A San Bernardino judge has ordered a 42-year-to-life prison sentence for a Colton man in a ‘cold’ case of murder and arson. Keith Costella, 26, was arrested in 2011, more than a year after the burning body of Craig Kubitz was found in Redlands. The two men had worked odd jobs and got into a dispute over a $700 debt. Costella’s girlfriend pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the murder and was given probation.
Ten motorcyclists have been killed the past 4-weeks in accidents across the Inland Empire. The latest victim perished late Wednesday in a mishap on the Pomona Freeway in Ontario.
A bill providing property tax relief for California seniors was approved Tuesday in the state Senate on a vote of 36 to 0. It now goes to the Governor’s desk for signature. The bill would allow those over age 55 or the disabled to transfer the base value of their property to a new residence as long as the new house cost less than the old residence’s sale price.
A year-long campaign designed to help improve literacy throughout San Bernardino County by connecting people to literacy programs was endorsed by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. About 60 percent of San Bernardino County third graders are not proficient in reading, scoring lower than their peers in neighboring Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Rafael Guzman has been named Community and Economic Development Director for the City Riverside. Guzman brings 15 years of planning and community development experience to Riverside most recently as Planning Director in Bellflower, He starts on Sept. 28.
Passenger volume through Ontario International Airport continues to show month-to-month gains. July’s numbers were up slightly by 1.45%. International traffic is maintaining a vigorous percentage growth, reflecting demand for the Mexican markets.
A fire crimped the early Thursday evening commute on Interstate 10 between Redlands and Yucaipa. A flaming pick-up truck touched off a 5-acre brushfire near Yucaipa Boulevard. Traffic was backed up to Alabama Street.
Patrick Chavez is San Jacinto’s new Chief of Police effective Thursday. Chavez, a Lieutenant with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience.
The State Assembly has passed the latest attempt to restore millions in lost vehicle license fees to Riverside County’s four newest cities. Tuesday’s vote was unanimous 70-0. Governor Brown had vetoed a previous attempt.
A Cathedral City woman has been charged with multiple counts of grand theft involving payments she received while unlawfully acting as an immigration consultant. Sara Arcelia Salcido was arraigned Monday at Indio Superior Court and pleaded not guilty.
Caltrans is making improvements on three segments of Highway 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains. A $4.1 million contract calls for re-paving Route 18 between Talmadge Road in Big Bear to the SR-138 junction in Crestline. Work is scheduled to begin September 9th and continue for eighteen weeks.
Redlands police have joined several law enforcement agencies in an 18-day campaign against drunk drivers. It continues through Labor Day. In California during 2013, 867 people died in drunken driving collisions