Riverside County DA calls for crackdown on fentanyl dealers

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin on Tuesday joined the father of a college student who died from fentanyl poisoning, along with a federal law enforcement official, in calling on the state Legislature to pass laws that would mandate warnings to drug suppliers that they could face murder charges if what they sell kills someone.

"We want to tell our lawmakers, the governor — help us," Hestrin said. "Help the people of our state. Pass the laws that give us the tools to protect our citizens. It's as simple as that."

Hestrin, DrugInducedHomicide.com founder Matt Capelouto of Temecula and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Bill Bodner held a news briefing at the DA's headquarters in downtown Riverside to appeal to the Legislature to give consideration to Senate Bill 44, authored by Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Anaheim, and SB 13, authored by

Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Beaumont, which are nearly identical.

The proposals would mandate advisements to drug dealers, stating they understand upon conviction of dealing controlled substances that they could be prosecuted for seconddegree murder if the

By City News Service

products they distribute in the future cause a person's death.

The advisement would be on par with Watson warnings that individuals convicted of driving under the influence must sign upon conviction of a DUI.

"No laws are in place to ensure dealers will be

City of Corona puts out call to nonprofits for event co-sponsorship requests

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

Corona officials are asking nonprofit organizations to submit requests for co-sponsored events, and applications are due by March 30, the city announced.

The city is currently creating its budget for co-sponsored events scheduled in the next fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2024.

"The Co-Sponsorship program is administered by the Community Services Department and is intended to facilitate non-profit community events open to the public," said Jose Coria, community services events program coordinator. "This program provides a one-time award in the form of a fee waiver to offset costs associated with City permits and services in support of the requested event."

Established in 1998, "this program has supported many events over the years," Coria said in an email to the Corona News Press. "Every year we support anywhere between 20-35 events. Some to make note of are the Relay for Life, Lobsterfest, Cinco De Mayo Parade, Jingle Bell Run, Day of the Child, and Memorial Mile March."

This program is not the same as the recently approved Community Based Organization grant funding, which will be made available through a separate application process, according to the held accountable. They don't exist (in California)," Capelouto said. "(SB 13 and SB 44) will save lives in our state and in our communities."

SB 13 is known as "Alexandra's Law," in memory of Capelouto's daughter. It and SB 44 are under review by the Senate Committee on