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MONDAY, JULY 21-JULY 27, 2025
Brusher chars nearly 1,100 acres near highway in Aguanga
VOL. 11,
NO. 233
Community meetings set to discuss proposed tax district for Cabazon By City News Service
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By Staff
esidents of Cabazon will have opportunities this week to submit input on a proposed special tax district intended to pay for improvements to streets, signs, gutters, flood channels and other projects throughout the unincorporated community. The Riverside County Transportation and Land Management Agency is proposing establishment of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District, encompassing all of Cabazon. “Limited infrastructure in the Cabazon area has been an ongoing community concern,” according to an agency statement. “To support long-term infrastructure improvements and increase quality of life for residents, the county is proposing to create an EIFD, and community input into the process is essential.” Public meetings are slated for Tuesday at the Venable Community Center, 50390 Carmen Ave. The first meeting See Tax district Page 02
Assemblyman to present $10M check to PS tribal college By City News Service The Dale Fire billows smoke throughout Aguanga and nearby areas. | Photo courtesy of Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department/Facebook
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brush fire in Aguanga has burned over 1,096 acres east of State Route 371 and into the Cahuilla Reservation with 34% containment, fire officials said Friday. The Dale Fire was one of two brushers that erupted less than a mile apart and increased to from about 300 to 1,072 acres by early Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire. “Units are working in and around hot spots along the edges of the fire,” Cal Fire reported Friday morning. “The incoming weather system did not bring any precipitation to the footprint of the fire. Crews will be on the lookout for any new fires in the area.” The fire has prompted evacuations, caused a highway closure and destroyed structures in a sparsely populated area. The non-injury wildfires
were reported around 12:35 p.m. Wednesday — the Dale Fire in the area of Riverdale Drive and State Route 371, and the second blaze nearly a mile to the south at Bradford Road and Gelding Way, officials said. Multiple engine and hand crews from Riverside County and nearby agencies were dispatched to the area and found fast-moving flames from the larger brush fire along Riverdale Drive. At least two structures, possibly vacant outbuildings, were consumed by the flames, officials said. The second fire at Bradford was slower but also damaged two to three buildings, burning about 3 acres before firefighters stopped its forward progress shortly before 2 p.m. and achieving 100% containment less than an hour later. Three water-dropping helicopters and numerous
firefighting air tankers from throughout the state continued flying fire suppression missions Friday, with 766 personnel involved in the firefight, 24 crews, 58 engines, seven dozers and 16 water tenders, Cal Fire reported. On Thursday morning, personnel battling the Dale Fire totaled 358, with three helicopters, 42 engines, 12 crews, nine dozers and 11 water tenders, according to Cal Fire. On Wednesday, seven Cal Fire air tankers and three helicopters initiated runs on the Dale Fire. The flames continued progressing toward Cahuilla Creek Motocross and the Cahuilla Casino Hotel, both south of State Route 371, east of the fire. Evacuation orders were See Dale Fire Page 28
implemented by sheriff’s deputies for the race track, remote properties southeast of the Lake Riverside Estates community and other areas south of SR 371. Properties in and around the Cahuilla Indian Reservation were under evacuation orders and warnings. The orders and warnings were in effect for the area north of Tule Peak Road, west of Eagle Nest Court, South of State Route 371 and east of Bradford Hills Road. “Crews will be working through the night hitting hot spots as they continue to bolster the containment lines,” the agency said just after midnight Thursday and in a subsequent update around 8:45 a.m. A care and reception center for evacuees was
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ssemblyman James C. Ramos presented a symbolic $10 million state-funded check Friday to California Indian Nations College as part of an effort to help the school become the state’s first federally accredited tribal college. The presentation featuring a “blown-up” check was scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, 140 N. Indian Canyon Drive, and was livestreamed on multiple social media platforms. Participants included Ramos, D-San Bernardino, California Indians Nations College Founder Theresa Mike; CINC President Erica Munoz; Rose Saubel, a 2023 CINC graduate; Dakota Galindo, associated students of CINC vice president; and members of California Legislative Native American caucus. The two-year college, located at 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desert, received pre-accreditation in January from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The college receives no ongoing federal or state support, aside from a one-time $5 million state allocation in 2022 to help reach accreditation and a $9 million donation from the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. With only 11.4% of American Indian students in California graduating high school and just 14.4% enrolling in college, officials say tribal colleges could help boost academic success. “Native students who attend a tribal college are four times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree,” accordSee PS tribal college Page 28