News

PALM DESERT – California schools are finally getting closer to competing for ” Race to the Top” funds. If one state lawmaker has his way, our schools will have a chance to get their fair share of more than 4 billion dollars in federal funds. President Obama’s ” Race to the Top” program has specific

INDIO -Jurors began their fourth day of deliberations today in the trial of a reputed gang member who faces the death penalty if convicted of shooting a Cathedral City man during a robbery. Miguel Valdivia Najera, 28, is charged with first-degree murder, robbery and being a felon in possession of a gun in the killing

PALM SPRINGS – A suspected drunk driver was free onbail Monday morning after police say he struck a man in a Palm Springs intersection over the weekend. Seth Arsenault, 52, of Palm Springs, posted $50,000 bail after his arreston felony DUI accusations Saturday. Police said Arsenault was behind the wheel of a tan Mercedes that

PALM DESERT – Black Friday is in the bag, but now it’s on to the next big shopping day – Cyber Monday. More than 96 million people are planning to surf the web for big deals. Shoppers say virtual buying can save time and money. There is no waking up early, battling crowds, carrying heavy

INDIO – Police in Indioare looking fora group of suspected car thieves. Police say they struck yesterday around 4 p.m. on the 80500 block of Key Largo Boulevard. Officers say a man was walking home when four acquaintances drove up and socialized with him. They all went back to the man’s home and that’s when

PALM SPRINGS – National statistics released by the FBI include several hate crimes against homosexuals in the Coachella Valley, it was reported Saturday. The data, released last week, shows Palm Springs had six crimes related to sexual orientation and one each related to race and religion, the highest total number among Coachella Valley cities. Indio

PALM SPRINGS- Palm Springs residents basked in the aftermath of the first major rain of the season and their Thanksgiving weekend glimpse of snow in local mountains, and meteorologists said more rain is possible next week. After a rainstorm Saturday that dumped a half-inch of rain in the area, Palm Springs residents and visitors returned

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Policehave bookeda driver facing vehicular manslaughter charges following a deadly crash last weekend. Police sayBenjamin Guzman Anaya, 20,of Desert Hot Springs is now under arrest and in the process of being booked. Anaya had been recovering at Desert Regional from a broken back following the crash last Sunday. Police say Anaya

CABAZON -Retailers are banking on this Black Friday to help them through a difficult year. Shoppers were hoping to cash-in on the deals being offered. Some start planning weeks in advance, as they scout out the best strategies and deals. They camp out or get up very early, but shoppers aren’t the only ones working

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is expanding its efforts to confront the foreclosure crisis. The Treasury Department says the administration will announce steps on Monday aimed at accelerating the number of home loans being converted in loans with lower monthly payments. Industry officials say those steps will include highlighting mortgage companies that are lagging behind

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – Palm Springs residents were treated to a view of the first snow on the San Jacinto range Saturday. And the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s annual snow guessing contest officially ended with the first inch of measurable snow at the Tramway’s Mountain Station, according to Leba Zimmerschied, a spokesperson for the Tramway.

PALM DESERT – A motorcyclist was airlifted to a hospital after suffering critical injuries in a crash, a county fire official said. The crash happened at about 7:40 a.m. today on Highway 74 near Vista Point in Palm Desert, according to Riverside County Fire Department spokesperson Lori Windsor. Two fire engines and eight firefighters assisted

MORONGO VALLEY – A man who was fatally injured in a car crash in Morongo Valley on Thanksgiving was from West Virginia, according to the coroner. Charles Hutchinson, 20, of Charlestown, West Virginia, was driving East on the 62 Highway about 2 a.m. Thursday when his vehicle crashed, according to the Riverside County coroner. Hutchinson

FRESNO – Some California State University campuses will set aside additional slots for athletes, musicians and other special students this fall as the system prepares to turn away more applicants. The 23-campus system is facing a $564 million budget cut this fiscal year, forcing it to cut enrollment by about 40,000 at the same time

During this holiday season there are new reminders that more people are struggling to get by in these tough times. Saturday afternoon, the Salvation Army kicked off it’s Red Kettle Campaign in the valley with a celebration at The Gardens on El Paseo. “It helps with our Christmas giving and also throughout the year with

Palm Desert — The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the resolution 3 to 1 during Tuesday’s meeting. Supervisor Jeff Stone, who authored the resolution, says people need a way to protect themselves against the possible release of 27,000 prison inmates. A panel of federal judges ordered the release earlier this year. Stone says two

Dozens of marines arrive in Indian Wells to meet their family for a day. Several families in Indian Wells opened their hearts and their homes, inviting marines to sit down for a Thanksgiving dinner. “I feel so blessed that we have these people out in the front for us and there’s little enough that we

PALM SPRINGS -Dozens of people in Palm Springs had their Thanksgiving plans destroyed after a fire damaged their homes. Wednesday night a fire broke out at the Andalucia Terrace Apartment Complex. It’s the 3rd fire there, in just over a year. About 65 people are out of their homes. Some are staying with friends and

Mike Daniels, News Channel 3 Reportermdaniels@kesq.com PALM DESERT – Over the nextmonth, shoppers will spend hours at local malls and shopping centers. What’s lurking in the packed parking lots could be putting you and your possessions in danger. You may not think about it,but every holiday season thieves prey on shoppers.Purse snatchingsand car break-ins rise