8/1/2017 Employee unions blast Riverside County’s latest contract proposals – Press Enterprise

http://www.pe.com/2017/08/01/unions-blast-riverside-countys-latest-contract-proposals/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter 1/3

By JEFF HORSEMAN | jhorseman@scng.com | The Press-EnterprisePUBLISHED: August 1, 2017 at 6:30 am | UPDATED: August 1, 2017 at 6:41 am

File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNGMembers of Service Employees International Union Local 721 stage a one-day strike in 2012. Unions representing county employees are balkingat the latest contract proposals from county negotiators.

“Sickening” and “bombing us back to the Stone Age” are terms used by Riverside County employee unions to describe proposals from

county negotiators following months of contract talks.

The harsh words portend a potential stalemate between county government and three unions representing thousands of employees.

Contracts with Service Employees International Union Local 721, Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 777 and the

Riverside Sheriffs’ Association expired last year.

Since then, the county has negotiated behind closed doors with the unions in hopes of reaching new collective bargaining agreements.

It’s not clear whether new contracts are imminent. Robert Masson, president of the sheriff’s union, declined to comment last week, citing

the possible rati�cation of a new deal, though he said the current offer is better than the county’s last, best offer.

County spokesman Ray Smith said talks between the county and unions are private “so both sides can frankly and honestly discuss the

issues.

NEWSPOLITICS

Employee unions blast Riverside County’s latestcontract proposals

8/1/2017 Employee unions blast Riverside County’s latest contract proposals – Press Enterprise

http://www.pe.com/2017/08/01/unions-blast-riverside-countys-latest-contract-proposals/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter 2/3

Final offer?

Strike looming?

“Labor groups may characterize the status of negotiations however they choose, knowing the county respects the privacy of the process

and will not respond,” he said in a written statement. “It has long been a tactic to criticize public agencies during negotiations in order to

apply pressure that groups hope will improve their labor agreements.”

In the last contracts agreed to in 2012, the county gave employees raises in exchange for workers paying more toward their retirement and

accepting a lesser tier of pension bene�ts for new hires. At the time, county of�cials said pension costs were out of control and the

changes brought stability to the public employee pension system.

Today, the county is struggling to plot a �nancially sustainable course with revenue growth lagging and a series of new, ongoing and

in�exible costs piling up. To rein in spending, the county Board of Supervisors has publicly taken a hard line on raises in an effort to keep

labor costs �at for the next few years.

“The board and (executive of�ce) have said for more than a year that compensation must �atten, compared to the county’s historically

generous increases,” Smith said. “There just isn’t the money that there has been in the past.

“As it has done before, Riverside County is bargaining in good faith this year and truly values employees’ hard work and dedication,” Smith

added. “As evidence of that appreciation, the average salary increase for SEIU and LIUNA employees since 2012 was approximately 38

percent, and approximately 30 percent for RSA employees. That does not count (cost-of-living raises) ranging from 8 to 9 percent.”

LIUNA did not respond to a request for comment, but online posts paint a grim picture. The county presented LIUNA with a “last, best and

�nal offer” on July 12, LIUNA Business Manager Stephen Switzer wrote in a post on the union’s website.

“It is management declaring that they are �nished with the bargaining process and it is usually a take it or leave it proposition,” Switzer

wrote. “The rejection of (that offer) is usually followed by management’s declaration of an impasse.”

County supervisors, who only have one public meeting set for August, have yet to declare an impasse with any of the unions.

While saying the union needed to study the �nal offer out of respect for the bargaining process, “It is not good and in fact would scale back

20 years of progress we’ve made,” Switzer wrote.

“Indeed, we are not halfway through the (offer) and already it is inferior to the piece of garbage contract we inherited … just over 20 years

ago. It appears that the (Board of Supervisors) are intent on bombing us back to the Stone Age.”

A similarly glum assessment is coming from SEIU. The county submitted its last, best and �nal offer on July 19 “and it’s sickening,” read a

post on SEIU’s website.

In an emailed statement, SEIU Local 721 President Bob Schoonover said: “At the bargaining table, the county is callously dismissing

proposals to expand critical health and mental health care services but then turns around and hands out millions of taxpayer dollars to

consultants, to essentially do the job that top county executives are already paid to do,” Schoonover said.

The county is paying consulting �rm KPMG roughly $40 million to make county government more ef�cient and transform the way it does

business.

The county doesn’t want to offset surges in health insurance premiums and wants to cut step increases in pay from 5.42 percent to 2.71

percent, according to SEIU’s �ier.

“On top of the county wanting you to give up your step increases, settle for no raises, and leaving you to foot more of your health coverage

bill, they also want you to pay them to show up to work!” the �ier read. “The county now wants you to pay to park at your worksite

facilities.”

In May, 98 percent of SEIU members authorized “escalation up to and including a strike,” the union announced in a news release.

The union has �led at least one unfair labor practice charge with the state Public Employment Relations Board. SEIU also sent members

en masse to supervisors’ meetings in recent months to demand a fair deal.

There could be further demonstrations if supervisors impose contract terms, a step the board last took in late 2011. SEIU held a one-day

strike Jan. 31, 2012, with more than 1,000 purple-shirted, sign-waving employees descending on a board meeting to demand a return to the

bargaining table.

Tags:  Echo Code, Top Stories PE

8/1/2017 Dozens of police respond to protest at Assemblyman’s Rancho Cucamonga office

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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

Dozens of police respond to protest at Assemblyman’s Rancho Cucamonga office

By Joe Nelson, The Sun

Monday, July 31, 2017

A protest last week at Assemblyman Marc Steinorth’s RanchoCucamonga office over California’s recently extended cap and tradeclimate change program prompted the response of dozens of CHPofficers and sheriff’s deputies.

About a dozen conservative activists showed up at Steinorth’s officeThursday after their planned protest at a fundraiser for AssemblyRepublican Leader Chad Mayes, R-Yucca Valley, who supported thecap and trade program, was derailed upon learning the fundraiser was

cancelled.

