Building off of part one of our two part series on local control,  the COGCast continues the conversation with Mayor Kevin Bash from the City of Norco to discuss what local control means to him in light of the needs of our growing population.

With growth on the horizon for Western Riverside County, and the greater Inland Empire, several community-shaping decisions will be made by locally elected officials that will impact communities for years to come.   On this episode of the COGCast, we sit down with Mayor Kevin Bash from the City of Norco for part one of a two-part series on local control. This episode will focus on his perspective on what local control means to him when it comes to the area of housing.

Building off of part one of our two part series on early childhood development education, we continue the conversation discussing the role and impact of early childhood development centers in our local communities. Episode two features Tammi Graham, Executive Director of First 5 Riverside, and Pamela Robinson, Director of Concilio Child Development Center.

Early childhood development centers remain a key cornerstone of our local community, investing in future leaders and providing essential care for children as their parents work. But how has COVID-19 and its multifaceted impact influenced the sustainability of this industry, especially in our ever-growing region? What are some of the challenges and solutions that need to be considered moving forward? To address some of these questions, the COGCast will feature a special two episode series on early childhood development education. Part one of this two part series features JoAnne Lauer, Assistant Superintendent for Riverside County Office of Education, and Sarah Burnett, Early Childhood Education Professor at Norco Community College.

The City of Eastvale is one of the newest cities in Western Riverside County, recently incorporated in 2010. Since incorporation, the City has become home to more than 73,000 residents - making it one of the fastest growing cities in California.   Over the past year, communities across the Country faced challenges related to the spread of COVID-19. On this episode of the COGCast, we hear how the City of Eastvale responded to these challenges in hope and resilience with guest speaker, Bryan Jones, City Manager at the City of Eastvale.

The Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) works to maintain and restore habitat for the endangered Stephens' Kangaroo Rat.  Many of the efforts undertaken by RCHCA over the past 25 years would not be possible if not for the partnerships formed with agencies like the Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). More specifically, the BLM’s Threatened and Endangered Species Program leads the conservation and recovery of federally listed species and has worked closely with RCHCA over the years.   On this episode of the COGCast, we are joined by James Gannon, BLM’s Fuels Program Manager for the California Desert Interagency Fire Program.    This episode is released as a part of RCHCA's programming for Conservation Month. Check out the website for more information!

Over the past 25 years, the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency has had a core focus to acquire and conserve habitat for the endangered Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat (SKR).     Recently the agency completed the Rangewide Management and Monitoring Plan for the SKR which is intended to unify various organizational efforts to protect the species. On this episode of the COGCast, we welcome two scientific pioneers from the Conservation Biology Institute, also known as CBI, who assisted the RCHCA in this effort. Be sure to tune in for this episode with Dr. Wayne Spencer, Chief Scientist, and Deanne DiPietro, Senior Science Coordinator for Conservation Biology Institute.

Eastern Municipal Water District, also known as EMWD, plays a key role in Western Riverside County providing water to more than 850,000 people living and working in the subregion. EMWD's mission is to deliver value to their diverse customers by providing safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally sustainable water, waste water, and recycled water services.   To share more about EMWD and the state of water in the subregion, Lanaya Voelz Alexander, Senior Director of Water Resources Planning at EMWD, joins the COGCast on this episode. Tune in today!

Western Municipal Water District, also known as Western, is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County providing both wholesale and retail customers with water, wastewater (sewer), and recycled water services. Western serves nearly 1 million people across 527-square miles in Western Riverside County.   Despite water’s vast impact on the region, there are many misconceptions surrounding where our water comes from, what we do with it, and why the role of water districts is paramount to the quality of life in the region. To help address some of these questions, this podcast episode features Craig Miller, General Manager at Western. Tune in today!

The Inland Empire Tech Bridge is anchored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona Division and will serve as a regional hub of innovation for the Navy command and local partners in academia, nonprofit and private industries. This synergistic network will seek to find faster, better solutions to warfighter challenges while stimulating local economic growth and development.   On this episode of the COGCast, Troy Clarke, Inland Empire Tech Bridge Director, joins us on the COGCast to share about Tech bridge and it’s anticipated impact in the Inland Empire.