MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014 - NOVEMBER 30, 2014
riversideindependent.com
VOLUME 1, NO. 30
Millions of illegal immigrants now have Man indicted a chance to live American Dream for allegedly by jennifer schlueter assaulting a United States Border Patrol agent while driving a vehicle
gunshots rang out. The gun belonging to the suspect was recovered at the scene, said Cook. The shooting happened at the height of a chase where officers, who were part of the
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Coachella man with allegedly assaulting a federal border patrol agent with his vehicle after evading inspection at a federal checkpoint. Ivan Nieves, 20, was charged on Friday, November 14, with one count of forcibly assaulting the federal officer with a deadly weapon (his vehicle) and causing him bodily harm. Nieves was arrested on the morning of November 3 following the alleged incident and charged in a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court in Riverside, California. According to the complaint, Nieves was driving a Ford Mustang when he was questioned by federal border patrol agents at a checkpoint on Highway 86 in Imperial County, California. When Nieves was detained for further questioning by agents, he allegedly fled northbound at a high rate of speed, evading border patrol agents. Following a pursuit at high rates of speed that involved multiple border patrol units north of Imperial County, Nieves allegedly attempted to strike a Border Patrol Agent with the vehicle Nieves was driving at the intersection of Highway 86 & 81st Avenue in Riverside County. The victim, who suf-
Please see page 4
Please see page 2
March for immigration rights in San Bernardino - Photo by Erika Paz
Last Thursday, in his immigration speech, Obama promised to increase the budget for law enforcement at our Southern border to prevent illegal crossings and to speed up de-
portation of “those who do cross over.” Additionally, he promised to “make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our econo-
my;” however, he emphasized that felons and gang members should not have the chance to take advantage of American life, Please see page 2
Gunfire kills a suspect in officer-involved shooting by Vickie Vértiz Within the scope of a narcotics investigation, a fatal officer-involved shooting occurred in Riverside on Tuesday afternoon, November 18. At about 2:30 p.m., the shooting took place on the 10400 block of Keller Avenue near La Granada Elementary School.
While no officers were injured, the suspect was fatally injured: “The suspect is deceased,” said Lieutenant Mike Cook to the press shortly before 4:30 p.m. while still present at the scene. As the narcotics investigation visit was finishing up,
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Interactive light sculpture at the Riverside Art Museum The Riverside Art Museum (RAM) proudly presents Infinite Pulse, running November 28, 2014 – January 3, 2015. Infinite Pulse is a 15-foot tall stainless steel, glass, and LED light sculpture representing an infinitely looping trajectory of energy. The LED lights inside are controlled by a downloadable iPhone app, making the piece uniquely interactive. This piece has been exhibited at numerous festivals and art events. Designed and built by Rebecca Goodman with glass work by Christina Bullard, the lights are by iGloLEDset, and is from the collection of Frank and Lucy Heyming. “We wanted to share the sculpture with the community,” states Heyming. “Each night from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., there will be a docent to talk about the sculpture and help the public interact with it.” This sculpture will go live during the Festival of LIghts SwitchOn Ceremony on the evening of
Friday, November 28, 2014. Join us on our front lawn starting at 12:00 noon as we bring free holiday art activities to everyone coming downtown for the Switch-On Ceremony at the Mission Inn. “Showcasing this sculpture is a great way to participate in the Festival of Lights,” states Riverside Art Museum Executive Director Drew Oberjuerge, “and it let’s us stay true to our mission to exhibit interactive and high-quality art.” About the artist: Rebecca Goodman is an internationally exhibiting, Southern Californiabased artist who creates interactive objects and performative installations. She constructs multi-sensory, experiential pieces; designing and building sculpture, costumes, and functional art, choreographing and directing performance, and often collaborating with musicians, scientists, and performers of all genres to produce layered, ethereal pieces that describe themes of transformation and fragility and the exploration of archetypes.
