News

RIVERSIDE – A Cathedral City man arrested last year for pointing a laser at a California Highway Patrol helicopter now faces federal charges. Nineteen-year-old Nathan Ramon Wells was arrested, this morning, on two felony counts: interference with an operator of an aircraft and attempted interference. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in

MECCA – Ernest Lo knows his fish. “I see they’re swimming not very smooth!” he says, pointing to a school of goldfish in his farm’s tank. Lo owns Kimco Fish Farm, the only koi fish and goldfish farm in the Coachella Valley. Business is not going well on this Friday because the farm has no

DETROIT -The Associated Press has learned that Toyota is sending new gas pedal systems to car factories rather than dealerships who want the parts to take care of millions of customers whose pedals may stick. Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons confirms information in a company e-mail obtained by the AP that says parts were shipped to

RIVERSIDE -The brother-in-law of convicted arsonist and murderer Raymond Lee Oyler pleaded not guilty today to jury tampering charges linked to Oyler’s trial. Christopher Vaughn Hillman, 47, faces seven felony counts of jury tampering and remains free on $250,000 bail. He appeared before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Michael Donner, who set a felony settlement

PALM SPRINGS -Palm Springs Police are looking for a man they say set up a fake travel agency– then fled the country with his profits. Police say SalvadorRodriguez started a business called “Palm Springs Travel” back in 2007. He allegedly stole over $56,000 from victims who thought they were purchasing travel tickets. Rodriguez allegedly escaped

PALM DESERT – Coachella Valley’s existing home sales jumped an impressive 21 percent in December over November, in sharp contrast to national sales that fell 16 percent in the same period, the California Desert Association of Realtors reported today. Moreover, existing sales in the desert rose 30.3 percent in December compared to December 2008. “The

RANCHO MIRAGE -Steven Tyler of Aerosmith wows an Unsuspecting Audience at the Rancho Mirage Home Depot Weekend warriors at the Home Depot in Rancho Mirage got a celebrity encounter with a special surprise-a serenade from the frontman of Aerosmith: Steven Tyler. Tyler sang live over the Home Depot loud speaker “Dude Looks Like a Lady”

RIVERSIDE -Her son says Etta James is hospitalized in Riverside County with a serious infection but he expects her to be released soon. Donto James says the 72-year-old singer has been at Riverside Community Hospital for about a week and is recovering from sepsis caused by a urinary tract infection. He also says James, who

WASHINGTON -The Pentagon says it’s working on a plan for ending the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bars gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. In last night’s State of the Union address, President Barack Obama urged Congress to repeal the ban, saying it’s “the right thing to do.” A Pentagon

By Mike Daniels, News Channel 3 Reportermdaniels@kesq.com INDIO -Indio’s city manager is calling it quits. Glenn Southard announcedWednesday he’ll be retiring early and he’s hoping to take advantage of an early retirement incentive. The city council is scheduled to vote on that next Wednesday. They are calling it the “Golden Handshake.” It’ll give him two

PALM SPRINGS – It’s only a matter of time before rains pour through the valley again and roads shut down. All the U-turns can drive people up the wall. But, now there’s a way to avoid the inconvenience. Palm Springs Police can send you a text message and email blasts through a system called “Nixle.”

PALM DESERT -State lawmakers could vote soon to name a Palm Desert roadway after late Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson. Local assemblyman Brian Nestande has introduced a bill to rename Highway 74 in Palm Desert- the “Roy Wilson Memorial Highway.” Nestande says Wilson deserves the honor because of his work preserving the landscape and wildlife

INDIO -The Jefferson exit off of westbound Interstate 10 is closed because of erosion from the rain. Authorities say it’scausing pavement failure on the ramp. The news comes as all of the roads previously closed from last week’s torrential rains were opened. Motorists needing to get to the area need to use other exits.

LOS ANGELES -Sassy Samantha Harris will be quitting ABC’s competition reality show “Dancing with the Stars.” The co-host says she will not be returning to show when it starts its 10th season on March 22, Access Hollywood confirms She tells People “‘Dancing with the Stars’ could not have been more of a dream job. I

LANDERS – Human remains found on private property have been identified as a missing woman from Landers. Police say Anna Jeanette James had been missing since October of 2008. Her whereabouts remained a mystery. Geraldo Cabrera says his dog “Scoobie” found the skullwhile out playing on his Landers property,but it took awhile before anyone realized

LANDERS –The San Bernardino County Coroner is working to identify human remains found in the hi-desert. A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Unit, along with search teams and cadaver dogs, spent hours Thursday looking for more human remains in Landers. An investigation is now underway after a human skull was discovered Wednesday on a nearby

INDIO -Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Adam Lambert’s first concert in the Coachella Valley. Lambert, who lost to Kris Allen on “American Idol” last May, will headline a Feb. 27 show at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Special Events Center. Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert, which are priced from $39 to $79, go

DESERT HOT SPRINGS -A man convicted of sex crimes 35 years ago was behind bars today for allegedly failing to inform police that he had moved to a new home in Desert Hot Springs, police said. Percy William Singleton, 65, was convicted in November 1984 of committing lewd acts on a child under 14, oral

WASHINGTON -Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says the Defense Department next week will say for the first time how it would lift the ban on gays from serving openly in the military, as President Barack Obama wants. Morrell says that after studying the issue for a year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the chairman of