Month: March 2009

Since our News Channel 3 investigation into the Church of Scientology began, nearly a dozen former church members came forward to tell us their accounts of what happens inside the church’s world headquarters in Hemet. Jeff Hawkins was the first. He is the church’s former marketing director. Hawkins explained the Scientology faithful, “It’s a combination

News Channel 3 sent former Scientology marketing director and Portland resident Jeff Hawkins to KATU-TV, the local ABC television station, where he revealed what happened during his years inside Scientology’s world headquarters in Hemet, called “IntBase.” His account of what goes on behind these fences is one of religious punishment and imprisonment. “Within that Hemet

Dr. Lisa Bodon looks through patient files. Her Palm Springs OB/GYN office has a problem, though. Patients keep calling thinking Dr. Bodon was arrested and has a criminal file. “It’s too many coincidences, surely. Thanks for calling. And no, it is not our doctor,” said receptionist Adria Ballesteros on the phone to a patient wondering

RANCHO MIRAGE – Funeral services were pending today for a 38-year-old Rancho Mirage man killed by his two large dogs. Hill Andrew Williams was found Monday afternoon at the rear of a home at 41625 Morningside Court. An autopsy revealed he died of “significant physical trauma” suffered in the attack, said sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez.

A 28-year-old Palm Desert man was killed early Tuesday in an alcohol-related crash between a big rig and a Ford Mustang, and the car’s driver was in custody, authorities said. The victim, a passenger in the Mustang whose name was not immediately released, was pronounced dead at the scene on the right shoulder of westbound

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden will host an outdoor NBA game for the second straight year as the Phoenix Suns take on the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 10, it was announced Wednesday. The preseason game will be nationally televised on the TNT network. On Oct. 11, 2008, the Suns took part in the first

DESERT HOT SPRINGS- Authorities stepped up their search Wednesday for one of three siblings suspected in the deadly shooting of a man at his Desert Hot Springs home last month. Lavenski Shamone Harrell, 27, of Oakland, was identified as a suspect by police last week in the Feb. 23 shooting death of Samuel Raye Cotton.

RIVERSIDE- Jurors Wednesday recommended the death penalty for a Beaumont man convicted of killing five firefighters who died battling the massive Esperanza wildfire that he ignited in the fall of 2006. The four-man, eight-woman panel deliberated about a day before returning the sentencing recommendation for onetime mechanic Raymond Lee Oyler. Judges have the option of

INDIO- A man accused of being drunk when the pickup truck he was driving struck and killed a bicyclist was free on bail for an earlier DUI charge when the accident occurred, and he remains free today, police said. Arturo R. Hernandez, 64, of Indio, was driving on Highway 111 west of Madison Street around

Protecting your skin from the sun should begin at a young age. Wills Lavin, 17, says it’s an important lesson to be taught and it could save your life. Lavin spoke to a crowd of 7th graders at Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage last week. Lavin, a junior at the private school, is trying

In these tough times, school districts have to make tough decisions. “We need to make choices on what we can keep going and what we can’t,” says Jim Majchrzak, Morongo Unified School District Superintendent. Teachers, programs, and activities fit into that “can’t afford” category. Last week, Morongo Unified School District handed out 45 lay off

News Channel 3 has learned a local bank received TARP funds. TARP, or the Troubled Asset Relief Program, allows theU.S. Treasury to buy or insure billions of troubled assets. Western Community Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of El Paseo Bank. It received nearly $7.3 million from the government. And, it isn’t alone. The list

We are starting with the second push of our News Channel 3 investigation “Scientology vs. Anonymous” Thursday night at 11 on KESQ. Wednesday night, we will have the first half of our interview with former Scientology marketing director Jeff Hawkins. We will have the second half of Hawkins’ interview Thursday night at 11. Here are

PALM SPRINGS – Palm Springs International Airport officials are keeping tight control on spending in response to a decline in passenger traffic, leading to a drop in revenue, the airport’s executive director said Tuesday. “We are controlling our expenses extremely tightly in anticipation that people are flying less at the moment,” Tom Nolan said. The

Palm Springs Police is trying to find the owner of jewelry pieces that were pawned last month. According to police, the pieces, including rings, watches, bracelets, and a pair of crucifix necklaces, were pawned on February 14 and 15 by Matthew Mcleroy at Palm Springs Finest Jewely. One of the items included an ID bracelet

SANTA MONICA – San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will conduct what is being billed as a “conversation about California’s future” Tuesday night at Santa Monica High School in connection with his expected campaign for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Newsom will give a brief overview of the state’s problems, focusing on health care, the economy

RIVERSIDE – A rock climber who died in a fall in Joshua TreeNational Park in San Bernardino County was identified Monday as a 67-year-old Riverside man. Curtis Woodrow Stark II was pronounced dead at the scene of the fall around 4:40 p.m. Sunday, according to the coroner’s office in Riverside County. A second climber, 44-year-old

In an effort to keep viewers and those visiting KESQ.com informed of the progress of our News Channel 3 Investigation: “Scientology vs. Anonymous,” we’re posting online updates. Our first update will focus on the process of securing the interviews that we have to date. I have received many emails from viewers wanting to know the

PALM SPRINGS- For the first two months of 2009, the 11 airlines operating at Palm Springs International Airport served 11.9 percent fewer passengers in January and February, compared with the same period of time in 2008, officials said Monday. In February, 165,315 passengers passed through the airport, down 14.3 percent from 192,857 travelers in the

PALM SPRINGS – A former olympian and valley resident was honored today for his activism and commitment to the fight against racism. Amural was unveiled Saturdaymorning at Palm Springs High School, commemorating John Carlos’s civil rights protest at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Carlos is now a Palm Springs High School staff member. He won