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Firefighters battling a nearly 3,000-acre blaze nearBanning again will be contending today with gusty winds, low humidity and bone-dry vegetation, but they have made progress encircling the blaze, which fireofficials say is now 65 percent contained. The Summit Fire has scorched 2,956 acres, according to Jody Hagemann ofthe Riverside County Fire Department. The acreage did

A Southern California wildfire cutting a path to the sea has grown to more than 15 square miles, and crews are preparing for another bad day of gusting winds and hot weather. The fire that begun in Ventura County has been running down coastal canyons all night along the Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu. It

A man who posed as a police officer and subjected motorists to phony stops in Chula Vista is scheduled to be sentenced today at the courthouse in Chula Vista. Kevin Alan Kenniston was convicted last November of 20 counts, includingimpersonating a peace officer and violating a restraining order by breakinginto his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and assaulting

Kobe Bryant is in a court battle to try to keep his mother from auctioning off mementoes from his high school days in Pennsylvania and his early NBA career. A southern New Jersey auction house is suing for the right to sell the stuff after the NBA star’s lawyers wrote the firm to say it

“It’s a Triumph my brother had restored for my mother,” Joe Kiener says, pointing to a charred car in what used to be his garage. His home, formerly his mothers, is the only one to burn in the Summit Fire on Wednesday. “Over here we had table saw, brand new table saw right there. Next

California may speed up the release of inmates while allowing inmates with a violent history to become firefighters in order to cut crowding in state prisons. Governor Jerry Brown filed the plan under protest late Thursday, warning that the options he presented to federal judges would undermine public safety. The judges required the state to

Flames destroyed a Nextel tower today in Thermal andscorched about a quarter acre of a nearby date grove but no injuries werereported, a Riverside County Fire Department official said. Firefighters were dispatched at 12:17 p.m. to Avenue 60 and HarrisonStreet, where the fire damaged a nearby electrical building, county firespokeswoman Melody Hendrickson said. Large parking

Taking matters into their own hands, parents in the Coachella Valley Unified School District served four school board members with recall notices at Thursday’s meeting, including Anna Lisa Vargas, Joe Murillo, vice president Manuel Martinez and board president Lowell Kamper. “They’re not prepared. They don’t care,” said Marina Barragan, a senior at Desert Mirage High

The Summit Fire in Banning is 55% contained according to the last update from Riverside County Fire at 8 p.m. Thursday night. Despite stiff winds blowing through the San GorgonioPass, crews continued to make progress Thursday toward encircling a roughly 3,000-acre blaze near Banning that destroyed a house and left two firefighters withminor injuries. Morethan

The Summit fire in Banning burned for a second day, fueled by dry conditions and strong gusts up to sixty miles per hour. Firefighters continued to work around the clock to contain the fire after working tirelessly to keep it from damaging structures. “This was essentially a wall of flames, that basically came down on

Golf is a game that challenges individuals both physically and mentally. But what happens when a force away from the game takes you off-course? Heather Drew a local golf professional from Bermuda Dunes joined the LPGA Tour in 1983 and played for more than 13 years. In 1996, at the peak of her career, Drew

If there are reports of wildlfires: 1) Listen to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information. Follow instructions of local officials regarding the safest escape route. (It may be different than you expect; wildland fires can change direction and speed up suddenly.) 2) If you have one, turn on your FRS Radio and

The state Senate has passed a bill that would allow parents to remove their children’s personal information from social networking sites. Democratic Sen. Ellen Corbett of Hayward says SB501 gives parents the right to protect their children by removing addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers and bank or credit card account information. The bill applies

A Palm Springs doctor accused of groping an 18-year-oldfemale volunteer at the clinic where he worked pleaded not guilty today to fivecounts of sexual battery. The misdemeanor charges were filed against 66-year-old Daniel GlywnWalters, M.D., Friday. He remains free on $3,500 bail. Walters entered his plea by way of his attorney before Riverside CountySuperior Court

A wind-whipped fire that broke out today in JurupaValley destroyed multiple structures — including two homes — and blackeneda dozen acres before it was contained. The non-injury blaze was reported around 8:25 a.m. at Jurupa Road andVan Buren Boulevard. Flames completely torched two houses and damaged two others, while fivedetached structures, a boat and 10

Snowbirds were encouraged today to donate theirunused furniture, building materials and appliances to a Habitat for Humanitythrift store in Palm Desert to help out others who could use them, a spokesmansaid. Visitors who come to the Coachella Valley during the winter often leavebehind building supplies, furniture and other practical items from unfinishedhome improvement projects when

Ground crews worked early today to extend containmentlines around a wildfire that scorched nearly 3,000 acres in Banning, hoping tolimit the fire’s spread before fierce winds pick up again and the temperaturerises. The blaze broke out near North San Gorgonio Avenue and Summit Driveabout 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, Jody Hagemann of the Riverside County FireDepartment said.

A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was injuredtoday when he was dragged by a moving vehicle with a suspected drug user at thewheel. The driver of the vehicle, not yet identified, was arrested about a half-hour later following a high-speed chase that went from Moreno Valley intodowntown Riverside. The confrontation with the deputy occurred around 10:50

UPDATE (11:27 a.m.) – According to a press release from DHS police, Ibarra has returned home. On Wednesday May 01, 2013 Destiny Michelle Ibarra walked away from her residence in Desert Hot Springs. As of Thursday morning she had not returned. No foul play issuspected. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the above juvenile is

The Palm Springs Police Officers Association willhold its first fundraiser Saturday to benefit a shelter for victims of domesticviolence. Proceeds from the “New Beginnings Gala” will help Shelter from theStorm, the primary shelter for women and children in Riverside County. Thefestivities will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The fundraiser is