Protestors used their mobile phones to shoot video of the protest. One 9-minute video posted to YouTube, whichhas generated more than 108,000 views since being posted, shows protestors entering the office of Steinorth, R-Rancho Cucamonga, with organizer Joseph Turner leading the charge.

“We’re here to see Assemblyman Marc Steinorth as one of the Republicans who sold us out to cap and trade, sowe’re going to let him know we’re sick of these rinos (Republican in name only) and we’re voting him out,”Turner says in the video.

A CHP officer who arrived at the planned Mayes protest followed the group to Steinorth’s office, where hecalled for backup, Rancho Cucamonga CHP Sgt. Tom Graham said Monday in a telephone interview.

That’s when a bevy of CHP officers and sheriff’s deputies began arriving at Steinorth’s office in cars, SUVs andon motorcycles, cramming the parking lot, to the surprise of protestors. About a dozen officers are seen in thevideo lining the hallway in Steinorth’s office as Turner and his group were leaving.

“Was there a mass shooting or something?” Turner is heard saying in the video as he exits the building and seesthe number of police vehicles lining the parking lot.

“It was heated and contentious, but it wasn’t as if things were resulting in some kind of chaotic melee,” Turnersaid in a telephone interview Monday.

Graham said about 20 CHP officers responded to the backup call. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Cindy Bachman saidroughly 10 deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga station responded to the call.

“It appears they were being disruptive and refused to leave the office when asked to,” Bachman said in an email.“Once we determined there was no emergency and/or violence, deputies left and those not already there divertedto other activities.”

Graham said the reason so many CHP responded to the call was because officers were in the middle of a shiftchange - some were headed into the field and others returning - when the call went out, resulting in many ofthem winding up at Steinorth’s office because they had no other calls to respond to at the time.

8/1/2017 Dozens of police respond to protest at Assemblyman’s Rancho Cucamonga office

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“Bad timing for the protestors, good timing for us,” said Graham, adding that the protestors left with no incident.“It’s just the way it happened. We didn’t plan for it. It just happened that way.”

Steinorth said in a telephone interview Monday he was thankful the protest did not get too out of hand.

“Law enforcement protected the rights of both parties involved. They ensured the safety of my staff and the FirstAmendment rights of the demonstrators,” Steinorth said. “I’m grateful they arrived and handled this situation inthe most peaceful way possible.”

He said his staff has arranged a meeting with Turner and his group to discuss their concerns. Turner said themeeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Steinorth’s office.

URL: http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20170731/dozens-of-police-respond-to-protest-at-assemblymans-rancho-cucamonga-office

© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

8/1/2017 Couple’s engagement came just before deadly Big Bear plane crash

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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

Couple’s engagement came just before deadly Big Bear plane crash

By Mark Muckenfuss, The Press-Enterprise

Monday, July 31, 2017

Brian White was excited about asking Rebecca Raymond to marryhim. He had the diamond he wanted to slip onto her finger.

“He got that ring custom made,” said White’s friend and fellowsoldier Tyler Eisenhower. “It was a big deal. He was showingeverybody for weeks. He was trying to decide when to (propose).”

The moment came on Saturday, July 29, at the Big Bear Airport. Thecouple had flown in for the afternoon, which reportedly includedlunch at the Barnstorm Restaurant. A Facebook photo shows White onhis knee near the Cessna 172N he’d rented for the day. Another showsa smiling Raymond showing off the ring on her hand.

Eisenhower said it was a fitting moment after a two-year courtship.

“It was almost like a Disney story,” he said of their relationship. “They were quite the couple.”

A short time later, they climbed back in the rented Cessna 172N single-engine plane and took off for AppleValley.

But minutes after takeoff, the plane went down on a tree-covered hillside a half-mile south of the airport. No onesaw the crash and when a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s’ search and rescue team located the wreckage thenext morning, the newly engaged couple were both dead.

White, 30, was a chief warrant officer 2, stationed at Fort Irwin. Raymond, 28, was a deputy sheriff, working outof Barstow. The couple met at a nightclub near White’s Helendale home, shortly after he arrived at the desertArmy training center two years ago.

Sheriff spokeswoman Jodi Miller said Raymond’s colleagues were unable to comment on Monday about herdeath. She had been at the Barstow station for just a month and had joined the sheriffs department in September.She spent time working at the High Desert Detention Center and the Victorville Police Department beforemoving to Barstow.

Eisenhower called Raymond a “sweetheart” and said she was very involved in the community events put on bythe department and White often took part as well.

“They were always doing those,” he said. “They loved it.”

Both were runners, he said, and participated in the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay in March, an annual120-mile competition among Southern California law enforcement agencies.

“They maintained a pretty busy lifestyle,” Eisenhower said.

8/1/2017 Couple’s engagement came just before deadly Big Bear plane crash

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Eisenhower and White met in flight school in 2011 at Fort Rucker in Alabama. White was already anexperienced fixed-wing pilot and had his commercial license, Eisenhower said. Frustrated with the limitations ofthe charter market, White went into law enforcement for a while before deciding to learn to fly helicopters forthe Army.

The two men parted company with different assignments after graduation. In 2014, White was deployed toAfghanistan with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, transporting fighting units.

When Eisenhower was assigned to the medevac team at Fort Irwin, about a year ago, he found White had beenthere for a year.

“I’m our aviation safety officer,” he said. “He was a maintenance dude. Maintenance guys are a different breed.They’re out there flying the broken stuff trying to troubleshoot. Brian was married to the job. He was one ofthose dudes that burnt the midnight oil trying to figure out what was wrong.”

In his downtime he often spent time on the shooting range or watching hockey games. Eisenhower sat throughthe games for the companionship. He couldn’t recall who played the victorious Pittsburgh Penguins for theStanley Cup (the Nashville Predators), but he knew that White did not want the Penguins to win.

He said White had an “out of the box” sense of humor that will be missed among the small unit at Fort Irwin.