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Hope for illegal immigrants Continued from page 1
but rather be deported. Obama asked Congress to get out of its gridlock and work together on this and other topics instead of against each other. After all, “our history and the facts show that immigrants are a net plus for our economy and our society,” the President added. Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, a proponent of Obama’s immigration measures spoke to the President in a video on YouTube last Wednesday: “Like their American criminal counterparts, they commit murders, sexual assaults, kidnaps, thefts, engage in violent gang activity and murder police officers. The problem I have is I can’t tell which ones are good and which ones are evil, and neither can you. By their very definition, they are undocumented, untracked, untraced and unaccounted for.” Representative Sam Farr, D-Carmel, calls the plan “a good first step,“ but worries, that “it does not go far enough to protect our local economy by ensuring that the agriculture industry has access to a stable workforce.” Senator Barbara Boxer applauds “President Obama for stepping up and taking bold and constitutional action to bring people out of the shadows, thereby strengthening our economy and keeping families from being torn apart.” She believes
that “these steps will increase border security and hold people accountable by requiring them to undergo background checks and pay taxes.” According to the Los Angeles Times, lots of immigrants from different backgrounds celebrated Obama’s policies. Citlali Gomez, a 34-year-old Mexican immigrant, who has been in the US for 12 years, has always lived in fear of being discovered, told the paper: “We’re going to leave the darkness. We’re going to stop being scared.” She wants “a better live” and is optimistic that she can take up her old profession as a nurse instead of cleaning houses, like she did here. Another immigrant, 27-yearold Martha from El Salvador, no qualifies for relief. “Finally. This means I’m going to be able to get an internship. This means I’m going to be able to get a real job,” the paper quoted her, teary eyed and happy. S.J. Lee, a Korean who stayed in Los Angeles after his tourist visa expired, and founded a family. He tells the LA Times reporter: “The president’s reassurances give us a bit of hope because he’s showing that he cares. He understands this is not an issue affecting just Latinos.” Governor Jerry Brown praised Obama and said that he “stepped up for hard-working families across America.”
Man charged with assault against US Border Patrol agent Continued from page 1
fered injuries to his hand, wrist, and knee, had been removing spikes from the roadway after a thwarted tactical attempt to stop Nieves’ vehicle. Following the alleged assault, Nieves continued driving before he was ultimately stopped. Nieves was taken into custody after resisting arrest, according to the complaint. Responding Border Patrol agents
found two firearms in the vehicle, one of which was loaded. If convicted, Nieves faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. This investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Customs & Border Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigaiton. Nieves will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Riverside.
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Board of Pharmacy recommends eliminating cigarette and tobacco sales in pharmacies The California Board of Pharmacy recommends that pharmacies and stores that contain pharmacies no longer sell cigarettes and tobacco products. At their October 29, 2014 meeting, board members unanimously approved a policy statement that recommends the elimination of tobacco product sales in pharmacies. The statement reads: “The California State Board of Pharmacy recognizes that pharmacists are health care providers and pharmacies are in the business of improving customer health; therefore the board recommends that pharmacies and chain stores that include pharmacies eliminate the sale of tobacco, e-cigarettes and tobacco products, as these products are known to cause cancer, heart disease, lung disease and other health problems.” Board President Stan Weisser said board members could not justify the sale of tobacco products, which have been proven to contribute to patient health issues and death, in the public health setting of a pharmacy, or even in a store that contains a pharmacy. “The Board of Pharmacy’s paramount mandate is to protect consumers. This recommendation sends a clear and consistent message that combining tobacco sales and a pharmacy within the same business is not in the best interests of public health,” Weisser said. Weisser said the tobacco product recommendation coincides with the board’s development of regulations which will allow a pharmacist to furnish nicotine replacement products to assist with smoking cessation. “In the near future, California pharmacists will play a greater role in providing health care and tobacco products have no place in that,” he said.
