Inland Empire

The family of a Yucaipa man who died from COVID-19 complications has filed a lawsuit against Riverside County, alleging workplace negligence that led to his catching the virus. Michael Haywood, 61, died last February. His family says he contracted the virus at the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, where he had worked for 15 years.

Call it a late Christmas present or a “Happy New Year” gift, but four local educators are celebrating their random selection as recipients of CalRTA Division 33’s $100 Teacher Grants. Division 33 of the California Retired Teachers Association conducts random drawings five times each year, awarding 3-4 $100 teacher grant checks to local teachers who complete the short application, no strings attached, via an online form they receive in their school email inbox or by accessing a link on the CalRTA Division 33 website or Facebook page. Chauntai Marchal, a TK (transitional kindergarten) teacher at Ramona Elementary School in Hemet, says, “My students love dramatic play.” She plans to purchase “more toys such as dress up clothes and a pretend cash register for them to play with.

Continuing the state’s leadership to redress historical injustices, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of California’s new program to compensate survivors of state-sponsored sterilization, created as part of the 2021-22 state budget package.

Mountain lions, eagles, salamanders and other protected animals will have room to roam without threat of encroaching development thanks to a vast new nature preserve that creates a wildlife corridor connecting Northern and Southern California.

California lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday to begin an eight-month session in an election year, shaded by uncertainty but buoyed by a second consecutive year of massive budget surpluses.