“It will be a different atmosphere without him around,” Eisenhower said. “Maintenance can be a hassle and it’s109 million degrees in Barstow. But he could take (it) and kind of make it enjoyable and fun. That’s somethingwe’ll sadly miss. It leaves a huge hole.”

A cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

Keith Holloway, a spokesman for the National Transportation and Safety Board, said an NTSB official was atthe crash site Monday. He said a preliminary report will be released in about 10 days, but it will not make anyconclusions about why the plane went down.

The plane was rented out of Midfield Aviation at the Apple Valley Airport. A man who answered the phone butdid not provide his name said White had rented from the company before.

Eisenhower said he was surprised to hear of the crash, given White’s experience as a pilot.

“He was our ace,” he said. When he and his colleagues heard the plane hadn’t returned to Apple Valley, “We allkind of assumed they went to another airport and were just having a good time. We didn’t think this wasplausible.”

URL: http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20170731/couples-engagement-came-just-before-deadly-big-bear-plane-crash

© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

8/1/2017 Sheriff's Department school supply drive collects nearly 1,000 items

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170731/sheriffs-department-school-supply-drive-collects-nearly-1000-items 1/2

By Charity Lindsey Staff Writer

Follow

Posted Jul 31, 2017 at 3:46 PMUpdated Jul 31, 2017 at 3:46 PM

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department recently collected nearly 1,000school supply items to donate to families in need, officials said.

The department partnered with Santa Claus Inc. to collect back-to-schoolsupplies for regional families, asking the public to pitch in their support for thedrive by dropping off donations at local stations.

“We realized there is a need of school supplies that some families can’t afford,and we wanted to help give back to families that need it the most,” SBCSDspokesperson Jodi Miller said. “We exceeded our goal by collecting almost threetimes as many items this year than this past year.”

It was their second year participating in the drive, and their first asking for thecommunity’s’ “help and generosity,” according to SBCSD spokesperson OliviaBozek.

“We believe education is a crucial building block in child development and inorder to be successful children need to have the right tools,” Bozek said.

Sheriff’s officials thanked everyone who donated via their Twitter account,including Stater Bros. for partnering with the department in the drive.

The 1,000 school-related supply items included backpacks, pencils, crayons,notebooks, markers, scissors, pencil boxes, erasers and more, Miller said.

Sheri�’s Department school supply drivecollects nearly 1,000 items

8/1/2017 Sheriff's Department school supply drive collects nearly 1,000 items

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“All the school supplies were dropped off at Santa Claus Inc. ... and they areready to be distributed to our the kids,” Miller said.

Charity Lindsey may be contacted at clindsey@vvdailypress.com or 760-951-6245.

Follow her on Twitter @DP_Charity.

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8/1/2017 Wildfires trigger evacuations in Lake Elsinore, injure firefighters in San Bernardino County - LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-wildfires-20170731-story.html 1/2

T

Wildfires trigger evacuations in Lake Elsinore,injure firefighters in San Bernardino County

By Alene Tchekmedyian

JULY 31, 2017, 9:35 PM

wo wildfires that broke out in Southern California on Monday scorched a total of about 300 acres in

Lake Elsinore and Waterman Canyon, triggering evacuation orders and road closures.

The Rose fire, reported about 2:20 p.m., quickly burned about 200 acres in the foothills of Lake

Elsinore, drawing a response from more than 200 firefighters and three helicopters, according to the Riverside

County Fire Department.

About 8:10 p.m., Riverside County fire officials lifted all evacuation orders, which were in effect for several

hours; an evacuation center was opened at Elsinore High School. Authorities warned motorists to drive through

the fire area with caution.

Investigators determined the fire — which was 10% contained as of 9 p.m. — was caused “accidentally by

equipment,” according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Further details were not

available.

Meanwhile in San Bernardino County, the Mile fire scorched about 100 acres in Waterman Canyon and forced

the closure of Highway 18 in both directions between 40th Avenue and Highway 138, according to the U.S.

Forest Service. Officials did not indicate when the highway would reopen.

Nine firefighters were hospitalized with heat-related injuries.

About 160 firefighters, including ground and air units, were tackling the blaze. Authorities are investigating the

cause of the fire.

In Diamond Bar, a 2½-acre brush fire was burning uphill toward homes Monday afternoon before firefighters

stopped its progress.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek

UPDATES:

8/1/2017 To solve California's housing crisis, shift some power over land use away from local governments - LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-marantz-affordable-housing-20170801-story.html 1/3

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Op-Ed To solve California's housing crisis, shiftsome power over land use away from localgovernments

By Nicholas J. Marantz

AUGUST 1, 2017, 5:00 AM

s Gov. Jerry Brown and California’s legislative leaders left for their summer break, they said the top

priority when they returned would be addressing California's housing affordability crisis. They’ll

consider a bevy of bills, with an emphasis on providing funds for housing development. More

funding will help, but it can’t solve the crisis. To effectively alleviate the housing shortage, the state must also

ensure that local governments responsibly use their power to regulate land use.

Throughout the U.S., municipalities adopt zoning ordinances to govern development and land use. In

California, local zoning must — in principle — accommodate housing affordable to lower-income households.

Building apartments, rather than single-family homes, is the most efficient way to accomplish this goal. But

Georgina Romero, 28, stands outside the three bedroom house in Watts where she lives with her boyfriend, her mother and her siblings onJune 23. Romero works at a Project Head Start clinic in Torrance, but she can't live there due to housing shortages and affordability. (LosAngeles Times)

8/1/2017 To solve California's housing crisis, shift some power over land use away from local governments - LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-marantz-affordable-housing-20170801-story.html 2/3

even when local zoning allows for high-density development, lengthy local review processes and political

opposition frequently stymie such projects in California.

Massachusetts, facing a similar situation, passed a law that provides a promising model for California. It shifts

some power over land use away from local governments that aren’t meeting state affordable housing goals.

Although the law is controversial, it has proved politically resilient, and Massachusetts voters soundly rejected a

2010 ballot measure to abolish it.

