Combating the Fentanyl Crisis:
Charging Dealers with Murder When Sales Lead to Death
By Olivia Hoar Staff Writer
The fentanyl crisis in Riverside county has resulted in the District Attorney’s (DA) office charging dealers with second degree murder if the sale results in the death of a buyer. In 2023 Riverside counties Deputy DA Jerry Pfohl of the DA’s Homicide Division achieved the first guilty verdict in California for a homicide that related to the sale of the deadly substance that has been wreaking havoc on the nation. That verdict resulted in a sentence of 15 years to life for the perpetrator.
Fentanyal is a synthetic opiod used for pain relif. This opiod is about 100 times the strength of moprhine and around 50 times more powful than heroin according the United States Drug Enforcment Administration (FDA).
Since that first guilty verdict,
Riverside County’s DA office has successfully tried and won 20 cases related to the death of fentanyl users with sentences up to 22 years. These sentences are extended beyond the average 6 years for offenders according to the United States Sentencing Commission.
San Bernardino county is also pursuing murder charges for fentanyl overdoses. In 2022, 18-year-old Alfred Urrea was charged with the murder and death of 18-year-old Adrian Alloway . According to DA Jason Anderson, “In cases such as this, where murder is alleged, we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt the dealer knowingly understood the dangers of fentanyl, and still chose profits over human life when supplying drugs to the victim.”
A crucial fact to remember is that in many of the deaths related to fentanyl, the user was not aware of what they were
ingesting. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration the sale of counterfeit pills containing 2 mg of fentanyl, which is considered a deadly amount, is on the rise. This means a lethal dose of fentanyl can be disguised as common xanax, oxycontin, and other prevalent narcotics are being sold to drug users which can inevitably cause them to unknowingly overdose.
13,380,892 fentanyl pills and 6,497 lbs of fentanyl powder were seized by law enforcemnt from April 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 according to California’s Department of Justice. This statistic is a prime example of how large the fentanyl epidemic is in California alone and reveals a great deal of work to be done in the effort to stop the growing distribution of this drug. So far the Inland Empire is on the right track with persecuting those who
choose to endanger communities by spreading misfortune. This puts citties from Primm to Chino hills at an advantage by cutting the surge of Fetynal at the source.
Charging dealers for murder is an important step to take when it comes to protecting the lives fo those who may not known any better. in 2023 the California Department of Public Health documented 7,137 deaths linked to fentanyl overdoses. In an effort to deter the sale of the illicit drug Inland Empire’s DA offices are working diligently to charge fentanyl distributors for deaths linked to fentanyl overdose. By charging dealers for second degree murder they will be held accountable to the families of the victims and the law. A strict stance on fentanyl distributors could save many lives and for the lives that have already been lost, justice would be served.
Inland Empire District Attorney sends a clear message to fentanyl dealers regarding harsher sentencing for the continued sale of the illegal drug.
Contributors
Editor in Chief
Copy Editors
Social Media
Graphic Designers
Faculty Advisor
Evette Gallardo
David Lara Catalan
Jacqueline Flores
Mathew Pacheco
Amari Cotton
Samuel Rodriguez
Ashley Mejia
Matthew Vinson
John Gray
Gregory Gondwe
Gregory.Gondwe@csusb.edu
Department of Communication and Media
commstudies@csusb.edu
Staff Writers
Richard Arellano, Brandon Arias-Hernandez, Emilie Betancourt, Elizabeth Cortez, Mariana Duran, Wyatt Hall, Alanah Harvard, Olivia Hoar, Itzel Iniguez, Ryan Martinez, Julian Mcdonald, Johnny Mikoyan, Marco Rimicci, Destiny Roybal, Adam Ruiz, Benjamin Smith, Haylee Yates
Staff Writers are comprised of students enrolled in COMM2391 Practicum: Print & Online Journalism taught by Dr. Gregory Gondwe.
Contact Information Office:(909)537-5289
Advertising:(909)537-5815
Email:coyotecsmm@gmail.com Website:coyotechronicle.net
California State University, San Bernardino University Hall Room UH-037 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407
The Coyote Chronicle is published during the academic session by the Communication department. The opinions expressed in the Chronicle are those of the student writers and editors and do not reflect the views of the university, its faculty, or any other person or institution unless expressly noted. The appearance of any advertisement in the Chronicle does not represent an endorsement of the products or services advertised. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted to the paper.
San Bernardino Rescues Pets Left Behind in Palisades Fire
By Itzel B. Iniguez Staff Writer
In the aftermath of the devastating Palisades Fire that recently swept through the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas, the San Bernardino Animal Services Department has been actively assisting Los Angeles authorities in locating and saving displaced animals. San Bernardino responded to a formal request on January 15 and deployed a team of animal control officers to aid in search and rescue operations.
Supervisor Arianna Gonzalez, Lead Officer Eduardo Alvarez, and Officers Patrick Galvan, Jasmine Torres, and Estevan Barajas, worked tirelessly to reunite pets with their owners. Their efforts included rescuing household pets and wildlife.
“Seeing the devastation was heartbreaking,” said Supervisor Gonzalez, “locating lost pets and returning them to their grateful owners was very rewarding.”
