2023 Galleri Classic: A look behind bringing a New Beginning to the Valley

https://nbcpalmsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/michelle-article.mp4 The first-ever Galleri Classic in the books which brought some of the greatest golfers and even Hall of Famers to the Coachella Valley. But there’s a lot of moving parts and hard work behind holding the first PGA Tour Champions event in 30 years, especially for the person in the driver’s seat. Our Tali Letoi spoke with Tournament Director, Michelle Delancy about making it a reality for locals and what the future holds.    

UPDATED: Mining Operation Seeks Board’s Recognition of `Vested Rights’ to Expand

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A hearing on whether to approve a mining company’s application for “vested rights,” potentially allowing it to expand operations over a nearly 1,000-acre space in close proximity to residential areas, was postponed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday after the applicants said they weren’t prepared. “This is the second continuance, and I hope this will be the last continuance, ” board Chairman Kevin Jeffries said. “Hopefully they will be prepared to go on May 2.” If Robertson’s Ready Mix requests one more postponement, its application will be taken off the board calendar, requiring a series of steps to have the matter re-agendized. The company is seeking confirmation of its rights to 792 acres that surround its original 132-acre site on a hillside that has been used for extraction of rocks for decades south of Cajalco Road and east of Interstate 15 on the boundaries of the Dos Lagos Golf Course, in what’s known as the Temescal Wash, an unincorporated part of Riverside County. “RRM’s vested activity is aggregate mining, which includes excavation, crushing, washing, sorting, stockpiling, loading, transporting and otherwise

Average Riverside County Gas Price Unchanged

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County was unchanged Tuesday, remaining at $4.777, the third consecutive day it has been unchanged or changed by one-tenth of a cent following a run of 11 decreases in 12 days totaling 8.9 cents. The average price was also unchanged Sunday and dropped one-tenth of a cent Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 2.3 cents less than one week ago and $1.191 lower than one year ago but 3.3 cents more than one month ago. The average price has dropped $1.596 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5. The national average price dropped four-tenths of a cent to $3.435, one day after being unchanged. It is one-tenth of a cent less than one week ago and 81.1 cents lower than one year ago but 7.8 cents more than one month ago. The national average price has decreased $1.581 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14. “The national average price of gasoline has seen little overall change over the

23-Year-Old Hemet Resident Identified in Fatal Train Vs. Pedestrian Collision

COACHELLA (CNS) – A man who was fatally struck by a train in Coachella over the weekend was identified  Monday as a 23-year-old Hemet resident. The Riverside County coroner’s office identified him as Andre Alabado. Deputies responded at around 7:20 a.m. Sunday near Dillon Road and Grapefruit Boulevard to a report of a train versus pedestrian collision, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department public information officer Sgt. Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez told City News Service. Upon arrival, Alabado was found dead at the scene. “They did not locate any obvious signs of foul play, therefore, the Coroner’s Bureau responded and the Union Pacific Railroad Police were notified,” Brito-Gonzalez told CNS. “No arrests were made … and it is not believed there are any outstanding suspects.” No other information was immediately available. Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

Coachella Teen Suspected in Shooting Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder

INDIO (CNS) – A 19-year-old man suspected of shooting at two Coachella teenagers pleaded not guilty Monday to attempted murder. Salomon “Bookie” Cruz-Rodriguez Jr. is accused with 24-year-old David “Real Shooter” Rodriguez of attempted murder in connection with the parking lot shooting on Feb. 17, according to a declaration in support of arrest warrant filed by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Michael McTigue. McTigue said he responded to the shooting in the parking lot between two businesses in the 49000 block of Grapefruit Boulevard in Coachella to several reports of subjects arguing and shooting at each other. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found various 9mm and .22-caliber spent casings. A victim in the shooting said he and a friend were exiting a buffet restaurant when they heard a car door slam and saw gang members Cruz-Rodriguez, Rodriguez, and a third unknown male, according to McTigue. Cruz-Rodriguez and the unidentified male were clutching what the victim believed to be firearms, so he ran away from the suspects through the parking lot. “When (the victim) ran away, he heard 6-7 gunshots immediately behind him and

