News (2024)

The city of Beaumont, on June 4, approved a professional services agreement with Dokken Engineering for the completion of preliminary design and environmental documents for the reconstruction of the Interstate 10 and Oak Valley Parkway interchange, entering the second phase of the Caltrans project.

Beaumont High School celebrated the commencement of its Class of 2024 with a ceremony on Thursday, June 6.

On Tuesday, June 4, friends and family gathered in the stands of Beaumont High School’s athletic field to celebrate the commencement of Beaumont Unified School District’s 21st Century Learning Institute (21stCLI), Beaumont Middle College High School and Glen View High School’s class of 2024 …

The city of Beaumont adopted its 2024-25 citywide budget of $171.338 million as well as its 2025-29 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

The city of Beaumont recently announced the appointment of Police Chief Sean Thuilliez as the second vice president of the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA).

The Cultural Alliance of the Pass recently awarded three scholarships to local students Nani Patterson, Sarai Valencia and Jordan Amis. The scholarships were for $500 each.

Update: As of 3:42 p.m. Cal Fire reported four structures destroyed by the fire and that firefighters had reached 10 percent containment.

At Banning Unified School District’s Board meeting, held Thursday, May 23, there was a review of student matters and Superintendent Terrance Davis commented on end-of-year activities and student achievements. Future board items to be discussed include Cadet Corps funding, field trip policies…

The city of Banning has announced that four council seats as well as the city clerk and city treasurer offices will be up for election in the Nov. 5, 2024 election.

The city of Banning is without a community development director after City Manager Doug Schulze exercised the option to terminate Adam Rush’s employment contract without cause, effective Thursday, May 27.

The evening of Thursday, May 30, was an occasion of accomplishment and celebration as Banning Unified School District’s Coombs Alternative Education held the commencement ceremony for its Banning Independent, New Horizon High School and Banning Adult School classes of 2024.

On Friday, May 31, the Banning Unified School District, family and friends celebrated the commencement of the Banning High School Class of 2024, a class that Superintendent Terrence Davis said was characterized by its perseverance, grit and gratitude.

The fire was reported fully contained at 8:20 p.m. June 6.

The evening before graduation the Banning High School seniors donned their caps and gowns to collect their academic awards and scholarships during the school’s Senior Awards Night on Thursday, May 30.

Two prestigious national scholarship recipients, a veteran re-entering the workforce and a proud mother and her son were among the record-number of graduates who participated in the Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 23, at Pechanga Resort Casino.

The Beaumont High School Class of 2024 senior awards was held Thursday, March 30. Proud parents, family and friends packed Beaumont High School gymnasium to cheer for the award and scholarship recipients.

On Monday, June 3, the Banning Police Department arrested a juvenile suspect for murder and attempted murder following a shooting on N. Hargrave that left one victim dead and one hospitalized.

On Tuesday, May 21, the Beaumont City Council unanimously approved the Beaumont Pointe Specific Plan, a commercial and industrial development plan for 622.5 acres along the south side of State Route 60 west of Jack Rabbit Trail. In approving the project, the city also approved the annexation…

On Thursday, May 23, the Calimesa Chamber Foundation held its 2024 Scholarship Awards Tea at Edward-Dean Museum and Gardens, where it awarded scholarships to nine remarkable seniors from four local high schools.

Longer days and warmer weather means spending more time outside; whether it’s working in the yard, tending to the garden, hiking local trails or hitting the backyard pool. A rise in temperatures also means an increase in rattlesnake sightings.

At the Beaumont Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting held Tuesday, May 21, the main items discussed included a future bond, a review and update of the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and a brief overview of the 2024-25 budget.

Saturday, May 18, Beaumont residents were invited to tour the city’s new Fire Station 106 on Potrero Boulevard during an open house hosted by the city.

On Tuesday, May 14, the Banning City Council considered renaming the former National Guard Armory building, 2041 W. Nicolet St., after former mayor Arthur Lee Welch, but chose to table the decision to a later date, instructing the Parks and Recreation Commission to use the public process to …

During its May 7 meeting the Beaumont City Council postponed its adoption of a new development impact fee (DIF) schedule to June 18 to give stakeholders within the development industry additional time to review and comment on the DIF schedule study and the new fee schedule.

