Local

Flowers for the fallen

The Palm Springs Air Museum drops thousands of carnations honoring servicemen and -women killed in various wars.

• May. 28, 2012

Crowds commemorate storied Golden Gate Bridge's birthday

SAN FRANCISCO — Crowds gathered along San Francisco's waterfront Sunday, while San Francisco Bay was crowded with pleasure boats, tug boats and other vessels as the city celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.

• May. 28, 2012

Holiday traffic slows Interstate 10 leaving Palm Springs

Westbound Interstate 10, from east of Indian Canyon Drive, is flowing much more slowly than usual because of Memorial Day weekend holiday traffic, the California Highway Patrol reports.

• May. 28, 2012

St. Margaret's church offices damaged by fire

An office fire caused by a crow has caused water damage and cut power to some of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church offices.

• May. 28, 2012

Cyclists promote benefits of biking

Resident Victor Yepello talks about bicycling in Palm Springs

• May. 28, 2012

The politics of pension plans

Sen. Barbara Boxer says she wanted to save taxpayers money when she selected her congressional pension option in the 1980s.

• May. 28, 2012

Palm Desert City Council's pay to be decided by committee

PALM DESERT — The committee being asked to help decide how much money the Palm Desert City Council should make is scheduled to meet for the first time Wednesday.

• May. 28, 2012

A model day to celebrate

COACHELLA — Eyes were fixed to the sky as planes buzzed up to 300 feet in the air, did fancy spins, then hovered inches above the ground before soaring high again.

• May. 28, 2012

Voting results lag polls in same-sex marriage debate

NEW YORK — Poll after poll shows public support for same-sex marriage steadily increasing, to the point where it's now a majority viewpoint. Yet in all 32 states where gay marriage has been on the ballot, voters have rejected it.

• May. 28, 2012

Canines visit War Dog Memorial

RIVERSIDE — The Memorial Day tradition of honoring America's war dead transcends class, creed and even species, as a Riverside remembrance proved Sunday.

• May. 28, 2012

'We need to pay them homage'

As Americans take a moment to honor those who have given their lives serving their country, valley residents pay tribute to those whose deaths hit home a little harder.

• May. 27, 2012

CV Cemetery honors fallen war vets

About 200 people, many of them war veterans, began their Memorial Day holiday Monday by attending an hour long service at the Coachella Valley Cemetery, where Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack was the keynote speaker.

• May. 28, 2012

Desert Mirage High School students to receive Gates scholarships

Three Desert Mirage High School students have been named Gates Millennium Scholars.

• May. 28, 2012

Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce to honor teachers of the year

The Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to honor its teachers of the year at a leadership breakfast Wednesday .

• May. 28, 2012

U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms marks anniversary Aug. 20

The U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, will celebrate its diamond anniversary Aug. 20.

• May. 27, 2012

Mizell Senior Center will offer series of free services

In celebration of National Senior Health and Fitness Day, Mizell Senior Center is scheduled to offer a series of free services and classes Wednesday.

• May. 27, 2012

Coachella Valley Rescue Mission collecting items to help homeless survive sun, heat

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission will begin its “90 Days of Summer Relief” fundraising campaign Friday by distributing bottled water, long-sleeve shirts, hats, sunscreen and shoes to homeless people.

• May. 27, 2012

Five people arrested at DUI checkpoint in Coachella

Police arrested five people on suspicion of driving under the influence during a checkpoint Saturday night at Avenue 48 and Jackson Street, said Sgt. Mike Tapp.

• May. 27, 2012

Riverside County's Memorial Day weekend DUI arrests lower than last year so far

Riverside County's DUI arrests for the first 48 hours of the Memorial Day weekend are down from last year, a spokesman for the Avoid the 30 DUI campaign said Sunday.

• May. 27, 2012

Motorcycle crash in Temecula kills Desert Hot Springs man

A motorcycle rider killed when he crashed into a van in Temecula was identified Sunday as a 66-year-old Desert Hot Springs man.

• May. 27, 2012

Half of veterans returning from war seek disability

America's newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.

• May. 28, 2012

Parties find common ground in California state parks

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers have a hard time agreeing on most budget matters, but the effort to keep state parks open is encouraging rare bipartisan deal-making.

• May. 28, 2012

Funeral donations pour in; third car wash planned

More volunteers and donations poured in Sunday at a second car wash to raise money for the funeral of Zia Hoyos, the Desert Hot Springs teen found dead last week on Gene Autry Trail.

• May. 27, 2012

• May. 27, 2012

10 years of flying high

Eyes were fixed to the sky as planes buzzed up to 300 feet in the air, did fancy spins, then hovered inches above the ground before soaring high again.Clear blue sky and no wind made for perfect flying weather Sunday as the Coachella Valley Radio Control Club marked the 10th anniversary since opening its own flying field on land leased for $1 from the Bureau of Reclamation for 25 years.