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Brown administration calls for extension of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Children’s health advocates in California are praising the Brown Administration for joining the call on Congress to take quick action to extend funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which expires in September 2015. In a letter dated October 30th, California Secretary of Health and Human Services Diana Dooley on behalf of the Brown Administration responded to an inquiry from Congressional leaders about the importance of CHIP by “strongly encourage[ing] Congress to act early and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).” Specifically, the letter notes that “Renewal of federal CHIP funding is extraordinarily important to California’s fiscal stability and the ability to continue to offer cost-effective, affordable coverage for children and pregnant women….The loss of such funding would put gains in children
and infants’ health coverage at risk.” CHIP is a critical program that supports Medi-Cal coverage for families and pregnant women and ensures kids throughout California have access to comprehensive, quality health coverage they need. Together CHIP and Medi-Cal have cut the rate of uninsured children in California by half in ten years—from 10.3 percent in 2001 to 5.1 percent in 2011. On behalf of the California Children’s Health Coverage Coalition, Pete Manzo, President of United Ways of California said, “We applaud Governor Brown, Secretary Dooley, and Medi-Cal Director Toby Douglas, for letting Congress know the value California holds in continuing the federal investment in the important Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). We hope Congress responds by quickly fully funding CHIP for four years.
“For sixteen years, CHIP has been a lifeline for California’s working families, giving children access to comprehensive, affordable health coverage. CHIP, along with Medicaid, has brought health coverage rates for children to a historic high,” added Alex Johnson, Executive Director of Children’s Defense FundCalifornia. “Unfortunately, unless Congress takes action quickly, there will be no new federal funding for CHIP after next September, jeopardizing the health of millions of children in California and across the nation.” “CHIP helps children stay healthy so they can succeed in school and keeps coverage affordable for families, protecting them from the financial instability caused by unexpected medical bills,” said Suzie Shupe, Executive Director of California Coverage & Health Initiatives. “This is not the time to mess with success,
and we cannot afford to lose ground in our efforts to get all California kids covered.” Kelly Hardy, Senior Director of Health Policy at Children Now said, “Renewal of CHIP funding is also critical to California’s financial health – if Congress does not act, California would lose well over $500 million in federal funds in 2016 alone. For better fiscal certainty so that California can meet the health care needs of our kids, we hope Congress hears this loud, and growing, urgent call to extend funding for CHIP now and not wait to address funding right before the funds run out.” “By renewing funding for this proven, bipartisan program we can continue to provide California’s kids with the coverage and quality care they need to succeed in school and in life,” added Wendy Lazarus, Co-President and Founder of The Children’s Partnership.
Gunfire kills a suspect in officer-involved shooting Continued from page 1
drug probe, tried to stop the vehicle of the suspect as he drove away, according to Riverside police in a release later the same day. The paper noted that the release did not specify
why the vehicle was a target. The paper added that the driver did not stop until he reached a driveway in the 5400 block of Bushnell Avenue. The suspect exited his vehicle and
ran away on foot and officers chased after him. Unfortunately for the suspect, at the moment when he reached a backyard of a home, he stopped and turned, pointing a gun at officers, according to the Press Enterprise. This was a direct threat to officers, who then shot the suspect, killing him. Even though officers called in medical assistance and attempted to save the suspect after shooting him, first aid did not work on the suspect. Once the fire department and ambulance crews arrived, they had to pronounce the man dead. The Enterprise spoke with some area residents who saw some of the incident. “I heard a police car coming, with the sirens,” said neigh-
borhood resident Jennifer. “I saw the police car fly down the street. And then I heard, ‘Pow, pow, pow. Then mobs of police cars came and blocked off the street.” Because shootings have become so tragically commonplace in and around our schools, the incident prompted a ten-minute lockdown of La Granada Elementary on Keller. A spokesman for Alvord Unified School District, Shawn Loescher, said the school was on a shortened schedule that day and let out at 1 p.m. Students were already gone before the shooting occurred. The public is asked to contact Detective Dave Smith if they have information on the case is asked to call Detective Greg Rowe at 951-353-7136.