One particular heartwarming reunion occurred when the team informed a homeowner that her 28 koi fish had survived the fire. Her home had burned to the ground, but the fish were safely relocated and are now recovering in a pond at DreamWorks Studios.
Natural disasters affect human life, but animal life often tends to be overlooked. Loss of animal life has economic
be devastating for humans. Collaborative efforts saw participation from teams in Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Mission Viejo. According to the public officials, “The City of San Bernardino will be reimbursed for staff time by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
“Helping other jurisdictions in need following a disaster is not only the right thing to do, but our staff gain crucial skills that can help San Bernardino’s residents if something were to
happen here,” said Kris Watson, San Bernardino Animal Services Director.
This incident shows that there’s a critical need for disaster preparedness plans that include provisions for animals. A survey by the ASPCA revealed that while 83% of pet owners live in areas affected by disasters, less than half of them have a preparedness plan in place.
The dedication and compassion demonstrated by the San Bernardino Animal Services team have been met with profound gratitude from residents. Perhaps this experience shall encourage more people to be ready for Mother Nature’s next inevitable threat and to brace their pets for potential impact as well.
Many owners displaced their pets. Members of the San Bernardino Animal Services Department are seen assisting with animal evacuation.
Photo Credit: @sbcountyanimalcare - instagram
California Roads Cause Strain on Students
By Benjamin Smith Staff Writer
A recent surge of rain in San Bernardino has made the commute for CSUSB students difficult. Roadway hazards have put students at risk of injury, causing them even more stress as they near graduation.
At CSUSB, several road hazards are present on University Parkway, the main road leading into the entrance of the school.
Several tire-destroying potholes can be seen within less than one mile of the school. This roadway is directly connected to the 215 Freeway, where students and faculty frequently drive to get to campus. Many students and faculty have to plan ahead and pay extra attention when driving from their houses to the campus. To counter this, CSUSB has implemented transportation services that assist students, however, many students still prefer to drive.
CSUSB provides education to over 20,000 students, many of whom commute from distances of 10 to 70 miles. These students face the hazards of the California highway system as well as heightened danger during this season of rain.
Matthew Rodas, a crosstown student at CSUSB, says, “Earlier this semester, I was driving a 67-mile trip to my class. I was in the middle lane on the 210 freeway traveling about 50 miles per hour when the car in front of me slammed on the brakes and came to almost a complete stop after another car cut them off. If I didn’t have proper brakes or reacted poorly, I would’ve rear-ended the car in front of me.”
Grace Su, another cross-
stated, “The road conditions also get
worse during the rain from debris and potholes which make it harder to commute…” Ms. Su also brings up that cities that house people of high incomes tend to have better roads. Ms. Su says, “When I’m driving back to my home in Chino Hills or other more suburban areas, the road conditions are usually fine and safe to drive in. However, there are definitely regions in California that could improve in terms of road infrastructure… Riverside, San Bernardino…” Infrastructure is a significant issue for Californians, and it has been since 1960. Page 5 of the
Highways and Public Works states, “The extent to which Californians rely on good roads is indicated by the fact that more than half of our cities and towns have no other type of transportation facility.”
In 65 years, little has changed, and while some new technologies like rideshare apps exist, Californians still primarily travel by vehicle on Californian roads.
In 1960, the local government was optimistic about our roads. The annual report went on to say. “Through payas-you-go highway construction,
California has developed a system of highways second to
none” (California Highways and Public Works, 1960).
Californians today find this sentiment puzzling. There is clearly a disconnect between the highways envisioned 65 years ago and the less than satisfactory highways that exist today. These poor road conditions have also contributed to an increase in yearly fatalities.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety’s website, “Traffic fatalities increased approximately 7.6% from 3,980 in 2020 to 4,285 in 2021” (2025). The site’s newsroom also included a quote from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who stated, “Roughly 12 people are killed on California roadways every day” (2024).
When asked if he is satisfied with road conditions in Southern California, Mr. Rodas stated, “As someone who learned how to drive in Downtown LA and drives long distances, I’m not.”
Mr. Rodas is also studying Civil Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, and provided his perspective on infrastructure issues he has found from the perspective of his discipline, “ I have the opportunity to see major arteries that are well designed and allow the seamless flow of traffic, but in many places this is the exception. It’s unfortunate that the vast majority of
high-volume areas in Southern California weren’t designed well or have been given a bandaid treatment like expanding the number of lanes. Once a week, I have to make a 90-mile trip from San Bernardino to my home in Santa Clarita. during rush hour, my 1hr 30min drive can easily surpass 2hrs 30min. I often find myself leaving my house extremely early to avoid the potential of extreme congestion making me late.”
So, what can CSUSB students do to mitigate risk when traveling on California roads? Simple things like leaving early before traveling can save you time and headaches. However, another essential opportunity students can consider is the safe, low to no-cost transportation systems offered by CSUSB. Jerold Orcutt, the Transportation analyst for CSUSB, says using the transportation system here “... also helps reduce concerns about parking, road conditions, and commuter fatigue. The safest choice varies by individual, but we encourage students to consider one of our structured, subsidized, environmentally considerate and safety-conscious transportation options.”
town student at CSUSB,
November- December 1960 Annual Report from California
Pothole located in front of CSUSB main enterance during heavy rains.
