Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include: The Center for Biological Diversity requests protected status for Joshua Trees. Morongo Casino plans to expand gaming floor and create over 400 jobs. California now has a statewide mental health phone line for people in need of support. Calimesa Mobile Home Park residents affected by the Sandalwood Fire will be able to receive help at a local assistance center. A 24-year-old

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is expanding its gaming floor and creating over 400 jobs. The 65,000-square-foot expansion will add 800 slot machines, a new bar and lounge areas, and a dedicated nonsmoking space to the casino floor. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians say the expansion will create 425 new full-time jobs, adding to the 2,500 jobs already provided by the casino. Simon Farmer is the Executive Director of Marketing for the casino. He says the expansion will add to the $3 billion in

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include: New Temescal Valley medical facility addresses regional doctor shortages. Governor Gavin Newsom signs several bills that seek to move California closer to universal health care. Calimesa Blaze that killed two people and destroyed 1,011 acres reaches full containment. Two educators from Riverside County received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission today to protect western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act. Joshua trees, which are native to the Mojave Desert, are threatened by climate change and habitat destruction. Brendan Cummings is the Center for Biological Diversity’s conservation director and a Joshua tree resident. Cummings: “Joshua trees have become an icon of California, and millions of people visit the state to visit our

A new Riverside Medical Clinic facility in Temescal Valley opened last week, providing resources to off-set region-wide medical shortages. Administrators and doctors held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility on Thursday, Oct. 10. The nearly 97,000-square-foot facility has a full range of specialty services to meet the needs of a rapidly-expanding population in Riverside County. Dr. William Suh is a cardiologist at the new clinic. He says the new facility will help attract more

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include: Very few rooftop solar panels helped to keep the lights on during last week’s power outages. Governor Gavin Newsom signs two new “red flag” laws as part of a package of gun control bills. Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs claims his city is home to ‘the second highest rent increases in the nation’.

With Indigenous Peoples Day coming up this Monday, KVCR’s sister station FNX spoke with Indigenous leaders from El Salvador about an upcoming event celebrating 527 years of Indigenous resistance and resilience. It was on January 22, 1932, where more than 35,000 indigenous people of El Salvador died at the hands of Salvadoran soldiers for protesting the oppressive policies and government of president Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez. Today in El Salvador, the indigenous group Nahuat-Pipil still

Longtime Inland Empire journalist and KVCR contributor, Cassie MacDuff and KVCR's Benjamin Purper review some of the big Inland Empire news stories from the past week, including: 1. A political flyer is raising concerns in a troubled Inland water district. 2. Eastvale is offering half a million dollars in loans to attract restaurants. 3. The Inland Empire Economic Partnership has a new economist. THIS SEGMENT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEWS GROUP, PUBLISHER OF THE PRESS

Multiple fires broke out across the Inland Empire yesterday, fanned by strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity. The Sandalwood fire in Calimesa destroyed 73 mobile homes and a park clubhouse, damaged 16 other homes and burned at least 500 acres. It also claimed the life of one person, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The department and Cal Fire arson investigators are trying to determine whether the fire was an act of arson. The fire was 10% contained Friday morning. North

Monday through Thursday at lunchtime, Empire KVCR News has your daily news rundown. Stories highlighted today include: California could be more than 100 years late in meeting its 2050 climate targets. Sexually transmitted disease cases in California are at their highest levels in nearly 30 years. Santa Ana windstorm raises fire danger throughout Inland Empire. Governor Gavin Newsom says he supports California electric utilities shutting off power in hopes of preventing massive wildfire, but