Two components distinguish the Massachusetts law. First, qualifying projects — in general, those reserving at

least 25% of the units for households earning 80% or less than the area’s median income — are eligible for a

“comprehensive permit.” The comprehensive permit expedites the local review process, and it enables

developers to propose projects at higher densities than otherwise permitted. The resulting projects can thus

provide market-rate units as well as those that are affordable to low-income households. (California needs more

of both.)

The second component is an appeals process. If a comprehensive permit is denied or is subject to conditions

that are unacceptable to the developer, the state can require the municipality to demonstrate "a specific health

or safety concern of sufficient gravity to outweigh the regional housing need."

In effect, the appeals process provides for an override of local decision-making. Municipalities are exempt from

the appeals procedure only if they have accommodated their fair share of affordable housing, as defined by state

law, or if they have a state-approved housing production plan and can show measurable, consistent progress

toward meeting the state's standard.

I analyzed the effect of the Massachusetts law with real estate economist Lynn Fisher. According to our

research, developers of rental projects proposed between 1999 and 2005 in the suburbs of Boston generally

used the law to build in places where more housing could do a lot of good — municipalities that were relatively

accessible to jobs but that had previously placed stringent restrictions on apartment projects.

There are good reasons that California and other states give local governments primary authority over land-use

regulation, and equally good reasons to ensure that this authority is exercised responsibly. Local officials are

best positioned to understand the effects of development on a given site and are best equipped to recognize the

interests of current residents. But local officials' attention to those very interests can scuttle appropriate

development proposals.

“The comprehensive permit expedites the localreview process, and it enables developers to

propose projects at higher densities thanotherwise permitted.

8/1/2017 To solve California's housing crisis, shift some power over land use away from local governments - LA Times

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In California, a bill to provide for a comprehensive permit system is pending in the Legislature, but it doesn’t

currently include a robust appeals process. Legislators should add one and, at the same time, authorize funding

and technical assistance to help municipalities plan for new development and provide adequate infrastructure.

As anyone who has recently searched for housing in the Boston area knows, the Massachusetts approach is not

a panacea for housing affordability. No single policy will solve housing shortages that have been mounting for

decades. But the Massachusetts model shows how California could effectively encourage local governments to

help address the state's housing affordability crisis.

Nicholas J. Marantz is an assistant professor of urban planning and public policy at UC Irvine.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

Copyright © 2017, Los Angeles Times

8/1/2017 Weather Rainfall starts in Inland region in time for morning commute; lightning strikes reported

http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/20170801/NEWS/170809992&template=printart 1/1

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)

Weather Rainfall starts in Inland region in time for morning commute; lightning strikesreported

By Alex Groves, The Press-Enterprise

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Drivers getting ready for their morning commute on Tuesday, Aug. 1, may want to prepare for slick roads, asmother nature is bringing thunderstorms and showers to the Inland region.

The thunderstorms, the result of monsoonal moisture in the area, will be isolated and fairly light, according to aforecast discussion from the National Weather Service.

After a brief respite, a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms was expected in the afternoon. Keep yourumbrellas at the ready, because the possibility of showers continues through Wednesday.

In the morning. light rain was falling in such locations as Temecula, Menifee, Moreno Valley and Riverside onTuesday morning and roadways in those areas were slick. Still, the rainfall hadn’t really accumulated tomeasurable amounts for most places.

In the 12-hour period ending at 6 a.m., parts of Palm Springs saw .15 of an inch, Mount San Jacinto had .05 ofan inch and parts of Riverside had .01 of an inch.

Parts of the San Bernardino County Mountains had seen as much as .17 of an inch, but most other areas of thecounty hadn’t seen anything measurable.

While the storms may have been lacking in how much rain they actually brought, they certainly lookedimpressive. Lightning was visible in several spots across the Inland region. Lightning strikes will continue to bepossible through early Wednesday, meteorologists say.

It won’t just be a wet day, it’s going to be hot and humid as well. Highs for Tuesday are expected to rangebetween 100 and 106 and temperatures are supposed to remain around that range for the rest of the week.

While it will still be hot on Friday, things will at least start to dry up slightly, the Weather Service says.

Across the Inland Empire, social media users both marveled at and bemoaned the weather.

URL: http://www.dailybulletin.com/general-news/20170801/weather-rainfall-starts-in-inland-region-in-time-for-morning-commute-lightning-strikes-reported

© 2017 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)

8/1/2017 Colorado partnership completes deal to buy Mammoth and Bear Mountain - LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mammoth-deal-20170731-story.html 1/2

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Colorado partnership completes deal to buyMammoth and Bear Mountain

By Hugo Martin

JULY 31, 2017, 3:05 PM

new ski resort powerhouse officially formed Monday — still nameless but so big it will control 12

resorts with 20,000 acres of skiable land from California to West Virginia.

A Colorado partnership that is vying to be one of nation’s biggest ski operators completed its deal to

acquire the resorts of Mammoth Mountain, Bear Mountain and Squaw Valley, among several others.

The partnership brings together Colorado-based Aspen Skiing Co., private equity firm KSL Capital Partners, ski

resort giant Intrawest and Mammoth Resorts, which includes Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Bear

Mountain and Snow Summit. The resorts attract about 6 million skiers a year.

A snowboarder carves down a run at Mammoth Mountain. The deal under which a Colorado partnership acquired Mammoth Resorts wascompleted Monday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

8/1/2017 Colorado partnership completes deal to buy Mammoth and Bear Mountain - LA Times

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The deal to combine the companies was announced in April but was completed Monday. In announcing the

transaction’s closing, the new company said it expects to come up with a name and launch a new brand before

the ski season begins.

Bryan Traficanti, executive vice president of KSL Capital, has been named chief executive of the new

partnership.

Rusty Gregory, chief executive of Mammoth Resorts since 1996, has become a senior strategic advisor, while

the resort’s chief operating officer, Mark Brownlie, adds the title of president.

Andy Wirth, who has been president and chief operating officer for Squaw Valley Ski Holdings since 2010, will

retain those titles.

The partnership was the result of two deals: In April, KSL and Aspen Skiing took over Intrawest Resort

Holdings, a Denver resort company, in a deal valued at $1.5 billion.