Community Revitalization Investment Authority (CRIA) is a tool for local governments to fund infrastructure improvements from tax dollars generated by new development. The city of Banning is considering creation of a CRIA and establishing boundaries of the district. Part of the process is ob…

The 25-year Facilities Master Plan and the expansion of mental health services to children and families were the biggest topics of discussion at the May 7 Beaumont Unified School District Board meeting.

On Tuesday, May 14, the Banning City Council adjusted its committee assignments appointing Councilman David Happe to be the city’s representation for the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). Happe was appointed to the council in February to fill a seat vacated by Reuben Gonzale…

San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (SBVMWD) and South Mesa Water Company (SMWC) are building strong regional partnerships through the County Line Recharge Basin and Turnout Project, a joint endeavor to increase water supply in the Yucaipa Subbasin …

San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) will coordinate a Heli-Hydrant project alongside several local water districts to bolster firefighting efforts in a challenging fire-risk region.

On Tuesday, May 7, the Beaumont Police Department Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) arrested 44-year-old Robert Devocht for the misuse of 911 and making criminal threats.

Friday, May 3, Beaumont Unified School District began its graduation season with the commencement ceremony of the Beaumont Adult School Vocational Nurse Program during which 28 graduates received their diplomas.

The Banning Police Department and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) made 23 contacts and arrested two individuals for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors during a Shoulder Tap operation in Banning on Friday, May 3. This enforcement operation was d…

Cal Fire firefighters have responded to a brush fire near Apache Trail and Bonita Avenue in Cabazon. The fire was first reported at 2:08 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, and has spread to about 37 acres.

Continuing its preparations to construct a grade separation where the Union Pacific Railroad tracks cross Hargrave Street, the Banning City Council, on April 23, approved the purchase of a small property at 786 John Street, which will be needed to accommodate the project.

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) reported approving $93.6 million to help build climate resiliency centers in neighborhoods most impacted by extreme heat and other climate related issues, fulfilling part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $48 billion California Climate Commitment, whereby t…

The Banning City Council is attempting to better define and clarify the role and responsibilities of the Budget and Finance Committee with the establishment of a committee policy. A draft policy was reviewed and discussed by the council at its April 23, with the council ultimately suggesting…

On Tuesday, April 16, the Beaumont City Council approved approximately 12 miles in street repairs as part of a $4.282 million project.

The Riverside County Regional Cold Case Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the family of a victim murdered in 1989.

On Tuesday, April 16, the Beaumont City Council made several appointments to fill vacant seats on the city’s Planning Commission, Financial and Audit Committee, and Economic Development Committee.

Thursday, April 18, the Californians for Safer Communities Coalition announced that it will submit over 900,000 voter signatures to qualify the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act (Initiative 23-0017A1) to qualify for the November General Election ballot. To qualify the mea…

The city of Beaumont and Cal Fire celebrated the completion of the new Fire Station 106 at Potrero Boulevard and Olivewood Way with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 11.

Drivers near Beaumont and Brookside avenues witnessed a flurry of sirens and flashing lights as they responded to a grisly “car collision” in the late-morning hours of Wednesday, April 10. Thankfully, the “victims” were all part of a simulated traffic collision worthy of a Hollywood production.

On Tuesday, March 26, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested a San Bernardino man suspected of a grand theft in Cabazon related to an organized retail crime ring.

The city of Banning is preparing to start cracking down on unlawful encampments after approving the first reading of Ordinance 1603, which will allow the enforcement of the city’s regulations on unsafe camping on public property as well as the storage of private possessions in public places.

On March 26, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Arthur C. Hester to a vacant judgeship in the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside.

Tuesday, April 2, the city of Beaumont broke ground on its remodel and expansion of the city’s Veterans and First Responders Memorial Plaza in front of City Hall.

The Banning City Council is considering raising the salary for its members after the passage of a state bill has raised the maximum compensation schedule for council members in general law cities.

The city of Banning welcomed Adan Fragas, Maya Geronimo and Amaya Diaz to the second round of appointments to the newly formed Banning Youth Council on Tuesday, March 26.

The Banning City Council, which is considering installing a city identify on the San Gorgonio Avenue freeway overpass, gave instruction to city staff to seek funding sources and to engage the new Youth Council in developing design concepts.

The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District launches its inaugural Hydraulic Design Manual, a comprehensive resource aimed at providing engineers with essential criteria and guidance for the design of stormwater management facilities in Riverside County. This manual ma…