Photo Credit: Benjamin Smith
Poor road conditions in San Bernadino County Photo Credit: Benjamin Smith
Homelessness Cleanup Near Fiscalini Field and Perris Hill
By Wyatt Hall Staff Writer
Residents and Users of Fiscalini Field and Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino continue to raise concerns about the growing homeless population in the parks despite the two-day city cleanups in November 2024.
The CSUSB baseball team expressed concern about the growing population, as some were located against Fiscalini Field’s fences. As recently as August of 2024, there was a camp of five homeless people living right by the parking lot and with tents up against the fence. There were also several people living along the fence out in left field and left center field. Another issue associated with the location of these specific homeless people was that they would sometimes wander into the field during practices, and they would have to be kicked out. There was also the issue of them ruining the Sani-Can in the visitor’s bullpen down the left field line, which is only meant for the visiting teams during games.
Fortunately, for both the baseball team and the community members that enjoy Perris Hill Park, the areas have been cleaned up significantly, and no longer have inhabitants directly in the park or near the field. However, they weren’t transported far, as there is still a dense homeless population in some of the aqueducts just a few hundred feet from Fiscalini Field and right across the street from Perris Hill Park. It is an upgrade from what it used to be, but it is still a health and safety issue for people visiting the area. Perris Hill Park was recently littered
Kyle Larsen, who is from Washington, where the homeless issue is also bad, had this to say: “I was used to seeing a lot of homeless people back home but not usually this bad, especially this close to where we play. I’m glad they cleaned it up a bit, but it would be nice if the area was still a little cleaner.”
Alec Bressler, who is from Beaumont, CA, stated, “I’m glad they moved the homeless away from our field more so it’s out of sight and we don’t have them living basically right outside our field. I wouldn’t mind if they weren’t anywhere near our field, but I’ll take what I can get for now.”
with hundreds of tents, shopping carts, trash, and the people themselves, which made some parts of the park almost unusable.
sometimes be blown onto the field or near the clubhouse of the baseball team.
Some of the baseball players
was. It’s nice that they cleaned it up around our field a little more. Last year and early this year, it was really bad. I just wish they
I was used to seeing a lot of homeless people back home but not usually this bad, especially this close to where we play. I’m glad they cleaned it up a bit, but it would be nice if the area was still a little cleaner.
The inhabitants right next to the Fiscalini field were a health and safety issue because there would often be fires and questionable trash in the area, which could
had some things to say about the homeless population and the cleanup involving them.
“It’s definitely better than it
moved them farther away from the park instead of where they did,” said Gabino Lopez.
The cleanup was a surprise to the baseball team as none of them were aware that it was going to happen. They just showed up to the field one day in November, and the park had been cleaned up outside of the same aqueduct. There was some other good to go along with the cleanup of the parks. According to the article “San Bernardino Clears 150 Encampments at Perris Hill Park, Offers Path to New Beginnings” (Sandoval, 2025), about 35 of the people who were relocated accepted the help of rehabilitation and temporary housing. While that isn’t a huge number, it is still a step in the right direction, and the cleanup was an overall success.
The homeless population in San Bernardino is a growing problem, as it increased from 2,118 people in 2018 to 4,255 in 2024, as mentioned in the article “City of San Bernardino Begins Cleanup of Perris Hill Park” (Perrault, 2024).
Aqueduct across from Perris Hill Park
Photo Credit: Wyatt Hall
Community Immigration Protests reach the Inland Empire
By Itzel B. Iniguez Staff Writer
California has seen a lot of political turmoil this year. Immigration protests have made headlines in cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, but a recent demonstration in San Bernardino is proof that these movements are spreading to overlooked areas like the Inland Empire.
On February 3, 2025, an immigration protest in San Bernardino went viral. Clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement led to some arrests and injuries. The protest was apparently organized by locals who were bringing attention to the most recent policy adjustments that affect undocumented individuals throughout the entire nation. Such confrontations have been common in California’s larger metropolitan areas, but the fact that this protest occurred in San Bernardino indicates a change in activism beyond major urban centers.
An online article in The San Bernardino Sun titled, “Officers injured, marchers arrested, at San Bernardino immigration protest” by Brian Kionos, reported that, “ Due to the imminent safety concerns for both pedestrians and motorists, officers established a skirmish line at the intersection of Baseline Street and Perris Street to prevent the crowd from accessing the freeway.”
San Bernardino, part of the Inland Empire, is home to a large immigrant population but receives far less media coverage than Los Angeles County, for example. When protests in certain areas go ignored, the immigrant struggle seems invisible.
“People think of LA as the epicenter of activism, but there are thousands of immigrants living in Riverside County, Orange, and other spots that hate these policies that can harm people,” an anonymous local activist said. “This isn’t just an LA thing—it’s a California issue.”
