News

LAKESIDE -Two people were fatally shot at the East County offices of the Barona Gaming Commission today in an apparent murder-suicide carried out by a former agency employee who was fired last month. The assailant, identified by sheriff’s officials as 38-year-old Donnell Roberts of El Cajon, entered a personnel trailer office at the Lakeside-area complex

NILAND, Calif. – Agents working at the Indio Border Patrol checkpoint station on Highway 111 seized more than 26 pounds of methamphetamine, last night. Canine units signaled something was wrong when a red luxury sedan entered the checkpoint, prompting agents to conduct a more thorough exam. A scan of the car using a large-scale imaging

CATHEDRAL CITY – Don’t feel alone if you think the traffic is worse than usual on Highway 111 (East Palm Canyon Drive) in Cathedral City. Southern California Gas Company is working in the area between Golf Club Drive and Perez Road, bringing traffic down to one lane in each direction. Police suggest you use Vista

RIVERSIDE -At least 262 drivers have been arrested so far for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Riverside County during a coordinated holiday crackdown by 30 county law enforcement agencies, officials said today. The campaign, which aims to bring down the number of impaired drivers on the roads and reduce drunken driving-related

DESERT HOT SPRINGS -A Cathedral City man was stabbed in the neck today outside a Desert Hot Springs apartment complex, but was expected to survive, police reported. The 23-year-old man, whose name was withheld, was attacked about 11 a.m. at 66718 Eighth St., said Sgt. Dan Bressler of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department. The

LA QUINTA -A Coachella woman was taken into custody today for allegedly stabbing her ex-boyfriend in the back, a sheriff’s sergeant said. Megan Stevens, 23, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon around 2:30 a.m. at a La Quinta home in the 55000 block of Laurel Valley Way, said Sgt. Anthony Baur

PALM DESERT – Good news for homeowners wishing to sell their homes. The number of homes sold across the Coachella Valley rose 26.5% in November, comparing it to last November. Prices fell a modest 6.3%. “The desert ‘season’ is one reason why valley sales year over year are outpacing the statewide year over year sales

PALM SPRINGS -Palm Springs police warned residents today not to celebrate the new year by firing their guns in the air. The department will increase patrols and anyone caught discharging a firearm during the New Year’s holiday will be arrested and could be charged with a felony, said Officer Melissa Desmarais of the Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS – Marion Cotillard will be in Palm Springs next week to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Actress Award for her performance in “Nine,” and Quentin Tarantino will be here to receive the Sonny Bono Visionary Award for his directorial work in “Inglorious Basterds.” “Following a distinguished career in French cinema, Marion Cotillard has

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Detectives arrested a Desert Hot Springs man who had a stolen TV in his child’s room and a stolen laptop computer in his living room. Police had been working a burglary case since December 9 when a home on Nicole Court had been broken into, and a flatscreen TV and laptop

If you haven’t bought your Christmas gifts by now, you’ve probably given up. “Last minute. Few things,” says last-minute shopper Freddy Fernandez. “I’m doing last minute shopping,” says Ellie Wiener. But there was still heavy foot traffic in just about every aisle of Target in Palm Desert. People not out looking for a deal, but

KESQ.com News Services INDIO -A man accused of fatally shooting an Apple Valley man in Palm Springs and a woman accused of trying to help the defendant evade arrest are scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing. Dale Farquhar, 47, faces one count of first-degree murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using

RIVERSIDE -Riverside County received a $5 million federal grant that will enable the county’s Department of Public Social Services to expand homeless support programs, including housing assistance. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development block grant will fund six permanent supportive housing programs and 10 transitional housing programs offered to dispossessed residents training for

PALM SPRINGS – Two hikers were stranded in Palm Springs but were rescued a couple of hours later, sheriff’s officials said today. Joe Silins, 27, of Arizona, and Chris Miller, 35, of Indio, were hiking the trail from Palm Springs to the Aerial Tramway around 4:20 p.m. Saturday when they became stranded on the snow

CATHEDRAL CITY – Cathedral City Police have arrested a man accused of firing off a handgunSaturday morning. It happened just after 1:30 a.m.on the 30100 block of San Diego Drive. Officers responded to reports of shots being fired and found shell casings in the driveway of a home. They arrestedPedro Garcia, 34, of Cathedral City.

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Two men were arrested on Christmas Day after police pulled them over, and found a stolen rifle in the backseat, a small amount of marijuana, and open alcohol containers. The black Ford Bronco was pulled over for an obstructed or missing license plate. Manuel Aguilera and Bryant Robles, both 19-years-old, were

RIVERSIDE – Only 39 new cases of Swine Flu or H1N1 Flu have been reported in the last week, and no deaths, according to the Riverside County Health Department. Countywide, since the illness was first reported, there have been 2,517 cases reported to the health department, and thirty people have died. The news comes as

PALM SPRINGS -A part-time security guard from Desert Hot Springs today claimed a $7 million SuperLotto Plus jackpot, according to the California Lottery. “I couldn’t believe it,” said John Estrada, who decided to buy a ticket on Saturday at the Chevron service station at 22600 Palm Drive in North Palm Springs. “I called my wife

INDIO -A panel of the Fourth District Court of Appeals overturned a second-degree murder conviction for a homeless man accused of killing an 85-year-old retired Orange County attorney during a paid sexual tryst, a prosecutor confirmed today. Michael Anunciation, 49, was convicted in October 2008 of second-degree murder in the Sept. 30, 2006 strangulation killing

LA QUINTA – Two men were stabbed at a party being held in a villa at the La Quinta Resort and Spa early Sunday morning. Deputies say it happened at a party being held at a privately-rented villa. The two men were reportedly attacked by a group of Hispanic men who were also attending the