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bringing it to 4.5%, in an attempt to soak up excess liquidity and slow spending. The rates hikes will continue for the foreseeable future, Powell said.

24-year-old found guilty of two Banning murders, faces potential life sentence

A24-year-old man was found guilty of his role in the killings of two men in Banning, as well as the attempted murders of seven other people in three separate shooting incidents in 2017.

Samuel Vasquez was found guilty on all counts and allegations by a Riverside County jury on Jan. 25.

Vasquez was involved in the murders of Charles Neazer, 51, in 2015 and Henry Waters Jr., 20, in 2017. Both men were found with gunshot wounds.

The cases went cold until May 2021, when investigators were able to identify and arrest Vasquez as one of the suspects involved in the murders.

As part of the guilty verdict, Vasquez was found to have committed the crimes in association with and for the benefit of a criminal street gang. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14.

In their original news release announcing the arrest, police said Neazer was walking home when Vasquez, and a second suspect, William Armendariz Jr., drove up next to him as he was crossing the street. The two exited a vehicle and shot Neazer. They then fled the scene.

Armendariz has also been arrested and charged in connection with the killing of Neazer. He remains in court with his next appearance scheduled for Feb. 23, according to court records.

It was a similar case in the murder of Waters. Police said he was walking with a friend at around 3 a.m. when a vehicle pulled up next to Waters and his friend. Vasquez, along with a second suspect, Jose Verdusco Jr., exited the vehicle and shot Waters several times killing him. They also attempted to shoot Waters’ friend, who had run and hid during the incident. Verdusco was arrested and charged with Waters' murder. His name does not pop up in court or county jail records. We have reached out to the Riverside County District Attorney's office for an update on the status of his case.

Popular Wildflower Trail Opens to Public

NEWS DESK | CONTRIBUTED

The Wildflower Trail will be open Wednesdays through Sundays at the lake in Hemet in southwestern Riverside County. After December and January’s heavy storms, Metropolitan expects a larger bloom of wildflowers than in the last few years, which were the driest in the state’s history. Though flowers are just beginning to bloom, warmer weather over the next few weeks should usher in heartier bouquet. Among the flowers typically found at Diamond Valley Lake are California poppies, deep blue arroyo lupines, purple Canterbury bells, yellow rancher’s fiddleneck, white popcorn flowers and pink red maids.

The trail is part of the Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve, which Metropolitan helped create in 1992, covering 9,000 acres sur- rounding Diamond Valley Lake and connecting to Lake Skinner. Through long-standing partnerships and commitments, Metropolitan has played an ongoing role in establishing and managing four large-scale multi-species reserves spanning more than 30,000 acres across Southern California as it works to ensure water reliability and environmental sustainability for the region. The trail’s 1.3-mile loop, accessible from the Diamond Valley Lake Marina’s parking lot, with entry off Domenigoni and Searl parkways in Hemet, is rated as an easy-to-moderate hike with some rugged terrain. Hours are 6:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (no entry after 3:30 p.m.). The trails and marina are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. In addition to hiking, the lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing and bike riding.

See DIAMOND VALLEY on page A4

The cases, along with similar incidents at the time, prompted the Banning Police Department to increase its number of detectives.

The department has said that in 2019, its Detective Bureau, after reviewing evidence from other crime scenes started finding similarities and evidence that was similar to other crimes in and out of the city. Over time, detectives started creating lists of persons of interest and worked to eliminate suspects from the list through intensive investigation.

"This monumental task was nearly impossible without having the proper staffing levels in the Detective Bureau," reads the announcement by the Banning

Southern California Edison Sued by City of Hemet

MADISON AUMENT | KVCR

Hemet claims that SoCal Edison equipment ignited the fire. Southern California News Group reports that Hemet’s lawsuit claims the utility did not manage its electrical power lines and failed to keep its landscape trimmed.

A SoCal Edison spokesperson says the utility is reviewing the city’s action and will respond through legal channels.

The Fairview Fire erupted on Sept. 5 near Hemet and burned more than 44 square miles. Nearly 3 dozen homes and structures were destroyed or damaged. Two people were killed. One civilian and two firefighters were injured.

HEMET, CA

Algae Stop Fishing And Kayaking At Lake Hemet

A 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of shooting at cars near two Southern California highways over the weekend, authorities said.

Sheriff's deputies responded Saturday following reports that a man was pointing a handgun at pedestrians and firing at vehicles near the intersection of Interstate 5 and State Route 119 in Kern County.

The suspect was taken into custody without