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DUI CHECKPOINTS FRIDAY IN PALM SPRINGS AND COACHELLA

2012-03-02T08:22:00.003-08:00

Police want you if you’re driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. So they’re setting up DUI checkpoints Friday night in Palm Springs and Coachella. Palm Springs police say their checkpoint, location not specified, will run from 9pm until 3-Saturday morning. Riverside County sheriff’s deputies will man their DUI checkpoint in Coachella from 6-Friday evening until 2am Saturday. And yes, they will be pulling you over to check your driver’s license, too.

BANNING OFFERS REWARD FOR CAPTURE OF A KILLER

2012-03-02T08:22:00.001-08:00

Police call it a vicious crime. And now the Banning city council has posted a 25-thousand dollar reward for information that leads to a killer. Three people were murdered in a home on North Phillips Avenue there last September: Natasha Biggers, Cynthia Smith and Demetrius Hunt. Hunt’s 2-year old son was found bound and gagged but alive in a bathroom. Banning police have gotten more than a hundred tips on the case, but none has panned out so far. That’s prompted the reward offer and a wanted poster with pictures of the 3-victims.

CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE WESTBOUND 10-FREEWAY BEGINS TONIGHT

2012-03-02T08:21:00.007-08:00

You may be in for a delay if you’re driving to Los Angeles Friday night. Alternating lanes of the westbound I-10 freeway will be closed starting at 8 o’clock this evening to allow slab replacement and grooving of the road; work that was supposed to happen last night, but was put off because of high winds. The lanes to be closed are between Hargrave and 8th streets in Banning. The work is supposed to be finished and the 10-wide open by 5-tomorrow morning.

$5.5 MILLION IN DRUGS SEIZED AT BORDER PATROL CHECKPOINT

2012-03-02T08:21:00.005-08:00

Border Patrol agents working the Highway 111 checkpoint at Niland, busted a 36-year-old U.S. citizen this week. He was attempting to smuggle crystal meth and cocaine in a 2004 pickup truck. The bust was made around Wednesday morning around 2 a.m.. That’s when the Border Patrol’s canine team found 69 packages of the illegal loot hidden inside one of the engine compartments. Its street value is estimated at 5-point-5 million bucks. The suspect was arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

HEMET HIGH TEACHER SUSPECTED OF HAVING SEX WITH STUDENT

2012-03-02T08:21:00.003-08:00

If your kid takes an apple a day to school these days, you may have good reason to be suspicious. Hemet school officials notified the sheriff's department Wednesday that a high school teacher may have been involved in a sexual relationship with a student at the school in December. After investigating, deputies arrested 31-year-old Janel Ramirez yesterday on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. District records showed that Ramirez graduated from Hemet High School in 1999, and has been an English teacher there since 2007.

LAWMAKERS RESEEK MEDAL OF HONOR FOR FALLEN MARINE

2012-03-02T08:21:00.001-08:00

California lawmakers will again seek the Medal of Honor for a fallen Marine from San Diego. Then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates decided not to recommend the honor for Sergeant Rafael Peralta, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. However, a bi-partisan group of state legislators say video and a new report from a noted pathologist prove the Mexican-born Marine was a hero. The pathologist confirmed eyewitness accounts that claimed Peralta pulled an enemy grenade beneath his body to save fellow Marines as he lay dying from a gunshot wound to the head.

UCSD SCIENTISTS SAYS POLITICAL AFFILIATION GENETIC

2012-03-02T08:20:00.006-08:00

How you vote may not be a choice, but is instead ingrained in your DNA. UC San Diego geneticist James Fowler says genetic make-up may actually explain up to half of the variation in political attitudes between voters. Fowler even suggests there's a gene that can make someone lean liberal or conservative, or even join the Tea Party. But, he maintains environment still plays a primary role in how we vote.

STUDENTS THROUGHOUT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM RALLY AGAINST CUTS

2012-03-02T08:20:00.003-08:00

Students at California State University campuses are rallying against cuts to higher education. Hundreds of students at Cal State Northridge staged a walkout in protest of the cost of an education. Nakia Brazier says they're calling on Governor Brown to take action. She said they want the governor to stop budget cuts and restore education. She says that's what they hired him to do because Brown told them he would defend public education. Brazier says that hasn't happened. The roughly 30 statewide campus protests are leading up to a major rally Monday at the state Capital.

CHARGERS' DIELMAN RETIRES DUE TO CONCUSSIONS

2012-03-02T08:20:00.001-08:00

San Diego Chargers guard Kris Dielman announced his retirement Thursday. Dielman was diagnosed with a concussion following San Diego's Week Six game against the New York Jets last year. He was placed on injured reserve November 16th. Dielman signed with the Bolts as an undrafted rookie in 2003. He switched from defensive lineman to offensive lineman and won a starting job in 2005. Dielman then started 97 of the next 100 games over the next six-plus seasons.

NEW UNIVERSAL PICTURES LOGO DEBUTS TODAY

2012-03-02T08:17:00.001-08:00

The new Universal Pictures trademark makes its debut Friday right before the start of “Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.” Universal commissioned an updated modern CGI logo to commemorate its year long celebration of the studio's one-hundredth anniversary. The animation was inspired in part by satellite imagery and was created by artists at Peter Jackson's New Zealand-based video effects company. Composer Brian Tyler wrote a new arrangement of the current Universal Fanfare that was produced by the late Jerry Goldsmith.

MEASURE J COMMISSION INTERVIEWS CANCELLED IN PALM SPRINGS

2012-03-02T08:16:00.005-08:00

Change of plans! The Palm Springs City Council has decided to put off interviewing candidates for that new commission to oversee the spending of monies from the Measure J sales tax increase. They had planned to interview 15 of the applicants. But Mayor Steve Pougnet says there are so many qualified applicants the council needs to step back and reconsider the whole process. He’s suggesting they interview at least 45.

NEW STUDY FINDS SOCAL CITIES MORE RACIALLY BALANCED THAN IN THE PAST

2012-03-02T08:16:00.003-08:00

Cities in southern California are more and more melting pots when it comes to racial diversity. A new study from the University of Southern California finds SoCal cities are more racially balanced on average than they were 20-years ago. Chalk that up to a decline in the numbers of whites and blacks in the 5-county region and an increase in the numbers of Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders. 61-percent of southern California cities are now considered multi-racial.

