Israel J. Carreón Jr.

Israel J. Carreón Jr. joined the Southern California News Group (SCNG) in 2025. He is part of the local government team responsible for covering municipal happenings in the East Valley of the Inland Empire. Before joining SCNG, he was a reporter for the weekly newspaper, Redlands Community News. It was there that he developed a passion for telling people’s stories affected by local government and district decisions. He has also worked as an English teacher for nearly 10 years before pivoting to journalism. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a writing emphasis in 2014 and a master’s degree in teaching in 2018, both from La Sierra University. It was there that he served as the editor-in-chief for the campus newspaper, The Criterion, for three years. He spearheaded stories about student retention rates, explored faith and evolution in education, and gender equality for women in Seventh-day Adventist ministerial roles. He is a running enthusiast, active in the trading card spaces and a die-hard comic book reader.