8/13 KVCR Midday News: Redlands School Board Discusses Potential New Library Policy, SoCal Moves Forward in Little League World Series & More

For KVCR News, I'm Tony Lopez. The Redlands School Board on Tuesday discuss a policy that advocates say would create more balance in the library, but opponents argue it would be difficult to implement. KVCR's Madison Amit reports. Board member Candy Olson, who's a Christian conservative, proposed the rule. It would require school libraries to provide reading materials on all sides of controversial issues. Olson says she proposed it after she couldn't find any books about conservative presidents in a school library. Board member Melissa Iola-Cintero says she's worried the policy is too broad. I mean, I think there's a matter of perspective on what the opposing viewpoint would be. And I think this is a bit of a touchy subject, and maybe we probably shouldn't get into that. The board instructed the superintendent to add new language to an existing controversial issues policy to address all viewpoints in library books. Meanwhile, a transgender notification policy was pulled off the agenda for lawyers to review its legality. California passed a law in 2024 banning similar policies. For KVCR News, I'm Madison Ament in Redlands. The Little League West Region tournament continues to heat up San Bernardino, with SoCal one win away from a chance to represent the West at the Little League World Series. KVCR's Miley Palacios has the update. The Little League West Region tournament is down to its final teams, and Southern California is just one win away from a trip to the Little League World Series. Sweetwater Valley Little League continued its run through the tournament Tuesday, shutting out Hawaii 6 to nothing at Al Houghton Stadium. The wind sends the SoCal representatives back to the championship for the fourth consecutive year. Isaac Ramirez set the tone on the mound, allowing just one hit and no runs, as Sweetwater Valley's defense backed him up with a clean game in the field. Southern California jumped on the board in the second after Asher Gileo drew a base's loaded walk, bringing home the game's first run, and the offense only continued to build from there. Jilio finished with two runs batted in, while Ramirez, Leo Gonzalez, and Noah Kirk each collected two hits. For Hawaii, Deshaun Kowalua recorded the team's lone hit. Sweetwater Valley now awaits its championship opponent after Arizona defeated Northern California 7-5 Monday. With NorCal eliminated from the tournament, Arizona will now face Hawaii for a chance to advance to Friday's championship against SoCal. For Sweetwater Valley, the goal is within reach. The team will play in the West Region Championship Friday at 6 p.m. with a trip to Williamsport and the Little League World Series on the line. The game will be available to watch on ESPN. For KVCR, I'm Miley Palacios. Uber and lift drivers officially formed their first statewide union in California earlier this week. Cap Radio's Laura Fitzgerald has more.

California's gig drivers officially got the right to unionize starting January 26. Now just eight months later, the state's public employment relations board determined the union had buy-in from at least 30% of drivers to make the union official. Uber and Lyft drivers are organized with SCIU as the California gig workers union. Leaders say they plan to bargain around wages, benefits, and working conditions. Non-passenger delivery drivers, like for Uber Eats and DoorDash, aren't covered. It's the largest gig driver union in the nation. Massachusetts and Illinois have also expanded union rights for Uber and Lyft drivers. In Sacramento, I'm Laura Fitzgerald. A surrogate who went to Texas after a dispute with a California couple over treating a severe birth defect has given birth a day after a judge in Texas ordered a hospital to provide life-sustaining care. The surrogate mother, McKenna West, alleges in legal filings that the California couple for whom she was carrying the child pressured her to get an abortion after learning the fetus had a severe heart defect. The couple Omar Hamid and Naushin Gilgark says West entered a surrogacy contract that she is broken. They also dispute West claims that they intended to refuse surgery for the child after birth. This has been your Midday News report. For KVCR News, I'm Tony Lopez.