SHORTFEST GETS A GRANT FROM THE MOTION PICTURE ACADEMY

2012-03-02T08:16:00.001-08:00

It’s good news and a financial shot-in-the-arm for the Palm Springs International ShortFest! The festival that brings thousands of people here every year to watch hundreds of short films from all over the world is getting a 20-thousand dollar grant from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The cash comes with the stipulation that it be used for the ShortFest Forums, the panels and master classes and one-on-one sessions with filmmakers. Thanks, says ShortFest Director Darryl MacDonald. He says the grant will expand the scope of the forums. The Palm Springs ShortFest runs from the 19th to the 25th of June this year.

PETITION DRIVE TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY IS A STEP CLOSER TO THENOVEMBER BALLO

2012-03-02T08:15:00.005-08:00

We’ve got ‘em, say backers of a petition drive! Enough signatures to put an initiative on the November ballot to repeal the death penalty in California. They’re submitting those signatures to state officials today. The measure would replace the death penalty with life in prison and no parole, ever! If approved, it would spare the lives of all the inmates currently on death row at San Quentin and, according to backers, save the state millions of dollars. But the initiative faces an uphill fight. A recent Field poll found 2-thirds of California voters still support the death penalty.

SUPERVISOR WARNS OF BIG BUDGET CUTS TO HOMLESS SHELTER

2012-03-02T08:15:00.003-08:00

A shelter for the homeless here in the Valley needs a shelter from a budget shortfall. Riverside County is cutting more than million dollars in subsidy money to Roy’s Desert Resource Center. Supervisor John Benoit says each of the 9-cities in the Valley will have to step in and pony-up the cash or else the center will have to close for part of the year. Roy’s Desert Shelter opened 3-years ago, named in honor the late supervisor Roy Wilson.

ELDERLY WOMAN IN OXNARD IS VICTIM OF ANOTHER LOTTERY SCAM

2012-03-02T08:15:00.001-08:00

It’s happened again. Another elder-scam. This time in Oxnard where an elderly woman’s been bilked out of big bucks by a man and woman who claimed they had a winning lottery ticket! You know how this scam runs. The Ventura County Star says the scammers told the woman they could not claim the lottery prize because they were undocumented and would give her the ticket to claim if she gave them 3-thousand dollars. She did. They left without giving her the promised ticket.

ONTARIO AIRPORT NOT FOR SALE SAYS THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES

2012-03-02T08:13:00.001-08:00

For sale? Ontario Airport? No way, says Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He met Wednesday with a delegation of officials from the Inland Empire and assured them the city does not plan to sell the airport. The Ontario facility is owned by Los Angeles World Airports which also operates LAX. The city of Ontario wants to take control of the local field. Ontario Airport’s traffic has plunged 37-percent since 2007 and the city fears Los Angeles may shut it down or sell it.

CONSERVATOR BLOGGER ANDREW BREITBART DIES IN LOS ANGELES

2012-03-01T08:02:00.003-08:00

Death came Thursday in Los Angeles to Andrew Breibart, the conservative blogger and commentator. His website says Breitbart died unexpectedly of natural causes just after midnight. Among his last written words, I ENJOY MAKING ENEMIES. Andrew Breibart was 43.

ASSEMBLY PANEL REJECTS GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED WELFARE CUTS

2012-03-01T08:01:00.007-08:00

No deal in Sacramento! The state Assembly’s budget panel has turned thumbs-down on Governor Brown’s plan to make cuts to the welfare program known as CalWorks. Brown claims that cutting grant levels and eliminating benefits after 2-years would save the state 946-million dollars. Welfare advocates say that would hurt jobless families. The Assembly panel opted to find other ways to save money.

SUPERVISOR WARNS OF BIG BUDGET CUT TO HOMELESS SHELTER

2012-03-01T08:01:00.005-08:00

It’s called Roy’s Desert Resource Center, named in honor of the late Riverside Country Supervisor Roy Wilson. It’s a shelter to help the homeless. And now the shelter itself needs help. The current supervisor, John Benoit, says the county can no longer pony-up more than a million dollars to cover the shelter’s budget gap. He says it’ll be up to each of the cities in the Valley to pitch-in and make-up for that lost subsidy or Roy’s Center will have to close for part of the year. It opened just 3-years ago.

SMALL PLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

2012-03-01T08:01:00.003-08:00

Visitors to Joshua Tree National Park may have been a little surprised Wednesday when a small plane made an emergency landing near the Cottonwood Visitor Center. The pilot of the Cessna ran out of fuel enroute from Mesa, Arizona to Hemet. Minor damage to the plane, but the 2-people on board were not hurt.

SUNLINE BUS WORKERS AUTHORIZE A STRIKE AS CONTACT TALKS STALL

2012-03-01T08:01:00.001-08:00

It’s a typical tactic when collective bargaining talks bog-down. Now the SunLine bus drivers and mechanics and other workers are going that route. They’ve authorized a strike if their negotiators fail to strike a deal with management on a new contract. The SunLine workers have worked without a contract for 3-years. The sticking point at the bargaining table is apparently a demand by Transit Union Local 1277 that any wage and benefit hikes non-union workers get the new contract be given to the unionized workers as well.

ATTORNEY GENERAL & LEGISLATORS UNVEIL CA HOMEOWNER BILL OF RIGHTS

2012-03-01T08:00:00.003-08:00

The state’s Attorney General Wednesday announced the next wave of help for consumers who’ve been munched by the mortgage and foreclosure crisis. Appearing with legislative leaders in Sacramento, Kamala Harris unveiled what she calls the California Homeowner Bill of Rights. She said it will strengthen the protections that were part of a settlement reached last month with banks and mortgage companies that would result in 18-billion-dollars worth of benefits for affected Californians. The Bill of Rights is a package that consists of six bills intended to protect homeowners from unfair practices that are headed to the Senate and the Assembly.

SANITY PHASE OF TRIAL FOR MAN CONVICTED IN NEIGHBOR ATTACK UNDERWAY

2012-03-01T08:00:00.001-08:00

Last week, 70-year-old Palm Desert resident Barry Hancock was convicted of attempted murder and other charges in an attack of his neighbor who he thought was bombarding his home with noise machines and microwaves. Hancock had pled not guilty by reason of insanity. The second phase of his trial, to determine his sanity, got underway Tuesday. Called by the prosecution, psychologist Maurizio Assandri supported the state’s contention that Hancock understood and spent considerable time planning his actions. Assandri says he evaluated Hancock twice and concluded he suffered from depression.