According to data from Loma Linda University Health, nearly 1 in 5 residents in San Bernardino County are foreignborn with a high percentage lacking legal status. Despite the demographic significance, the region has not historically been a focal point for immigrationrelated protests. It’s likely that many immigrant families in the Inland Empire live in fear
of deportation. So, the recent protest may reveal a growing movement in less-publicized towns.
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice is a local group that engages in policy advocacy. The IC4IJ website provides resources for immigration legal services. Without greater media coverage, though, these efforts can go unnoticed outside of the community.
Another article in The San Bernardino Sun mentioned student protests on February 6 and February 7 in San Bernardino. Unlike the February 3 protest, the student walkout remained peaceful. Since it wasn’t a large rally, this story did not reach a big audience. There’s
a broader trend of underreporting protests in less politically prominent communities.
“About 20 students walked out on Friday afternoon… in San Bernardino, carrying flags and signs,” Maria Garcia said, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino School District.
“The district is still tallying the number of students who left campus.”
One student, Juan Rodriguez, 17, from South Antonio High School in San Bernardino, said in an article that he participated in the walkout because he wanted to take a stand against deportations. A new generation of activists is rising in the Inland Empire. The spotlight should be on their voices just as much as those in larger metropolitan
areas. Lack of media attention leads to weaker political responses.
Elected officials have acknowledged the protests happening in the I.E, but no immediate policy development has been announced at the local level.
Riverside County, a neighbor to San Bernardino County, has also seen street protests about immigration affairs. KVCR released a statement that Riverside is a rapidly growing county for immigrants.
“Last Sunday, demonstrators blocked the 101 Freeway in protest of ICE operations. The large demonstration sparked similar rallies in Riverside, Perris and San Bernardino on
Monday as part of “Day without immigrant” protests,” an online source said.
With tensions high, the region could see even more fuss in the months to come.
Just one San Bernardino protest is a reminder that immigration concerns in smaller California cities are critical voices in the conversation.
The Inland Empire’s efforts to raise awareness for their undocumented residents is gradually gaining traction. Will the mainstream media outlets give these rallies the coverage they deserve, or will they continue to be overshadowed by larger cities?
Protestors at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Baseline, San Bernardino, CA.
Homelessness Skyrockets in Riverside County
By Brandon Arias-Hernandez Staff Writer
Riverside County continues to fight in a continuing and exhausting battle against the serious issue of homelessness despite the constant efforts of the Riverside County Sheriff Department and other community leaders.
Homelessness has been a recurring problem in Riverside County for many years now, reflecting the homelessness problem that has been occurring in California over the past few decades. There has been a significant growth in concerns over this particular issue in recent years.
There are many reasons that lead to many residents in Riverside County to experience homelessness such as high housing costs, lack of affordable options, and family disruptions, including domestic violence.
“Drugs put me on the streets. I love to get high and my family did not, so I would say drugs are the reason I am homeless” stated a man that has been living on the streets of Riverside for almost two years now.
“Money and drugs. It is very expensive to live in Riverside now and I have lost many jobs because of my addiction” stated another homeless woman in Riverside.
The Point-In-Time is an assessment conducted by homeless service providers, government agencies, and volunteers and it is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be able to discover the number of people experiencing homelessness in a specific community.
In 2023, the Point-In-Time demonstrated an increase of individuals that were homeless
in Riverside County. The total number of homeless people in 2022 was 3,316, which increased in 2023. The growth was of 409 individuals, which took the total to 3,725 people who were homeless in Riverside County.
2,441 of those individuals were unsheltered compared to the 1,980 homeless individuals that were unsheltered in 2022. This is a 12% increase in overall homelessness. In contrast to 2022, the number of homeless people in a shelter decreased by 4 percent or (52 people) and the individuals without a shelter increased by 23 percent or (461 people).
Over the years, community leaders in Riverside County have created different housing programs in order to provide assistance to people that do not have any shelter. Brenda Arias, who has lived in Riverside her whole life, provided a housing program that she had come to learn about over the years as well as an encounter she had with a homeless person.
“I remember one time a young woman and her child knocked on my door and asked
if they could stay for the night. I allowed them, but I also took them to a great shelter that is very close to my house the next morning” stated Arias.
She continued by stating, “A great housing program that the city provides is the Shelter Plus Care, which basically helps homeless people with rent and other things they might need.”
Other programs that Riverside County provides are the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program, which provides eligible homeless individuals and families as well as those at-risk to homelessness in Riverside with short-term rental subsidies coupled with home-based case management.
The Permanent Supportive Housing Program (SHP), which is a program that is run through the HUD Continuum of Care where eight SHP units are reserved for chronically homeless individuals and seven units are reserved for homeless persons with disabling conditions.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has been attempting to address the issue
of homelessness in the city for quite some time now. With the passing of Prop 36, Sheriff Chad Bianco believes that it would allow him and his department to tackle this particular problem as well as others such as theft and drug addiction.
Sheriff Chad Bianco and his department have also created the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) to be able to help the community with issues associated with homelessness through education and outreach. They contact and identify homeless individuals within Riverside County and complete necessary documentation for services. They work alongside local county agencies and nonprofit partners to make assessments of housing, substance abuse, and behavioral health needs.