Two days later, the partnership sought to acquire Mammoth Resorts and Squaw Valley Ski Holdings. The terms

of those deals were not disclosed.

The deal creates a new challenger to Vail Resorts Inc., the publicly owned company that operates 10 resorts and

three urban ski areas in the U.S. and Australia.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.

Copyright © 2017, Los Angeles Times

‘We’ve Got to Find These People,’ Park Ranger Says Amid Search for Couple in Joshua TreeNational ParkPOSTED 7:10 AM, JULY 31, 2017, BY TRACY BLOOM, MELISSA PAMER AND KAREEN WYNTER, UPDATED AT 08:13PM, JULY 31, 2017

A vehicle belonging to a couple reported missing on Friday after going on a hike in Joshua Tree National Park has been recovered, authorities said as the search forthe hikers continued Monday amid intense heat.

Photos of a couple who went missing in JoshuaTree National Park are shown at the command poston July 31, 2017. (Credit: KTLA)

Search and rescue crews are out looking for Rachel Nguyen and Joseph Orbeso, who were hiking in the area on Thursday and reported missing the following day,according to a news release from the National Park Service.

The last sign of the couple was a ping on the man's cellphone recorded about 4 p.m. Thursday, the release stated. It is believed they went missing some time after 6a.m. Friday, according to a post on the Joshua Tree Search & Rescue Facebook page.

Crews were called in after the vehicle, a burgundy Lexus, was found in the vicinity of the Maze Loop, near the park's west entrance, about 4 p.m. Friday. Trackersprocessed the tracks near the vehicle, and believe the two were headed north into a canyon before their disappearance.

Family members said the pair were experienced hikers. Nguyen's uncle said the couple planned a trip to the national park to celebrate Nguyen's birthday. Theyoung couple was staying at an Airbnb, and the property's owner reported them missing when they failed to check out as scheduled on Friday, the uncle said.

Search Continues for Missing Couple in Joshua Tree National Park

h

Searchers look for Rachel Nguyen and JosephOrbeso on July 31, 2017. (Credit: KTLA)

Several search teams have been deployed, as well as dogs who picked up a scent. Two xed-wing aircraft and two helicopters have also been utilized during thesearch, said George Land, a ranger and spokesman for the park.

There's no reason to suspect foul play, he said.

"We believe, unfortunately, we've got two young people that have gotten lost in the park, and we're doing our best to try to nd them," Land said.

Sixty to 100 searchers are working on and off the trail in the park in one of the largest searches in Joshua Tree in several years, Land said.

A Lexus driven by a missing couple was foundabout 1 1/2 miles from an entrance to Joshua TreeNational Park. (Credit: Hi-Desert Star)

Temperatures are around 100 degrees and there is no water in the park, making the conditions a critical factor, he said.

"Heat's de nitely a factor," Land said. "People don't realize it — even the act of breathing, in this environment, uses an enormous amount of moisture."

But he said there is still hope for nding the young couple.

"We're not giving up hope. We've had people that have lasted in conditions like this ve to six days. It's not an impossibility," Land said. "We've got to nd thesepeople."

Anyone who has seen or had possible contact with either of them is urged to call 760-831-7633 or Park Dispatch at 909-363-5651.

 

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Boxing Has A New QueenJUL 31, 2017, BY CONNATIX

Search for Couple in Joshua Tree National Park

h

8/1/2017 National park brings in more resources to help search for missing hikers - Hi-Desert Star: News

http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_690df60c-7631-11e7-8011-8bf8c8aef7d2.html?mode=print 1/2

National park brings in more resources to help searchfor missing hikersBy Leah Sanson, Hi-Desert Star | Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 1:47 pm

JOSHUA TREE — More agencies have joined Joshua TreeNational Park, JOSAR and San Bernardino County in thesearch for two missing hikers in Joshua Tree National Parkon Monday.

Agents from Border Patrol and the Riverside CountySheriff’s Department have come to the national park to helpsearch for Rachel Nguyen, 20, and Joseph Orbeso, 21, bothfrom Westminster, who went hiking Thursday and have notbeen seen since.

It is not known if they took water or supplies with them ontheir hike.

“We are doing a thorough search but are not finding toomany clues,” Dan Messaros, co-incident commander, saidMonday morning. “We are continuing to search the currentareas and we’re also searching new areas in the park.”

Rangers believe Nguyen and Orbeso drove into Joshua Tree National Park for a hike at some pointThursday. The two were staying at a local Airbnb and were supposed to check out at 11 a.m. Friday. Whenthey did not, the host looked for them in their rental. “It did not appear that anyone had been thereovernight,” Messaros said.

The Airbnb host reported Nguyen and Orbeso missing to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department,and a search was launched.

The couple’s burgundy Lexus was found Friday afternoon about 1½ miles inside the park from the JoshuaTree entrance. It had been parked on a dirt lot in the Maze Loop area.

The volunteer Joshua Tree Search and Rescue Team was called in at 4 p.m. Friday and trackers found printsnear couple’s car, the team reported.

Members of Joshua Tree Search and Rescue, or JOSAR, have been at the command center since 4 p.m.Friday.

Volunteer Jamie Bustamante slept in his car Friday night to be able to be at the center bright and earlySaturday morning.

Volunteer John Lauretig said the team has been using air support, but the ground search has been equallyimportant, because searchers have been looking under rocks and trying to find ground clues.

Helicopter crew joins search

A San Bernardino County Sheriff'sDepartment helicopter crew prepares totake off from Joshua Tree and fly into thenational park to resume the air searchMonday morning.

8/1/2017 National park brings in more resources to help search for missing hikers - Hi-Desert Star: News

http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_690df60c-7631-11e7-8011-8bf8c8aef7d2.html?mode=print 2/2

Team members believed they found the couple’s tracks heading north into a canyon, but they did not findany further sign of Nguyen or Orbeso.

“Several search teams were deployed with no results,” JOSAR reported on its Facebook page.

