News

Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano officially takes over as the University of California’s president on Monday, but she already has survived her first leadership challenge. A “no-confidence” vote sought this month by student activists who think her work in Washington makes her unsuitable to run the nation’s largest public higher education system failed. Detractors

A suspected drunken driver died of his injuries Saturday when his Lexus sport utility vehicle slammed into a high voltage power pole in Rancho Mirage and burst into flames, a sergeant said. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 9 a.m. to Bob Hope and Dinah Shore drives where the driver, 52-year-old Douglas York, crashed and flipped

An investigation is underway into how a hiker ended up dead near Rancho Mirage city hall. Police were called to the Big Horn Overlook trail just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning. A forensics team was called in to examine the scene. It’s not clear how long the body had been on the trail. The death

The box office will open Monday for the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies’ final season. Tickets will be available by calling (760) 327-0225 starting at 9 a.m., or at the box office, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, beginning at 10 a.m. The Follies, whose cast members range in age from 55 to 84 and perform pieces

Flames engulfed a home south of Desert Hot Springs over the weekend. The County Fire Department says flames broke out at a home in the 15400 block of Avenida Monteflora around 12:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters contained a noninjury fire to an attached garage at a home in Desert Hot Springs, a Riverside County Fire Department spokesman said Monday. The flames at the home in the 67300 block of San Fidel Way were reported at 9:47 p.m. Sunday, said Riverside County Fire Department spokesman Mark Annas. “The first arriving engine

For centuries Native American tribes have gathered for inter-tribal Pow Wows as celebrations of their heritage. “We’ve just been brought up with it. If you notice our little tiny tots that come out, they can barely walk. And that’s how they’re brought up,” said Gerald Schrock, one of Pow Wow emcees. This weekend’s Pow Wow

“Just look look around, half the valley is here,” said Thermal resident Robert Almada. Almada braved a long line to see the dentist today…a very long line. “Lot of people that are going without health care. Children here need attention. Seniors need attention, like myself. So it’s very important,” Almada said. Almada along with hundreds

“I think we need to be educated a bit more,” said Coachella resident Noelia Gonzalez. Gonzalez doesn’t know what Obamacare is. “I do not know very much but I’m hoping that it’s going to benefit somebody,” Gonzalez said. Luckily, she’s insured. But her son isn’t. “He’s a diabetic and he’s not covered under any plan.

People in the Coachella Valley are reacting to anti-gay comments made by an executive of a popular pasta brand. The Chairman of Barilla has since apologized, but that is not stopping a move to boycott the product. “I will never buy it again,” said Palm Springs resident Izzy Mercado. “Why would I want to support

The completion of a 2,500-mile scavenger hunt-type race that began a week ago will be celebrated tomorrow with a downtown Riverside extravaganza. “Fireball Run 2013 Adventurally” began Sept. 20 in Longmont, Colo., and concludes with a parade along University Avenue in Riverside, beginning about 2 p.m. Saturday. After the parade, there will be an outdoor

The box office will open Monday for the FabulousPalm Springs Follies’ final season. Tickets will be available by calling (760) 327-0225 starting at 9 a.m.,or at the box office, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, beginning at 10 a.m. The Follies, whose cast members range in age from 55 to 84 and performpieces from the 1940s,

A Banning man is facing charges accused of violating his parole. Police arrested 37-year-old Rodney Nottingham on Wednesday around noon. Officers were called to his home on the 43000 block of Mesa Street in Banning to investigate a possible theft. Police say Nottingham ran away as deputies tried to talk to him. Nottingham then barricaded

La polica de Coachella anunci que hoy de 7:00 p.m. a las 3:00 a.m. de maana sbado llevar a cabo un retn de sobriedad con el fin de mantener fuera de las calles a conductores que manejen bajo la influencia de drogas o alcohol o quienes lo hagan sin licencia o con licencia suspendida. Como

Two massage therapists in Palm Desert were arrested for soliciting prostitution during an undercover operation by the Palm Desert Police Department Business District Team Thursday. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Xiao Ying Zhu, 45, of Hemet, and Xi Du, 54,of Palm Desert were charged with misdemeanor prostitution. The first arrest happened at Rose

California authorities have arrested five people who allegedly bought bottles and cans from recycling centers in Nevada and then redeemed them for cash in California. The California Department of Justice said on Thursday that the suspects were charged with conspiracy, grand theft, and recycling fraud as part of the scheme valued at more than $300,000.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire fell Friday for the ninth consecutive day, dropping six-tenths of a cent to $3.94. The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties is 5.8 cents less than one week ago and 16.9 cents lower than one year ago but 11.8

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that will temporarily require overtime pay for domestic workers in California. Under the new law, domestic workers must be paid time-and-a-half if they work more than nine hours in a shift or more than 45 hours in a week. Part-time baby-sitters are exempt. The overtime requirement will take

Palm Springs Modernism Week on Thursday announced its February schedule of more than 100 events. Modernism Week is scheduled for Feb. 13-23 and celebrates the popular design aesthetic from the 1950s and 1960s. Tickets will go on sale Oct. 1 at 12 p.m. at www.modernismweek.com, according to organizers. “Modernism Week is one of the country’s

A man who secretly filmed under a woman’s skirt at a pet store was sentenced today to 120 days community labor, five years of probation and ordered to undergo a sexual compulsion treatment program. Julio Medal, 38, was also ordered not to own, possess or use any device capable of taking photos or video recording,