Wildfires burning throughout California are generating smoke and ash that is impacting portions of western Riverside County, prompting health officials to urge residents to take precautions with the unhealthy air quality levels.

Nearby El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino County started during a gender-reveal party, officials said.

Smile Brands Inc., a national provider of business support services to dental groups in the United States, had the grand opening Aug. 31 of another affiliated Bright Now! Dental office, at 1541 E 2nd St. in Beaumont.

On Sept. 4 at 12:27 p.m., officers from the Banning Police Department responded to the area of the 1700 block of W. Williams Street regarding shots fired.

There is a high potential for debris and mudflows to occur in areas of Cherry Valley and Beaumont during the next rain events, due to the Apple Fire that broke out on July 31, burning more than 28,000 acres in Cherry Valley, Banning, and the Morongo Reservation.

BY DAVID JAMES HEISS

Banning has approved tract maps for Diversified Pacific’s first phase of homebuilding in south Banning, as part of the Rancho San Gorgonio Specific Plan.

Five years ago Banning designated the nonprofit Evenings in the Park concert series at Repplier Park one of its “signature events,” along with Banning Stagecoach Days.

Beaumont’s city council is extending COVID-19 expense-related funds beyond simply helping local businesses.

Pass area unemployment rates dropped in the July report released Aug. 21 by the California Economic Development Department (EDD), but it was still in double digits.

BY DAVID JAMES HEISS

Pass area property owners are going to see a reduction in their property tax bill this year.

Banning voters will decide whether to tax cannabis distributors that operate within their city, come November.

As hiking some of Southern California's tallest peaks and rugged, beautiful wilderness areas become increasingly more popular and crowded, Forest Service officials are reinstating a day-use permit system for entering three wilderness areas on the San Bernardino National Forest starting Sept. 1.

Beaumont Unified School District has placed its superintendent Terrence Davis on paid administrative leave, following a public employee performance evaluation item in reference to him in a closed session meeting following the school board’s regular meeting Tuesday.

The sanctuary and other buildings on the campus of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redlands have been virtually deserted since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown nearly six months ago.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to appoint Bill Weiser as the new Riverside County Fire Chief.

Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed Aug. 4 that racism is a public health crisis and vowed to take steps to deal with the issue, similar to the the city of Banning’s approval of an ordinance that calls for ongoing racial equity training for city staff and administration,…

Beaumont property owners with unresolved or delinquent fees and charges related to solid waste and sewer bills will see those fees collected as part of those property owners’ taxes.

Congressman Raul Ruiz has been solicited to assist economically depressed Banning with attempting to close down its airport — a move that would require Congressional support.

Beaver Medical Group is moving in to its new Urgent Care Center and state-of-the-art medical facility at the Sundance Corporate Center at 839 N. Highland Springs Ave.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that the state has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Apple Fire burning in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The Apple Fire was 30 percent contained Thursday morning, having scorched 28,085 acres.