Dr. Corey A. Jackson, who was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 60th Assembly District, invited local residents to volunteer in the 2025 Homeless Point-In-Time Count on Wednesday, January 22 in an effort to end homelessness. This
important plan is an attempt to raise funding to tackle homelessness issues in the region.
All in all, the numbers provided by the Point-In-Time assessment in 2023 and 2024 demonstrate that homelessness continues to increase in Riverside County as the years go by. This is a serious matter because it impacts the community in a negative manner such as increasing public safety concerns, putting a lot of pressure on healthcare services, and affecting residents that are not even experiencing homelessness by putting a load on public services such as emergency rooms and law enforcement officials.
Community leaders need to find ways to make housing more affordable and create more support services, including services that deal with mental health and substance abuse in order to reduce the number of residents suffering from homelessness in Riverside County.
Path of Life Ministries Family Shelter located on 2530 3rd St. in Riverside provides great services for residents suffering from homelessness. The shelter that Brenda Arias mentioned during the interview and where she took the young woman and child that she helped.
Photo Credit:
Brandon Arias-Hernandez
Arts
The 2020’s Gaming Horror Resurgence
By Nicholas Cordoba Staff Writer
With PlayStation State Of Play 2025 revealing quite the ensemble of horror games such as Directive 8020, Five Nights At Freddy’s: Secret Of The Mimic, and The Midnight Walk, the horror genre is alive and well with renewed interest in the AAA (triple A) Industry. With such titles of different significances coming together under such a big spotlight, the genre we know for the jump scares, the goosebumps on our skin, and raising the hair on the back of our necks is returning thanks to modern graphical fidelity and nostalgia.
2019
Beginning with a game released prior to 2020: Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 remake, which debuted in 2019 to exceptional critical acclaim and impressive sales performance. The game originally released in 1998 on the original PlayStation console as an exclusive until it was ported to the Sega Dreamcast in 2001.
Resident Evil 2 and its remake are important because it refined and cemented what important characteristics should be in horror games such as atmospheric tension, resource management, and puzzle-solving. Resident Evil 2 (1998)’s ability to blend immersive storytelling with challenging mechanics paved the way for future iterations in the Resident Evil series but also spawning whole
new franchises as well such as Silent Hill (1999) and Dino Crisis (1999).
2019 was able to provide horror fans with a taste of what was to come with Capcom’s remake, allowing for modern hardware to fully animate and bring to life the world saw back in 1998. The Resident Evil 2 remake launched to critical acclaim with Game Informer rating it 9/10 and Game of the Month, IGN with a 9, and Metacritic giving it a metascore of 91 with a user score of 8.9
According to Forbes, “the Resident Evil 2 remake officially surpassed the 1998 original in sales with 5 million units shipped by December, securing its place as Capcom’s sixth-best selling game ever”, with the gaming industry always being guided by the will of the consumer base, more studios sought to replicate that same result by looking at their own arsenal of IP’s.
Stepping into the new decade
With the world stepping away from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the original Alan Wake launched with a remaster returning the series with new and renewed interest for new generations of gamers. With the remaster selling a cumulative sales figure of 1.7 million according to VGChartz, developer Remedy Entertainment followed suit with Alan Wake 2 releasing in 2023. Selling over 2 million copies, Alan Wake 2 subjects the player
to question whether the events in the game are reality or just part of Alan’s nightmarish psyche. The only way of finding the truth lies venturing further into the unknown.
Following two years after the Alan Wake remaster, one of the most iconic horror franchises to date made a stellar return with Electronic Arts’ Dead Space remake releasing in 2023. Launching on modern consoles such as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and modern PC’s, the titular horror franchise effectively reinvents the wheel in every facet with the remake.
The sci-fi horror adventure puts the player in the shoes of Isaac Clarke, an engineer sent in with a small crew to investigate technical issues aboard a massive mining ship - the USG Ishimura - where all hell breaks loose upon entering the ship’s crevasse. Isaac discovers that the crew aboard had been brutally murdered and resurrected as undead grotesque monsters called Necromorphs. With a mysterious alien artifact triggering the outbreak and driving those in its vicinity insane, Isaac is forced to unravel the mystery behind such a disaster fighting both undead monsters and insanity itself. IGN rated Dead Space a 9, while Metacritic awarded it a Metascore of 89 with a user score of 8.4 and lastly Game Informer also praised the remake, giving it a 9/10.
Bringing back a series mentioned earlier, Capcom also
released another significant remake with Resident Evil 4 in 2023. Originally released in 2005, Capcom’s fourth entry puts the player back into the shoes of Leon S. Kennedy, a now U.S government agent placed with the responsibility to rescue the president’s daughter from a remote village cult in rural Spain.
In 2005, the game seamlessly blended atmospheric horror with intense action, maintaining a perfect balance between the two. The remake leans further into the horror elements of the original with an added sense of immersion. Capcom improved the controls for more fluid movement with better aiming and expanded the knife mechanics. This adds to an also updated parry system to give Leon better flexibility in combat. Resident Evil 4 (2023) released to critical reviews like its original. Game Informer gave it a 9.5/10, IGN highly praised the game with a perfect score of 10/10, and Metacritic sits with an impressive score of 93 and user score of 8.8. With such stellar scores, it only makes sense that Resident Evil 4 (2023) sold over 9 million units since its March 2023 release date.