The volunteers agreed the biggest challenges in the search so far have been the heat and fatigue the team hasbeen faced with. JOSAR reported Monday afternoon on Facebook that four to five members have sufferedfrom heat sickness and had to be flown out from the park.

JOSAR is made up of volunteers who donate their time to the mission. JOSAR is a nonprofit organizationthat relies on donations to continue its work.

“We are some of the best in the state and we all come together to volunteer,” said volunteer KirkWaltermire.

“We are really hoping that we can reach a positive resolution in this search,” Lauretig said.

Anyone who has seen or had contact with the couple should call (760) 831-7633.

8/1/2017 3 killed when SUV runs red light, hits car in Apple Valley

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20170731/3-killed-when-suv-runs-red-light-hits-car-in-apple-valley&template=printart 1/1

San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

3 killed when SUV runs red light, hits car in Apple Valley

By Ali Tadayon, The Press-Enterprise

Monday, July 31, 2017

APPLE VALLEY >> Three people were killed Sunday after a mandriving an SUV ran a red light and crashed into a car in Apple Valley,sheriff’s officials say.

The crash occurred about 12:40 p.m. at the intersection of Bear ValleyRoad and Deep Creek Road, according to news releases from the SanBernardino County Coroner’s Office and Sheriff’s Department.

Apple Valley resident Carmine Combs, 57, was driving a 2002Chevrolet Suburban east on Bear Valley Road when he ran a red light

and crashed into a 2013 Honda Civic that was turning west from Deep Creek Road, the Sheriff’s Departmentsaid.

Both occupants of Honda -- a 63-year-old Apple Valley man who was driving and a 77-year-old femalepassenger -- died at the scene; their names have not yet been released pending notification of their relatives.

Combs was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, where he died.

The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash. Deputies have not determined whether factors such as drugor alcohol impairment, distracted driving or medical conditions may have contributed to the crash.

URL: http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20170731/3-killed-when-suv-runs-red-light-hits-car-in-apple-valley

© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

8/1/2017 Power outage impacting nearly 1,200 customers in Victorville Monday afternoon

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170731/power-outage-impacting-nearly-1200-customers-in-victorville-monday-afternoon 1/1

By Staff ReportsPosted Jul 31, 2017 at 3:27 PMUpdated Jul 31, 2017 at 3:43 PM

VICTORVILLE — Nearly 1,200 customers are currently impacted by a poweroutage in the area of Nisqualli and Hesperia roads.

First reported at 2:05 p.m., according to Southern California Edison’s outagemap, estimated restoration for the majority of affected customers was expectedby 3 p.m., but as of 3:28 p.m. SCE was still showing 1,187 customers withoutpower.

No cause had been identified, but SCE repair crews had been identified.

Power outage impacting nearly 1,200customers in Victorville Monday afternoon

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8/1/2017 Two days of Fun at SBD Fest – Oct. 21, 22 - Highland Community News: Entertainment

http://www.highlandnews.net/entertainment/two-days-of-fun-at-sbd-fest-oct/article_8658b5a4-76d0-11e7-9208-537e13231f56.html?mode=print 1/1

Two days of Fun at SBD Fest – Oct. 21, 22Posted: Tuesday, August 1, 2017 8:46 am

Flying into its third year, SBD Fest has grown into a two-day event featuring spectacular aerobaticperformances headlined by the Patriots Jet Team, a car show with classic vehicles and custom motorcycles,as well as two days of live music, a kids’ zone and special surprises. Organizers expanded the festival to afull weekend event so all members of the surrounding community could experience the sights and sounds ofan energetic air show, car show and concert. The first day of SBD Fest will be an evening event headlinedby night-time aerobatics and an exciting concert; artist to be announced soon. Day 2 will feature all thesame aerobatic performances plus high flying motocross riders, a plane pull and Lucha Libre.

“Attendee feedback has been excellent for SBD Fest. We chose to expand the event and give attendees moreof what they’re asking for,” says Monette Mendoza, Air Show Coordinator and Assistant Manager ofLuxivair SBD.

SBD Fest will be held at San Bernardino International Airport Saturday, October 21 through Sunday,October 22, 2017. Numerous ticket options are available, including 2-day family packs and preferred tentedseating, to enjoy the entire weekend or just one day of the event. Discounted presale tickets are on sale nowat .SBDFest.com

Embracing strong regional interest in the air shows at the former Norton Air Force Base, SBD Fest has hadstrong attendance reaching nearly 10,000 attendees each year. The festival reflects upon the former AirForce Base’s history and provides a great opportunity to see the development taking place at SBDInternational Airport. “Quite a number of changes have taken place since last year’s SBD Fest,” says MarkGibbs, director of aviation at the Airport. “The San Bernardino County Sheriffs’ Aviation Unit has taken fulloccupancy of their hangar facility. The GA Hangar complex is now open and is nearing capacity, and WorldWide Wings, a professional pilot school is on schedule to open this fall.”

The community has a number of options for involvement in SBD Fest this year. The event offersparticipation in its car show, static aircraft displays, food and merchandise vending and sponsors seeking toexpand their reach in the Inland Empire.

For more information or to learn how to participate in SBD Fest, visit .www.sbdfest.com

About SBD International Airport – Located approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles, the former NortonAir Force Base was converted to civilian use in 1992 and later became certified as a commercial airport bythe FAA. The Airport offers a full range of services and facilities to aviation in the Southern Californiaregion, including the best-in-class FBO, Luxivair SBD, five maintenance repair & overhaul (MRO)businesses, air cargo services, and the Airport is positioning itself to provide domestic and internationalpassenger service. www.sbdairport.com

8/1/2017 Riverside hopes to fight back against citrus-killing disease – Press Enterprise

http://www.pe.com/2017/07/31/riverside-hopes-to-fight-back-against-citrus-killing-disease/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter 1/2

By ALICIA ROBINSON | arobinson@scng.com | The Press-EnterprisePUBLISHED: July 31, 2017 at 12:35 pm | UPDATED: July 31, 2017 at 6:16 pm

File photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNGMark Hoddle, director of UC Riverside’s Center for Invasive Species Research, prepares to release parasitoids to fight the Aisan citrus psyllid atthe Biocontrol Grove at UCR in 2011.

