Month: December 2009

COACHELLA VALLEY – Starting December 31, the Automobile Club of Southern California will offer free towing in an attempt to keep drunken drivers off the road during the New Year’s holiday. Motorists, bartenders, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver can call (800) 400-4AAA for a free tow to the driver’s residence

COACHELLA VALLEY – Taxi rides will be provided to anyone in the Coachella Valley who may have had too much to drink and might exceed the legal alcohol limit. The taxi rides will be provided one-way, from the place of pickup at the business establishment, to the passenger’s residence or final destination. Rides are not

HEMET -Investigators with the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Gang Task Force narrowly escaped unscathed today when they noticed their office flooded with natural gas in an apparently deliberate attempt to cause a deadly explosion, police said. Investigators entering the nondescript building in the 500 block of St. John Place smelled the gas about 8:30 a.m., Hemet

RIVERSIDE -A 51-year-old Catholic bishop pleaded not guilty today to felony charges stemming from the alleged sale of drugs out of his Home Gardens church. Bail was set at $250,000 for Bishop Anthony Martinez Garduno, who also made headlines in September, when he was shot outside Our Lady of Tepeyac during a robbery attempt. He

KESQ.com News Services INDIO -Attorneys for two men accused of robbing around 30 people during a crime spree in the Coachella Valley told jurors today not to assume the defendants are guilty because of the number of counts against them. George Gomez Jr. and Raul Pardo Avina, both 36, are each charged with 33 felony

PASADENA -The streets of Pasadena are filling up as people from around the world gather to see the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. But before millions of spectators along the parade route and at home get to pick their favorite floats, the judges will pick the trophy winners. Wildlife expert Jack Hanna

PALM DESERT -We’re learning about a man arrested during a police search that saw some residents of a Palm Desert neighborhood told to stay in their homes. Police served a warrant on the 72-800 block ofPitahaya Street near Highway 74 yesterday afternoon. We now know 18-year-old Erick Moreno was living there. Police say he beat

PALM DESERT – A long list of new laws take effect on January 1, 2010. Here is a list of a few of the highlights: Harvey Milk Day 2010: California Law Stipulates May 22 SB572institutes an official Harvey Milk Day on May 22nd. It includes a provision that encourages public schools to hold commemorative exercises

PALM SPRINGS -A part-time security guard from Desert Hot Springs today claimed a $7 million SuperLotto Plus jackpot, according to the California Lottery. “I couldn’t believe it,” said John Estrada, who decided to buy a ticket on Saturday at the Chevron service station at 22600 Palm Drive in North Palm Springs. “I called my wife

LA QUINTA -A 58-year-old woman accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy in La Quinta was free on $50,000 bail today, police said. Christine Camer of La Quinta, a former La Quinta Middle School Assistant Principal,was arrested around noon last Wednesday at her home in the 79000 block of Westward Ho Drive

PALM DESERT – For some, it’s a conversation piece at a bar. Passing around a personal breathalyzer to see who’s drunk. The devices, once used only by police, are widely available to the public. Not only as a novelty item, but for people who are worried about driving drunk. The market for personal breathalyzers is

PALM SPRINGS -The question people at Palm Springs Airport and others nationwide may soon have to ask themselves: What are we more comfortable with? An airport scanner taking near naked photos of us or will we be ever be willing to let a dog to sniff all over our bodies – no matter where their

BERMUDA DUNES – Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man, described as a parolee-at-large,wanted for gang related activity in Bermuda Dunes Wednesday afternoon. The arrest came afterdeputies surrounded a home onPort Royal, east of Adams Street, in Bermuda Dunes. When deputies went to arrest the man, he and two other people, ran into a home. The suspect

By Eddie Quezada. News Channel 3 Reporterequezada@kesq.com PALM SPRINGS – Daniel Jimenez wasn’t sure what he felt as he was relaxing in his Coachella home. It started swaying back and forth and I thought it was me, but then when I sat up, I started feeling it stronger and the trailer started going forward and

YUCAIPA – The USGS reports a 3.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Redlands/Yucaipa area around 4:17pm PST today. There are no reports of injuries. The quake follows as larger 5.8 magnitude quake in Baja, Mexico, that was felt in the Coachella Valley.

PALM DESERT – Soon you’ll be able to eat healthier and smarter and you don’t have to change a thing. “I’m always trying to eat a healthier diet,” says Gary Callihan, customer at Randy’s Cafe. Beginning Friday, a new state law will require California restaurants to cut the fat. All oil, margarine and shortening must

WASHINGTON -The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says General Motors is recalling more than 22,000 Chevrolet Corvettes over problems with their removable roofs, which could separate from the vehicle. The recall, which was announced this month and begins in January, applies to 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvettes and 2006-2007 Corvette Z06’s with removable roofs. The NHTSA says

YUCCA VALLEY – Police and the community are looking for 50-year-old Peter Ault, who is facing numerous counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. A $500,000 felony arrest warrant has been issued for him, and authorities believe he may be attempting to avoid arrest. His last known address is 55524 Yucca Trail #75 in

KESQ.com News Services HOME GARDENS, Calif. -A 51-year-old Catholic bishop was in custody today on suspicion of sexually abusing a teenage boy in his Home Gardens parish and selling drugs out of the church, sheriff’s officials said. Bishop Anthony Martinez Garduno also made headlines in September, when he was shot outside Our Lady of Tepeyac