LAWMAKERS TO REVIEW CHILD SAFTEY SEAT BILL

2012-03-01T07:59:00.005-08:00

You may recall that Palm Desert Assemblyman Brian Nestande held a contest. Hundreds of constituents submitted laws they felt were wasteful or onerous and should come off the state’s books. Tim Bowen of Moreno Valley had the winner. Nestande agreed that Senate Bill 929 needed to be nixed. The law says kids must now stay in child safety seats until age 8, instead of 6, unless they are over 4-foot-9. Nestande says Sacramento often forgets that parents have the responsibility to raise their kids, not the state. He introduced AB 2585 to un-do the law. The Assembly’s public safety committee will take the matter up at the end of the month.

WATER DIVERSION TUNNELS COULD HARM FISH POPULATIONS

2012-03-01T07:59:00.003-08:00

Two diversion tunnels that would send water from the Sacramento River directly to pumps near Tracy could harm fish species in the short term. But, according to state officials, the species would ultimately rebound and benefit from the project. The 37-mile diversions, under the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, would provide drinking water for 25-million Californians, and cover more than a million acres of farmland. Environmentalists are concerned about the decline of two native fish species in particular, the longfin smelt and the endangered winter-run Chinook salmon. Project planners contend that a planned restoration of 110-thousand acres of habitat would reverse any declines, and eventually boost populations.

PALM SPRINGS POLICE OFFICER RECEIVES MADD AWARD

2012-03-01T07:59:00.001-08:00

Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored Palm Springs Police officer Alan Donovan with the 2011 MADD Century Award. Officer Donovan made more than 100 DUI arrests last year. He was one of only fifteen public safety officers who received the special recognition from the Riverside Chapter of MADD. The award was presented last week.

GAME OFFICIAL: MOUNTAIN LION KILLING NO ONE'S BUSINESS

2012-03-01T07:58:00.004-08:00

California Fish and Game Commission President Daniel Richards is saying there’s zero chance he’ll resign. Richards is under fire after a photo surfaced of him holding a mountain lion he killed during a legal hunting expedition in Idaho. In a letter posted on the Sierra Club website, Richards says, quote, “While I respect our Fish and Game rules and regulations, my 100 percent legal activity outside California, or anyone else’s for that matter, is none of your business.” It's illegal to kill mountain lions in California.

CHILD MOLESTATION SUSPECT PLEADS NOT GUILTY

2012-03-01T07:58:00.002-08:00

A Bermuda Dunes man accused of molesting a young relative over a period of nearly three years, and being in possession of several hundred sexually explicit photos of children, pled not guilty Wednesday to nineteen felony charges. Eugene Johnston, who had been out of custody on 50-thousand-dollars bail posted the day after his December 29th arrest, was returned to custody as Judge William Lebov increased his bail to a half-million-dollars during the arraignment. The molestations allegedly occurred between early 2009 and December 2011. Johnston is due back in court on March 9th for a felony settlement conference.

PART OF THE ANNENBERG ESTATE OPENS TO THE PUBLIC THURSDAY

2012-03-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

Open to the public Thursday: the Sunnylands Center and Gardens, part of the Annenberg estate in Rancho Mirage. The Center is the starting point for tours of the Annenberg’s mid-century modern home. The gardens are spread-out over 15-acres adjoining the estate. Tickets for the tours are sold-out through the middle of next month, but tickets for the middle to the end of March will go on sale at 9 a.m. Thursday.

A RIVERSIDE-BASED BANK IS MERGING WITH A BIGGER BANK

2012-03-01T07:57:00.001-08:00

Two California banks have the urge-to-merge! Premier Service Bank based in Riverside will become part of First California Bank. First California is a bigger institution with 19-offices throughout southern California and nearly 2-billion dollars in assets. The deal is expected to close in the 3rd quarter of this year.

COACHELLA POLICE TO MAN DUI CHECKPOINT FRIDAY NIGHT

2012-03-01T07:55:00.002-08:00

Coachella is out to get you if you drink or do drugs and drive. Sheriff’s officers who provide police services to the city are going to set up a DUI checkpoint from 6pm Friday until 2am Saturday. Where it will be, they will not say for obvious reasons. They want to nab intoxicated drivers by surprise. Oh, and they will also be checking for valid driver’s licenses.

NEW POLL FINDS MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA

2012-03-01T07:54:00.004-08:00

Should same sex marriage be legal in California again! Yes, say 59-percent of more than a thousand state residents surveyed in a new Field poll. 34-percent are against it. Republicans and those who call themselves conservatives are the only groups strongly opposed to legalized gay marriage in the Golden state.

HUGH HEFNER’S SON FACES POSSIBLE JAIL TIME

2012-03-01T07:54:00.002-08:00

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner may not be proud of his son. Marston Hefner is facing possible jail time for allegedly roughing-up his Playmate of the Year girlfriend Claire Sinclair a few weeks ago. Marston is accused of kicking and punching her in their Pasadena apartment. That led her parents to call 911. TMZ-dot-com says Marston Hefner is also charged with vandalism for allegedly damaging Sinclair’s computer.

NEW CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC CARS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

2012-03-01T07:53:00.001-08:00

Are you tooling-around in a Prius or one of the other hybrid or all electric cars? You’ll get a charge out of this. Or, rather, your car will! The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has given its blessing to 4-new charging stations; 3- in Riverside and one in Murrieta. Price tag to build these stations: 20-thousand bucks. No word yet how much it’ll cost you to plug-in and charge-up at one of them.

ANOTHER CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN CALLS IT QUITS

2012-02-29T07:55:00.001-08:00

There’s word Wednesday morning that veteran California congressman David Dreier will not run for another term. Dreier was facing tough prospects for re-election thanks to redistricting. Republican Dreier first went to Washington 32-years ago and now chairs the powerful House Rules Committee.

CALTRANS SHOULDERS BLAME FOR THE I-10 FREEWAY BACKUP.

2012-02-29T07:54:00.003-08:00

Turns out it was not a problem with a contractor or the company that supplied the concrete for the road repairs that backed-up traffic on the 10-freeway for miles a couple of weekends ago. It was Caltrans! The Caltrans regional director Raymond Wolfe tells the Desert Sun it was a conscious decision by the agency’s own workers to do road repairs that were not authorized by their superiors! Wolfe says Caltrans higher-ups were never notified of the project and would never have ok-ed it if they had known. Wolfe says it was wrong for him to cite the company that provided concrete for the project as the main culprit in the traffic snafu.

