An investigation continued today into the death of a 49-year-old woman who Indio police say was fatally struck by an SUV. Officers responded to a report of a traffic collision involving a pedestrian on Oasis Street, south of Highway 111, shortly before 7:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Indio Police Department. Police said a
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Two more people were behind bars today for allegedly setting small fires in Los Angeles amid high fire-danger conditions as crews continued efforts to contain two major blazes that have killed over two dozen people and destroyed thousands of structures. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers responded at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to
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Dick’s on Arenas will have a clothing drive today to support Rotary Clubs and ACME Moving and Storage in their efforts to help people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. The Palm Springs establishment will start collecting new and lightly used sweaters, sweatshirts and light jackets to donate at 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to city
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order today aimed at cracking down on land speculators who make “aggressive and unsolicited cash offers” to purchase properties affected by the Southland wildfires. “I have heard first-hand from community members and victims who have received unsolicited and predatory offers from speculators offering cash far below market value —
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A 51-year-old felon who preyed on two Moreno Valley schoolgirls and tried to abduct one of them pleaded guilty today to attempted kidnapping and was immediately sentenced to 18 months in state prison. Rene Rodriguez Ramirez of Indio admitted the felony count under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange
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The district attorneys for Los Angeles and Orange counties are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to convene a special legislative session to enact urgency legislation that would allow state prison sentences for looting during a local emergency. The proposed legislation was submitted Monday to the state Legislative Council by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman
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A March 12 trial date was scheduled today for a Coachella man accused of molesting a teenager following a baptism celebration. Armando Figueroa Jr., 40, is charged with two counts of lewd acts on a minor and one count each of forcible sexual penetration of a minor and forcible oral copulation of a child, as
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The Board of Supervisors today approved four capital improvement projects initiated by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at a total estimated cost of $2.69 million. The sheriff requested — and the board unanimously authorized — allocation of funds from the departmental account established at the start of the fiscal year to pay for the projects,
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The Coachella Valley Water District announced today it is set to receive a $39 million federal grant to expand the Thermal Wastewater Treatment Plant. Funds from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will go toward the first phase of a multi-year project that will “allow the plant to provide a blend of recycled and canal water
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President Joe Biden officially announced the creation of a national monument south of Joshua Tree National Park today. The Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California creates the largest corridor of protected lands in the continental United States, covering nearly 18 million acres stretching approximately 600 miles. “I am thrilled that President Biden has designated the
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A Jurupa Valley man who killed his estranged wife with his nephew’s help to prevent her from taking his home in a divorce — then blamed another man, who was wrongfully convicted of the crime — was bound for California’s Death Row today, while his relative was headed to state prison to serve a life
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A sentencing hearing was suspended today for a 30-year-old motorist who perpetrated a series of unexplained attacks on fellow drivers and one bicyclist throughout Palm Springs and is now seeking another psychological evaluation to determine whether he’s eligible for treatment in lieu of prison. A Riverside jury in March convicted Juaquin Mercer Moraga of Palm
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Eight people who allegedly looted homes during the massive fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades have been charged with residential burglary and two others have been charged with other crimes, including a man who allegedly set a fire at a park in Azusa, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced today. Roy Sims, 18;
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In an effort to secure $2.5 billion in additional funding for ongoing emergency response efforts in the L.A. region, Gov. Gavin Newsom today expanded a special session of the California Legislature. The governor signed a proclamation Monday, which expands the scope of the current special session and allows the legislature to consider and approve new
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Joining the numerous relief efforts to aid wildfire victims as well as firefighters, the L.A. area’s 12 professional sports organizations have combined to pledge more than $8 million in donations, according to numbers compiled by the Dodgers. The combined donations of the Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, LAFC and
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The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate on an extended schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, tramway officials announced today. The first tramway up from Saturday to Monday will depart at 8 a.m., running every 30 minutes in that direction for 12 hours, tramway staff said. The last tramway down will leave at
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Caltrans, in collaboration with the city of Palm Springs, started work today on an eight-mile rehabilitation road project along California State Route 111 (SR 111). City officials said various improvements will be made, including removing and repaving eight miles of roadway, constructing 11 new Sunline transportation bus pads and revamping sidewalks, as well as upgraded
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A man suspected of driving under the influence on Highway 79 in Aguanga allegedly slammed into the rear of a motorcycle, ejecting the rider onto the roadway and inflicting fatal injuries, authorities said today. The suspect, a 74-year-old man from Aguanga, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI resulting in great
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The Walt Disney Company today announced it was making a $15 million commitment to Los Angeles area fire relief and rebuilding efforts, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and other organizations. “As this tragedy continues to unfold, the Walt Disney Company is committed to
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Following concerns that firefighters lacked resources and dealt with low water pressure to combat the devastating Palisades Fire in the initial stages of the crisis, Gov. Gavin Newsom today ordered an independent investigation into the matter. In a letter addressed to the heads of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and L.A. County
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