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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-FEBRUARY 22, 2026
VOL. 12,
NO. 263
IE authorities make dozens of arrests during encampment removals
Kaiser pharmacy workers end 3-day strike; nurses remain on picket lines
By Joe Taglieri
By City News Service
joet@beaconmedianews.com
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an 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 homeless encampments, 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-
A San Bernardino County Sheriff ’s Department deputy makes one of 15 arrests during Operation Shelter Me activities on Feb. 6. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County
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, offering them 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 See Encampments Page 23
pathways,” according to a county statement. The operation resulted in 15 arrests and the following outcomes: - deputies interacted with 43 people experiencing homelessness; - Seven individuals 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
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harmacy and lab employees at Kaiser Permanente in Riverside County, 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-
See Kaiser strike Page 24
Construction completes on $2.1M Gene Autry Wind Wall in Palm Springs By City News Service
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he 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 corriSee Wind Wall Page 24
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.