TWO EDUCATORS TO JOIN PALM SPRINGS HIGH’S WALK OF FAME

2012-02-29T07:54:00.001-08:00

A pat-on-the-back and then-some Wednesday night for two long-serving educators at Palm Springs High. English teacher Doris Gardner and the former head of the music department, Gustave Patzner, will join the school’s Wall of Fame. The Fame program honors educators who’ve made historic and significant contributions to Palm Springs High.

WHITNEY HOUSTON’S DEATH IS RULED ACCIDENTAL

2012-02-29T07:53:00.001-08:00

Foul play was never really suspected. And now E-Entertainment quotes sources close to the investigation saying the death of singer Whitney Houston will be ruled an accident. No confirmation yet from the LA County coroner’s office. Toxicology results from Houston’s autopsy could be turned over to the Beverly Hills Police Department within a week.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY’S NEWEST FIRE STATION OPENS IN THERMAL WEDNESDAY

2012-02-29T07:51:00.001-08:00

It’s called Fire Station 39. It’s the newest fire station in Riverside County. And it opens for business Wednesday on Vic Higgins Street in Thermal with Supervisor John Benoit on hand to help cut-the-ribbon. Fire Station 39 replaces an old facility built back in the 1950’s. And it has room for a “crash truck” to be used for airplane rescue if needed at the adjacent Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal.

THE POMONA FREEWAY IS OPEN AGAIN AFTER BRIDGE DEMOLITION OVERNIGHT

2012-02-29T07:50:00.006-08:00

If you’re headed to LA Wednesday on the 60-freeway, you should have clear sailing above and beyond the usual traffic. Crews finished demolishing the last sections of the Paramount bridge over the westbound lanes in Montebello this morning. That bridge was damaged back in December when a fuel tanker truck caught fire beneath it. The Pomona freeway is now good-to-go.

BACKERS OF MANDATORY CONDOM USE HALFWAY TO GOAL

2012-02-29T07:50:00.004-08:00

Backers of a mandatory condom rule for adult videos shot in Los Angeles County say they have half the signatures needed. AIDS Healthcare Foundation president Michael Weinstein says the intent of the ordinance is to make the adult film industry safer. A total of 232-thousand-153 voter signatures are needed by June 5th to get the measure on the November ballot.

CHICAGO FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN HEMET

2012-02-29T07:50:00.001-08:00

An alleged murderer from Chicago who's been hiding out in Hemet will be going back to the Windy City. Giovanni Spiller has been on the run for 15 years, according to the “Chicago Tribune.” He's accused of killing a man who had been a good friend, Roberto Castillo, in 1996. Castillo was shot to death in front of Marie's Golden Cue, a pool hall where the men put wagers on games of pool, cards and mah-jongg. Spiller allegedly fled to the Philippines before ending up in Hemet, where his wife joined him from Chicago five years ago. Police got a tip from a “Tribune” reader in Hemet who recognized Spiller from a story about wanted fugitives.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL SEEK NEW BIDS FOR LOBBYISTS

2012-02-29T07:49:00.005-08:00

The Board of Supervisors decided Tuesday that Riverside County’s three state lobbyists will have to compete to keep their contracts. Jeff Stone said that only one of the three firms, Cline & Duplissea, had proven their worth and urged fellow Supervisors to open up bidding on the contracts in the fall. It was a 4-nothing vote with Marion Ashley absent. The total cost for lobbying services runs the county more than 395-thousand-bucks. Stone says the lobbyists failed to sway lawmakers against voting for the elimination of local redevelopment agencies and re-directing vehicle license fee revenue away from four new cities in Riverside County, leaving them financially vulnerable.

HEARING SET FOR DEPUTY IN DUI, HIT & RUN CASE

2012-02-29T07:49:00.003-08:00

A San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy will appear before a Riverside County Judge on March 7th. Barbara Crozier is accused of a slew of felonies and misdemeanors, including drunken driving and hit-and-run. They stem from multiple incidents last August 30th. Judge Victoria Cameron will determine if there is ample evidence to order Crozier to stand trial. Witnesses say the detective struck several parked cars and ran over a pedestrian’s foot in an apartment complex parking lot. And, that later she crashed into a water fountain at the Marrakesh Country Club. Crozier was booked and released at that time on 50-thousand-dollars bail.

MAN ACCUSED OF STABBING ACQUAINTANCE ARRAIGNED

2012-02-29T07:49:00.001-08:00

23-year-old Alejandro Duran pled not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges. He remains in custody in lieu of 60-thousand-dollars bail. Duran was arrested early Friday at a residence in Desert Hot Springs in connection with stabbing a 21-year-old Cathedral City man late the previous night on Arenas Road in Palm Springs. Officers found the man bleeding from stab wounds and determined that the suspect and victim knew each other. Their relationship was related to a female who worked in the area where the stabbing occurred. Palm Springs Police are not releasing any more information about the relationship between the woman, the victim and Duran, but have said it wasn't a love triangle.

FORMER COD FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRAIGNED ON BURGLARY CHARGES

2012-02-29T07:48:00.005-08:00

A former College of the Desert football player who allegedly took part in a Palm Desert break-in last Thursday that ended with the fatal shooting of another COD football player by a sheriff's deputy, was arraigned Tuesday. Roman Tausaga pleaded not guilty to robbery and burglary charges. He was on the COD football team in 2009 and is a currently-enrolled student. Tausaga’s next court appearance will be March 1st. He remains in custody in lieu of one-million-dollars bail. A third suspect remains at large.

U.S. ATTORNEY FOCUSING ON LARGE SCALE POT FARMS

2012-02-29T07:48:00.003-08:00

Central Valley pot farms on agricultural land will be the focus of a new federal crackdown. U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner, who represents the Eastern District of the Golden State, is going after those who are exploiting the medical marijuana market. Large scale grow operations are taking place on farmland, especially in an area between Stanislaus and Kern Counties in the southern part of the Central Valley. Wagner said the marijuana crops are often guarded by armed men, and are a hazard to those who live around the farms.

ANTI-ILLEGAL ALIEN GROUPS NOT HAPPY WITH IMPOUND TOWING RULES

2012-02-29T07:48:00.001-08:00

Anti-illegal immigration groups criticized the decision Tuesday to adopt less strict impound rules for undocumented immigrants driving without a license. Opponents say the new policy, which will allow some unlicensed drivers to keep their car, will encourage illegal immigration. However, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck says unlicensed drivers still face penalties and, that evidence shows anti-immigration laws do not discourage illegal immigration. Beck said that in the interest of public safety the state should allow illegal immigrants to get licenses.

