La Quinta
CRIME & SAFETY
Palm Desert High seniors barred from commencement over ‘obscene and offensive’ vandalism
An unspecified number of graduating seniors at Palm Desert High School were barred from walking across the stage at their commencement ceremony this week due to their participation in after-hours vandalism that occurred at the school earlier this month, school district officials said. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is investigating...
Device at Coachella Valley High School deemed fake, sheriff's department says
A suspicious device that was found at Coachella Valley High School Friday morning was deemed a hoax by the team called to investigate it, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The device, which acting district superintendent Frances Esparza said looked like "a makeshift, handmade type of pipe bomb," was found at around 8 a.m. in an industrial building on the edge of the campus. The device was discovered by a custodian who had been cleaning...
Trial underway for valley woman accused of murdering her husband
Prosecution testimony began Wednesday for a 39-year-old woman accused of fatally shooting her husband during an argument at their Coachella home. Cindy Gicela Parra, is charged with murder, assault with a deadly weapon, spousal abuse and gun and severe bodily injury allegations, for the death of Francisco Lopez in 2022.
Man Accused of Fatal DUI Crash to Stand Trial on Murder Charge
A 36-year-old man accused of driving under the influence and causing a fatal crash must stand trial on felony charges including murder, a judge ruled Wednesday. Alexander Frank Ortega was held to answer Wednesday on one felony count each of murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury and driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or more causing bodily injury, according to court records. He additionally faces sentence-enhancing allegations of causing great bodily injury.
Palm Springs DMV briefly evacuated after smell makes some patrons sick; cause unclear
The Palm Springs DMV office was briefly evacuated Thursday morning and firefighters were called in after some patrons reported a strong smell inside that left them feeling sick. Capt. Ronald Skyberg of the Palm Springs Fire Department said people were leaving the office, which is off Farrell Drive just west...
Palm Springs Police Department to Conduct DUI Checkpoint Friday evening
The Palm Springs Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint Friday at an undisclosed location within the city. The checkpoint will be held from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. at a location with notable data patterns of impaired driving-related crashes, according to the department. “Impaired drivers put others on...
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.