Month: December 2009

If you haven’t bought your Christmas gifts by now, you’ve probably given up. “Last minute. Few things,” says last-minute shopper Freddy Fernandez. “I’m doing last minute shopping,” says Ellie Wiener. But there was still heavy foot traffic in just about every aisle of Target in Palm Desert. People not out looking for a deal, but

KESQ.com News Services INDIO -A man accused of fatally shooting an Apple Valley man in Palm Springs and a woman accused of trying to help the defendant evade arrest are scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing. Dale Farquhar, 47, faces one count of first-degree murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using

RIVERSIDE -Riverside County received a $5 million federal grant that will enable the county’s Department of Public Social Services to expand homeless support programs, including housing assistance. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development block grant will fund six permanent supportive housing programs and 10 transitional housing programs offered to dispossessed residents training for

PALM SPRINGS – Two hikers were stranded in Palm Springs but were rescued a couple of hours later, sheriff’s officials said today. Joe Silins, 27, of Arizona, and Chris Miller, 35, of Indio, were hiking the trail from Palm Springs to the Aerial Tramway around 4:20 p.m. Saturday when they became stranded on the snow

CATHEDRAL CITY – Cathedral City Police have arrested a man accused of firing off a handgunSaturday morning. It happened just after 1:30 a.m.on the 30100 block of San Diego Drive. Officers responded to reports of shots being fired and found shell casings in the driveway of a home. They arrestedPedro Garcia, 34, of Cathedral City.

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Two men were arrested on Christmas Day after police pulled them over, and found a stolen rifle in the backseat, a small amount of marijuana, and open alcohol containers. The black Ford Bronco was pulled over for an obstructed or missing license plate. Manuel Aguilera and Bryant Robles, both 19-years-old, were

RIVERSIDE – Only 39 new cases of Swine Flu or H1N1 Flu have been reported in the last week, and no deaths, according to the Riverside County Health Department. Countywide, since the illness was first reported, there have been 2,517 cases reported to the health department, and thirty people have died. The news comes as

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

INDIO -A panel of the Fourth District Court of Appeals overturned a second-degree murder conviction for a homeless man accused of killing an 85-year-old retired Orange County attorney during a paid sexual tryst, a prosecutor confirmed today. Michael Anunciation, 49, was convicted in October 2008 of second-degree murder in the Sept. 30, 2006 strangulation killing

LA QUINTA – Two men were stabbed at a party being held in a villa at the La Quinta Resort and Spa early Sunday morning. Deputies say it happened at a party being held at a privately-rented villa. The two men were reportedly attacked by a group of Hispanic men who were also attending the

RIVERSIDE – Angel Esparza, the man authorities had hunted down for a Coachella murder, was moved from San Bernardino County to Riverside to face charges. Esparza, 26, was booked into the San Bernardino County Jail on a Riverside County murder warrant and on an outstanding warrant for parole violation after being arrested on Christmas Eve.

PALM SPRINGS – The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism announced a new way to lure tourists to the desert in the wake of a weak economy and fewer travelers. Along with the Palm Springs Convention Center, the duo have launched interactive upgrades to the city’s two visitor websites. On “VisitPalm Springs.com,” visitors will now have

WASHINGTON -Airline officials say in-flight security rules have been eased after a two-day clampdown. At the captain’s discretion, passengers can once again have blankets and other items on their laps or move about the cabin during the tail end of flight, two industry officials briefed on the situation said Monday. Restrictions were put into place

MURRIETA -Sheriff’s deputies cracking down on illegal off-road racing in southwest Riverside County issued 23 tickets over the weekend and cautioned 33 people against excessive noise and other violations. The operation — which ran from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday — took place in Juniper Flats, Homeland, Valle Vista, San Jacinto,

PALM SPRINGS – Presents, toys and luggage are packed away. The holiday weekend is over, and now it’s time for the journey home which is going smooth for most. “It seemed empty, I was shocked,” says Adrienne Erlick Sigmund. Drivers say, a hassle free road trip takes preparation. It’s all about timing and navigating. “We

DESERT HOT SPRINGS- A Chevron gas station along Interstate 10 near Palm Springs sold a SuperLotto Plus ticket that is worth $7 million, the California Lottery announced. The ticket for Saturday night’s drawing bears winning numbers 8, 19, 20, 21, 41 and mega number 3. It was sold by the Chevron just north of the

WASHINGTON -The Obama administration is moving forward on two fronts in response to the failed bombing on a Detroit-bound airliner. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says investigators are looking at the system for placing potential terrorists on travel security lists to see if procedures were properly followed and what can be done to make them

RIVERSIDE – Starting Saturday and continuing for three weeks, the city and county of Riverside will collect Christmas trees for recycling. Collection will take place on the same day as usual green waste pickups, according to officials. The trees must be without decorations, be cut into four-foot-long sections and be piled next to the green

SAN BERNARDINO – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officers have arrested the suspect sought in the Dec. 3 shooting of 16-year-old Angel Luna outside the Boys & Girls Club in Coachella, authorities said today. Angel Esparza, 26, was booked into the San Bernardino County Jail on a Riverside County murder warrant and on an outstanding warrant