Public Safety · Imperial County
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the County Administration Center in El Centro to consider declaring a local emergency in response to impending severe winter storms and flooding associated with the 2026–2027 El Niño season. Fire Chief David Lantzer requested the proclamation, which would authorize immediate preparedness measures under the County Emergency Operations Plan. The agenda also includes decisions on geothermal development contracts, ambulance service extensions, and property negotiations.
Local Politics · Imperial County
The Imperial Valley Healthcare District (IVHD) Board of Directors approved actions on October 22, 2026, to support financial stabilization and local healthcare access. The board authorized a loan amendment forgiving approximately $6.22 million in hospital debt principal scheduled for payment between November 1, 2026, and October 31, 2027. Additionally, the board renewed a three-year agreement for pediatric services at Pioneers Children’s Health Center–Rural Health Clinic and approved a service contract for breast imaging equipment at Pioneers Memorial Hospital.
Community News · Brawley, CA
Registered nurses at Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley filed a petition with the California Public Employment Relations Board on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, seeking formal recognition of UNAC/UHCP as their exclusive collective bargaining representative via a card-check process. The organizing effort spans multiple clinical departments and was prompted by what nurses describe as years of unaddressed workplace challenges affecting patient care. If PERB verifies majority support among eligible nurses, the union would be granted recognition and could initiate contract negotiations with hospital administration. IVHD officials were contacted for comment but provided none by press time.
Local Politics · Calexico, CA
Two Calexico residents have been denied access to police body camera footage by the Calexico Police Department. Club 111 Bar owner Karen Ann was refused records from a recent stop, citing Government Code Section 7923.625 (a) regarding active investigations. Former police commissioner Alexis Rangel also had her subpoena for footage related to an embezzlement investigation rejected due to procedural deficiencies identified by city attorneys. Both individuals expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and alleged targeting or mishandling of their respective cases.
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Public Safety · Imperial County
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors received the District Attorney’s Annual Real Estate Fraud Report for Fiscal Year 2025–2026 during its October 20, 2026 meeting. The specialized unit reviewed 20 referrals, determining that 15 were civil matters and leaving five cases under active criminal investigation. The program, funded by a $10 fee on recorded real property documents, collected $81,597 in fees during the fiscal year. Officials also launched an online complaint form to improve public accessibility for reporting fraud.
Crime · El Centro, CA
El Centro police confiscated two illegal handguns and a stolen AR-15 rifle during separate nighttime proactive enforcement stops in downtown El Centro over the weekend. On Friday night, officers seized an unregistered Glock handgun after a suspect fled on foot near Main Street; the suspect was already on probation for a prior firearms violation. In a separate stop Saturday night, a K-9 alerted officers to contraband in a vehicle, leading to the discovery of the stolen AR-15 and an unserialized handgun. The rifle had been reported stolen from the neighboring city of Imperial.
Community brief · Imperial, CA
The Imperial Valley Food Bank will hold its fifth annual Palate, Palette, and Pallet (P3) event on Thursday, October 29, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm at its facility in Imperial, California. The evening features food and wine tastings, live music, local art displays with attendee voting, a still-life activity, and live painting by artist Elizabeth M. Ibarra. The event also includes presentation of the second annual Frances Rice Impact Through the…
Community brief · Calexico, CA
The City of Calexico invites residents to its annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Thursday, November 19, 2026. The event runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. outside Calexico City Hall at 608 Heber Ave. Attendees can enjoy photo opportunities with characters like Santa Claus and the Grinch, along with live music and dance performances by local groups. Organizers encourage guests to bring their own lawn chairs for seating during the stage…
