Month: March 2009

RIVERSIDE – A former Beaumont mechanic was convicted Friday of five counts of first-degree murder for setting the 2006 Esperanza wildfire near Cabazon that killed five U.S. Forest Service firefighters and destroyed or damaged dozens of homes. Raymond Lee Oyler, 38, faces a possible death sentence for sparking the blaze that killed Capt. Mark Allen

Unemployment rates continue to soar in the Golden State. New numbers for Riverside County put it at more than 12 percent. Local State Senator John Benoit says not only are jobs being lost, but the state is losing businesses at an alarming rate. In fact, according Senator Benoit, more than 240 small businesses leave the

In these tough economic times, a growing number of stay-at-home moms and dads are going back to work. But with both parents out of the house working, children either go to daycare, which can be expensive, or they’re left at home by themselves. “We had it brought to our attention that without this program being

RANCHO MIRAGE – Two motorists died in a traffic collision just after midnight Friday after a van and a motorcycle collided in a major intersection, police said. Initial reports showed amotorcycle traveling eastbound on Gerald Ford Dr. collided with a Ford Windstar van traveling north on Bob Hope Dr. The motorcyclist, identified as 28-year-old Alexander

INDIO-The Coachella Valley Chapter of the NAACP demanded that Cathedral City police wrap up their investigation into the death of an 18-year-old pregnant woman struck by an alleged hit-and-run driver last month. “It’s already a month since this event occurred. To draw it out any longer is ridiculous,” said Kenneth Booth Jr., president-elect of the

Community colleges in the Golden State finally have a projected budget for the next year. Although the budget isn’t good, leaders at College of the Desert say they’re lucky compared to many other colleges and kindergarten-through-12th grade schools. Educators at COD have mixed feeling about their financial future. They finally have a projected budget and

Customers at a Cathedral City thrift store, which donates proceeds to the Desert Aids Project, are calling an armed robber’s crime at the store Tuesday a “low, desperate” act. According to Cathedral City Police, the robber described as a Hispanic man walked into the Revivals store in the 68-100 block of Ramon Road, pointed a

CATHEDRAL CITY- Police are searching for a man who robbed a Cathedral City thrift store at gunpoint. Officers responded to the reported armed robbery at Revivals Thrift Store at 68401 E. Palm Canyon Drive about 6:02 p.m. Wednesday, said Cathedral City police Lt. Earl Moss. The lieutenant said a middle-aged man wearing a black baseball

Environmentalists say a decision by the Palm Desert City Council is a major defeat for Bighorn Sheep in our local mountains. A luxury home project the city previously rejected will now be allowed. Jim DeForge with the Bighorn Institute looks at the lambing pens where endangered bighorn sheep are raised. Housing developers have honored a

CATHEDRAL CITY- Police said they are reviewing newly discovered surveillance video in their investigation of a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed a pregnant woman. “The video does not show the collision, but it is helping us determine vehicle and pedestrian placement,” said Cathedral City police Lt. Glen Haas. Danica Denton, 18, who was eight months

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INDIO – Three suspects were arrested on suspicion of burglarizing at least 20 homes for sale across the Coachella Valley by breaking into “lock boxes,” which are used by real estate agents to allow properties to be shown to prospective buyers, police said Tuesday. Matthew Garrett McLeroy, 27, of Indian Wells, and Indio residents Melissa

After the school bell rings, Raevin Rossi meets her mother at the corner of Washington Street and Mountain View in Palm Desert. It’s the same spot where just last week the ice cream man, Pablo, got hit by a truck. Pablo did not suffer any serious injuries, but he did go to the hospital. “I

There are major problems in Riverside County’s voting systems according to a new report Tuesday. But, the new report also finds the flaws can be fixed. It’s been almost four months since the November election, but, the battle over how our votes are counted continues. Ever since election watchdog groups uncovered official vote tally sheets

NewsChannel 3goes into the numbers to take a look at the changing face of unemployment. People who never thought they would be out of work now are. More men than women are unemployed. The number of men who lost jobs during the third quarter of 2008 jumped more than 14 percent. The number of women

PALM SPRINGS- Two climbers who spent the night on the north face of Mount San Jacinto were hungry but in good condition Tuesday after being hoisted off the mountain by a rescue helicopter crew, authorities said. The climbers, identified as Andrew Hillery, 24, of Long Beach, and Christopher Cannizzaro, 23, of Playa del Rey, were

FORT PIERCE,FL- Authorities say a Florida woman called 911 three times after McDonald’s employees told her they were out of Chicken McNuggets. According to a police report, 27-year-old Fort Pierce resident Latreasa L. Goodman told authorities she paid for a 10-piece last week but was later informed the restaurant had run out. She says employees

Twohikers are safe after spending the night up in the mountains. One of the hikers called the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Sunday evening to report getting lost. They were up near the top of the Palm Springs Tram, where there is aboutfour feet of snow. Rescue crews found the hikers overnightbut decided to wait until

PALM SPRINGS – A 46-year-old man suspected of walking into Desert Regional Medical Center last month and stealing a briefcase containing a stun gun and a hospital identification card was being held Monday without bail, police said. Jeffrey Sandoval was arrested Friday — a day after police released surveillance video in hopes of tracking down

INDIO – The Indio Performing Arts Center is gearing up for the premiere of an immigration tale set to open March 7. The bilingual play “Our Dad is in Atlantis” tells the story of two young immigrants’ journey to find their father. In the tragic comedy by Javier Malpica, the young brothers feel alone among