The discovery of a diseased grapefruit tree in Riverside on July 25 has city, county and state of�cials considering how to alert the public

and encourage people to preventively treat their citrus trees.

A�er Asian citrus psyllids on Riverside’s north end tested positive for Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, authorities checked

seven trees and so far one was found to have the insect-borne disease.

Huanglongbing has taken a heavy toll on Florida’s citrus industry. Trees that have the disease produce fruit that is misshapen and won’t

ripen. They usually die within �ve years.

The Riverside City Council will hear a presentation on the disease and discuss how to raise public awareness at a 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday,

Aug. 8, in the council chambers at Riverside City Hall, 3900 Main St.

LOCAL NEWS

Riverside hopes to ght back against citrus-killingdisease

Tags:  Top Stories PE

8/1/2017 Walmart adds curbside grocery pickup in 9 Inland area locations – Press Enterprise

http://www.pe.com/2017/08/01/walmart-to-roll-out-curbside-grocery-pickup-in-foothill-ranch-its-first-in-orange-county/?utm_source=dlvr.it&ut… 1/5

By NANCY LUNA | nluna@scng.com | Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: August 1, 2017 at 7:30 am | UPDATED: August 1, 2017 at 7:48 am

The online grocery war between Amazon and Walmart is heating up this month

in Southern California as the Arkansas retail giant plans to roll out curbside

pickup in several local markets.

The 26 stores adding “online grocery pickup” this week in California, bringing the

total statewide to 36.

The free service, �rst launched in 2015, allows shoppers to choose from a range of

30,000 online items — from ground beef to a gallon of milk — and even school

supplies.

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Walmart adds curbside grocerypickup in 9 Inland arealocations

8/1/2017 Walmart adds curbside grocery pickup in 9 Inland area locations – Press Enterprise

http://www.pe.com/2017/08/01/walmart-to-roll-out-curbside-grocery-pickup-in-foothill-ranch-its-first-in-orange-county/?utm_source=dlvr.it&ut… 2/5

Walmart said more than 90 percent of shoppers ordering curbside pickup tend to

buy fresh meat, dairy and produce.

“You just pop your trunk,” company spokeswoman Tiffany Wilson said.

How does bagging work with California’s plastic bag ban?

Wilson said customers can pre-purchase bags or have the Walmart employee,

dubbed a “personal shopper,” bag all the groceries in reusable bags provided by

the shopper at their car. No unbuckling is necessary as everything is done for you

at no extra charge, she said.

The 26 stores in California join more than 800 Walmarts across the country that

offer curbside pickup of groceries. Walmart has been slowly rolling out the

program in various markets as part of a larger strategy to provide more grocery

options.

“Our customers have told us that grocery pickup is a game changer. They are now

able to complete their grocery shopping in a matter of minutes – between errands

or on their way home – without ever getting out of the car,” Susan Vanderlip,

Walmart’s eCommerce market coach, said in a statement.

The retailer is expanding its curbside pickup program as Amazon continues to

dominate the e-commerce market. Amazon, which recently bought Whole Foods

Market for $13.4 billion, accounted for 33 percent of U.S. online sales last year,

according to the research �rm Euromonitor. Wal-Mart is in second place ahead of

eBay, with 7.8 percent.

Roughly 31 million households have an Amazon Prime membership or have

access to one, according to market research �rm NPD Group. Roughly 52 percent

of online grocery shoppers are Amazon Prime members, NPD said.

Grocery delivery services such as Postmates and Instacart are also disrupting the

marketplace. Locally, they deliver food from Whole Foods Market, Stater Bros.,

BevMo!, Smart & Final, Costco, Ralphs, Petco, CVS and Aldi.

The Foothill Ranch store is at 26502 Towne Center Drive.

Here’s a list of the other 25 stores in California launching curbside pickup this

month. The list includes the launch dates this week. Various stores in the

Inland Empire begin the service Tuesday, Aug. 1.

8/1/2017 Walmart adds curbside grocery pickup in 9 Inland area locations – Press Enterprise

http://www.pe.com/2017/08/01/walmart-to-roll-out-curbside-grocery-pickup-in-foothill-ranch-its-first-in-orange-county/?utm_source=dlvr.it&ut… 3/5

5625 Calloway Drive, Bakers�eld (8/1)

1249 Allen Road, Bakers�eld

5075 Gosford Road, Bakers�eld (8/1)

530 Woollomes Ave., Delano (8/1)

5125 East Kings Canyoon Road, Fresno (8/3)

7065 N. Ingram Ave., Fresno, (8/3)

2761 Jensen Ave., Sanger (8/3)

1185 Herndon Ave., Clovis (8/3)

40130 10th Street West, Palmdale (8/1)

37140 47th Street East, Palmdale (8/1)

26471 Carl Boyer Drive, Santa Clarita (8/1)

1333 North Mountain Ave., Ontario (8/1)

1827 Walnut Grove Ave., Rosemead (8/1)

859 W. Florida Ave., Hemet (8/2)

1800 N. Perris Blvd., Perris (8/1)

13401 Main St., Hesperia (8/1)

12721 Moreno Beach Drive, Moreno Valley (8/1)

13425 Community Road, Poway (8/2)

1360 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista (8/2)

1540 E. 2nd Street, Beaumont (8/2)

79295 US HWY 111, La Quinta (8/3)

1800 University Drive, Vista, (8/3)

82-491 AVENUE 42, Indio (8/3)

1266 East Valley Parkway, Escondido (8/3)

34500 Monterey Ave., Palm Desert (8/3)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fast FoodMavenNancyLuna

Nancy LunaNancy Luna is an award-winning journalist with more than 25years reporting experience. She's been the Register's restaurantbeat writer since 2005, covering some of the biggest players in

the industry: In-N-Out, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Luna also coversdining trends from food halls to food trucks. She writes with authority and isconsidered an expert in her �eld.

