News

INDIAN WELLS – The Indian Wells Tennis Gardens and BNP Paribas Open were both sold to the co-founder and CEO of Oracle Larry Ellison, who has now formed Tennis Ventures, LLC. Ellison purchased 100% of the assets from Charlie Pasarell and Raymond Moore, previous owners, as well as from George Mackin and Bob Miller of

THERMAL – Two people were found dead Sunday in Thermal, and authorities believe the pair was murdered. Sheriff’s deputies discovered the bodies on a dirt trail within a vineyard near Avenue 58 and Pierce Street, said Deputy Craig Roberts of the Indio sheriff’s station. “The preliminary investigation revealed the decedents were victims of a homicide,”

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – A 19-year-old who shot and killed another teen, and then wounded two other men in what police believe was a drug deal gone bad, is behind bars and being held on $1.5 million bail. The apparently botched drug buy took place at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday near 5th Street and Golden

COACHELLA -Christmas came early for thousands of people in Coachella on Saturday. Jordan Outreach Ministries held it’s 12th annual “Christmas for Kids” providing toys and food for needy families here in the valley. A line wrapped all around the building. People stood waiting for more than two hours, but they say it’s worth it. “It

HEMET – Riverside County sheriff’s Deputies on a probation sweep of felons’ homes say they found a bomb, military flares, several guns, ammunition, a pot growing operation and other drugs in the Hemet home of one man. A report from Hemet police Friday said that officers arrested 36-year-old Zane Hartsfield on suspicion of being a

LOS ANGELES – A defense bill passed Saturday would support clean- vehicle research at a Pasadena-based automotive center, combat medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and several other Southland recipients, Sen. Barbara Boxer announced today. The bill, which awaits the president’s signature, would extend unemployment benefits set to expire at the end of the year for

By News Channel 3newsline3@kesq.comand Kesq.com News Services PALM DESERT -Palm Desert Police are out making the streets safer ahead of the holiday weekend. They held aDUI checkpoint last night on Monterey and Country Club. It ran from from 9 p.m. Fridaytill 2 a.m. Saturday. During the checkpoint,police screened more than 400 vehicles and made 15

CATHEDRAL CITY – Cathedral City Police have arrested a man accused of carjacking a vehicle outside a Walgreens store Fridaynight. It happened just before 10:30 p.m.at the Walgreens on the 33900 block of Date Palm Drive. Police say Brandon Tripp, 29, of Indio walked up to a vehicle and ordered the driver to get out.

RIVERSIDE -Beginning Friday, law enforcement agencies across Riverside County will be ramping up patrols to snare drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs as part of a two-week holiday crackdown. The “Avoid the 30” campaign, named for the local and state law enforcement agencies that operate in the county, will start Friday evening and

SAN JACINTO -The Riverside County Sheriffs Department is looking for more potential victims of a scam. Investigators in San Jacinto say they’ve received a number of complaints about David Jerome Edwards, Sr. People say he posed as a financial adviser, and took out personal loans in their names. But then, they say he kept the

MECCA – With sirens blaring, the California Highway Patrol cleared the way for Santa Claus to ride in to the Saul Martinez Elementary School in Mecca. “We were so excited to see the children, their reaction. They were chanting, ‘Santa! Santa!’ so it was wonderful,” says principal Delia Alvarez It’s part of Chips for Kids.

INDIO – Indio City leaders along with the Human Services Commission met Thursday night to discuss the City’s new proposed Indio Central Park. The Indio Central Parkwould bebuilt on 53 acres of City-owned property near Jackson and Market Streets. The Indio Central Park would feature an aquatic center, 20 acre community park, two football fields,

HEMET – Police have arrested the parents of a 17-year-old girl who’s been missing since the burned body of a teenage boy was found in a backyard in Hemet. Didia and Anthony Sharp were arrested Friday during a search of their home in Hemet. Police Sgt. Dave Quinn said officers found a rifle, handgun and

By News Channel 3newsline3@kesq.comEven if the electricity and gas bill are past due, the Christmas lights will stay on and the turkey in the oven will stay piping hot. Southern California Edison and The Gas Company say they will not cut off anyone’s utilities between December 21st and January 3rd. The announcement came after a

INDIO – Hundreds of children in the desert are walking with confidence and comfort, after unwrapping new shoes Friday morning. Christmas came early for underprivileged students at Van Buren Elementary School in Indio thanks to a group of valley moms. Before the students get to class, secret santas place gifts at every child’S desk. Inside

THOUSAND PALMS – A helicopter was forced the land at the Tri-Palms Golf Course in Thousand Palms. Witnesses say the helicopter came down near the intersection of Ramon and Monterey around 2:50pm. There are no reports of injuries, but the hazardous materials team has been dispatched. The owner of the helicopter is listed with a

INDIO -Tough timesare forcing the city of Indio to cut its budget by $5 million. A memo to Indio city employeesobtained by News Channel 3says the immediate budget solutions include reducing advertising, supplies, travel and professional services. City Manager Glenn Southard also plans to leave most vacant positions empty. Southard says he will propose offering

COACHELLA – Joined by middle school students, city leaders spoke out against gang violence. This comes after the December 3rd murder of Angel Luna. Someone shot him as the teenager rode his bike. Police believe 26-year-old Angel Esparza pulled the trigger. The shooting happened next to the Coachella Boys and Girls Club. Director Quinton Egson

RIVERSIDE -Uncle Sam is offering Riverside County farmers financial assistance to take part in a pilot project that involves using plastic-covered houses to grow fruits and vegetables, it was announced today. Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $65 million “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” program, growers who qualify can receive taxpayer funding to cover

WASHINGTON – Vicks issued a recall of its Dayquil Liquicaps, today, due to the lack of child-proofing in its packaging. The recall statement reads: “The cold and flu medicine contains acetaminophen and is not in child-resistant packaging and lacks the statement, ‘This Package for Households Without Young Children,’ as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging