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| April 24, 2026 |
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TOP STORIES
 The intensifying maritime standoff between the US and Iran leaves the key Strait of Hormuz trade route effectively shut.
ATLANTA - Damage from drought-driven wildfires in Georgia is mounting. The two largest wildfires in southern Georgia have burned tens of thousands of acres combined.
MENLO PARK, CA - Meta is planning to lay off approximately 8,000 employees and eliminate another 6,000 open roles as it seeks to reduce costs amid its massive bet on artificial intelligence.
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration’s acting attorney general Todd Blanche signed an order on Thursday reclassifying FDA-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug, placing it in the less strictly regulated Schedule III category.
 Two shots at spring showers are shaping up for the Southland in the coming days.
 INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) - The healthcare industry continues to post local hiring gains.
 NEEDLES – (INT) – Plans have been announced for the expansion of the Castle Mountain gold mine.
 RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Mike Futrell is moving on after three years as Riverside City Manager.
 REDLANDS – The King James version of the Bible will remain available to students in the Redlands Unified School District.
 SAN BERNARDINO - (INT) - An investigation is underway into a weekend fire that inflicted major damage to the historical Roosevelt Bowl amphitheater.
 ONTARIO – (INT) – Ontario police and fire investigators now have on their hands the second major arson case in just four days.
 RIVERSIDE – (INT) - Officials in Riverside say their city is facing growing financial uncertainty.
 MORENO VALLEY – (INT) – Dying winds helped Calfire to contain a wildfire that threatened homes.
 RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Initial work is beginning to replace the seismically unsafe Mission Boulevard Bridge over the Santa Ana River.
 RIVERSIDE – (INT) – A measure to raise Riverside’s sales tax will be decided on the June 2nd ballot.
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 IRVINE - A recent UC Irvine study found that one in four parents in California say their teens use generative AI every day.
 SAN FRANCISCO - Six candidates running for California governor squared off on the debate stage Wednesday.
 LOS ANGELES – Trustees of the Los Angeles Unified School District voted Tuesday to restrict students’ use of laptops and tablets in class.
 INDIO - The Strokes ended their performance on weekend 2 of the Coachella Art and Music Festival on a note of political protest.
 Former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra is touting a new poll.
 Could analysis reduce projected wildfire losses by one-third?
 SACRAMENTO - (INT) - The critical April Sierra snow survey finds no measurable snow.
 SACRAMENTO - (INT) - Obtaining or renewing a concealed weapons permit (CCW) in California could get easier.
 Off-roading is now off-limits on routes spanning 1 million acres of the Mojave Desert.
 California is neither here nor there in the state-by-state ranking of personal credit scores.
 There are an estimated 49.2 million tobacco users in the US.
 SACRAMENTO - The DMV says that approximately 325,000 Californians will be required to replace their Real ID licenses.
 SAN FRANCISCO – (INT) - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has established the 2026-2028 Cost of Capital.
 SOUTHLAND – (INT) – California has documented an 18 percent surge in injuries involving e-bikes.
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is expanding its operation in Mead Valley. A 49-thousand square foot plant adjacent to the 215 freeway will be dedicated to sales, service, maintenance, and charging of electric vehicles. (INT) The Redlands City Council has cleared the way for construction of The Marketplace, a Whole Foods-anchored retail development on a 8-acre site on Lugonia Avenue at Tennessee Street. It will be situated in one of North Redlands’ fastest-growing residential areas. (INT) In Ontario, a gunfight involving police has claimed the life of a man armed with a rifle. Officers returned gunfire when the individual appeared outside a home on East Grenada Court Sunday (April 19th) during a family dispute. The man was fatally wounded but his name was not publicly released. (INT) Two tree pests are on the march, and Riverside and San Bernardino counties are now included in a ‘zone of infestation’. Invasive pests named shot hole borers and the goldspotted oak borer have been detected in Southern California. The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection announced steps to protect susceptible trees and limit associated tree mortality. (INT) Sheriff’s detectives have identified and arrested a suspect in the slaying of a transient who was found dead April 10th in his wheelchair along a remote desert road east of Twentynine Palms. Investigators said that Jimmy Rodriguez, 38, of Moreno Valley and the 60-year-old victim had been in a physical altercation. (INT) Ontario is exploring new local transit options. A study will evaluate potential transit solutions connecting major employment centers, shopping and dining areas, parks, schools, and regional transportation hubs. The study is expected to be completed later this year. (INT) A ribbon-cutting marked the opening of a new affordable housing community in Redlands designed to serve veterans and individuals with special needs. Liberty Lane features 80 homes, including 62 permanent supportive housing units, dedicated to homeless and at-risk veterans. It’s located at 1223 Texas St. in Redlands. (INT) Riverside is getting a new “downshift space” where city employees can take their breaks in an aesthetically pleasing and relaxing environment. The Blue Zone is designed to help reduce stress and boost productivity. Research shows that employers that make such changes have healthier employees, less absenteeism and higher morale, which leads to less turnover. (INT) Clearing weather will enable street crews to shift to pothole repair. Recent rains have impacted asphalt-lined streets across the Inland Empire. In San Bernardino County, motorists can report potholes and other street repair issues directly to Public Works on the SeeClickFix app. (INT) Riverside city leaders have signed an agreement with a leading regional development organization in Finland. The MOU establishes a framework to advance innovation, sustainability, and international business expansion between the two regions. (INT) A Riverside County judge has sentenced a man to nearly 53 years in prison for 18 felony counts of physical and sexual abuse and threats made to three children over a period of several years. (INT) Seasonal fire restrictions have been imposed on vast desert areas of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. They apply to campfires, controlled flame devices, recreational target shooting, and smoking on public lands. (INT) The City of Lake Elsinore is launching an initiative designed to transform the south end of the lake into a destination for recreation, tourism, and economic activity. Beginning in May, the Elsinore Yacht Club will offer a variety of on-the-water experiences, including sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and wakeboarding. (INT) Redlands is stepping up its wildfire mitigation preparedness. It will focus on weed abatement and regional collaboration. Thirty percent of Redlands falls into fire hazard severity zones (INT) Authorities in Victorville say voter-approved Measure P is having a positive impact on traffic enforcement. The sheriff’s department says increased staffing has resulted in a 390 percent increase in traffic citations and a 39 percent decline in vehicle collisions. Fatal collisions are down 42 percent since 2019. (INT) Free bus rides are being offered for anyone 18 or younger on Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) buses through the end of the year. All that is required is a valid RTA Youth ID, school ID or other proof of age when boarding. (INT) Improvements are coming to the Loma Linda VA Healthcare system. It was announced Thursday (February 26th) an assortment of infrastructure improvements starting with the renovation of the medical support area. The VA has pledged to reduce the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits by 60 percent. (INT) San Bernardino is among the five worst cities in the US for an active lifestyle. The personal-finance company WalletHub compared the 100 biggest cities across 35 key metrics. The data set ranged from the average monthly fitness-club fee to the city’s bicycling score to the share of physically inactive adults. (INT) |
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