News

RANCHO MIRAGE – If the nation’s economy is going to turn around, the real estate market will lead the way. That was part of the message Dr. Lawrence Yun had for more than 400 Desert realtors Tuesday. Dr. Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, spoke at the Agua Caliente Casino while

BLYTHE – From smart phones to cell phones worn on your wrist, more and more California prisoners are getting bars behind bars. Chuckawalla State Prison in Blythe is one of those facilities where there has been a big spike in prisoners using cell phones. The number of inmates found with cell phones doubled between 2007

WASHINGTON – First lady Michelle Obama says it is important to think about where you’ve come from and how you can give back. Mrs. Obama visited a social services center in the heart of Washington on Tuesday. She read a book to toddlers and had a round-table discussion with a group of teenagers who participate

Chicago would seem to be on quite a roll these days. The city is a leading contender to host the Summer Olympics in 2016. The hometown Cubs had the most wins of any team in the National League last year and are one of the early favorites to win the 2009 World Series. And, of

BANNING – A man who robbed a bank at gunpoint in Banning remained at large, police said. The bandit walked into the Washington Mutual branch at 1118 W. Ramsey St. around 4:20 p.m. Monday, demanded money and fled with an unknown amount of cash, Banning police said. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information about

ALTADENA – A woman who apparently wrote a suicide note and disappeared with her two sons from their Altadena home, prompting the issuance of a statewide Amber Alert, were found safe in Mexico Friday night, authorities said. Lisa Vigil Ruelas, 38, and her sons, Gabriel, 10, and Evan Ruelas, 5, were found in Mexico, Deputy

PALM DESERT – Every Friday, students at Ronald Reagan Elementary shake up their usual routine by exercising to start off the day. This is called Fitness Friday. For 30 minutes, students jump rope, run, or do aerobics. “They get their energy out, and then, when they come back to class, they are more calm,” teacher

INDIO – Inside the Riverside County Mental Health Rehabilitation center in Indio, the patients will soon be forced to leave. The word came down. The money is out. This clinic closes June 30. “We don’t have anything in the Coachella Valley for mentally ill, suicidal type patients,” said nursing student Julie Logan. She also says

PALM SPRINGS – “I didn’t have any idea that today was the start of the DMV being closed.” Sheri Pattison was one of a handful of people who were expecting to take care of vehicle-related business on at the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Palm Springs on Friday. Some of those people were met

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Authorities have released the name of a man shot dead inside the Desert Hot Springs store he was workingat. Juan Pablo Munoz-Tovor, 33, was killed Wednesday night when a gunman walked into the Super 1 Food Store on Hacienda Avenue just after 9 p.m. Authorities said the gunman, described as a

RANCHO MIRAGE – Three men are behind bars on suspicion of a home invasion robbery at the Rancho Mirage Country Club, authorities said. Jason Hammer, 30, Norman Lee Gant, 28, and John Wayne Wilson, 24, all of Palm Springs, were arrested at 6 p.m. Thursday on suspicion of robbery, attempted murder and torture, according to

Most parents want their children to graduate high school and go to college. Now, there’s a website to track the success of high school students by how many do go on to college. The new database displays all high schools within a selected county. Then, it shows the percentage of students from each school who

The director of a local Boys and Girls Club is out of a job, andhe claims his firing was politically-motivated. Adam Sanchez worked fornine years at the club in Desert Hot Springs. He says the board of directors fired him after a study on the feasibility of a new Boys and Girls facility said he

Construction workers continue building the city ofBanning’s new police station. Downtown is getting more than a facelift. Many parts of it are practically being rebuilt. So it may be surprising to find out from Banning’s mayor just how much this city is in financial trouble. “Over the next 18 months, a $5 million shortfall,” said

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Desert Hot Springs police unveiled a Web site tool Wednesday that allows residents to track the whereabouts of sex offenders in the city. The system, called OffenderWatch, contains up-to-date information on the location and status of registered offenders, police said. There are 69 registered sex offenders living in Desert Hot Springs

CATHEDRAL CITY – The tough times are forcing people to get rid of more than just their luxury items. A new study predicts more people will let their car insurance lapse because they can’t afford the premiums. According to the insurance research council, California ranks7th on the list of the most uninsured drivers.Eighteen percentaren’t paying.

INDIO – An Indio judge tentatively ruled Tuesday that a convicted child killer now accused in the 1997 kidnap-murder of a 10-year-old Beaumont boy is competent to stand trial. Riverside County Superior Court Judge David B. Downing also appointed a clinical psychologist to help him determine if he should allow Joseph Edward Duncan III to