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Rep. Aguilar announces $1 million to expand Inland Empire artificial intelligence education and workforce development
Office of U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar
Yunfei Hou, executive director of the Leonard Transportation Center and professor of computer science and engineering, was quoted in a news release from the congressman’s office about the $1 million in federal grant funding for California State University, San Bernardino, in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside, to expand and enhance artificial intelligence education and workforce development in the Inland Empire.
The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program will provide a $600,000 grant to CSUSB and a $400,000 grant to UCR.
“With this NSF grant, we will launch new academic programs in AI, establish a community-focused AI Help Desk, and expand research opportunities for all students in the Inland Empire,” said Hou. “These efforts will provide students with hands-on experience solving real-world challenges, strengthen the region’s workforce, and create flexible pathways into AI careers.” 
U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar said, “As the artificial intelligence workforce rapidly expands and evolves, it is essential that students in the Inland Empire have the skills and knowledge they need to have successful careers in this growing field. This grant funding for CSUSB and UCR is an important investment in our students’ futures, our region’s workforce and our community’s economic development.”

Drone policing coming to Rialto as city OKs $14.3 million Axon AI deal, prompting privacy concerns
IE Community News
Dec. 9, 2025
Zachary Powell (criminal justice) was interviewed about the city of Rialto approving a nine-year, $14.3 million contract with Axon Enterprises to expand the police department’s surveillance, software and AI-driven technology. 
While artificial intelligence may provide benefits, such as reducing officers’ workload to write incident reports, for example, civil-liberties advocates argue AI-assisted policing tools pose serious risks, the article noted.
Powell, who studies police reform, echoed these concerns and elaborated on the mixed-bag of AI-assisted police tools, emphasizing caution, competence and prudence. For example, he said that while body-camera tools have value, they have not been shown to consistently reduce statistically rare events, such as excessive force. 
“It’s hard to reduce rare incidents like that because the base rate is so low,” Powell said, adding that as AI becomes more embedded in policing the public is going to have to wrestle with legal issues we’re not yet fully aware of.

‘Hate breeds hate’: How should school respond after ‘human swastika’ incident?
The (San Jose) Mercury News/Bay Area News Group
Dec. 11, 2025
Brian Levin, the founding director of the Center for Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, was interviewed for an article about a photo of San Jose-area high school students forming a swastika on a football field that sent shockwaves throughout the community.
Levin added that there has also been an increase in anti-Jewish hate incidents, with Jewish people reporting that they have been facing hostility more routinely. Much of that occurs online and draws on stereotypes and canards. Some use the ongoing Israel-Hamas war to “exploit the most long-standing and vile stereotyping caricatures against Jews.” Social media, he added, “has descended into a cauldron of stereotyping, conspiracy and aggression.”

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