Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Fire damages downtown El Centro business

A fire damaged a building on Broadway Street Friday night.

Smoked poured out of Family 99 Cent Store and More, located at 501 Broadway Street at about 7:30 p.m.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, said El Centro Fire Battalion Chief Richard Burns. There was little damage to the structure, though most of the merchandise was gone.

Fire fighters were able to beat back the fire, and it was mostly out by 8:15 p.m. except for a few hot spots, he said.

Read Saturday's edition online or in print for further details.

ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

Green retrofit, workforce development not approved at Supes meeting

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors did not approve a green retrofit and workforce training program that some said would increase local construction jobs while others countered that it would limit the county by forcing them to contract with a union.

After an almost hour-long discussion and with a room filled with about 120 people, the Board gave direction for staff to continue to look for construction grants and see whether it is possible to prioritize for local workers.

The county has not seen a real contract, which makes it hard to agree with the program, said Supervisor Mike Kelley. The supervisors are caught between a rock and a hard place because it wants to support local workers, but can't with the presented program.

No supervisor made a motion, but rather Supervisor Jack Terrazas directed staff to see if it is possible to make construction contracts for local workers, instead of groups from outside the county.

Read Wednesday's edition online or in print for further details.

ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

Five injured in car crash, transported to hospitals

Five Mexicali residents were transported to hospitals Monday night after the 2009 Toyota van all were in ran off the road on Highway 78 east of Highway 115 near Brawley, according to a press release from the California Highway Patrol.

Raul Garcia, 60, was driving west on Highway 78 approaching Highway 115, according to the press release. The road has a sharp left curve, but Garcia continued straight through the turn, causing the vehicle to run off the road into a large drain ditch.

Garcia and the four passengers were transported to Desert Hospital, El Centro Regional Medical Center and Pioneer Memorial Hospital with minor, moderate and major injuries, according to the release.

The accident is still under investigation, according to the release.

Read Wednesday's edition online or in print for further details.

ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

ACLU drops Brown Act investigation of Imperial County Supes

American Civil Liberties Union has determined that the Imperial County Board of Supervisors did not violate the Ralph M. Brown Act, though it is still opposed to the way the board decided to intervene in a lawsuit about gay marriage, said Regional Executive Director Kevin Keenan at the supervisor's meeting.

This came after the ACLU discussed the issue with county counsel Monday, he said.

The county voted in closed session Dec. 15 to intervene in a federal case involving Proposition 8, which made same-sex marriage illegal in California.

The ACLU then decided a few days afterward to investigate whether the county had violated the Brown Act which states debate and discussion has to happen in open session, though some leeway can be taken with legal matters and real estate.

Read Wednesday's edition online or in print for further details.

ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer