In the News
Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has received a $25 million authorization to support its desalination program through the recently passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that was signed into law in late December 2020. The recent WRDA passage increases Federal funding support for EMWD's South Perris Desalination Program from $25 million to $50 million.
U.S. Reps. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, and Juan Vargas, D-San Diego reintroduced a bill this week that is aimed at cleaning up the New River, a highly polluted waterway originating near Mexicali, Mexico that flows north, emptying into the Salton Sea.
Dr. Raul Ruiz and other members of congress were on the house floor in session to ratify the electoral college votes for president elect Biden when trump supporters stormed in.
News Channel 3's Dani Romero has more on how his training as an emergency physician helped as the scene was unfolding.
Rep. Raul Ruiz began thinking in terms of a "mass shooter" situation when President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
"I prayed," said Ruiz, a Democrat from Palm Desert. "I prayed to God. There were other members who started praying."
The Eastern Municipal Water District will receive $25 million in federal funds over the next several years to expand its desalination program, increasing fresh water stocks and reducing dependence on water imports, the agency announced Tuesday.
The Perris-based EMWD was selected to receive the additional funding under the recently approved federal Water Resources Development Act, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be responsible for distributing the funds.
President Donald Trump on Sunday signed a roughly $900 billion stimulus package meant to tackle both COVID-19 relief as well as federal spending. Tucked in the 5,593-page-long law, courtesy of Southern California Democrats, are provisions that hold the potential to unlock millions of dollars of new federal spending to address the Salton Sea.
The financial help that many have been waiting for is finally here, but is it enough, and will we be seeing more? NBC Palm Springs has reaction from local political leaders and residents that stress more aid is needed.
"I think this will take us through the recovery," said Steven Mnuchin, United States Secretary of Treasury.
"Anyone who thinks this bill is enough doesn't know what's going on in America," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader.
Southern California Democratic Reps. Lieu, Levin, Peters, and Ruiz laud the eleventh hour passage of a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill, but said the leaner than desired package leaves many gaps that the new administration will immediately need to address.
President Donald Trump told lawmakers to amend the latest COVID-19 relief bill, 24 hours after congress passed it.
Trump called the covid relief bill a 'disgrace,' in a video posted on his Twitter Tuesday night. He added that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans.
The measure comes at a crucial time for the economy as federal unemployment benefits are about to run out.
Red flags flutter outside the schools in Salton City when the air quality is dangerous. Dust billows across the desert, blanketing playgrounds and baseball diamonds, the swirling grit canceling recess and forcing students indoors. Visibility is so poor you can't see down the block. Those days worry Miriam Juarez the most.