Follow Nancy Luna Fastfoodmaven Follow Nancy Luna @fastfoodmaven

Tags:  Retail, Top Stories OCR, Top Stories PE

8/1/2017 Trump's Misguided Plunder - Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-07-31/trump-s-misguided-plunder 1/4

Not so rare, actually. Photographer: Nelson Ching/Bloomberg

For nearly a decade, American policy makers and industrialists have warned of a looming apocalypse in the world's supply of rare-earth

elements, which are crucial components in everything from electric cars to military hardware. Because China accounts for nearly all global

production of the metals, the theory went, it could place a choke-hold on U.S. manufacturing.

But the apocalypse never arrived. Instead, researchers and entrepreneurs have sought out new sources of rare earths, ensuring that markets --

and not China -- will ultimately control their supply. As Donald Trump's administration mulls

<https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/world/asia/afghanistan-trump-mineral-deposits.html> a risky new effort to exploit more rare-earth

deposits, it should take a lesson from recent history.

Although the rare-earth elements aren't exactly household names, they're essential to the modern economy. Magnets made with neodymium

<http://www.frontierrareearths.com/demand-for-neodymium-from-wind-turbines/> are critical to efficient wind turbines; praseodymium

Market forces will ensure rare-earth supply meets demand.By

July 31, 2017, 4:50 PM PDT

OPINION COMMODITIES

Trump's Misguided Plunder

Adam Minter22

8/1/2017 Trump's Misguided Plunder - Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-07-31/trump-s-misguided-plunder 2/4

<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-17357863> is used for hardening metals in aircraft engines; lanthanum <http://geology.com/articles/rare-

earth-elements/> is a crucial element in camera lenses, as well as in night-vision goggles used by the military.

For decades, the U.S. was the world's leading producer and processor of such metals. But in the 1990s, it began losing its edge to Chinese

producers, who benefited from lower costs, less regulation and a burgeoning manufacturing base. The shift was fast: The Mountain Pass mine

in California, the only U.S. rare-earth mine, closed in 2002. Within a decade, China was producing about 97 percent of the world's supplies.

That market dominance didn't go unnoticed. The U.S. Congress, alarmed that China might monopolize raw materials needed in certain

weapons systems, commissioned <http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10617r.pdf> a study on rare earths in the defense supply chain and

considered legislation <https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/06160> to spur the development of domestic alternatives.

Respected publications warned of a "Rare Earth Crisis <https://www.technologyreview.com/s/423730/the-rare-earth-crisis/> ."

For a brief moment, one seemed imminent. In 2010, China ordered <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/business/global/23rare.html> a halt to

rare-earth shipments to Japan -- a huge market for the materials -- amid political tensions. Panic ensued and prices spiked. Cerium, which had

cost $6 a pound in 2008, shot up to $77 a pound. Sensing an opportunity, the mining company Molycorp Inc. spent nearly $1 billion to reopen

the Mountain Pass mine. As fears intensified, its stock price soared.

But markets have their own means of responding to shortages. And the fact is, rare earths aren't really rare. Rather, they're difficult to find in

economically viable concentrations and expensive to mine. Rising prices can quickly change the economics of scarcity. Even before the

embargo on Japan, new sources of supply were popping up <http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/10/01/us-congress-spurs-rare-earth-

race/> in Canada, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Australia and Malaysia. In China, meanwhile, wildcat mines quickly sprung up

<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/business/global/30smuggle.html> to take advantage of the price spike.

More important, manufacturers -- spooked by the prospect of losing access to rare earths -- invested <http://www.reuters.com/article/us-

rareearths-alternatives-idUSBRE85L0YB20120622> in finding alternatives. Honda Motor Co. developed <http://www.reuters.com/article/us-

honda-rareearths-idUSKCN0ZS06C> the world's first hybrid car motor that doesn't use rare-earth magnets (thereby reducing the cost and

weight of the motors). Hitachi Metals America figured out how to substantially reduce <http://articles.sae.org/11988/> the amount of rare earths

needed in its magnets.

By late 2011, reduced demand and increased supply sent rare-earth prices into a tailspin

<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/business/global/prices-of-rare-earth-metals-declining-sharply.html> , leading to an ugly bankruptcy for

Molycorp. A global marketplace that many bet could be cornered by China instead adjusted to disruption by finding new supply. Thanks to

improving technology and new exploration -- including in North Dakota <http://bismarcktribune.com/business/local/north-dakota-coal-

studying-supply-of-valuable-rare-earth-elements/article_99fe566f-6de6-55f3-9de3-6005fe1a17ac.html> 's shale oil fields -- the next disruption

should be less severe <https://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Commodities/China-crackdown-could-curb-rare-earths-outflow?page=2> than the last.

All of which makes the Trump administration's newfound interest in dredging up Afghanistan's rare-earth supplies misguided. The hope

seems to be <http://thediplomat.com/2017/07/will-afghanistans-minerals-shape-trumps-policy-toward-the-region/> that leaving American

troops in the country would allow U.S. mining companies to exploit its deposits and thus reduce China's near-monopoly. The plan is still a bit

hazy, but it's of a piece with some unfortunate <http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/02/08/have-national-security-crisis-lets-do-

nothing.html> alarmism <http://www.nationalreview.com/article/446002/united-states-china-trade-rare-earth-elements-negligent-policy-

harms-american-national-security> among Republicans about China's dominance of rare-earth production.

8/1/2017 Trump's Misguided Plunder - Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-07-31/trump-s-misguided-plunder 3/4

Terms of Service Trademarks Privacy Policy ©2017 Bloomberg L.P. All Rights Reserved

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In truth, there's little reason for the U.S. to fear a shortage of rare earths any time soon. Even if China wanted to squeeze the market again, the

forces of competition and innovation would likely be enough to ensure that supply meets demand. Americans who champion the free market

should have a lot more faith in it.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

To contact the author of this story:

Adam Minter at aminter@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:

Timothy Lavin at tlavin1@bloomberg.net