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Public schools here in California have faced years of spending cuts. Smaller budgets have forced layoffs, and cuts to programs. In an effort to combat continued state budget cuts, Palm Springs Unified School District is seeking out a creative, new way to raise funds. The board of education is considering selling naming rights to donors.

The defense rested today in the penalty phase of the trial of a Desert Hot Springs gang member convicted of killing a U.S. Marine and a teenager. Emilio Manuel Avalos, 35, was convicted in the Dec. 19, 2001, slaying of 20-year-old Marine Cpl. Henry Lozano and the Dec. 21, 1994, shooting death of 17-year-old Jahi

A Coachella woman is in jail, accused in a deadly hit and run crash over the weekend. Police say 31-year old Sara Rojas was the driver in a hit and run that killed a 63-year old woman Saturday night. Police say Celia Miranda was crossing Harrison Street near Avenue 49 in a crosswalk when she

A fallen California Highway Patrol officer who worked out of the Indio area office is being honored for making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. A dedication ceremony was held Monday naming the Date Palm Drive freeway overpass in Cathedral City after CHP officer Mark Thomas Taylor. Twenty-five years ago on Thanksgiving Day,

Nearly three weeks after voters went to the polls, Riverside County posted its final election results today. The final tally shows Democratic emergency room doctor Raul Ruizcollected 12,236 votes more than Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, in therace to represent the redrawn 36th Congressional District. Ruiz had 52.94percent of the vote, compared to Bono

Spending so much green during the holidays can likely put you in the red. However, with online deals chopping prices tremendously, shoppers can fill their online shopping bags with less stress. “I have purchased all my son’s Christmas gifts, my husband’s Christmas gifts, some of my mom’s, my niece’s and my sister-in-law’s,” shopper Melissa Neiderman

Riverside County Sheriff’s Detectives were combing through the desert area near Thousand Palms Canyon Road and Dillon Road after a hiker said he discovered a human skull with a gunshot wound. Thunder Gibb says he was with two family members hiking in the remote desert area Monday when they came across the find. Investigators arrived

Banning Police get more than they bargained for when they attempted to serve a warrant at a home on King Street. Banning Police say that just before 5 p.m. Saturday, officers went to arrest James Jonathan Collins at the home. Collins was standing in the garage when officers arrived. While placing Collins under arrest they

The Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal from a California table grape organization over a lawsuit seeking to invalidate several government table grape patents. The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from the California Table Grape Commission, which is fighting to keep in place patents on Sweet Scarlet, Autumn King and Scarlet

63 year old Celia Miranda, was struck by a hit and run driver Saturday (11/24) night as she crossed the crosswalk near Avenue 49 and Harrison Street in Coachella. The coroner’s office says, Miranda later died of her injuries at John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio nearly an hour after the alleged hit and

If you want to get ahead on your holiday shopping, and give one-of-a-kind gifts at your holiday party, the Palm Springs Open Air Market and Street Fair at the Spa Resort Casino has your name on it. “Years ago, I used to do all the London street fairs and open air markets. I used to

An investigation by Indio Police Detectives revealed that Michael Patrick Downing from Chino Hills, is wanted by the FBI as a person of interest in nine other bank robberies in San Bernardino, Orange, and Riverside Counties. The 47-year-old is known as the “Desperate Bandit.” The FBI investigation is ongoing. Downing is being held at the

Black Friday shoppers were out hitting the stores to get the best bargain for their buck. One problem, “It’s kind of a madhouse everywhere you go so it’s easy for people to steal things or get away with things,” said Tres Dean, of La Quinta. Police caught three men from Los Angeles accused of doing

For a lot of shoppers just getting to the stores were a challenge. At Cabazon and Desert Hills Premium Outlets, a prime parking spot was a hot commodity. Local residents took advantage, helping shoppers and making some extra money. Nancy Pena, a local resident, says, “It got pretty crazy.” Even in the afternoon looking for

A motorcyclist is taken to the hospital after crashing his bike on Highway 74 near Vista Point Friday afternoon. The accident happened just after 3:30 p.m. on Highway 74 near Vista Point. CHP officers shut down the roadway in both directions for almost an hour to rescue and investigate the crash scene. According to an

Indio Police confirm that the First Bank on Avenue 42 near Jackson Street was robbed just after 11:30 a.m. Indio Police Spokesman Ben Guitron confirms a male suspect entered the bank in North Indio on Jackson street at 11:37. The suspect told the teller he was armed. The teller gave the robber an undisclosed amount

The crowds. The sales. The tryptophan comas. The makings of Black Friday mayhem. “It was pretty hectic seeing everyone push out of the way to get what they want,” said shopper Keith Villalobos. “It’s really interesting to see.” Retailers are trying to get an edge on the 52 billion dollars up for grabs this year.

Black Friday got an early start this year and many shoppers lined up early to get their hands on the best deals.

An elderly woman reportedly suffered mild to moderate injuries in a near-drowning Thursday in Rancho Mirage, a Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman said. Firefighters rushed to a location in the 30 block of Evening Star Drive at 4:46 p.m. after receiving a call about a drowning at a home near the Thunderbird Country Club, said