REPORT: LAKERS' BRYANT SENT FOR MRI

2012-02-29T07:47:00.004-08:00

ESPN reports Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant had his nasal fracture examined yesterday. According to the report, Bryant was sent to have an MRI after visiting with an ear, nose and throat specialist. He didn’t practice Tuesday, and a team spokesman reportedly said Bryant's status for tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves is unknown. He suffered the injury when he was fouled by Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade in Sunday's All-Star Game. Bryant and the Lakers will host Wade and the Heat this coming Sunday.

ELDERLY DRIVER PLOWS INTO ORANGE COUNTY DRUG STORE

2012-02-29T07:47:00.002-08:00

You’ve heard of the Orange crush? Tuesday they had the Orange crash! An 84-year old driver accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake and plowed her car through the front doors of a CVS drug store in the city of Orange. Nobody was hurt. Police say the woman was trying to park in a handicapped space in front of the store.

A NEW JAIL MAY YET COME TO LIFE WEST OF PALM SPRINGS

2012-02-29T07:46:00.003-08:00

It’s back! The idea for a new county jail just west of Palm Springs!Members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors say that proposed lock-up should be moved higher on the list of future projects and at least considered as an option for coping with a surging inmate population in the county’s jails. That surge results from a change in state law that plucks more inmates out of state prisons and dumps them into county jails. Opponents of the proposed county jail at Whitewater don’t want it in their backyard and claim the sight of the prison along the highway would not sit well with tourists as they drive into Palm Springs.

A NEW POLICY FOR IMPOUNDING THE CARS OF UNLICENSED DRIVERS IN LOS ANGELES

2012-02-29T07:46:00.001-08:00

If you’re driving without a license and the cops pull you over in Los Angeles, your vehicle will no longer be subjected to a mandatory 30-day impound. A new policy ok-ed by the city Police Commission today says unlicensed drivers can avoid that if they have a valid ID, car registration and proof of insurance. Only exceptions: drivers who are at-fault in an accident or have had their licenses suspended or revoked or have been caught before driving without a license. No shorted impound for their vehicles.

FELONY CASE AGAIN TWO FORMER BELL CITY OFFICIALS IS DISMISSED

2012-02-29T07:45:00.001-08:00

They’re off-the-hook a little bit. A judge Tuesday dismissed one of the two felony cases against Bell, California’s former mayor Oscar Hernandez and former city councilman Luis Artiga. The two still face charges in another case alleging that they and other former Bell officials misappropriated public funds.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS FAIL TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR UNION CHIEFS’ PAY

2012-02-29T07:44:00.003-08:00

Some local school districts have a deal to split the costs of their teachers’ union chiefs’ salary and benefits. But the Desert Sun in an exclusive report says two districts have failed to collect that dough. The Desert Sun says Palm Springs Unified failed to collect more than 150-thousand dollars over 3 years. Its business people say they have no idea why. And Coachella Valley Unified failed to collect money from the union in 2009-2010 even though the union has a record of writing a 70-thousand dollar check for that.

ARRESTS AT THE OSCARS LAST SUNDAY

2012-02-29T07:44:00.001-08:00

Not everybody was on their best behavior at Sunday’s Academy Awards extravaganza. The LA Times says Hollywood police arrested at least 10-people on various changes including the use of fraudulent credentials. An Israeli reporter was busted for going onto the red carpet after his temporary media pass expired. And now actress Sean Young is demanding a public apology from the Motion Picture Academy for her arrest during a post-Oscar party where she had a run-in with a security guard.

DOGS NOW WELCOME AT SOME LA EATERIES

2012-02-29T07:43:00.003-08:00

Pardon me, sir, is that a dog under your table? If that answer is yes, no problem at some restaurants in Los Angeles. Health officials have changed the no-pets policy that banned pooches from outdoor restaurant patios. LA County Health Director Dr. John Fielding says it’ll be up to individual restaurants to decide whether they’ll allow canines on their patios. If yes, the dogs will have to have a separate entrance and will not be allowed on the chairs, seats or tables.

STUDY FINDS RICH MORE LIKELY UNETHICAL

2012-02-28T07:44:00.003-08:00

A new study suggests that people of higher socioeconomic status are more likely to be unethical. Researchers at UC Berkeley used such measures as education levels and annual income, which ranged from about 16-Thousand- to 150-Thousand-Dollars. They find that regardless of what measure was used, the higher-status people often behaved in ways that served their own self-interest. The study's lead author says elevated wealth status seems to make people want even more, and that desire leads them to bend or break rules.

BIOLOGIST: SHARKS KILLING SEA OTTERS IN RECORD NUMBERS

2012-02-28T07:44:00.001-08:00

More and more of California's endangered sea otters are becoming victims of shark attacks. According to the Santa Cruz-based U.S. geological survey, nearly a third of sea otters that died in 2010 and 2011 were attacked by sharks. That's compared to about 15-Percent of sea otter deaths in the late '90s. A recent official sea otter population report finds there were just over 27-Hundred left, which is about 380 short of the threshold to take the otters off the federal endangered species list.

GROUPS PETITION GOLDEN STATE TO PROTECT GRAY WOLF

2012-02-28T07:43:00.006-08:00

Environmental groups are petitioning the Golden State for greater protections for the gray wolf. Late last year the first gray wolf in more than seven decades crossed into California from Oregon. The Center for Biological Diversity says it's very likely this gray wolf is just the beginning. Wolves are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, but the groups say California's endangered species law is stronger.

SNOWCAPS ON THE MOUNTAINS

2012-02-28T07:43:00.004-08:00

As you stop and smell the roses Tuesday morning, look-up and behold the snow caps on the mountains around us! We have yesterday’s winter storm to thank for that pretty sight and the nippy temperatures here in the Valley. The winter storm warning is now cancelled for the mountains. The skies are clearing, but it will stay cool until the weekend.

CARJACKING SUSPECT NABBED AS ACCOMPLICE REMAINS AT LARGE

2012-02-28T07:43:00.002-08:00

Daniel Alwin is cooling his heels in jail Tuesday morning. The 18-year old man from Hemet is accused of trying to carjack 2-vehicles there. His alleged accomplice in the capers is still at large. Call the sheriff’s station at Hemet if you know his whereabouts.

MORE AMERICAN GASOLINE IS GOING OVERSEAS

2012-02-28T07:42:00.005-08:00

As we hold our breaths waiting to find out how much the price of gasoline has gone-up again overnight in the Inland Empire comes word that US exports of gasoline tripled in the last year! The Christian Science Monitor says Gulf Coast refiners are producing a record amount of gas and most of it is going overseas! John Felmy of the American Petroleum Institute says US refiners have to sell overseas in order to stay in business because the price of US oil is high and domestic demand is low thanks to the bum economy.

