News

RIVERSIDE – Angel Esparza, the man authorities had hunted down for a Coachella murder, was moved from San Bernardino County to Riverside to face charges. Esparza, 26, was booked into the San Bernardino County Jail on a Riverside County murder warrant and on an outstanding warrant for parole violation after being arrested on Christmas Eve.

PALM SPRINGS – The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism announced a new way to lure tourists to the desert in the wake of a weak economy and fewer travelers. Along with the Palm Springs Convention Center, the duo have launched interactive upgrades to the city’s two visitor websites. On “VisitPalm Springs.com,” visitors will now have

WASHINGTON -Airline officials say in-flight security rules have been eased after a two-day clampdown. At the captain’s discretion, passengers can once again have blankets and other items on their laps or move about the cabin during the tail end of flight, two industry officials briefed on the situation said Monday. Restrictions were put into place

MURRIETA -Sheriff’s deputies cracking down on illegal off-road racing in southwest Riverside County issued 23 tickets over the weekend and cautioned 33 people against excessive noise and other violations. The operation — which ran from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday — took place in Juniper Flats, Homeland, Valle Vista, San Jacinto,

PALM SPRINGS – Presents, toys and luggage are packed away. The holiday weekend is over, and now it’s time for the journey home which is going smooth for most. “It seemed empty, I was shocked,” says Adrienne Erlick Sigmund. Drivers say, a hassle free road trip takes preparation. It’s all about timing and navigating. “We

DESERT HOT SPRINGS- A Chevron gas station along Interstate 10 near Palm Springs sold a SuperLotto Plus ticket that is worth $7 million, the California Lottery announced. The ticket for Saturday night’s drawing bears winning numbers 8, 19, 20, 21, 41 and mega number 3. It was sold by the Chevron just north of the

WASHINGTON -The Obama administration is moving forward on two fronts in response to the failed bombing on a Detroit-bound airliner. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says investigators are looking at the system for placing potential terrorists on travel security lists to see if procedures were properly followed and what can be done to make them

RIVERSIDE – Starting Saturday and continuing for three weeks, the city and county of Riverside will collect Christmas trees for recycling. Collection will take place on the same day as usual green waste pickups, according to officials. The trees must be without decorations, be cut into four-foot-long sections and be piled next to the green

SAN BERNARDINO – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officers have arrested the suspect sought in the Dec. 3 shooting of 16-year-old Angel Luna outside the Boys & Girls Club in Coachella, authorities said today. Angel Esparza, 26, was booked into the San Bernardino County Jail on a Riverside County murder warrant and on an outstanding warrant

CATHEDRAL CITY – Police say Henry Author, 31,of Palm Springs drove into construction barriers in the center divider on East Palm Canyon Drive near Auto Park Wayearly Thursdaymorning. His car then rolled several times before landing upside down. Officers say author wasn’t wearing a seat-belt at the time but they have not determined if alcohol

LA QUINTA – Close to 1,900 Marines will spend Christmas at the 29 Palms Marine Combat Center in 29 Palm away from family.It can be an especially tough time and because of that,one Coachella Valley family is trying to brighten up five Marines’ holiday with a home cooked Christmas dinner. Private Nohely Marquesis fromLas Vegas,

SAN DIEGO – A moderate earthquake shook the Imperial Valley and eastern San Diego County Saturday, but was too small to cause any damage. Automated seismographs indicated that the 3.9 magnitude quake hit at 3:02 p.m. with an epicenter 105 miles east of downtown San Diego, about 15 miles north-northeast of Ocotillo. That location is

LA QUINTA – Six hikers from the Pacific Northwest learned that it can get quite cold in the desert, when they were stuck overnight in a rugged, pitch-black desert canyon northeast of the Salton Sea. The well-chilled hikers spent the night outdoors in the Painted Canyon recreation area east of Mecca wearing light clothing, and

PALM SPRINGS – A family of 10 spent Wednesday night in a different home than they rented after the duplex they rented caught fire. Just before 7p.m. the Han family visiting from San Diego had a fire going in the fire place while eating dinner at their rented duplex on the 300 block of Dominguez

THERMAL –Hundreds of needy valley families are getting an early jump on Christmas, thanks to the generosity of others. Smiling faces were all around at the Thermal trailer park known as “Duroville.” Families lined up early Wednesday morning for free toys and turkeys.Some had been waiting since dawn. The giveaway was sponsored by Martha’s Village

INDIO -A La Quinta man accused of repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend during a fight at his home pleaded not guilty today to attempted murder, torture and aggravated mayhem charges. Nick Caupain, 32, also faces a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting great bodily injury on a person during domestic violence. Riverside County Superior Court Judge William S.

RIVERSIDE – A Desert Hot Springs man has been added to Riverside County’s “Most Wanted Fugitives” list. In 1995, Richard Stanley Howen was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 in San Bernardino County.Just three years later, in 1998, he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender. Up

INDIO -A small fire broke out at the Motel6 in Indio, this morning. Fire officials say it started in the laundry room around 9:40. Six engines arrived at the motelon Indio Boulevard, and put out the fire in about fifteen minutes. Fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire, but they want

COACHELLA – As Christmas approaches, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission still needs a little bit of your help, so that everyone can have a merry one. “It’s Christmas and people are hungry and if I have the ability to I might as well help,” says Katie White who donated food. They expect nearly 3,000 people