Month: February 2009

RIVERSIDE – A man accused of setting a series of Riverside County blazes was “obsessed” with igniting a mega-fire and finally succeeded, killing five firefighters in the process, a prosecutor said today in urging jurors to convict the ex-mechanic of multiple murder. But the attorney for Raymond Lee Oyler said the prosecution’s allegations were based

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC- President Barack Obama says he’ll withdraw America’s combat brigades from Iraq over the next 18 months. He made the announcement in a speech to military troops and officers at Camp LeJeune N.C. He said his administration will “proceed cautiously” on the withdrawal and that U.S. commanders will bring it about in close

NEAR CABAZON – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians opened the doors to its new administrative complex on the Indian reservation near Cabazon. They began with grand opening celebrations which included speakers from several local government officials, a luncheon, and a traditional Native American song and dance. Tribal chairman Robert Martin says the new building

They go for the beach, bars, and the “anything goes” attitude. With stories of underage drinking as well as experimentation with sex and drugs, Mexico seems like an already unsafe situation for Spring Breakers. But that appears to be only the beginning of the potential danger. More than 6,000 people were killed in 2008 as

PALM SPRINGS – In April 2008, Palm Springs resident Mickiey Brown Hatley was walking near Rosa Parks Road in the north end of town when she saw something confusing and frightening. What Hatley saw was agroup of men dressed in hazardous material suits, pumping something out of the ground.She also saw asbestos warning signs and

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – “Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom! Five to six [bullets] went off with the two officers. When the other officers arrived, it continued.” A Desert Hot Springs resident who identified herself only as “Lisa V.” watched Wednesday Night as an officer-involved shooting unfolded. She saw Travis Jonsrud, 18, crossing the street at

LOS ANGELES- Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was recovering at a hospital Friday from a bout of pneumonia. The 98-year-old Wooden has been hospitalized for more than a week, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. A spokesman for the UCLA athletic department could not be reached for immediate comment. Wooden, 98, coached UCLA to

The reverse mortgage is one of the few areas of growth within the mortgage industry right now. Colleen Moore, the President of Golden Equity Mortgage Corporation, specializes in the reverse mortgage, which she says is just like a regular mortgage. “Ina regular mortgage, you take out the money and you make payments. With a reverse

Local homeless shelters are hoping to get some federal stimulus funds. Riverside County just announced they’re getting more than $6 million from the federal government. Now other local homeless charities are beginning to see some serious money coming their way. News Channel 3 looks into where these federal dollars are going. A nursery is filled

Eight years ago Judy Gronkowski’s world turned upside down. Judy’s husband Roman spent 37 years in elected office in Michigan. But in March of 2001, the City Treasurer for Southfield had a stroke. Doctors didn’t think he’d even make it out of the hospital, but after four months in a rehab center Roman came home.

The fight to keep inmates in California prisons continues. Earlier this month, a panel of federal judges ruled California’s overcrowded prisons constituted cruel and unusual punishment. That means the state must release a third of it’s inmates. Now the Riverside County District Attorney wants to do something about it. Rod Pacheco has teamed up with

PALM SPRINGS – “Dire is a good word to describe it.” Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley described the already worsening homeless situation going on throughout the state’s second largest county. “On a scale of 0 to 10, it’s probably a 12 and getting worse,” Supervisor Ashley rated. With homeless numbers on the rise, county and

INDIO – From family heirlooms to high-end personal merchandise, almost everything has gone to hock at Valley pawn shops in these difficult economic times. People are forced to give up things just to get by with quick cash. “We see a lot of people who are distressed from the position they are in,” said pawn

PALM SPRINGS – Police said Thursday they need help identifying a man who walked into Desert Regional Medical Center on Feb. 9 and took a briefcase containing several items, including a stun gun and hospital identification card. The man, who had on a doctor’s coat over dark clothes, walked into the office of the hospital’s

Here’s your chance to see over a hundred of the best ladies’ golfers right here in the desert! Just enter to the Kraft Nabisco Championship Trivia Challenge! It’s simple: just watch NEWSCHANNEL 3 H-D in the morning and at 6:00 p.m. for the ‘question of the day.’ Then go to KESQ.com to enter your answer.

A man was shot and killed Monday afternoon in a Desert Hot Springs home and police are searching for at least three suspects in the man’s murder, police said. Police reported the shooting at a residents on Calle Azeteca and Avenida Hermosa around 3:30 p.m. According to investigators, three or four men broke into the

President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver his an address to Congress Tuesday night. It’s a speech being given ata time unlike any other faced by the American people. The economy is tanking, millions of people have lost jobs, and trust in government is wavering. But President Obama is setting a goal to cut the

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – A helicopter crew has rescued a South Korean climber who was stranded by an avalanche on the north face of Yosemite National Park’s iconic Half Dome. Yosemite officials say the climber broke his left femur but is alert and responsive. He is being evaluated at a park clinic. Yosemite spokeswoman Adrienne

THOUSAND PALMS – A 4-year-old girl who was abducted from a Thousand Palms home by two women posing as social workers was “in good health” Tuesday with her mother in Mexico, a sheriff’s deputy said. Monica Ruby Morales was taken from a home at 30701 Desert Moon Drive around 9:30 a.m. Monday. Investigators spoke with

CalFire officials say a packing shed in Indio on Avenue 42 west of Monroe Street was fully-engulfed in flames early Monday evening. Calls into the News Channel 3 newsroom first reported black smoke in that area just after 5:15 p.m. No immediate word on injuries.