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Report: Inland economy on solid ground going into 2025
Corona touts 700-household enrollment in SCE solar program By Staff ore than 700 households in Corona have participated in the Community Solar Program by Southern California Edison, city officials said Thursday. The solar energy will result in over $50,000 in total annual savings on the residents’ energy costs, according to the city. “The success of this campaign so far reflects the growing desire among our residents to embrace renewable energy and work together to make a difference,” officials said in a statement. Many residents learned about the program via inserts in their water bills and digital campaigns in recent months. Time remains to enroll, “but spots are filling up fast,” officials said. “Once the program is at capacity, it will be sold out.” It was not immediately clear how many Corona households may enroll in the program. Program participants get guaranteed savings of up to 10% off monthly electricity, avoid installation because no solar panels are required and may cancel anytime without
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See SCE solar Page 28
Employment rates in the Inland Empire have fared better than other Southern California regions. | Image courtesy of SCAG
| Image courtesy of SCAG
from the coastal areas and elsewhere in search of more favorable housing costs, which will trigger continued growth in populationserving industries such as healthcare, retail trade and leisure and hospitality services.”
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By City News Service he Inland Empire economy is gearing up well heading into next year, reaping benefits from ongoing expansion in transportation, healthcare, hospitality and other sectors, according to a report released Thursday. The upbeat findings were part of the annual “Southern California Economic Update” published by the Southern California Association of Governments. “The outlook for the near-term future is positive for the Inland Empire,” Chief Economist for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership Manfred Keil said. “First, steady growth in the U.S. economy is expected over the next six to 18 months, driving increases in spending. Second, migration to the region will increase as households move
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Keil joined SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise and others Thursday for an Economic Roundtable in Riverside to spotlight key points from the SCAG report. “The risk of recession is sharply lower than it was a year ago,” Ajise said.
“Consumers continue to drive the state and regional economies with their spending, and business investment in equipment and software is sharply higher. This should extend into 2025 as interest rates soften.” Analysts said significant
developments in logistics, healthcare and energy projects, along with steadily increasing tourism, will result in economic positives over the coming year. Labor growth and capital investment are assured. “Housing construction and sales should rebound as the cycle of interest rates turns lower,” according to the report. The Inland Empire ranks as the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area nationwide, within 200,000 residents of the BostonCambridge MSA, which is ranked No. 11. “Challenges remain,” the report stated. “Comparing wages to gross domestic product, the Inland Empire ranks 300th out of 390 MSAs. Also, proposed hefty tariffs on imported goods, in particular from China, could reduce imports and negatively impact the region’s logistics industry.” The full report is available at scag.ca.gov.
Indio gang member convicted in 2016 murder gets life sentence By City News Service
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gang member convicted in the killing of a 22-year-old Indio man more than eight years ago was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday, following previous life sentences for four co-defendants. Miguel Cavazos, 44, of Indio, was previously found guilty of first-degree murder in October. He was identified as a potential participant in the killing of Adrian Valdez following an Indio police investigation that concluded well after the defendant’s cohorts had been sentenced. In addition to first-degree murder, jurors also found true sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, as well as a special-circumstance allegation of killing for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Judge Otis Sterling sentenced the defendant to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to Thalia Hayden of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. According to an Indio Police Department statement, the defendant was identified after “additional information surfaced (indicating) Cavazos was present and a participant in the shooting.” Police declined to elaborate on the findings. In 2019, Cesar Anthony Monzon, Angel Zacarias Lopez, Andrew Marquie Malanche and Jose Antonio Armendariz, See Murder Page 28