Student athletes earn top honors as All-CIF Southern Section award winners, A-9
San Jacinto student awarded full-ride scholarship to Columbia, B-6
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINORE , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES January 9 – 15, 2026
National News Maduro’s capture sends message to China, other authoritarian states: Analysts
VISI T myvalleynews.com
Volume 26, Issue 2
New Year’s fire destroys Murrieta home
Michael Zhuang The Epoch Times On Jan. 3, under President Donald Trump’s orders, U.S. special operations forces launched a raid on the Venezuelan capital city of Caracas and captured the wanted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. see page B-10
Local News Murrieta announces 2026 Mayor The City of Murrieta councilmember Jon Levell, representing District 1, has been selected to serve as Mayor for 2026. He previously served as Mayor Pro Tem for 2025 and joined the Murrieta City Council in 2022, demonstrating his dedication and leadership on the council. see page A-2
Local News Animal Friends of the Valleys announces temporary vaccine clinic closure Animal Friends of the Valleys announced on Monday, Jan. 6 a temporary closure of its vaccine clinic while the organization searches for a Registered Veterinary Technician to join its team. Those interested in the position are encouraged to submit a job application through the organization’s website. During the closure, AFV will provide updates by email, social media, and its website to notify the community once pet vaccination services resume. see page A-5
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ..........B-1 Business ............................B-5 Business Directory .............B-5 Calendar of Events .............A-6
Classifieds .........................B-5 Education ..........................B-6 Entertainment ...................A-7
Faith..................................B-4 Health ...............................A-8 Home & Garden ................A-8 Legal Notices .....................B-8 Local News ........................A-1 National News ................. B-10
Opinion........................... B-10 Sports ................................A-9
A residential fire broke out just after midnight on New Year’s Day in Murrieta. Julie Reeder & Brian Briggs Valley News Staf f A residential fire broke out just after midnight on New Year’s
Day in Murrieta, but no injuries were reported, authorities said. Murrieta Fire & Rescue was dispatched at 12:33 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, to a work-
Valley News/Brian Briggs photo ing residential structure fire in the 36200 block of Oak Glen Street. Firefighters determined that no one appeared to be home at the time of the fire.
The blaze was knocked down by about 2 a.m. see FIRE, page A-2
Vandalism of Emergency Mesh Network could face federal scrutiny amid city partnership talks Jacob Lavoie Special to the Valley News
A deliberate act of sabotage against a local emergency communication network early Saturday morning may carry federal legal consequences, as the organization behind the equipment is currently in negotiations to formalize a partnership with the City of Temecula, according to Saul Webster with TWEM. Two radio repeaters belonging to the Temecula Wireless Emergency Mesh (TWEM) were destroyed between 7:15 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. on Jan. 3 at a cul-de-sac on the north end of Camino Gatillo. Two suspects, caught on surveillance footage, utilized a gold 2004-2007 Toyota Corolla with a distinctive mismatched black front fender to flee the scene. A Critical Turning Point for TWEM The timing of the destruction is particularly sensitive. TWEM is currently drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Temecula. The agreement would grant the network city-sanctioned repeater locations, with the potential of Temecula officially adopting Meshtastic and Meshcore technologies as a supplemental “arrow in the quiver” for the city’s emergency communication (EmComm) strategy. The Camino Gatillo site served as a vital “proof of work” for the network, demonstrating its ability to provide resilient, off-grid communication in areas where traditional cellular service may fail during a disaster. see VANDALISM, page A-4
Authorities are searching for two individuals and a specific vehicle linked to the crime. Suspect 1 is a young adult with long, back-length brown hair; wearing a black sleeveless shirt and black pants. Suspect 2 is a young adult with a heavier build and shoulder-length black hair; wearing a blue sweatshirt and brown pants. The vehicle is a gold 2004-2007 Toyota Corolla featuring a mismatched black front driver-side quarter panel. Valley News/Courtesy photos