MAGIC JOHNSON STILL IN CONTENTION TO BUY THE LA DODGERS

2012-02-28T07:42:00.003-08:00

Magic Johnson is still in the game! And the game is baseball. The LA Times says a group headed by the legendary basketball star is one of 7-still in contention to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two other groups were eliminated Monday. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt hopes to sell the team for more than 1-and-a-half billion dollars!

DRIVER TO FACE FELONY CHARGES IN ROUTE 60 CRASH

2012-02-28T07:42:00.001-08:00

Caroline Lemus of Palm Springs will likely have to answer to a judge and jury! Prosecutors will seek felony charges against the 20-year old for allegedly causing a rollover crash that killed one of her passengers on Route 60 in Moreno Valley Saturday night. Police say Lemus was at the wheel of a ’96 Plymouth Voyager and speeding when she hit a center divider, veered out of control and the vehicle flipped over. She and 2-other passengers were hurt but survived. The passenger who died is a Cathedral City woman. Her identity has not been released yet.

LOW SNOW BUT NO DROUGHT FEARS YET

2012-02-28T07:41:00.001-08:00

It’s a dry winter so far in the high Sierra. Not as much snow as we usually get by this time of year. And experts from the Department of Water Resources are not optimistic as they head into the mountains Tuesday for another snow survey. But not to worry. Water managers say California’s reservoirs are in good shape. So nobody’s warning of a summer drought just yet.

FERAL CATS REMOVED FROM NAVY-OWNED ISLAND OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST

2012-02-28T07:37:00.001-08:00

They are feline-fine today; the folks who were brought in to get rid of some wild cats that had overrun San Nicolas, an island owned by the US Navy off the coast of California west of Oceanside. The feral cats were killing several types of birds and threatened a species of lizard that calls the island home. No mean feat to purge the pussies. It took a retired bobcat hunter with bait and traps scented with catnip. The LA Times puts a 3-million dollar-plus price tag on the year-and-a-half long project to make the cats scat from San Nicolas Island.

BRUSH FIRE IN THOUSAND PALMS

2012-02-28T07:36:00.004-08:00

Firefighters had a bit of work in Thousand Palms early Monday morning. Two large piles of vegetation caught fire about half-past-4.No buildings were threatened. Smoke eaters took about 4 hours to tame-the-flames at Rio del Sol Road and Vista Chino.

OSCAR EVENT RAISES MILLIONS TO FIGHT AIDS

2012-02-28T07:36:00.002-08:00

Elton John sure knows how to throw a party and raise money at the same time. The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in West Hollywood Sunday night raised 5-and-a-quarter million dollars for the fight against AIDS. Elton John has promised he will throw this bash every year until a cure is found for HIV/AIDS.

RIVERSIDE OFFICIALS HEAR REPORT ON INCREASED INMATE LOAD

2012-02-27T08:02:00.006-08:00

Riverside County Supervisors will hear a report Tuesday outlining the struggle public safety agencies are having managing more inmates in county jails. The Department of Probation studied the Public Safety Realignment Act which moves low level, nonviolent inmates into county jails due to overcrowding. Since it began last October, county jails have reached 95-Percent capacity. The county got 24-Million-Dollars to cover the cost of new inmates and parolees through March. They're set to get another 53-Million-Dollars for the next fiscal year, and officials fear it won't be enough.

JUDGE RULES FOR GOOGLE IN PRIVACY LAWSUIT

2012-02-27T08:02:00.003-08:00

California-based Google is the winner in a privacy lawsuit. The development comes after a federal judge in Washington, DC, says she doesn't have the power to enforce or monitor consent decrees involving the Federal Trade Commission. District Judge Amy Berman made the ruling in a case brought by Electronic Privacy Information Center. The group sued on claims that Google's planned changes to its privacy policy clash with an FTC consent order requiring the search engine giant to safeguard user information. The privacy group pledges to appeal.

PUSH FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS

2012-02-27T08:02:00.001-08:00

The Academy Awards has put the movie "The Help" in the spotlight, and now California's domestic workers are hoping for the same success. Amanda Kloer with Change dot org says the National Domestic Workers Alliance is calling on the state to pass legislation. The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights would regulate the wages, hours and working conditions of California's housekeepers, caregivers and other domestic workers.

CALIFORNIA IS DISLIKED BY MOST AMERICANS

2012-02-27T08:01:00.005-08:00

The Golden State isn't so golden with most Americans. A new Public Policy Polling report puts California at the very bottom of the list of most liked states. The PPP found Americans have favorable views of most states with only five receiving negative rankings. Hawaii came out on top.

BILL WOULD ALLOW ADS ON SCHOOL BUSES

2012-02-27T08:01:00.003-08:00

A state senator wants to allow school districts to put commercial ads on the sides of public school buses. Senator Bob Huff says the ad dollars would help districts fill their budget gaps. Seven other states have similar laws. California currently allows for advertising inside school buses, on school buildings and in school-related publications.

NO END TO THE RISE IN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE

2012-02-27T08:01:00.001-08:00

The numbers tell the sad story of why your wallet is a little lighter Monday morning. Gasoline is now the most expensive it’s been sinceJuly of 2008. It’s a quarter more per-gallon than a week ago; 55-cents higher than last month. It went up 3-pennies-a-gallon yesterday and almost 5-cents on Saturday. We denizens of the Inland Empire are paying 4-28-a-gallon on average. The Triple-A blames the usual suspects: a fear of oil shortages, refinery shutdowns, tensions in the middle east and speculation by investors in oil futures.

MARINE TRAINING AT 29 PALMS DIES

2012-02-27T08:00:00.007-08:00

Why this happened, we don’t know yet. But a US Marine collapsed and died Saturday night after a desert training exercise at the 29 Palms base. The marine was helicoptered to Desert Regional Medical Center here in Palm Springs where he was pronounced dead. He was a member of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group based at Camp LeJune, North Carolina and was preparing to leave for duty in Afghanistan.

