Inland Empire

When the first Metrolink "Beach Train" rolled into town June 15, bringing 600 passengers from the Inland Empire to the city's beaches, restaurants and stores, organizers of the service couldn't have guessed how popular it would become. The number of excursions, first set at three, was expanded to seven during the summer, and now two more--one this month and one in October--are scheduled. The weekend day trips are in such demand that tickets regularly sell out.

A multiagency task force led by the U.S. Marshals Service arrested 187 fugitives from the Inland Empire in the last week, seizing firearms, marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, officials announced Friday. Authorities arrested fugitives wanted for drug possession, spousal battery and check forgery, officials said. "All of these individuals arrested, all 187, needed to be taken off the street," U.S. Marshal Adam Torres said. Authorities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties asked for assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service in November.

Two candidates were in a virtual tie with about half the votes counted Tuesday night in a special state Senate election in the Inland Empire. With 129 of 267 precincts reporting, rookie Assemblywoman Nell Soto, a Democrat from Pomona, had 10,175 votes, closely trailed by Republican businessman Robert Guzman of Fontana, who had 10,100 votes. Far behind the leaders was Democrat David R. Eshleman, the mayor of Fontana, with 2,799 votes.

An insurance company has filed a lawsuit against Carl's Jr. founder Carl N. Karcher and developer Maurice Monnig in the latest development in a series of suits involving a failed home-building project in the Inland Empire. Insurance Company of the West says in its suit, filed Dec. 29 in Orange County Superior Court, that it issued surety bonds guaranteeing performance and payment on some projects begun by Karcher and Monnig in the 1980s.

The Inland Empire, fed by migrants from coastal California, is the fastest-growing urban area in the United States, according to a survey released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Since 2000, there has also been a significant outflow of people from places long associated with the ideal of California living -- Los Angeles and the Bay Area -- to more affordable regions such as the Inland Empire.

Gusts of up to 60 mph roared through Riverside and San Bernardino counties Thursday, toppling at least two big rigs, which clogged Interstate 15 and the 60 Freeway during the morning commute. No injuries were reported, county officials said. The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning until 6 p.m. Thursday for a swath of the Inland Empire that included San Bernardino, Ontario, Chino, Riverside and Temecula. About 8:20 a.m.

WHILE the Inland Empire isn't known for copious night life, enterprising clubs such as Sevilla are sending a message to locals: "You don't have to head to Hollywood for Friday night fun." The Latin-inspired venue in Old Town Riverside entices clubgoers to stay in the neighborhood -- and forgo burning that precious gas money -- by offering big-name headliners and L.A. atmosphere, without the $13 vodka tonics.

Home prices in seven Southland counties surveyed by the Real Estate Research Council of Southern California increased an average of only 2.9% from six months ago, continuing a trend that began last fall. The April, 1990, average price for the 214 houses in the survey sample in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties was $274,800, up 11.2% from the April, 1989, average price of $248,700.

Roger Penske built it, the France family's International Speedway Corp. runs it, but the biggest beneficiaries of California Speedway may be the citizens of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Motor races and other related events at the Fontana facility will generate $135.7 million and 1,215 jobs in the area this year, according to an economic impact study by economist Dr. John B. Husing and his Economics and Politics Inc.

Katilyn Terry, a 5-foot-7 outside hitter at San Gorgonio High, had 17 kills in a three-game sweep against Arlington. She also had 13 kills against Yucaipa and nine against North as San Gorgonio got off to a 4-0 start. . . . Sean Clendaniel, a senior at Yucaipa, won the Division III race at the Woodbridge Invitational cross-country meet Saturday. His time of 15 minutes 4 seconds was the second-best in all four divisions. . . .