seek public’s help solving 2002 murder in Coachella Valley

San Bernardino County Public Health Department achieves reaccreditation

Cold case homicide detectives Thursday turned to the public for help solving the 2002 murder of a 27-year-old motorist who was shot while trying to flee a party melee in La Quinta.

Hernan Marquez of Indio was fatally wounded as he left a residence in the 52200 block of Avenida Mendoza, near Calle Sonora, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The agency published a “public assistance needed” notice via its web portal and social media channels, saying that despite investigative efforts going back to the date of the attack -- Aug. 11, 2002 -- no clues had surfaced that might confirm the identity of Marquez’s killer. The case has long since gone cold.

The victim was among an unspecified number of people partying at a residence in the predawn

By City News Service

hours when “an altercation occurred,” sheriff’s Sgt. Jarred Bishop said.

“During the incident, as Marquez was leaving the location, he was shot by

an unknown individual,” Bishop said. “Marquez then drove away from the area at a high rate of speed, eventually losing control of his vehicle and colliding with several parked vehicles.”

The victim died at the scene. No one else was hurt.

“As part of the sheriff’s office’s ongoing effort to review unsolved homicide cases, investigators from the Central Homicide Unit recently re- examined the case,” Bishop said. “Through this review, investigators identified several potential leads ... (and) the case was officially reopened.”

The sergeant said that the intent is “to provide justice for Marquez and closure for his family.”

Anyone who may have details that could assist the cold case team was urged to contact the Central Homicide Unit at 951-9552777.

On Feb. 12, the San BernardinoCounty Public Health Department achieved national reaccreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

“Accreditation affirms that we are not only meeting rigorous national standards but are actively strengthening how we deliver public health services,” said Josh Dugas, director of Public Health.

“Our focus remains on innovation, accountability and measurable improvement to ensure residents receive high-quality, responsive services.”

Public Health first earned accreditation in March 2019, becoming the 14th local health department in California to achieve this distinction. PHAB requires a comprehensive review every five years to maintain accreditation status and assess Public Health’s capability of addressing 20

Chuckwalla

Department, which oversees BLM, said, “There are no plans to privatize any public lands managed by Interior. Additionally, we cannot speculate on future actions that might involve national monuments.”

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement, “President Trump was elected with an overwhelming mandate to ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ and unleash America’s energy potential. Steve Pearce is highly qualified to lead the Bureau of Land Management and aligns with the President’s popular and commonsense energy dominance agenda.”

During the Senate committee hearing, Padilla noted that the monument has bipartisan political support. Padilla also said the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe and the Colorado River Indian Tribes have formed the Chuckwalla National Monument Intertribal Commission to sustain their lasting commitment to safeguard lands sacred to their cultures.

Pearce said if confirmed as BLM director, he will meet with the Intertribal Commission to learn more about the monument and engage in “meaningful” consultation with tribal leaders.

Several conservationist

groups, military veterans, hunting groups and local politicians have opposed Pearce’s nomination.

“California’s vast public lands are treasures that provide our communities with boundless access to recreation and support critical water and wildlife resources,” Big Bear Mayor Randall Putz said. “Steve Pearce’s anti-public lands ideology is a direct assault on the values we hold dear, and will make the job of protecting our forests, rivers,

added.

“If you live in San Bernardino or Riverside Counties, or even just enjoy visiting these places, you should care about who runs the Bureau of Land Management,” Colin Barrows with the Coachella Valley-based CactusToCloud Institute said in a statement. “The BLM is in charge of millions of acres of public lands in our region — including places where you may enjoy hiking, biking, off-highway driving, camping,

and iconic landscapes much more difficult.

“His nomination to lead the BLM jeopardizes the livelihoods of Western communities like ours that rely on these lands to create goodpaying jobs and to sustain our outdoor way of life,” Putz

and more. ...

“Steve Pearce has been openly adversarial to public lands in the past,” Barrows said. “He once spoke negatively about the creation of the National Parks Service, and co-wrote a letter saying about America’s public lands ‘most

By Staff

evidence-based standards and 63 measures, demonstrating progress in performance and quality improvement. As part of its review, PHAB conducted a virtual site visit on Dec. 15, 2025, which included inter-

of it we do not even need.’

This administration is trying to accelerate the sell-off and privatization of public lands, plain and simple.

“At the end of the day, this is about your right to access your public lands. That’s at risk if Sell Off Steve is in charge, and why you should call your senators and tell them to oppose his nomination,” Barrows said.

“The nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management is extremely troubling for our region,” Norman Bossom, outings leader with the Sierra Club’s San Gorgonio Chapter, said in a statement.

“As someone who regularly leads hikes on BLM lands, I’ve seen firsthand how these landscapes connect people

to nature — from wide-open desert vistas to quiet canyons where families come to learn about wildlife and public lands for the first time. Leadership at BLM should prioritize conservation, responsible stewardship, and public access.

“I worry that Pearce’s record signals a shift toward prioritizing privatization, which could mean selling off or developing the very places we depend on for recreation, education, and renewal,” Bossom said. “These lands belong to all of us, and we deserve a director committed to safeguarding them for future generations.”

