Month: January 2014

A Calimesa man has been arrested for allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash that left a bicyclist hospitalized in critical condition. According to a release from the Cabazon Station, 42-year-old William Donald Johnson was taken into custody around 12 p.m. Monday after a Riverside County deputy saw a car matching the damage expected from

A woman previously convicted of child abuse for whacking her 8-year-old daughter in the head with a broomstick, choking her and hitting her with a belt, pleaded guilty today to burning seven of the child’s fingers on a stove. Maria Luisa Garcia, a 35-year-old mother of 10, was convicted in November of felony child abuse,

Local blood donors can get a pair of free tickets to the Humana Challenge golf tournament. People who donate at blood drives Tuesday and Thursday will get the tickets, an $80 total value, while supplies last. Tickets are good any day Jan. 13-19. The blood drives are scheduled for Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon

Authorities were investigating the disappearance of a 35-year-old man in San Jacinto after KABC reported he was later found safe in Indio. The episode was at first treated as suspicious. John Ecker had not been seen since leaving for work in Glendora from his home on the 600 block of East Old Second Street early

Actress and author Suzanne Somers and fitness personalities Billy Blanks and Scott Cole will participate in the Mayor’s Race, Swim and Wellness Festival in Palm Springs, a city spokeswoman said. The event is scheduled for Saturday at Ruth Hardy Park, and includes fitness activities, a 1K “fun run” for children, 5K and 10-mile runs for

A Feb. 5 preliminary hearing date was set Monday for a Thousand Palms man accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing his former girlfriend. Carl Richard Perdock, 47, is accused in the death of 33-year-old Arianna Villareal of Desert Hot Springs, whose body was found in a shallow grave in Sky Valley on Sept. 28, 2012.

One of four suspended white students accused of hate crimes against a black student at a California college has pleaded not guilty. Logan Beaschler entered his plea to misdemeanor hate crime and misdemeanor battery charges during his arraignment in Santa Clara County Superior Court on Monday. The 18-year-old is one of four freshmen at San

The Board of Supervisors was set to review Tuesday a Riverside County Grand Jury report that found workers who oversee the affairs of elderly and developmentally disabled residents are overburdened and operating under dated guidelines. The 19-member grand jury completed an inquiry last fall that included interviews, an analysis of policies and procedures and inspections

Legislative leaders are promising to use the state’s projected budget surplus wisely as lawmakers begin their annual session. Members of the state Assembly and Senate were jovial during their opening sessions yesterday, but many are looking ahead to Friday, when Gov. Jerry Brown releases his budget proposal for the coming fiscal year. The Legislative Analyst’s

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is suing Riverside County to stop it from assessing taxes that the tribe argues are not being collected for the benefit of the reservation or surrounding communities. The Palm Springs-based tribe’s suit, filed in U.S. District Court, names the county, Assessor-Clerk-Recorder Larry Ward, Auditor-Controller Paul Angulo and Treasurer-Tax

The winter storm that’s bringing snow and dangerously cold temperatures to much of the midwest is snarling air traffic across the country, even in sunny Palm Springs. Massive delays and cancellations at major airports, like the one in Minneapolis, are creating a domino effect felt even in the desert. “I was supposed to be here

After parties – young films – the hottest celebrities. It just makes sense. “Our demographic in general is getting younger,” Mary Jo Ginther from the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism said. As the Palm Springs International Film Festival gets more in touch with pop culture, it brings a younger audience. “Who doesn’t want to see

It’s been a year of political accomplishments and challenges for Coachella Valley native, Rep. Raul Ruiz since he took office in Washington D.C. Jan. 3 last year. Ruiz, of Coachella, is an emergency room physician turned congressman for the 36th District. The new lawmaker got straight to work casting some notable votes in favor of

A 20-year-old woman from Las Vegas didn’t have the greatest start to the new year after she fell and got stuck at Joshua Tree National Park last week while climbing at the Hemmingway Buttress. According to park officials, Kennya Pimentel had to be rescued on January, 1, when she became wedged in a crevice that

A Coachella Valley Water District sewer replacement project along Cook Street in Palm Desert will require the closure of one northbound lane beginning Monday. According to officials, Cook Street will be reduced to one lane of travel for northbound motorists from Aztec Road to Merle Drive. The lane closure is scheduled between 7a.m. and 5:30

Authorities say they have arrested former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz for investigation of driving under the influence after he hit a freeway median in Los Angeles. The California Highway Patrol says the 38-year-old Ortiz lost control of his vehicle about 3:50 a.m. Monday on Interstate 405 as he was driving his 2012 Porsche

Former NFL and University of Florida player Donald “Reche” Caldwell has been arrested by Tampa police on charges of operating an illegal gambling house and bookmaking. Police say Caldwell was one of three leaders of the operation. Five other men are facing a variety of charges including probation violations, possession of a control substance and

Police are looking for a man who opened fire at a vehicle along Interstate 10 in Cathedral City. Authorities say the shooting happened Saturday at 3:15 p.m. on the westbound side of the freeway near Date Palm. The 24-year old victim is a Palm Springs resident. Police say he suffered a single gunshot wound and

A male pedestrian suffered severe head trauma when he was hit by a Mercedes-Benz sedan type vehicle in front of Desert Regional Medical Center on Sunday night, according the the Palm Springs Police Department. The vehicle stopped at the scene of the crash; there have been no arrests. The victim was treated at DRMC. The