I-10 CLOSURES AT DATE PALM DRIVE ON MONDAY, TUESDAY NIGHTS

2012-02-27T08:00:00.005-08:00

Miles of detour are in your immediate future if you’re a late night commuter along the 10 freeway going through Cathedral City. Monday night, eastbound traffic will need to exit the Interstate at Gene Autry Trail after 9 pm and wind through Valley surface streets. It’s to make way for construction crews working on the Date Palm Drive ramps and overpass. The work will continue until 4 am Tuesday. Then, Tuesday night, they’ll move to the westbound side with traffic having to detour during the same hours at Bob Hope in Rancho Mirage. It’s all part of a 14-point-8-million-dollar project that officials say will be completed early next year.

SECOND C.O.D. FOOTBALL PLAYER NABBED IN BURGLARY

2012-02-27T08:00:00.001-08:00

A College of the Desert football player has been arrested and charged with felony burglary and robbery in a crime that resulted in another athlete losing his life. Roman Tausaga was taken into custody by Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies and is accused of being one of three suspects spotted fleeing the Desert Fountains apartments in Palm Desert early last Thursday. Friends say that Tausaga lived with teammate Frank Tanuvasa, the 20-year-old sophomore who struggled with a deputy and was fatally shot by the officer’s service weapon. Investigators are not saying if they know the identity yet of the third person suspected in the crime.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONCLUDES WITH PARADE

2012-02-27T07:59:00.003-08:00

Black History Month concluded on Saturday with the 25th annual parade in Palm Springs. The theme this year was “25 Years of Celebrating Our Past, Embracing Our Future.” Committee vice president Wes Rankins said the number of participating organizations was up a third again over last year’s showing, with nearly 65 groups marching. Hundreds of parade goers lined Palm Canyon between Arenas and Alejo for the festivities.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR BREAKS ATTENDANCE RECORDS

2012-02-27T07:59:00.001-08:00

The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival wrapped up Sunday night. Organizers say fairgoers turned out in big numbers over the course of the ten day event. They expect the final tally will surpass last year’s attendance of 300-thousand. There were at least three record breaking days, which officials credit to the entertainment line-up, the vendors and discounted admission compliments of major sponsors.

GIRL DIES AFTER FIGHT OVER BOY

2012-02-27T07:57:00.003-08:00

An investigation is ongoing into the death of an eleven-year-old girl following a fight with another girl over a boy. Joanna Ramos died Friday night at a hospital in Long Beach, several hours after the pre-planned fight in an alley near Willard Elementary School. Police say the fight lasted less than a minute and that no weapons were involved, and both eleven-year-old girls walked away after the short battle. But Ramos reportedly didn't feel well when she got home, and her parents took her to the ER. It's still unclear how the girl died, and an autopsy has been scheduled. Police have questioned the other girl and seven other children who watched the fight, but no arrests are expected to be made.

HOLLYWOOD BOWL HONORS PARAMOUNT'S 100TH

2012-02-27T07:57:00.001-08:00

The only major motion picture studio that's actually based in Tinseltown will be honored this September with a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. "The Big Picture -- Paramount's 100th Anniversary" will feature music from the soundtracks of “The Godfather,” “Titanic,” and “Wings,” which was the first film to ever win a Best Picture Oscar. Music will be performed by David Newman and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The studio that began life as the Famous Players Film Company once employed such great composers as Henry Mancini, John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, and Aaron Copland.

BALLOT MEASURE WOULD BAR NEW DISTRICTS FROM GOING INTO EFFECT

2012-02-27T07:56:00.007-08:00

A Republican-backed petition initiative aimed at blocking California's newly-redrawn state Senate districts from going into effect will appear on the November ballot. Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified the measure as having enough valid signatures to qualify. It would stop new Senate districts from becoming effective unless approved by the voters in 2013 and would require that interim district maps be drawn up by, quote, “court-appointed officials.” The ballot proposition is sponsored by the group Fairness and Accountability, headed by Orange County business consultant Julie Vandermost.

ACADEMY CONDEMNS UNAUTHORIZED SALE OF STATUETTES

2012-02-27T07:56:00.005-08:00

Tuesday, a record-breaking 15 Oscars will be sold online and by telephone in an auction being condemned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. West L.A. auctioneer Nate D. Sanders tells the “L.A. Times” that bids could total 40-million dollars for the collection that includes a best screenplay Oscar for “Citizen Kane,” along with Oscars for “How Green Was My Valley” and “Wuthering Heights.” All of the statuettes are from before 1950. That's when the motion picture academy started making Oscars winners sign contracts requiring that they and their descendants either keep their awards or sell them back to the academy for one-dollar.

CALIFORNIA TOWN CONSIDERS OUTDOOR SMOKING BAN

2012-02-27T07:56:00.003-08:00

A California town could make it illegal for smokers to light up outdoors on their own property. The measure is under consideration by the Rocklin City Council, outside of Sacramento. Rocklin residents James and Kelly Baker asked officials to consider passing a law because they say their neighbors smoke outdoors, and the second-hand smoke is harming their two sons who have asthma. The Bakers say the smoke seeps into their home and their kids can't play in the yard when the neighbors are smoking.

REFINERIES LOSE CAPACITY AS PRICES SOAR IN SO CAL

2012-02-27T07:56:00.001-08:00

British Petroleum has announced unplanned work at California's second-largest refinery in Carson, which provides 25 percent of the gasoline pumped in Los Angeles. “Businessweek” reports BP is performing short-term work at the 266-thousand barrel-a-day refinery. Meanwhile, Valero reported a malfunction at the 170-thousand-barrel-a-day Martinez refinery in San Francisco. With production shortfalls gas prices in Southern California will continue to shoot up. GasBuddy-dot-com reported the lowest price for regular unleaded gasoline in the Coachella Valley as of Sunday night was 4-09 a gallon in Desert Hot Springs.

MICHAEL JACKSON'S DOCTOR MUST WAIT IN JAIL DURING APPEAL PROCESS

2012-02-24T14:43:00.001-08:00

The doctor convicted in Michael Jackson's death will not be allowed to post bail while he appeals. Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the sedative overdose that killed the pop star. In a declaration, Murray says he would agree to any conditions for his release while the appeal continued for what is expected to be well over a year. Judge Michael Pastor sided with prosecutors who argued Murray is a flight risk, especially now that he's a convicted felon.

POLL: CALIFORNIANS SUPPORT TAXING THE RICH

2012-02-24T14:42:00.003-08:00

A new poll finds the majority of Californians support higher taxes, but only on the state's highest wage earners. The Field Poll found 63-Percent in favor of an initiative to tax people earning more then a million dollars a year. There was slightly less support for Governor Brown's proposal to increase taxes starting with those earning 250-Thousand-Dollars a year. A third initiative trying to make it onto the November ballot would raise taxes on a sliding scale and did not have the majority of support from those polled.

