San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County public health officials have declared a state of emergency due to H1N1 flu, one in a series of federal, state and local declarations intended to position authorities to deal with people sickened by the new flu strain. President Obama's declaration of a national H1N1 emergency last month came eight months after California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide emergency. Local health officials say that by declaring emergencies at their level, they hope to lay claim to more vaccines and other resources, or be reimbursed by state and federal officials for mass vaccination clinics and other efforts.

School's out for summer -- except for hundreds of children in western San Bernardino County who, because of an administrative snafu, must make up 34 days of school this summer. The fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders at Rolling Ridge Elementary in Chino Hills and Dickson Elementary in Chino exceeded the state's requirement of minutes spent in the classroom, and the last day of school was supposed to be Thursday.

After months of silence in the face of persistent reports of drug addiction and official misconduct, San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus this week admitted abusing drugs and making other "errors" while in office. He also vowed not to seek reelection when his term ends in 2011.

A woman whose historic Ontario home faces foreclosure was evicted after city officials said they caught her selling its period flooring, baseboards and other fixtures on the Internet. A Superior Court judge granted the city a warrant last week to vacate and secure the classic Mediterranean Revival home, locking out owner Kim Shewalter. "They changed the locks," said Shewalter, 46, who let her home go into foreclosure after her mortgage payments adjusted to $6,500 a month.

San Bernardino County prosecutors charged two brothers with bribery Thursday after they allegedly slipped an envelope containing $15,000 in cash to the chief of staff for county Supervisor Josie Gonzales. Arshak Kouladjian, 53, of Glendale and Vartan Kouladjian, 45, of Pasadena pleaded not guilty in a San Bernardino County courtroom Thursday to a single count each of felony bribery of a ministerial officer.

The body of an Ontario man who was beaten and then kidnapped from his home was uncovered in the San Bernardino Mountains on Saturday, five days after he disappeared, authorities said Monday. Santiago Contreras, 33, had been shot to death and was found on a mountain slope near California 138 in the Valley of Enchantment, but it was unclear when he was shot, according to Ontario Police Det. Jeff Higbee.

Redlands police on Monday announced the arrest of four teenage boys on suspicion of sexually assaulting two high school girls. The girls said they had been repeatedly attacked after being invited into a home for a drink. One of the girls told police she thought she had been drugged before the incident, which occurred Friday in the 1400 block of East Brockton Avenue. Police spokesman Carl Baker said the girls, ages 14 and 15, were walking home about 5 p.m.

Citing health and safety concerns, the city of Ontario next week will dramatically reduce the size of a homeless encampment known as Tent City by expelling those residents who cannot prove clear ties to the city. Starting Monday, anyone who can't provide documents showing they once lived in Ontario will be given a bus or taxi ride back to where they came from. The homeless will be fitted with color-coded bands around their arms or wrists that will designate their status.

Dozens of Ontario police and code enforcement officers descended upon the homeless encampment known as Tent City early Monday, separating those who could stay from those to be evicted. Large, often confused, crowds formed ragged lines behind police barricades where officers handed out color-coded wristbands. Blue meant they were from Ontario and could remain. Orange indicated they had to provide more proof to avoid ejection, and white meant they had a week to leave.