Riverside County is facing a wide range of challenges—from political and campaign finance controversies to public safety, housing affordability, extreme heat, and local government changes.
In this edition of Radio Free Riverside, Joy Silver covers the latest developments involving Sheriff Chad Bianco and Attorney General Rob Bonta, a grand jury report on campaign contributions, rising home prices, local law enforcement and leadership changes, and other stories from across the Coachella Valley.
This broadcast is in honor of Judy Rice, longtime Democratic community leader and advocate for civic engagement, whose passing is remembered as a loss to the Riverside County community.
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Transcripts
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This is Radio Free Riverside, the voice of democracy with the Riverside County News and beyond that you can trust.
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I'm Joy Silver and this is the United America Network.
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A Riverside County Sheriff's deputy was struck by a vehicle while conducting a routine traffic stop near Winchester and Marietta Hot Springs roads.
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A suspect was rapidly taken into custody following a multi agency response.
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The deputy is in stable condition as reported last week in Radio Free Riverside Special Edition Bianco's Defense deemed Bizarre High level political friction continues to trend heavily regarding the conflict between California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
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The California Supreme Court ordered Bianca to temporarily halt a criminal investigation.
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seized ballot boxes from a:
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In the latest news, a local grand jury report titled Uncapped Campaign Contributions and Public Trust in Riverside county was convened in the county seat of the City of Riverside and and sparked bipartisan conversation after identifying transparency loopholes in campaign Finance Regulation Ordinance 963.
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The ordinance is said to contain a loophole that effectively allows for unlimited campaign contributions.
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This significantly undermined the law's intended $20,000 cap for individual contributor, allowing large developer contributions towards revenue.
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Regional leaders in Rancho Mirage, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously GreenLit A massive five year $86 million public safety agreement extending law enforcement services handled by the Sheriff's Department while other cities seek to hire their own law enforcement team.
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This represents an interesting decision by the residents of Rancho Mirage.
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We will be following this story.
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More Skyrocketing home prices abound here in Southern California.
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Real estate trends tracked by Ground News via the California association of Realtors show that Riverside county single family median home prices climbed up to $649,000, highlighting an ongoing affordability crunch down despite a dip in overall monthly sales volume.
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And in Palm springs on Wednesday, September 9, the Palm Springs High School was placed under a brief high alert lockdown following reports of a bomb threat on campus.
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Law enforcement rapidly swept the campus and lifted the lockdown after confirming there was no verified threat to students or staff.
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It was found that a student made a false bomb threat.
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The Palm Springs Police Department arrested that student.
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Palm Springs is officially welcoming its new leadership.
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Newly appointed Police Chief Kyle Stagerna is being ceremonially sworn in following a packed community retirement sendoff for long time Chief Andy Mills.
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Palm Springs City Manager Scott Stiles was also officially announced his retirement, prompting the city to begin its transition plan for its top administrative role.
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Extreme heat warnings remain in effect for the Coachella Valley.
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Palm Springs has experienced a volatile desert humidity and high temperatures pushing into the lower 110s with a minor risk of storms in the surrounding mountains.
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Headlines recently made in the City of Coachella, which became the first municipality in the entire Coachella Valley Riverside county to enact a ban on data center developments.
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More news from the City of Coachella.
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Its City Council is advancing a strict new policy to prohibit council members from appointing household members or relatives to local boards and commissions.
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The proposal addresses potential conflicts of interest and aims to bolster public trust in civic appointments and in the City of Hemet the hearts of all of us in Riverside county are heavy with grief as we mourn the untimely passing of Judy Rice as president of the Democrats of Hemet San Jacinto.
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She served with distinction and represented the RCDP in numerous capacities over the years.
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She was the one who consistently arrived early, stayed late and undertook the quiet, essential work that propelled our community forward.
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We call Judy a warrior woman for democracy, but it is not merely a title, it is a testament to the life she led.
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The profound compassion she displayed was matched by an unyielding commitment to the cause.
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Her fierce resolve extended far beyond ordinary perseverance.
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Whether organizing local meetings, inspiring those around her, or ensuring that our community's voice was heard, she possessed a remarkable ability to unite people and remind us all of the significance of our collective voice.
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Judy's greatness stemmed from the depth of her care.
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She invested her whole heart in all she did and her empathy was evident in every interaction.
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She continually reminded us that democracy is not merely an ideal, it is a responsibility we must uphold each and every day.
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Judy, thank you for your extraordinary energy and your wise guidance.
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You leave behind a legacy we are honored to carry forward and we are profoundly fortunate to have known you.
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This broadcast has been in her honor.
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Stay tuned for upcoming newscasts as we move into the November election.
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You have been listening to Joy Silver with Radio Free Riverside, the voice of democracy here on the United America Network.
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News sources come to you from Ground News, a rated service that informs the public of bias left, right and center.