• May. 27, 2012

Woman drunkenly ran red light with kids in car, Palm Springs police say

A woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of drunken driving and child endangerment after a crash in Palm Springs, a police sergeant said.

• May. 27, 2012

Polls on gay marriage not yet reflected in votes

Poll after poll shows public support for same-sex marriage steadily increasing, to the point where it's now a majority viewpoint. Yet in all 32 states where gay marriage has been on the ballot, voters have rejected it.

• May. 27, 2012

Guide Dogs pups visit War Dog Memorial

• May. 27, 2012

Police: Desert Hot Springs man killed in motorcycle crash

A motorcycle rider killed when he crashed into a van in Temecula was identified Sunday as a 66-year-old Desert Hot Springs man.

• May. 27, 2012

West Shores High School prom photos

More valley prom photos

• May. 27, 2012

PS 'big box' fight rages

Major efforts are under way in Palm Springs to make empty storefronts a thing of the past, but some residents fear the city will lose its charm in the process.

• May. 27, 2012

Fire south of Riverside grows to 60 acres

A vegetation fire in the Lake Mathews area south of Riverside today had grown to nearly 60 acres by late afternoon, according to a fire department spokeswoman.

• May. 27, 2012

After four years of duty, police dog takes the cake

When Jager the German shepherd was handed his first piece of cake, you could almost see the wheels spinning in his head. After all these years on a strict police dog diet, could he really dig into a human dessert?

• May. 26, 2012

Circumstances of La Quinta man's death in question

A La Quinta man who was found dead Friday night in Coachella may have died under suspicious circumstances, officials said.

• May. 27, 2012

Pérez gets $71K in last two months — none from individuals

Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez raised $71,350 during the latest fundraising period, and not a single dollar of it came from an average voter.

• May. 27, 2012

Man pleads not guilty to attempted murder charge

A man suspected of shooting a woman in the head in Desert Hot Springs pleaded not guilty this past week to attempted murder and other felony charges.

• May. 26, 2012

Remote schools suffer due to broken promises

West Shores High School teacher Arvid Lumanauw's students love the interactive, electronic white board linked to his computer. But the school's Internet connection is so unreliable that most days, the $1,500 Promethean board is a glorified chalkboard.

• May. 27, 2012

Car wash a tribute to friend Zia Hoyos

The friends and family members washing cars Saturday to raise money for a funeral for Zia Hoyos all used the same words to describe the 16-year-old found dead on Gene Autry Trail. The teen was outgoing, unique, a great friend and a bit wild.

• May. 27, 2012

Lawyer challenging probate judge in election

Michael Kennedy, an 25-year Inland Empire defense lawyer, said seeing judges “playing games” and treating the public unfairly prompted him to challenge longtime Riverside County probate judge James “Jim” Cox , a man who said he stands by his record as a jurist and insists he is only interested in fairly “applying the law.”

• May. 26, 2012

Some relief at gas pump in summer forecast

Except for the supply-tight West Coast, motorists can expect more relief at the pump heading into peak summer driving season.

• May. 26, 2012

Air corpsman escaped from German prison camp in WWII

U.S. Army Air Corps B-24 bomber pilot Wren Bowyer was flying what was to be his final mission on July 25, 1944, but anti-aircraft fire found its mark and knocked the plane out of the sky.

• May. 26, 2012

Man on bicycle eludes Palm Springs police

A man on a bicycle eluded police after a pursuit Saturday evening.

• May. 26, 2012

Three arrested at DUI checkpoint in Palm Springs

Palm Springs police arrested two people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and a third on an outstanding warrant during a DUI checkpoint.

• May. 26, 2012

Military briefs: Military Officers Association of America honors students

Seven local high school students were recently honored by the local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Ret. U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer Robert Ramirez announced this week.

• May. 26, 2012

Murder, attempted murder suspects among Riverside County's Most Wanted

Anyone with information on any of these suspects may call Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867. Cash rewards of up to $1,000 are available for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

• May. 27, 2012

San Diego County wildfire 30-percent contained

Higher humidity and light winds were helping firefighters get ahead of a stubborn wildfire that has charred 4,100 acres of tinder-dry grass and brush in rural San Diego County.

• May. 26, 2012

Car washes help girl's family

Friends and family members held a car wash today to raise money for a funeral for Zia Hoyos. The 16-year-old Desert Hot Springs girl was found dead Monday on Gene Autry Trail.

• May. 26, 2012

Gay former Romney aide regroups in valley

Richard Grenell, the openly gay former national security spokesman for Mitt Romney's campaign, denies he was forced out, while acknowledging in an interview with The Desert Sun that he took heat from both the political left and the right.

• May. 26, 2012

Stepping into future

• May. 26, 2012