Millions of Californians will get a credit on their electric bill in the next few weeks as part of the state’s efforts to fight climate change.

The California Climate Credit will appear automatically on customers’ bills, which will likely be the one for October. Depending on the utility and how high the bill is, the credit may pay for all of the bill or at least reduce the amount.

According to the governor’s office, more than 11.5 million households and more than 1 million small businesses will receive the credit.

The credit is part of the state’s cap and trade program, which was introduced nearly two decades ago and is focused on reducing the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Part of the program requires that several utilities issue gas and electric credits to customers. The natural gas credits typically arrive in April and electric credits in April and October.

The amount a customer receives depends on which utility provides their electricity.

According to the California Public Utilities Commission, the October 2024 credit amounts will be:

According to the CPUC, a customer must contact their utility if they do not receive the credit.

The amounts of the credits this October are the same as the amounts that were distributed in April of this year.

The next credits will be distributed in April of 2025, and those will be for electric and gas bills.

A Simi Valley man has been charged with killing his girlfriend, who authorities say was stabbed to death in front of her own children.

Ramon Joseph Rivas, 34, was charged with murder and two counts of child endangerment, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said.

Rivas is accused of stabbing his girlfriend, Jessica Marie Tinoco, last week during a domestic dispute at her home in Simi Valley.

Tinoco, who loved ones said was a mother to five children, was stabbed multiple times in the front of her home in front of several of her children. The children, authorities said, had fled to the front of the home and called 911 after Rivas arrived and allegedly began attacking their mother.

Officers from the Simi Valley Police Department arrived on scene and arrested Rivas without incident.

As they entered the home, they found Tinoco suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was transported to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead from her injuries.

Rivas made his first appearance in Ventura County Superior Court on Monday, and his arraignment was continued to Oct. 30.

He currently remains in custody without bail.

On Monday, more than 100 people attended a vigil to remember Tinoco, who they said had a “pure soul,” and whose biggest flaw was that she cared too much about those who did not deserve her affection.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office encourages anyone who is a victim or survivor of domestic violence who is need of help to connect with a victim advocate at the Ventura County Family Justice Center in Ventura.

Requests for service can be made in person, by email, call or text. Details can be found here.

Residents are on edge after a string of destructive burglaries continues targeting Long Beach businesses.

Surveillance video captured the moment a hooded suspect smashed their way into a restaurant and escaped with the cash register.

The break-in occurred on Sept. 30 at Speak Cheezy pizzeria in the Belmont Heights neighborhood just after midnight.

The owner, Jason Winters, believes the brazen theft was premeditated.

“It was very quick,” Winters said. “He didn’t go any deeper than the register. He knew exactly what he was going for.”

Winters said luckily the cash register was empty, but the costs to repair the destruction left behind will be expensive.

“We are probably talking $1,500 to $2,000 in damages for the door, cash register, point of sale system,” he said.

Winters also noted the recent burglary wasn’t the first time his pizzeria was targeted.

In January 2023, another suspect broke in using a crowbar and escaped with the restaurant’s safe from the basement, resulting in a $5,000 loss.

Winters said the uptick in destructive burglaries is hard on small business owners and even worse, it seems to be affecting more shop owners nowadays.

“It’s disheartening, like the fact that this isn’t just [affecting] me,” Winters said.

The shop next door, Ambiance Skin Care & Day Spa, was burglarized twice in a six-week period and is still recovering from the destruction left behind.

Local business owners are frustrated with the ongoing crime while also worried their store may be targeted next.

Many said they would like to see harsher penalties for smash-and-grab burglaries, hoping stricter consequences will deter thieves before a future confrontation turns violent or even deadly.

“More repercussions for people who are doing this, if they did get caught,” Winters said. “He took off on a bike and there was probably a getaway car. He knew exactly what he was doing.”

The suspect remains at large. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Long Beach Police Department at 562-570-7260.