California Drought Restrictions Ease Following Series of Winter Storms

https://nbcpalmsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/NEWSOM-DROUGHT-RESTRICTIONS.mp4 Following a winter of relentless rain and snow in California, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday a rollback on drought restrictions across the state.   “The easing of restrictions is something that Desert Water Agency welcomes,” said Ashley Metzger, Spokesperson for Desert Water Agency. “We haven’t yet – because we’re not able to,  but once the state water board takes action, we will be able to remove our Level 2 restrictions.” Desert Water Agency moved from Level 1 of its Drought Response Plan to Level 2 last June.  “In our Level 2 stage, we have requirements for people to not use their sprinklers during daylight hours, and restaurants can also not serve water to customers unless they specifically request it,” said Metzger. Governor Newsom’s action on Friday allows the State Water Resources Control Board to now rescind those restrictions, at which time water agencies across the country – including Desert Water Agency which serves Palm Springs and Cathedral City – can ease their water restrictions.  “This action by Governor Newsom is really just the first step in allowing water agencies across California to really ease

Man Accused in Palm Springs Fatal Stabbing Re-Enters Not Guilty Pleas

INDIO (CNS) – A 65-year-old man accused in the fatal stabbing of a woman in Palm Springs re-entered not guilty pleas to felony charges Monday. Miguel Hernandez Toscano is facing one felony count of murder and one misdemeanor court of willful cruelty to a child, according to court records. He also faces a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a deadly weapon. He re-entered not guilty pleas to the charges Monday morning at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to court records. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges on March 7, 2022, when he also faced two felony counts of willful child cruelty. At the end of a preliminary hearing March 10 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Riverside County Superior Court Judge James Stafford Hawkins discharged the two counts and found that there was sufficient evidence to hold Toscano to answer to the remaining charges and allegation. Officers responded to the 1700 block of East Arenas Road at around 9:50 p.m. March 1, 2022 to a report of a stabbing, according to the Palm Springs Police Department. Police said that Ernestina Oropeza

Mining Operation Seeks Board’s Recognition of `Vested Rights’ to Expand

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A mining company that currently operates a 132-acre site south of Corona will ask the Board of Supervisors Tuesday to consider its application of “vested rights” to adjacent land, potentially expanding its surface mining operations to almost 1,000 acres, which many area residents oppose. Robertson’s Ready Mix is seeking confirmation of its rights to 792 acres that surround its original 132-acre site on a hillside that has been used for extraction of rocks for decades south of Cajalco Road and east of Interstate 15, on the boundaries of the Dos Lagos Golf Course, in what’s known as the Temescal Wash, an unincorporated part of Riverside County. “RRM’s vested activity is aggregate mining, which includes excavation, crushing, washing, sorting, stockpiling, loading, transporting and otherwise managing an aggregate surface and utilizing the equipment to do so,” according to a Department of Planning statement posted to the board’s Tuesday agenda. Aggregate is used to build and improve roads, support dams and levees, construct railroads, as well as for commercial and residential construction projects. Planning staff are recommending that the board deny the applicant’s confirmation of

More Heavy Weather to Wallop Inland Region

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Another round of cold storms are bearing down on California and will spread into the Inland Empire beginning Tuesday night, bringing more rain and snow, according to the National Weather Service. The agency said that back-to-back troughs of low pressure will push into the region from the Pacific Northwest, overlaying Riverside and San Bernardino counties until at least Thursday morning. “Rainfall is expected to range from around one-half inch near the coast to one to 1.5 inches in the mountains, with locally greater amounts,” the NWS said in a statement. “Rainfall of one-quarter inch or less is likely for the high deserts, and one-tenth of an inch or less for the lower deserts.” No flood or winter weather advisories had yet been posted. The Weather Service said that snow levels will initially remain high before the second and last trough of low pressure begins exiting on Thursday, when freezing levels will drop to as low as 3,500 feet. “Snowfall is expected to range from three to six inches from 5,000 to 6,500 feet, with snowfall of six to 10 inches from 6,500

UPDATED: Skydiver Drops into Power Lines During Elsinore Jump, Requiring Rescue

LAKE ELSINORE (CNS) – A skydiver making a drop over Lake Elsinore Monday got hung up in high-tension power lines just south of the landing zone, requiring Riverside County firefighters to rescue him. The parachutist emergency was reported about 11:55 a.m. at 31945 Corydon Road, near Cereal Street, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Multiple engine and truck crews were sent to the location and found the skydiver, whose name was not disclosed, tangled and dangling in the SoCal Edison electrical lines. The victim was not electrocuted and spoke with firefighters as they coordinated a rescue utilizing an aerial ladder truck, fire officials said. After confirming that SoCal Edison technicians had secured the lines, the rescue operation went forward, and the victim was extricated and pulled to safety at 12:50 p.m. He did not require medical treatment. The parachutist was part of a group jump that originated from Skydive Elsinore, which operates a private airfield just a block north of where the victim got hung up. Aircraft come and go from the strip with jumpers almost daily, weather- permitting. Copyright 2023, City News Service