News

THOUSAND PALMS- A cat that survived a crash that killed its owner on Interstate 10 last month will be flown to Pittsburgh on Friday to be with the man’s family, an animal control spokesman said Thursday. Shadow’s owner, Derrick Raymond Finch, a 36-year-old jazz pianist from Los Angeles, died at the scene of the Feb.

The recent quake swarm is making earthquakes the talk of the desert. People living in one local isolated community are surprised to learn scientists think they could be cut off from the outside world for up to 7 weeks after a major earthquake. Local emergency officials say roads into and out of Sky Valley would

We interviewed former Scientologist Maureen Bolstad last Friday. News Channel 3 met her in front of Scientology’s IntBase in Hemet. She told us about years of abuse and coercion at the hands of Church management. Bolstad showed us her Social Security tax forms. Many of them show zero income for several years she was working

The Bighorn sheep in the mountains above Palm Desert are both iconic and endangered. Over the years, the Bighorn Institute’s lambing pens helped to slowly raise the numbers of these sheep. The Corniche at Bighorn luxury home development may be moving closer than the 400 yard buffer zone. When Palm Desert’s city council heard 30,000

INDIO – Workers and family members banded together for a candlelight vigil to save the Oasis Mental Health Rehabilitation Center’s long-term unit. The long-term unit serves more than 30 patientsfrom the Coachella Valley andwill close its doors on June 30th because of the tough economic situation. Marie Ryser says she understands the economy is tough,

THERMAL- An arson fire at the Thermal mobile home park known as Duroville destroyed a double-wide mobile home, but no one was injured, a fire official said Wednesday. The fire was reported at 10:58 p.m. Tuesday at the Desert Mobile Home Park, better known as Duroville, which is located at 68800 Pierce St., said Cal

One local city councilman is being accused of hurling racist insults at a water district office worker. Desert Hot Springs Councilman Karl Baker says the accusations are just dirty politics. Baker wanted to transfer water service to his new home. But, when he went to the Mission Springs Water District office, it turned ugly. Employees

By: Elyse Miller More adults are going back to school after losing their jobs. They’re trying to make the best of a bad situation. Rafaela Mundo used to spend her days working at a day care center, until she got laid off. ” Parents lost their jobs and couldn’t pay for day care,” says student,

What would you do if you got a check in the mail for $3,000? They’re popping up in mailboxes across the Desert with letters about secret shopper opportunities or consumer sweepstakes. But, they are a scam. Jere Alm thought he hit the jackpot. He found a check in his mailbox for $3,670. A letter claimed

By: Elyse Miller PALM SPRINGS – San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, was in the valley this weekend. As part of his town hall meeting tour called, “Conversations on California’s Future.” Mayor Newsom made a splash throughout California as a strong advocate for gay marriage rights, a fight he won’t give up. Mayor Newsom says he’ll

Cathedral City officials say there are 21 city projects eligible for funds from the federal stimulus plan. Those projects could potentially create about 2,200 jobs and bring in more than $8 million for the city. “Our city manager has been attending weekly meetings with other cities in the valley to develop a cohesive and collaborative

PALM SPRINGS- Two armed robbers who took cash from two people in a driveway are also suspects in a similar robbery earlier this month, a police sergeant said. The latest robbery was reported at 10:44 p.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of Deepwell Road. The victims told police they were approached in their driveway by

T.H.E. Center, which is Therapy for Handi-Capable Equestrians, has been operating in Hemet for 25 years. Teachers there give weekly riding lessons to disabled kids and adults, helping boost their self-confidence. Typically, instructors are only worried about students getting the most out of their riding time. But last month, the center was dealt a cruel

As schools around the state struggle with budget cuts, hundreds of students at one of our local schools are struggling with English. More than 90 percent of the students in Mecca speak English as a second language. This can make learning and passing tests difficult, but some local retirees are breaking down the language barriers,

Since our News Channel 3 investigation into the Church of Scientology began, nearly a dozen former church members came forward to tell us their accounts of what happens inside the church’s world headquarters in Hemet. Jeff Hawkins was the first. He is the church’s former marketing director. Hawkins explained the Scientology faithful, “It’s a combination

News Channel 3 sent former Scientology marketing director and Portland resident Jeff Hawkins to KATU-TV, the local ABC television station, where he revealed what happened during his years inside Scientology’s world headquarters in Hemet, called “IntBase.” His account of what goes on behind these fences is one of religious punishment and imprisonment. “Within that Hemet

Dr. Lisa Bodon looks through patient files. Her Palm Springs OB/GYN office has a problem, though. Patients keep calling thinking Dr. Bodon was arrested and has a criminal file. “It’s too many coincidences, surely. Thanks for calling. And no, it is not our doctor,” said receptionist Adria Ballesteros on the phone to a patient wondering

RANCHO MIRAGE – Funeral services were pending today for a 38-year-old Rancho Mirage man killed by his two large dogs. Hill Andrew Williams was found Monday afternoon at the rear of a home at 41625 Morningside Court. An autopsy revealed he died of “significant physical trauma” suffered in the attack, said sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez.

A 28-year-old Palm Desert man was killed early Tuesday in an alcohol-related crash between a big rig and a Ford Mustang, and the car’s driver was in custody, authorities said. The victim, a passenger in the Mustang whose name was not immediately released, was pronounced dead at the scene on the right shoulder of westbound

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden will host an outdoor NBA game for the second straight year as the Phoenix Suns take on the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 10, it was announced Wednesday. The preseason game will be nationally televised on the TNT network. On Oct. 11, 2008, the Suns took part in the first