Venus Williams set to play at BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells
Riverside County Science & Engineering Fair to boast wide variety of projects
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Thursday, February 26-March 04, 2026
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VOL. VOL. 10, 12,
NO. 264
State agency responds to concerns over funding for Blythe hospital By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
T
he state's health care agency issued a statement Tuesday on the denial of a multimilliondollar cash infusion to Palo Verde Hospital, which is the only hospital with emergency care capability in Blythe and surrounding areas and has filed for bankruptcy. Hospital and local government officials have wondered publicly why the California Department of Health Care Services stopped a “voluntary rate range intergovernmental transfer” for $9.9 million in credit for remaining operations, according to a Jan. 14 statement from the Riverside County Executive Office. On Tuesday DHCS spokesman Anthony Cava said the agency "understands the serious challenges facing Palo Verde Hospital and the
Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe. | Photo courtesy of Palo Verde Hospital/Facebook
concern this creates for the community. After a thorough review, DHCS determined that the funds provided by the Palo Verde Healthcare District to participate in the Voluntary Rate Range Program did not meet federal
and state requirements for permissible funding sources." The federal government requires that the nonfederal portion of Medi-Cal funding comes from allowable sources, Cava said. "In this case, the Intergov-
ernmental Transfer contribution was funded through a loan that required repayment using Medi-Cal payments that were funded with the IGT, a structure prohibited by federal rules," he said. "DHCS worked with Palo
See Blythe hospital Page 31
Riverside Fire Department highlights 'defensible space' requirements
Notre Dame High prevails in county's Mock Trial Competition
By Joe Taglieri
By City News Service
joet@beaconmedianews.com
A
Verde Healthcare District several times — first to explain which funding sources were allowed before any funds were transferred, and later to review the situation before
declining to accept the IGT to protect Medi-Cal’s integrity and ensure compliance with federal law," according to Cava. He referenced the agreement that took effect Monday between the county and the Palo Verde Healthcare District, which operates the hospital, to have a county "strike team" take over dayto-day management of the facility in an effort to keep open the only emergency room within 70 miles. "DHCS is aware of the agreement between Riverside County and the Palo Verde Health Care District to stabilize Palo Verde Hospital’s operations," Cava said. "DHCS continues to have discussions with local
s wildfire season fast approaches, Riverside Fire Department officials are initiating citywide inspections to ensure residential and commercial properties maintain appropriate "defensible space," which officials outlined Tuesday at a City Council hearing. During the council's 1 p.m. session at City Hall, fire officials provided details on the municipality's Defensible Space Inspection Program. The presentation pointed out
that some property owners will be required to create minimal protective buffers, from 1 to 5 feet, while others may be directed to establish up to 100 feet of cleared ground before summer starts. "Riverside's extensive wildland-urban interface ... Santa Ana wind exposure and high ignition potential continue to present wildfire risk across multiple wards," according to an agency stateSee Fire defense Page 31
ment posted to the council agenda for Tuesday. "Fire Hazard Severity Zones — moderate, high and very high — guide mitigation planning and inspection efforts. The department's focus is to strengthen community resilience by bringing residents, fire officials and stakeholders together before a wildfire occurs." Several sections of the city have been designated by
F
or the first time in four years, Notre Dame High School in Riverside bested teams from multiple campuses throughout Riverside County to win the county's annual Mock Trial Competition, it was announced Friday. The contest's final round was held Feb. 19 at the Riverside Historic Courthouse, where Notre Dame High squared off with MLK High, also in the Riverside Unified School District, culminat-
ing in Notre Dame's team racking up the highest score to be crowned champions. The 44th annual trials got underway in mid-January, and over the monthlong period, teams from more than two dozen campuses participated. The last time Notre Dame High captured the championship title was February 2022. "Congratulations to all the student competitors
who exhibited extraordinary poise and professionalism that powerfully demonstrates how competitions like the Riverside County Mock Trial are preparing them for a future in the legal field, in higher education and endless opportunities," county Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said. "I look forward to seeing the county's top team from Notre Dame High School
See Mock Trial Competition Page 31