The most recent AAA horror remake to hit store shelves, Silent Hill 2 (2024) released to wide acclaim as well. Reviving one of the most influential psychological horror experiences in gaming history, it first launched in 2001 on the PlayStation 2. Praised for its eerie atmosphere,
creature design, and immersive psychological storytelling, the original Silent Hill 2 set a high standard for psychological horror in video games.
With the remake, Konami meticulously enhanced every aspect, with more immersive and visually vivid experiences while maintaining what the tones and emotional depth the original delivered on. Silent Hill 2 (2024) launched to strong critical reception, with IGN rating it an 8/10, GameSpot awarding it a 9/10, and Metacritic reflecting an overall critic score of 86/100, all highlighting its faithful adaptation to the original while improving upon what the game needed polishing. The 2001 original sold one million copies worldwide with the remake selling over two million in its lifetime sales.
Putting it all together
Having so many critically acclaimed titles released in the early 20’s with impressive sales numbers is telling that gamers of this current generation still yearn for the scares and horror of the early 2000’s. Outselling their original counterparts, horror fans in this day and age are hungry for good quality horror that these AAA remakes were able to provide. With such impressive sales figures, it’s clear that the demand for high-quality AAA horror remains strong. Gamers can only hope that studios continue delivering both stellar remakes and original horror experiences as we move into the late 2020s.
Creative Writing
By Adam Ruiz Staff Writer
California Department of Insurance Bust Tow Truck Scamming Ring
California Department of Insurance officials are warning Southern California drivers about tow truck companies and how they are targeting vehicles involved in accidents.
According to reports, those who have been affected by this scam have claimed that these tow trucks would miraculously come and save the day and would help drivers, despite nobody calling for them. The tow truck drivers would tow cars involved in accidents to
certain body shops without fully consulting the drivers where their preference is. The body shop workers would then charge an unreasonable amount of money that most insurance companies would not cover and have the driver pay the rest of the sum to get their car back.
The CDI (California Department of Insurance) in the Inland Empire have started cracking down on these sammers and have arrested 16 people so far that were tied to this insurance fraud scam. Through big breakthroughs the CDI believe these
scammers have collected nearly $217,000 in illegal insurance claims.
These scammers are targeting people at their most vulnerable moments after getting in an accident. Below is a list of things you can do to prevent this and keep in mind if you or someone you know is in an accident.
If a tow truck appears suspiciously fast to the scene and you nor the other person in the collision have not called towing service,
don’t get their help, call your own towing service.
If a tow truck driver tells you or the person involved in the accident that they will drop off the car at a certain body shop without consulting you, don’t do it, tell them to take it to a body shop you know and trust.
If a tow truck driver tells you someone will call or asks for a signature, don’t let them tow your car, because it is a common occurrence with how this scam
plays out.
If a tow truck driver requests a ride share for the victim, don’t let them tow your car, because it is a common occurrence with how this scam plays out.
If you or someone you know have had similar situations contact the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357.
New Air Monitoring Sites to be Deployed Following Los Angeles Wildfires
By Destiny Roybal Staff Writer
On February 20th, 2025, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) sent out a press Release stating
they will be setting up two air monitoring sites to help combat the air pollution brought onto residents by the Eaton and Palisades fire that raged through Los Angeles County at the end of 2024.
As residents continue to deal with the aftermath of some of the deadliest fires Los Angeles County has seen, AQMD had stationed two air monitoring sites near the Altadena Golf Course as well as the Will Rogers State beach. The choice of placement for these sites was based on many criteria.
“The sites were chosen based on first survey results, cleanup activity, proximity to sensitive receptors (such as residents and schools), meteorological conditions, and access to power
and security for the monitoring equipment.”
The information collected from these sites within the next 30 days will provide us with knowledge needed to evaluate any possible threats to public health. They will be monitoring and sampling the air hourly for any signs of toxic air metals and asbestos. The company will be updating the data and any discoveries onto their wildfire page where anyone can access it.
Now what happens after these 30 days?
More sites will be deployed after the results come in from the second round of surveys that will be sent out to take. Further information as to the whereabouts for the incoming monitoring sites will most likely
be determined by the results provided by the survey takers.
“Additional sites will be deployed following the second round of mobile surveys. South Coast AQMD will continue to work closely with federal, state and local agencies as well as local public health partners on these efforts.”
In efforts to help the victims of the deadly wildfires that took over Los Angeles County, these monitoring sites can potentially provide ease to them because knowing about what is in the air they are breathing.
Knowing and understanding what is floating around in the oxygen can provide companies like this to develop ideas on what further action is needed in order to restore the beautiful city of angels.
Photo Credit: @crystalkungminkoff - instagram
Pet Overpopulation
Why Spaying and Neutering is Essential
By Mariana Duran Staff Writer
Each year, an estimated 70 million homeless dogs and cats struggle to survive in the United States. Despite efforts from animal advocacy and welfare groups, pet overpopulation remains a critical issue, primarily driven by irresponsible breeding and pet owners neglecting to spay or neuter their pets.
