Month: November 2012

The President of the College of the Desert is speaking out after allegations of fraud and mismanagement were announced Thursday. COD is accused of wrongfully receiving more than $5 million from the state after misreporting the number of full time students. Cesia Cupil, a student says, “Its something very concerning to me.” Based on audited

A five percent increase may not sound like much, but for the average household it’s an additional seven dollars a month for electricity. Something many struggling families just can’t afford. Kay Devine of Rancho Mirage is a Southern California Edison customer, and she disagrees with the rate increase. “I think that with the economy the

The Desert AIDS Project is now home to the Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center. The new center, dedicated Friday, was made possible thanks to a million dollar gift from Rancho Mirage resident and cancer survivor Annette Bloch. “I’m so impressed with the Desert AIDS Project and what they do for AIDS patients, the facilities they

Many desert rats travel up Highway 74, through highway 79, on their way to Temecula and San Diego. Recently their commute became much more scenic, thanks to an artist placing his work along the twists and turns of the winding road. 26-gauge sheet-metal, a welding torch and hammer, that’s all it takes to put the

Maana sbado 1ro de Diciembre y el domingo 2, se celebra en el Centro Histrico de la ciudad de Indio el tradicional Festival Internacional del Tamal que por 21 aos consecutivamente llena de alegra a residentes y turistas del Valle de Coachella, este ao se espera la visita de unas 200 mil personas. Como cada

Police were looking Friday for two men who were armed with guns when they entered a Desert Hot Springs Western Union Money Mart on Palm Drive and Desert View. The suspects entered through the building’s roof at 9:38 a.m. Friday morning, sneaking up on two employees inside. Police didn’t say how much money they got

The 21st International Tamale Festival kicks off Saturday morning in Downtown Indio, with more than 70 vendors ready to share homemade tamales with the public. “You can go from one stand to the next, and see a completely different approach to making a tamal,” said Marcos Robles with Cardenas, “While they may have used the

Attorneys general in New York and nine other states are asking U.S. Senate leaders to stop legislation that would let licensed gun owners carry concealed firearms across state lines. Letters sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., say it would restrict states’ ability to control gun permits inside

Authorities sought the public’s help today in finding a man who threatened a Circle K clerk with a knife and took money, cigarettes and lottery tickets from the store. The robbery at the Circle K at the southwest corner of Country Club Drive and Washington Street was reported about 3:30 a.m. Thursday. A man entered

A La Quinta man was jailed Friday morning accused of driving under the influence of alcohol in Indian Wells and crashing into a palm tree and a wall. Police arrested James Conway, 44, late Thursday night after being called to Osage Trail and Apache road. They said Conway drove off after the crash. Officers followed

Starbucks Corp. is donating a portion of its proceeds on World AIDS Day, Saturday to help fight the disease. The company announced Thursday it would give five cents to the Global Fund of the RED foundation for each hand-crafted drink it sells on Saturday in the United States and Canada. The coffee shop is also

Based on audited attendance data, there is evidence of financial fraud and mismanagement dating back seven years at College of the Desert. According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, COD wrongfully received more than $5 million dollars from the state between the 2003-04 and 2009-10 school years by misreporting the number of full-time students

Human bones were found Thursday in the desert on the edge of Palm Springs by people collecting items for recycling, a police sergeant said. The bones were found about 50 feet from Tipton Road, about a half-mile northwest of the intersection of Tipton and the railroad tracks southeast of Whitewater Adobe Park. Palm Springs police

Desert Hot Springs will hold its annual holiday treelighting at 6 p.m. Friday, at the corner of Palm Drive and Pierson Boulevard. People can bring unwrapped toys — no stuffed animals — to donate to the city’s Christmas Store, deputy city clerk Kristie Ramos said. “This is a wonderful way to start the holiday season.

A robbery suspect was taken to the hospital after an officer involved shooting in Indio Thursday morning. Shots were fired after an officer recognized the suspect near Madison Street and Highway 111 around 8 a.m. According to Indio police public information officer Ben Guitron,the man opened fire on the officer when he was trying to

A man was found dead just before 4 Thursday morning after a call to police of an assault with a deadly weapon. Riverside County Sheriff’s received the call at 3:41 Thursday morning and when they arrived on scene found a man shot to death. The man was found on Avenue 44 west of Dillon. No

A 55-year-old California man who was tackled by a Buckeye police officer after being accused of shoplifting at a Walmart store last year is suing the town and police department. Jerald Newman was knocked unconsciousness and bleeding onto the floor after being confronted in a Buckeye Walmart during a scuffle at an early Black Friday

A Yucca valley man was in custody Wednesday evening accused in two burglaries. Riverside County Sheriffs Deputies were called to the 62200 block of Dennis Avenue in Joshua Tree Wednesday night for an ongoing burglary investigation. Deputies arrested Eric Bramlett, 29, at the scene. Investigators believe he committed two break-ins at homes in Rancho Mirage

Golfers may want to watch where they set up their shots. Red fire ants are just one thing local doctors are talking about when looking at “What’s Going Around” the area where you live. Dr. Randolph Gibbs reports seeing many cases of tinea versicolor from patients at the Mecca Clinic. This is a fungal skin

The Las Casas housing development, built in the early 1990s in Coachella, is in need of a playground makeover, according to the playtime experts who live there. “That one’s too old. So, I want a new one,” said 10-year-old Arely Jimenez. Arely and her friends at the apartments drew up their “dream playgrounds” last month.