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Politics: California Electoral Vote Process Case Turned Down | Page B1
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REAL ESTATE | Page C2
Thursday, June 17 - 23, 2021
Weather: 103o/67o Volume III | Issue XXIV
A NEWS
Fed sees faster time frame for rate hikes as inflation rises
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WORLD NEWS | Page D1
www.HSJChronicle.com |
B POLITICS
Harvey Weinstein to be extradited to California
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D WORLD
Meeting: Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin
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See more on page B1 RIVERSIDE COUNTY
3 Women took advantage of the benefits of COVID-19 Three Southern California Women, from the Inland Empire area, Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud for Illegally Obtaining Over $1 Million in COVID-Related Jobless Benefits in Prison Inmates’ Names RIVERSIDE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT | CONTRIBUTED
T FAMILY: Soboba Tribal Preschool kindergarten graduate Clementine Swan, celebrates her promotion with three generations of family members on June 11. | Photo courtesy of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
SAN JACINTO, CA.
Soboba Tribal Preschool Promotes Its Young Ones SOBOBA BAND OF LUISEÑO INDIANS | CONTRIBUTED
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT NO. 69 92543-9998
n two different ceremonies, staff at Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal Preschool congratulated students on completing another school year and moving on to the next level. On June 9, preschoolers got to visit and receive congratulatory high-fives and hugs from teachers and smiles from proud parents who took lots of photos and videos. Ten students who spent their first year in Jr. Preschool were Ignacio Alcala, Marla Bigsby, Ava’vash Briones, Violet Chacon, Gabriel Herrera, Penny Jo Hunter, Angelo Martinez, Koda Medina, Nova Mendoza and Clover Swan. Preschoolers moving up are Penelope Alcala, Aaron Arenas, Joseph Bentiste, Maylene Briones, Xwáyish Briones, Demi Cervantes, Jena Davis, Michelle Deluna, Kuumaish Garcia, Man-
alice Garcia, Zeppelin Godinez, Liam Grant, Charlie Mae Hunter, Nikolas Lara, Koba Lindsey-Gallardo, Luciano Marquez, Adrian Rodriguez, J.D. Rodriguez, Notoómo Salgado, Journey Silvas and Kenai Silvas. Pre-K students who have been promoted to kindergarten are Jesslynn Alvarez, Aso’samal Arviso, Lamonte Bigsby, Mayla Briones, Shawn Briones, Zoey Briones, Charlie Brittian, Joseph Burton, Aria Godinez, Anaya Grant, Qawiyalwut Hampton, Tónla Hurtado-Laurenzana, Malia Kashersky, Daniel Mazza, Mona Medina, Tony Mendoza, Rheya Miranda, Tillie Ortega, Isaiah Peralta, Eli Pineda, Shay Razon, Makayla Trujillo, Yawaywish Vega and Thomas Velazquez. June 11 was set aside for an in-person, but socially distanced, promotion ceremony for 21 kindergarten students who completed all the necessary requirements to enter first grade in the upcom-
ing school year. The multi-purpose room was decorated in a combination theme of rainforest sloths and bees. Kindergarten teacher Cindy Lee explained that at the beginning of the school year, due to COVID-19 restrictions allowing distance learning only, the students divided their time between Lee (sloths) and teacher’s aide Antonia Briones-Venegas (bees). “This year has challenged us as a school, as a community and as families,” guests were told. “We want to thank all of our parents and guardians for embracing the change and working through the many challenges that we have faced. Although it ended differently than a normal school year, we have many memories of the happy times we shared with each other.” Each graduate was welcomed to the campus with a congratulatory yard sign that had their
See SOBOBA on page A3
SAN JACINTO, CA.
hree Inland Empire women have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges accusing them of using information belonging to other people – including California US DOJstate prison inmates – to file for pandemic-related unemployment benefits, with each defendant causing at least $350,000 in losses. Paris Denise Thomas, 33, of San Bernardino, pleaded guilty on Monday to a one-count information charging her with wire fraud. United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal has scheduled a September 13 sentencing hearing. On Friday, Sequoia Edwards, 35, of Moreno Valley, and Mireya Ramos, 42, of Colton, each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. United States District Judge John W. Holcomb has scheduled an August 27 sentencing hearing for Ramos. Edwards’ sentencing hearing will be scheduled on a later date set by Judge Holcomb. As a result of their guilty pleas, all three women face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law in March 2020 provided additional unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to qualified individuals and helped provide UI benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic to people who did not otherwise qualify, including business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those with a limited work history. According to her plea agree-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY | Courtesy Image. ment, from June 2020 to December 2020, Thomas submitted at least 47 fraudulent UI claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), which administers the UI program in California. Thomas admitted to receiving the names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and other personally identifiable information of California state prison inmates and others, which she used to submit applications for UI benefits via the internet as if those persons were submitting the claims themselves. Thomas falsely represented to the EDD that the inmates were unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In exchange for cash payments, Thomas provided third parties with the electronic benefit payment debit cards which were loaded periodically with UI benefits and EDD website login credentials linked to the fraudulent UI claims. In total, Thomas caused EDD to disburse approximately $477,000 in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits. Edwards admitted in her plea agreement that, from July 2020 to August 2020, she submitted
See FRAUD on page A4
CALIFORNIA STATE
As California Reopens, A City Council with an Elephant in The Mix Some Unvaccinated People RUSTY STRAIT | SENIOR WRITER
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elieve it or not, the San Jacinto City Council met in universal agreement on the agenda while totally ignoring the elephant in the room. The council was late returning for a closed session, the results of which were either not disclosed or continued to a future date. After a musical interlude waiting for the council to return to open session, the usual intros were accommodated. Special presentations included scholarships awarded by Interwest Community Foundation. Next came a proclamation for Pride Month 2021, stating more or less that the city of San Jacinto is a multi-cultured city and that all walks of life are a welcome part of the community. The Consent Calendar readings were waived and all items were
passed by 4-0 vote with Council Woman Ruiz an excused absence, as follows: Minutes from the June 1 regular meeting approved. Warrants and Disbursements approved. The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 21-05 repealing Chapter 930 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code. Established the Appropriations Limit from proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year 2021-2022. Approved and adopted Resolution No. 3871 establishing the appropriations limit from proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year 2021-2022. Approved the Professional Services Agreement with Robin Gilliland Consulting for Homeless and at-risk population (HARP) services.
See CITY COUNCIL on page A2
Feel Left Behind
CLAIRE TRAGESER | CONTRIBUTED
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ernice had a difficult choice to make. The Clairemont resident works in a food manufacturing lab, so back in February she knew she would be near the front of the line for a COVID-19 vaccine. But Bernice, who is not using her real name for privacy reasons, has multiple sclerosis. And at the time her symptoms were flaring up. She had numbness on one side of her body, difficulty holding her young son and problems typing on a computer. There are drug treatments that alleviate these symptoms, but they suppress the patient’s immune system, making the vaccines far less effective. So, if Bernice were to take the treatments she couldn’t take the vaccine for six
OUTSIDE: Stacy Hall wears her mask on a hike in this undated photo. | Courtesy photo of Stacey Hall. months. But she really wanted a vaccine. She tried to hold on, dealing with the pain and numbness.
See REOPENING on page C4
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