Overcrowding at shelters, and their lack of resources of funds means these shelters, which people often see as a potential safe space for these animals, are instead forced to turn them away. A decision that often leaves them vulnerable to the dangers found on the streets.
As domesticated animals, dogs and cats rely on humans for survival, making it our responsibility to address this growing crisis.
A major contributing factor to this issue is the unchecked breeding of pets, (particularly dogs which can sometimes sell up into the thousands), by irresponsible owners and
breeders who prioritize profit over animal welfare.
Every year, millions of pets enter shelters, yet many may never find a home due to the competition with pet stores and breeders. This issue is emphasized by limited shelter space and lack of funding, which leads to increased euthanasia rates for animals that are not adopted. Without proper intervention, this cycle of overpopulation will continue, perpetuating the suffering of countless animals.
And the consequences of pet overpopulation go beyond shelter overcrowding.
According to a study conducted by the University of Georgia, which examined the medical records of over 70,000 pets, found that spayed and neutered animals have a significantly longer lifespan than their counterparts. This is largely due to the reduced exposure to infections, injuries and fights that often occur among stray and unaltered pets. Additionally, altered pets are less likely to roam which reduces the risks of being hit by a vehicle or
encountering aggressive animals.
Tanner Streppone, a veterinary assistant at a clinic in Rancho Cucamonga, shared his firsthand experience with the health risks associated with unaltered pets.
“One of the things we see most regularly in unspayed females is a Pyometra, which is an infected uterus. If caught in time, it can be removed, but depending on many factors it’s usually a risky surgery. I’ve seen many dogs come in too late, and unfortunately, they passed due to this infection.”
Streppone also emphasized the importance of preventing overpopulation to avoid heartbreaking situations.
“There was actually a couple who had just rescued a 4-monthold cat off the streets and brought her in for a spay. However, she was already pregnant,” he explained. “They tried to contact rescues to see if they could take the kittens once born, but no shelter had room. The couple didn’t have the funds or space to raise the kittens, so they had to make the tough decision to terminate the pregnancy.”
The situation in San Bernardino County further highlights the severity of pet overpopulation.
The Devore Animal Shelter, one of the largest shelters in the county, has the highest euthanasia rate due to a lack of space and resources. Statistics from the City of San Bernardino County indicate that one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce approximately 420,000 cats in just seven years.
The city’s website states, “Across the county, thousands of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens are born each year, adding to the eight million or so dogs and cats that end up in local shelters. So, what can we, as residents of the Inland Empire, do to address this issue? The solution lies primarily in the hands of pet owners. By simply having your pet spayed or neutered, you can greatly eliminate this problem.”
Fortunately, there are programs available to help pet owners afford the cost of spaying and neutering. In Rancho Cucamonga, residents
can receive a voucher from the Rancho Shelter for up to $200 off the procedure from a qualifying veterinarian.
Additionally, organizations such as the Humane Society and Ontario Spay and Neuter offer reduced-cost services to encourage responsible pet ownership. These initiatives make it easier for pet owners to do their part in combating the crisis.
Ultimately, the key to addressing pet overpopulation is education and proactiveness. Spaying and neutering pets not only prevents unnecessary suffering but also reduces the strain on animal shelters and public resources. By choosing to be responsible pet owners and advocating for accessible spay and neuter programs, communities can work together to create a better future for animals in need. The time to act is now, before more innocent lives are left to suffer on the streets or in overcrowded shelters.
Streets in the United States are heavily populated with stray/abandoned animals.
Photo Credit: Largo Nadin, shutterstock
Child Predator Detained in Riverside County
By Brandon Arias-Hernandez Staff Writer
Sergeant Christopher Varela and the Perris Sheriff’s Station
Special Enforcement Team have made another step forward in creating a safe community for the citizens of Riverside County by incarcerating an online child
officers arrested Bustamante without any notable disturbances. The officers mentioned that the meetup was organized on Friday morning at a confidential location on S. Redlands Avenue Perris. The charges against Bustamante are condemning and include sending harmful material to a minor, attempting lewd acts with a minor, contacting a minor with intent to commit sexual acts, and arranging to meet a minor
children suffering from all types of abuse, including the pain caused by child predators. On March 28, 2023, a special flag ceremony was held in Riverside, California to honor victims of child abuse and showcase vigorous systems of support and resources that have been put in place to fight against child abuse.
One of those resources is Megan’s Law, a statute which led to the creation of a registration
video games that children are playing in recent times.
Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin stated in 2020 as well that his office has created multiple teams that focus on various aspects of the problems created by online child predators, including the Riverside County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) team and Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) task force.
Enforcement Team have done a service and made Riverside County safer by capturing Victor Bustamante, but community leaders should continue to discover innovative policies and methods to increase the protection of children in Riverside County. Most importantly, parents need to be educated about the different ways that child predators like Bustamante are able to find
Photo Credit: BillionPhotos.com Adobe stock
The Cost of Budget Cuts: What it Means for Students and Faculty
By Ryan Martinez Staff Writer
he Cal State system experiences yet another budget cut, $375 million to be exact. Faculty layoffs and canceled classes will proceed, but these problems are only the beginning.
