News

The coroner’s office today released the name of a 16-year-old Coachella boy who died in a rollover crash suspected of being alcohol-related. Francisco Lopez was ejected from the vehicle in the crash, whichoccurred at 12:09 a.m. Sunday in the 86000 block of Industrial Way inCoachella, according to Riverside County coroner’s officials. Someone took the teenage

Ayer a las 12:10 a.m. la polica descubri un carro volcado en la cuadra 86-000 de Industrial Way en Coachella, segn el informe, alguien ya haba transportado al conductor al hospital donde poco despus muri. Las autoridades no han revelado la identidad de la vctima solo se supo que tiene 16 aos. No hubo ms

The leader of a conservative faction within the California Republican Party has been ousted after dismissing pregnancy as a risk from rape in comments earlier this year. The San Jose Mercury News reports the California Republican Assembly voted to unseat Celeste Greig as president in an 84-78 vote at its convention. She was replaced by

The driver of a limousine that burst into flames on a San Francisco Bay area bridge, killing five women, says he at first misunderstood what one of the passengers in the back was saying when she complained about smelling smoke. Orville Brown told the San Francisco Chronicle that with the music up he initially thought

The cause of a crash in the east valley is still under investigation this morning, and police are asking for the public’s help. Police say the car, driven by a teenage boy, crashed and flipped over along Industrial Way. Investigators believe the crash happened Saturday night or early Sunday morning. They say no one was

Firefighters building containment lines around a huge Southern California wildfire are now dealing with muddy and slippery conditions as rain moves in. Ventura County Fire spokesman Tony McHale said Monday that the wet weather has significantly reduced fire activity but it’s also caused crews to work more slowly and methodically. The blaze is 80 percent

The Gorgonio Fire south of Banning was fully containedMonday and was expected to be out by Monday night, authorities said. The fire started just before noon Saturday. No structures werethreatened and no evacuations required, said Riverside County Fire Departmentspokeswoman Jody Hagemann. 20016562 After re-mapping the fire zone, firefighters downsized the damageestimate from 650 to 510

Occasional showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected today as gusty winds blow through Riverside County, including the Coachella Valley, forecasters said. The rain was brought on by upper low pressure and is expected to stick around through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The low pressure system also will generate gusty winds in the

The sound of bagpipes and whispers of “Amazing Grace” filled the Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church on Saturday as 600 friends and family and brothers and sisters in law enforcement remembered former Riverside County Sheriff Larry Smith. Smith, of La Quinta, was 68 years old and the father of three. “It was gratifying to see

“Being separated from families means you can stay in the U.S. for years without seeing your family,” activist Anita Nicklen said. The “Caravan of Hope” hopes for an end to that. Internationally renowned migrant rights activist and Mexican priest, father Alejandro Solalinde, is leading 35 people in an “Interfaith Caravan of Hope for Immigration Reform

One man was fatally shot and another was wounded in apredawn shooting Sunday in Coachella, a sheriff’s sergeant said. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 4:10 a.m. to the 83000 block ofSerpentine Way where two men were found suffering from gunshot wounds,Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Erickson said. One of the victims died at the hospital

Park rangers at Joshua Tree National Park extended closures to the vandalized Rattlesnake Canyon for another 30 days. Volunteers and rangers continue efforts to clean up graffiti left on seventeen different areas of the popular hiking and day use area. The closure includes physical access, public entry and use to protect the canyon from continued

A major change in weather calmed a huge wildfire burning in Southern California coastal mountains Saturday, and firefighters were hopeful that a predicted chance of rain would become reality during the weekend. High winds and withering hot, dry air was replaced by the normal flow of damp air off the Pacific, significantly reducing fire activity.

Jury selection is expected to wrap up next week forthe trial of a Riverside gang member accused of gunning down a 23-year-oldfather of three in a racially motivated attack that could land the allegedshooter on death row if he’s convicted. Jesse Manzo, 25, is charged with first-degree murder, gang activity and being a convicted felon

The widow of author Harold Robbins will sign copies of her new memoir at a Palm Springs bookstore this afternoon. Grace Robbins is scheduled to appear at Just Fabulous from 2 p.m. to 4p.m. to talk about and autograph copies of “Cinderella and the Carpetbagger: my Life as the Wife of the World’s Best-Selling Author

A convicted DUI offender accused in an alcohol-fueledcollision that fatally injured a 70-year-old bicyclist pleaded not guilty todayto second-degree murder and hit-and-run charges. Brandon Royce Melton, 27, of Palm Springs was arrested April 13 afterallegedly killing Edward James Shaieb in a collision in the 67300 block of EastPalm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City. Along with

Beer lovers can sample from an array of craft brewsduring the 4th annual fundraiser for The Living Desert zoo and botanical gardenin Palm Desert, a spokeswoman said today. Samplings from 45 restaurants and craft breweries will be offered duringthe ”Brew at the Zoo” event from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, LivingDesert spokeswoman Nyla Patzner

Hotel Zoso, the soon-to-be Hard Rock Hotel, will create a new look all around from the rooms, lobby and pool area, all of the way to its staff. About 90 Hotel Zoso employees received a notice of termination on Friday, according to general manager Hector Moreno. A copy of the letter was sent to us

Fire season is coming on early and coming on strong. “We are experiencing mid summer in mid spring right now,” said Capt. Fernando Herrera with Calfire. The lack of rain in April is bringing May wild fires. “It’s a very volatile environment that we are in in Southern California,” said Fred Pena, US Forest Service.

More people now die of suicide than from car crashes. What’s causing so many people to take their own lives? Leaders and experts on mental health issues gathered at the CSU San Bernadino Palm Desert Campus, the goal, early prevention through education. “Once you know that you aren’t alone and you get this information out