GEORGE CLOONEY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO HELP ACTORS HOSPITAL

2012-02-24T14:42:00.001-08:00

With tin cup in hand, actor George Clooney announced a fundraising campaign Thursday in Beverly Hills that aims to raise 350-Million-Dollars for the Motion Picture and Television Fund. The "Daily News" reports he told the crowd that the 40-Acre campus that's home to elderly actors can't be let go. It was threatened with closure in 2009 due to a projected 10-Million-Dollar budget deficit. In the last 60 days, 238-Million-Dollars has been donated by the likes of Clooney, Tom Cruise, David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg.

SIT 'N' SLEEP STORES WANTS 50 VETERANS FOR CALIFORNIA JOBS

2012-02-24T14:41:00.003-08:00

The mattress and bedding chain with the "You're killing me Larry!" ads is expanding in Southern California and they want to hire veterans. Sit 'N' Sleep says they have 50 jobs available. The retailer is one of three dozen companies working with the state Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and place veterans in a variety of jobs and careers. California is home to about Two-Million veterans. That's about 10-Percent of the total veteran population of the U.S.

SOME SAG MEMBERS FILE LAWSUIT OVER SAG-AFTRA MERGER

2012-02-24T14:41:00.001-08:00

Members of the Screen Actor's Guild are making their feelings known after filing a lawsuit to prevent a merger with the other performers union, AFTRA. While demonstrating in front of the SAG building Thursday actor Warren Berlinger says a merger would be financially devastating to many actors. Other plaintiffs in the suit include Martin Sheen and Ed Anser.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES ONLINE PRIVACY BILL OF RIGHTS

2012-02-24T14:39:00.001-08:00

The Obama administration is responding to online security concerns being voiced by many Internet users. The White House is proposing a "privacy bill of rights" that would give users more control over their data. The move comes as many services, including California companies Google and Facebook, have been criticized for the amount of detailed information being collected about visitors' online activities and even real-life identities.

"PENN STATE" LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY STATE LAWMAKER

2012-02-24T14:38:00.003-08:00

A state legislator is introducing a bill that would require athletic coaches at colleges and universities to report incidents of child abuse. The measure by Senator Juan Vargas would put tough new mandates on head coaches, assistant coaches and graduate assistants to speak up if they witness abuse. The bill is a response to the Penn State scandal where two administrators failed to reveal acts of abuse they witnessed. It would make it a felony to fail to report such crimes, along with up to five years in jail and a 25-Thousand-Dollar fine.

COURT OKS INMATE DNA TESTING

2012-02-24T14:38:00.001-08:00

A federal appeals court is giving law enforcement the green light to continue collecting DNA samples from arrested felons. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a 2004 law that allowed California to collect DNA samples was constitutional. One judge wrote that DNA is an extraordinary effective tool for law enforcement to identify suspects, solve cold cases and exonerate innocent suspects.

RANCHO MIRAGE MAN ARRESTED FOR STABBING FRIEND

2012-02-24T14:37:00.003-08:00

A Rancho Mirage man was arrested Friday on suspicion of stabbing a man he knew. Alejandro Duran was taken into custody about 4:45 a.m. at a home in Desert Hot Springs and booked on suspicion of attempted murder. The stabbing happened on East Arenas in Palm Springs around 11:15 p.m. Thursday. Officers found a Cathedral City man bleeding from stab wounds. Duran had taken off in a car. The pair knew each other through a woman who worked in the area near the stabbing. The victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

STAGECOACH RAPIST GETS 12 YEARS

2012-02-24T14:37:00.001-08:00

A Los Angeles man was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for raping a woman at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio last year. Darin Garrett was working as a parking lot attendant when the April 30th attack occurred. He was convicted December 16th. The victim did not attend or speak at the sentencing. She testified in the trial that Garrett helped her find a friend's car, then forced himself on her and raped her. Garrett apologized to her family in the hearing saying quote, “this thing would never happen again.”

LAO'S OFFICE TESTIFIES AT MEDI-CAL HEARING

2012-02-24T14:35:00.001-08:00

The state's non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office says lawmakers should reject the governor's expansion of a pilot program to change Medi-Cal. Russ Brown told the Senate Budget Committee it would be "premature" to expand a four-county pilot project that puts more seniors in managed care programs. The governor's budget proposal also includes phasing out the Healthy Families program that provides healthcare to nearly 900-thousand low-income children. The LAO says doing so may help the state save money but may also cause some doctors to stop treating children once they're switched over to the state's Medi-Cal program.

MAN CONVICTED OF TRYING TO KILL NEIGHBOR IN PALM DESERT

2012-02-24T08:47:00.001-08:00

Barry Hancock, the 70 year old Palm Desert man accused of trying to kill his neighbor with a metal bar because he thought the victim was bombarding his home with noise machines and microwaves was found guilty Thursday. He’d pled not guilty by reason of insanity in the attack on his 76 year old neighbor, Paul Tritschler, back in December 2008. Hancock was also found guilty of burglary, assault with a deadly weapon causing injury to a person over 70, and making criminal threats. Now comes the second phase of the trial, which will determine whether he is sane or not. That will begin on Monday.

ASSEMBLYMAN INTRODUCES BILL TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CAMERA FINES

2012-02-24T08:46:00.001-08:00

Rolling right turns can cost drivers hundreds of dollars if caught on a traffic camera. Beaumont Assemblyman Paul Cook has introduced a bill seeking to more than halve the fine for such offenses. If passed, the bill would also increase the length of yellow lights to cut down the number of motorists ticketed. Cook says that defenders of red light cameras claim they’re about increasing safety and not about lining government coffers. The base penalty for a rolling right turn is 100-bucks. Under Cook’s proposal, that would go down to 35-dollars. And, he says, by increasing yellow lights by one second, research shows there is a 40-percent reduction in accidents.

BURGLARY SUSPECT KILLED BY DEPUTY IS COD FOOTBALL PLAYER

2012-02-24T08:45:00.001-08:00

The burglary suspect who was shot and killed early Thursday morning in Palm Desert by a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy was a football player at College of the Desert. The deputy witnessed Frank Tanuvasa running from a location on Michigan Drive where someone had reported a burglary about 12:30 a.m. Sheriff’s deputy Angel Ramos says there was a struggle between the officer and Tanuvasa and during the physical confrontation; the officer fired his service weapon injuring him. Tanuvasa was treated by paramedics and transported to Eisenhower Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Two other suspects fled the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s office in Palm Desert.