Month: March 2013

The Senate District 40 special primary election is underway in parts of the Coachella Valley. The election encompasses all or portions of Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, East Blythe, Indio, Mecca and Thousand Palms. Four regular candidates and a write-in candidate want to fill the seat left vacant when Juan Vargas got elected to Congress last

A California congresswoman is calling for an investigation into the Army’s dropped rape charges against a man who shot and killed two Santa Cruz police officers. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, said she wants a hearing about why two Army court martials brought against Jeremy Goulet were dropped in exchange for a less than honorable

Jesus Cardenas, a Mexican migrant worker who built a successful supermarket chain in Southern California, has died. He was 73. The Riverside Press-Enterprise says Cardenas, who lived in Rancho Cucamonga, died Tuesday of cancer. His Cardenas Markets chain has some 30 stores in Southern California and Las Vegas, employing more than 3,000 workers. Cardenas came

A star-studded day is expected at the BNP ParibasOpen at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with Novak Djokovic today, the world’stop-ranked men’s tennis player, and third-ranked Andy Murray scheduled to play. Also on tap are the two top-seeded women’s players, Victoria Azarenkaand Maria Sharapova. With the men completing their third round of singles play, Djokovic

In an attempt to save about $500,000 in the current fiscal year, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors is expected today to approve phasing out two executive positions and capping the salaries of three others. Under a joint proposal of the Transportation and Land Management Agency and the Department of Human Resources, a total of

Four men – including the would-be groom – have been arrested for a marriage proposal stunt in which hundreds of motorcycles blocked a Southern California freeway. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports four people were arrested last week on suspicion of being a public nuisance and taking part in an unlawful assembly. Three were released

Coachella Valley Unified School District superintendent Darryl Adams held a meeting with parents and students Monday night – but parents said he didn’t answer any of their questions. According to parents, Adams held the meeting to address the student protest Monday morning that happened in response to alleged administration cuts. Students and parents at Desert

The BNP Paribas Open is well-known for being one of the most fan-friendly tournaments on tour. One of the best activities for fans during the tournament is getting autographs, and getting up close and personal with some of their favorite players. Even though Rafael Nadal didn’t play Monday, he still got rushed by a huge

Tennis matches at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells began on time Monday morning, despite the 4.7 magnitude earthquake, centered two miles east-southeast of Anza. Officials at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden said play started as scheduled at 11 a.m, after they determined the facility suffered no structural damage due to the quake. At

The US Geological Survey reported a magnitude 4.7 earthquake centered near Anzajust before 10 a.m. Monday. There were noimmediatereports of damage or injuries. The quake was initially reported as a magnitude-5.2, but was repeatedly downgraded as more accurate measurements became available and seismologists analyzed their data. The magnitude-4.7 earthquake hit at 9:56 a.m. A 2.7

Palm Springs recently started an incentive programand website aimed at drawing more filmmakers to the city, a spokeswoman saidtoday. The program includes waiver of film permit fees and $5,000 grants — incash or in-kind services — for production expenses that total at least$25,000, city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell said. The website, www.psfilmfriendly.com, a collaboration between P.S.Resorts

Two men were arrested today on suspicion of drunkendriving in separate solo-vehicle wrecks in Palm Desert, a sheriff’s sergeantsaid. A Toyota Tundra driven by Javier Sanchez, 37, of Coachella, crossedHighway 111 into oncoming traffic, hit a curb and came to rest on the lawn infront of One West Bank on Town Center Way about 1:30

A car was completely engulfed in flames in the center divider after a three car accident shut down the eastbound I-10 today. The accidentoccurredbetween the Bob Hope and Monteray exits at around 10:30 this morning, The driver of the car that caught fire was taken to an areahospitalto treatmoderateburn injuries. Three others were also taken

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden has beeninspectedfollowing this morning’s earthquake and no damage was found. Play begins at 11 a.m. Roger Federer andRafael Nadal are scheduled to play unseeded opponents Monday as men’s third-round play begins in the BNP Paribas Open, while the women’s top-seed,Victoria, will play a night match. Federer, the defending champion who

4.7, 4.6 y 3 grados de magnitud es la intensidad de los temblores que se registraron poco antes de las 10:00 a.m. con epicentro 11 millas al este -suroeste de la comunidad de Anza. Inicialmente es Servicio Sismolgico report el movimiento telrico con una intensidad de 5.2, poco despus lo descendieron a 4.6 y 4.7

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are scheduled to play unseeded opponents Monday as men’s third-round singles play begins in the BNP Paribas Open, while the women’s top-seed, Victoria Azarenka, will play a night match. Federer, the defending champion who is seeded second and second in the Association of Tennis Professionals rankings, will face Ivan Dodig

One of two men accused in the murder-for-hire of a La Quinta artist will argue his case before a jury Monday. Jesse Dean Nava and Jerry Eugene Reynolds, who are both representing themselves, are charged in the Oct. 25, 1997, murder of Bernardo Gouthier. The defendants were convicted in February 2007 of murder, with a

Tennis fans from around the world are now here in the desert for the BNP Paribas Open. Fans supporting their favorite players are also helping to support hundreds of local businesses. General manager at the Lake La Quinta Inn, Chris Chmielak, says business is up 25 percent over last year. “We only have 13 rooms

A wanted parolee was behind bars again after leading police on a chase and allegedly punching a police dog in Palm Springs, Saturday morning. Authorities arrested 23-year-old Steven Hernandez around 2:00 a.m. Police say Hernandez failed to stop at a red light in Palm Springs and took off when officers tried to pull him over.

A Cathedral City man is facing drunk driving charges after police said he slammed into another vehicle and then took off. Officers say 21 year-old Yovan Medero Marin crashed his truck into a vehicle that was stopped at a red light near Ramon Road and Los Alamos road in Rancho Mirage last night. Police say