Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
After federal courts at every level rejected the U.S. Department of Justice's demand that Riverside County set aside 1,355 mail ballots from alleged noncitizens, the county said segregating those ballots was impossible. Nearly 500,000 ballots countywide remain to be counted.
Local Government
Local Government
Local Government
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has filed a formal claim seeking taxpayer reimbursement for legal fees from four lawsuits stemming from his seizure of nearly 650,000 voter ballots, which the California Supreme Court ruled was unlawful.
Local Government
The California Highway Patrol activated an Ebony Alert on Oct. 22 for Kushani Boyd, a 15-year-old girl last seen Oct. 15 at San Remo Drive and Matino Lane in Winchester; anyone with information is urged to call 911.
Local Government
A countywide 911 outage affecting cellphone users hit Riverside County on Thursday, Oct. 22, but Murrieta's emergency dispatch system appeared unaffected. Residents who cannot reach 911 can call 951-696-3615 for Murrieta or 951-776-1078 for the county.
Local Government
Caltrans will close the Murrieta Hot Springs Road on-ramp and lanes on the southbound I-215 connector to I-15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day, for ramp meter repairs.
Local Government
Rancho California Water District is hosting a free lunch-and-learn for property managers on California's nonfunctional turf irrigation ban, with RSVPs due Dec. 7 and phased compliance deadlines starting Jan. 1, 2027.
Local Government
State Sen. Kelly Seyarto is encouraging Murrieta-area college graduates to apply for California's Capital Fellows program, a paid 11-month fellowship in state government with a $4,888 monthly stipend and benefits. Applications close Nov. 10.
Local Government
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two RCOE-sponsored bills into law: AB 2768 defers college enrollment fees for foster youth starting in 2027-28, and SB 1017 lets 14-year-olds access their own school records, changes that affect students across Murrieta Valley USD and 22 other Riverside County districts.
Local Government
Loma Linda University Health plans a 24/7 advanced urgent care facility on Makena Avenue in Murrieta for spring 2027 and is adding 15 hospital beds, part of a regional push that includes a $125 million children's specialty clinic in Loma Linda.
Local Government
Riverside County property owners who believe their home or business lost value since Jan. 1 have until early November to file a Proposition 8 reduction request with the assessor's office, a separate and earlier deadline than the Nov. 30 formal assessment appeal.
Local Government
The Riverside County Registrar of Voters plans to destroy ballots from the November 2025 special statewide election after the state Department of Justice and Secretary of State cleared the move, even as Sheriff Chad Bianco calls it an effort to bury evidence of election crimes.
Local Government
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Murrieta state Sen. Kelly Seyarto's SB 904, creating a statewide framework to suspend burdensome permitting rules after major wildfires and requiring digital rebuilding applications by 2028.
Local Government
Murrieta Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Eric Ackerman has earned the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing, joining 2,390 fire officers worldwide who hold the credential.
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