The Board of Supervisors today signed off on a $3 million-a-year contract with a ballot printing firm for upcoming elections in Riverside County, though the chairman and one other supervisor hesitated in supporting the agreement based on another vendor’s complaints about actions by the now-former registrar of voters. “There are some real discrepancies,” Supervisor Karen
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By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Former union leader and Democratic insider Laphonza Butler was sworn in as the newest member of the Senate on Tuesday, replacing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death and becoming only the third Black female senator in history. Butler was appointed by
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New questions are being raised about Palm Desert city councilmember Gina Nestande’s role as a realtor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and whether she is breaking any rules splitting time between the Sunshine State and the Golden State. A Facebook page created in April of this year identifies Gina Nestande as a “South Florida realtor” affiliated
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A Congressional candidate and city councilmember accused of abusing two children in San Jacinto was charged today with two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment. Brian Eugene Hawkins, 44, of San Jacinto, was arrested Sunday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Office investigation. Hawkins, who is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail at the Robert
Continue Reading San Jacinto Councilmember, and local Congressional candidate, Brian Hawkins was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a child over the weekend in Lake Elsinore. The city of San Jacinto confirmed Hawkins’ arrest in a news release on Monday. “The Riverside County Sherriff’s Department and Riverside County District Attorney’s Office notified the City of San Jacinto of
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Dodgers legend, and Palm Desert resident, Steve Garvey is pondering a possible run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Dianne Feinstein, it was reported today. Sources within the state Republican Party told the Los Angeles Times Garvey has been meeting with GOP donors and leaders to discuss the possibility of a run. Republican
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Democrat Will Rollins is speaking in-depth with News Channel 3 about why he again plans to run for Congress against Republican incumbent Ken Calvert. Rollins held a campaign event today with Democrats of the Desert. The former federal prosecutor lost to Calvert in last year’s election by roughly 11,000 votes. Rollins’ formal entry into the
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Questions continue to swirl over the future of our country’s policies at the southern border following the end of Title 42. While those on the ground report the expected surge of arriving immigrants did not materialize, authorities are reporting they are still processing thousands of asylum claims a day. Border patrol officials are now reporting
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News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with local Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-25th) who now represents parts of the valley including Indio, Coachella, and Cathedral City, who says lawmakers need to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Right now, Ruiz says more needs to be done to address the root causes of migration by having international agreements
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Palm Springs City Councilmember Lisa Middleton is running for State Senate in 2024. Middleton announced her campaign on Tuesday. She spoke one-on-one with News Channel 3’s Peter Daut about her campaign. “Couple of things that are absolutely prominent for me is bringing daily rail service to the Coachella Valley and to the San Grogonio Pass.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced Tuesday that she will not seek reelection in 2024, signaling the end of a groundbreaking political career spanning six decades in which she shattered gender barriers and left a mark on political battles over reproductive rights, gun control and environmental protection. Feinstein, first elected in 1992, said in
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden exhorted Republicans over and over Tuesday night to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a State of the Union address meant to reassure to a country beset by pessimism and fraught political divisions. The backdrop for the
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Congress passed the $1.7 trillion government funding package on Friday, sending it to Biden’s desk for his signature. The bill passed with a 225-201 vote. Republican Congressman Ken Calvert voted against the bill, while Democratic Congressman Raul Ruiz voted for it. Statement from Rep. Calvert: “Americans understand that when Congress jams through an omnibus 4,000
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By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, JAE HONG and AMY TAXIN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (AP) — The November elections saw Californians continue to embrace progressive leadership, but voters in one of the state’s most populous counties are so frustrated with this political direction that they voted to consider seceding and forming their own state. An advisory ballot
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For the second time in a little under three years, Kathleen Kelly is the new mayor of Palm Desert. Kelly was sworn in as mayor during Thursday’s city council meeting. She previously served as mayor in 2021. Palm Desert rotates the position of mayor annually. Councilmembers Gina Nestande and Karina Quintanilla were actually next in
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Palm Springs has its first-ever Latina mayor! Grace Garner was sworn in to the position on Thursday. Garner born on the Twentynine Palms Marine base to two Marine parents, grew up in Palm Springs, and went to Palm Springs high school. She was first elected to the city council in 2019. She won reelection in
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Rita Lamb is the new mayor of Cathedral City. She was sworn in to office during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon. Lamb was elected to the city council on Aug. 27, 2019 in a Special Election called after the passing of then-Mayor Greg Pettis. The vote-by-mail only election was held to determine who will finish
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Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff Hewitt presided over his last meeting today, ahead of his exit from county service following his defeat for re-election, telling his colleagues it was a “honor to work with a lot of very capable and special people.” “Thank you to all my colleagues,” Hewitt said, standing at the
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Republican Greg Wallis was sworn into office as the new Assemblymember for California’s 47th District on Monday. Wallis was sworn in by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert at Noon on Monday. “The Living Desert is a staple in our community and it’s a testament really
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Republican Greg Wallis has declared victory over Democrat Christy Holstege in the tight race to represent California’s 47th Assembly District. Wallis has traded the lead with Holstege several times since election day and final vote totals show him with an 85-vote lead out of about 170,000 votes cast. News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with
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