Groups such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and energy groups have supported

Pearce’s nomination.

“Steve Pearce is exactly the kind of experienced, principled leader we need at the helm of the Bureau of Land Management,” Melissa Simpson, president of the Western Energy Alliance, said in a statement. “His long record in Congress shows a consistent commitment to multiple use — expanding domestic energy production, supporting grazing and recreation, and protecting truly special landscapes through targeted conservation.”

The BLM director oversees approximately 15 million acres of public land in California. If committee members vote to confirm Pearce, his nomination moves to the full Senate for a final vote.

Ontario International Airport earns top global honor for customer experience

New community within Compass Pointe Master Plan in Ontario now open

By Sta By Sta

OntarioInternational Airport (ONT) has again been recognized for customer experience, receiving the 2025 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Customer Experience Award for Best Airport at Departures in North America (5-15 million passengers) from Airports Council International (ACI) World.

The award is based entirely on passenger surveys and reflects travelers’ direct feedback on the quality, comfort and ease of their airport experience.

The ASQ award will be presented during the ACI Airport Experience Summit in

September in Istanbul, Turkey.

“What makes this recognition extraordinary is that it comes directly from the people we serve,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. “Our team shows up every single day committed to delivering a world-class experience defined by care, efficiency and hospitality. This award belongs to the frontline employees, airline partners, custodial staff, and concessionaires who treat every passenger like a guest. At ONT, we don’t take trust for granted; we earn it every

single day.”

The ASQ program measures passenger satisfaction across key indicators including ease of travel, courtesy of staff, cleanliness, comfort and overall efficiency.

“As we continue celebrating a decade of local control, this recognition affirms what our passengers already know – Ontario International Airport is committed to making travel simple, comfortable and convenient,” Elkadi added. “We are proud of how far we’ve come and even more excited about what lies ahead.”

Construction at Demuth Park in Palm Springs set to begin Monday

By City News Service

Constructionisslated to begin Monday on more than $7.5 million in improvements to Demuth Park in Palm Springs, city officials announced last week.

“This project reflects our long-term commitment to improving park access, safety and amenities for residents and visitors alike,” Nicholas Gonzalez, the city’s Parks and Recreation director, said in a statement. “Demuth Park is a cornerstone of our community, and these upgrades will ensure it continues to serve families, athletes and pet owners for decades to come.”

Construction components will include the following:

-- the addition of a permanent large dog park with ADA parking spaces;

-- the addition of a small dog park;

-- conversion of an existing 2.2-acre dirt lot into a 165-stall paved parking lot with drainage improvements;

-- paving of the community center parking lot;

-- pavement and drainage repairs at the Little League parking lots;

-- sidewalk and pathway restoration;

-- construction of a new restroom building. This project was planned for more than five years by the city’s Engineering Services Department, in coordination with the Parks and Recreation Department, and is anticipated to conclude in October.

KB Home homebuilders has officially opened Equinox, the newest communitywithinthe Compass Pointe master plan in Ontario. The two-story townhomes at Equinox offer three bedrooms, walk-in closets,two-and-a-half baths, and storage space. Planned community amenities include a pool, children’s playground, picnic areas and parks. Compass Pointe is also walking distance to schools and adjacent to the

future Ontario Grand Park, a planned 340-acre regional park designed as a central hub and family destination.

According to KB Home, its builds are engineered to be energy and water efficient and include features that support healthier indoor environments. They are also designed to be ENERGY STAR® certified.

Compass Pointe is situated at the corner of Haven Avenue and East Parkview Street, providing access to Highway

Wildflower Trail

91, Highway 60, Interstate 15, Interstate 10 and Ontario International Airport. The Equinox sales offices and model homes are open for walk-in visits and private in-person tours by appointment. Homebuyers can also arrange a live video tour with a sales counselor. Pricing begins from the low $500,000s.

For more information on KB Home, call 888-KBHOMES or visit kbhome. com.

Funding was provided by Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, Measure J funds, Capital Improvement funds and Quimby funds.

During construction, both dogs parks at Demuth Park will be closed and residents are encouraged to visit the David H. Ready Palm Springs dog park, at 222 N. Civic Drive.

be available for use Wednesdays to Sundays during the same hours. Starting Sunday, March 8 access will be permitted until 5:30 p.m.

Trailhead parking passes run $11, and the trail access fee is $4.

The pathway runs in a loop and can be accessed from the DVL Marina parking area, near the intersection of Domenigoni and Searl parkways, according to

the MWD.

“It’s rated as an easy-tomoderate hike with some rugged terrain,” the MWD stated. “Along the route, visitors are treated not only to seasonal colors but also panoramic views of the Southland’s largest drinking water reservoir.”

The agency emphasized that hikers must obey all the rules of the preserve.

“Wildflowers must not

be picked, and guests are asked to remain on designated trails to protect sensitive habitat and wildlife,” according to the MWD. “Rattlesnakes are common in the area, particularly during warmer months, and hikers should remain alert.” Rangers will close access on Mondays and Tuesdays. Additional information is available at dvmarina. com.