The Cal State System expected a $1 billion deficit in the 2025-2026 school year. Here at CSUSB, President Morales is looking at an estimated $397 million to be cut from the operating budget. With a huge deficit like this, it is expected that travel costs will be cut, classes will be dropped, faculty sabbaticals will be lost, and equipment/furniture expenses will be cut. With these cuts bound to happen, students and faculty have an ever-growing concern, especially piling on to previous cuts.
According to an article by CalMatters, in 2024 campuses either cut or suspended 137 academic programs and other areas of study.
Communication student
and Yotie Film Club President, Richard Arellano, weighs in on how previous budget cuts have affected his productivity and planning at CSUSB, “A majority of those with a digital filmmaking minor need the Digital Filmmaking course to complete it… Now we’re directed to take an alternate course rather than the expected class.”
With classes for minors (in particular, Digital Filmmaking) being canceled left and right, students need to make an alternative plan to achieve that minor, with alternative classes not providing the knowledge that the canceled course includes. Courses, where the emphasis is on hands-on learning, can not be outright canceled and replaced with a course that does not replicate the same level of content knowledge.
Many courses still pop up on the CSUSB website that offer full course descriptions, but why even show what you can’t offer? The only way to see if you can enroll in a class is by checking through the Student Center;
the more you search random courses from the website onto the Student Center, the more you see courses slowly fading into obscurity.
The Local Matters Practicum, which was once a staple in the school, has disappeared completely with no explanation. However, on the website, it looks as though this class is still active and you can enroll in it. Interesting.
To signal out specific budget cuts, the Communication Department located in University Hall has not seen an upgrade in years. Some spaces are still affected by the 2022 September flood, lack of cameras, doll-size desks, out of date projectors, just to name a few. Programs within the department suffer as well, the student newspaper service, the Coyote Chronicle, does not have a working printer, relying on outside and personal sources. Seriously, the newspaper can’t print paper?
Faculty and staff are heavily impacted by the budget cuts as well. With their cuts being more affected behind the scenes rather
than in front of it. A handful of faculty members face an increased workload, as well as fewer resources available to further their research and teaching. This not only affects the quality of education for students but also negatively impacts the morale of faculty. Without funding for professional development, faculty members will have to deal with outdated materials and tools, limiting engagement with students in deserving ways. With no professional development, it may be difficult for faculty to continue their research and innovation to apply to the classroom.
In addition to faculty suffering, the canceled classes will lead to fewer course releases due to professors having to cover courses they would not usually be teaching; having to put time and effort into a subject that doesn’t expose their full potential. This is called course release- usually given to faculty to focus time on one class that deals with mentoring/working closely with students compared
to the other courses.
With all of these budget cuts coming about, you would think the executives at Cal State would take a pay cut as well, wrong. According to Cal Matters, Cal State Presidents have seen their base salaries increase by an average of 43% between 2007 and 2002, which translates to an average $119,882 increase over time. Presidents, along with other high-profile positions like chancellors and board of trustees, see a positive spike in salary, while positions like lecturers and professors see little to no growth.
Although the Cal State System continues to deal with notable cuts in the budget, there is one thing that can stay intact, the community. As long as the administration, students, and faculty work together to advocate for sustainable solutions, the resilience of the Cal State community can help fight the darkness of the budget cuts.
CSUSB’s Women’s Basketball Team on Winning Streak
By Benjamin Smith Staff Writer
California State University, San Bernardino’s Women’s basketball team defeated the Sonoma State Seawolves 74-62 on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
This marks their 12th win of the season, their third win in a row after losing to California State University, Dominguez Hills. Prior to that loss, the team had won six games in a row. Incredibly, the team has been undaunted by their latest loss and was able to pull together decisive victories.
Their pace picked up after their game against the Chico State Wildcats when they lost momentum in the 4th quarter. Since that day, they have been able to change their 4-10 season record to a 12-11 overall and a 11-7 in CCAA play.
They are projected to keep this pace going as the season continues.
Their latest game this past Saturday was dominated by Jaida Jackson from Moreno
Valley California, who started the game off strong with a 9-2 run. Jackson is a graduate student studying Instructional Design & Technology. She has appeared in 81 total games for CSUSB, and has an impressive record that can be viewed at CSUSB’s athletics website.
Other dominant players include senior Deannah Buckner who scored a three-pointer to spark a 23-8 run, Graduate student Paisley Specht who also hit a three-pointer to secure the lead, and Senior Rae McCrae who played a pivotal role, contributing a season-high 12 points, with eight of those coming in the first half.
Into the third quarter, senior Mia Dufresne scored a layup to start the period, sophomore Citlali Salazar made a layup to extend the lead to 46-36, and graduate student Lauryn Morris knocked down a three-pointer near the end, giving the Coyotes a 59-44 advantage.
To finish the game, CSUSB grabbed their largest lead of the afternoon at 76-54 after a layup by Salazar. The Seawolves made
an 8-0 run but could not secure a win over the Coyotes. The Coyotes are looking
to secure a fourth win in their streak as they face off against California State University, East