Category: Deserts

Hundreds of migrants wait to be processed at the border after Title 42 ends in San Diego, May 11, 2023.       

Hundreds of migrants wait to be processed at the border after Title 42 ends in San Diego, May 11, 2023.       

When most rangers had to pay their own way through training, it was tough to hire people from marginalized communities. That’s starting to change.       

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A 32-year-old Norco woman accused of abusing and allowing her 17-month-old child to ingest fentanyl, causing the toddler’s death, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and other offenses. Jennifer Johanna Allen was arrested Tuesday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation at her residence in the 100 block of Eighth Street. Along with murder, Allen is charged with child abuse and a sentence- enhancing great bodily injury allegation. The defendant, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail, was slated to make her initial court appearance Thursday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice. According to sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Brosche, patrol deputies were called to Allen’s home about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to investigate reports of a child in medical distress. Brosche said deputies found the victim, whose identity was not immediately released, unconscious and “unresponsive.” Efforts by county fire paramedics to resuscitate the child failed, the sergeant said. “During the course of the investigation, evidence was obtained showing fentanyl played a role in the juvenile’s death,” he said. Allen was taken into custody without incident.

TITLE 8 vs TITLE 42: The pandemic-era immigration policy, Title 42, invoked during the Trump administration, was set to expire on Thursday and kicked in previous immigration standards on handling migrants at the border. As part of its emergency Covid-19 response, former President Trump put in place, Title 42, which gave the government the authority to expeditiously remove undocumented immigrants to protect Americans during the height of the pandemic. Over 2.8 million migrants were expelled from the country through the non-traditional immigration rule. Under Title 42, migrants who entered the borders illegally were deported within hours. U.S immigration authorities clarified that Title 8, which has been active for decades, was also active during the three years Title 42 was in place. The big difference between the two immigration policies is under Title 42, migrants who were caught and removed do not face future consequences beyond their expulsion. With Title 8, migrants who will be caught will face deportation, a five-year bar on reentry, and possible criminal prosecution for new attempts to re-enter the U.S. Hundreds of migrants camped on the Mexico side of the border

LAKE MATHEWS (CNS) – The remains of a person located in a wooded area near Lake Mathews may be those of a  22-year-old man suspected of shooting through a wall at his family’s home and then fleeing, authorities said Thursday. The body was discovered Wednesday morning in the 16500 block of Orangewind Lane, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Brandon Mullins said deputies and sheriff’s volunteers were scouring the area as part of an effort to find Christian Stuart, who was wanted for a shooting at his family’s property last month. “As a result of the search, a deceased subject with an apparent self- inflicted gunshot wound was located in a heavily wooded area behind residences,” Mullins said. The remains were turned over to coroner’s officials for further examination and to confirm the person’s identity. According to sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Lamb, on the night of April 11, there was an unspecified confrontation inside Stuart’s mother’s home in the 12000 block of Wildflower Lane, in an unincorporated area known as Lake Hills. Lamb said deputies were called to the house and encountered the victim, who

Photos: Migrants come to the border in San Diego after Title 42 ends       

Buddy’s owner and handler said residents can now expect to see the star dog at local coffeeshops.       

Travis Hunt, 24, of Desert Hot Springs died in the collision.       

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The end of a federal immigration control regulation Thursday is expected to trigger a greater influx of border crossers into Riverside County and other locations, placing “significant stress” on county resources and requiring decisive measures to stop abuse of the immigration system, according to local and federal officials. Title 42 of the U.S. Public Health Service Act was activated in March 2020 by then-head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfeld, under the authority of former President Donald Trump, as a means of preventing propagation of COVID-19. The order, which ends Thursday, has enabled federal authorities to send border crossers back into Mexico without formal asylum hearings based on efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the health order provided the means to expel 2.7 million individuals over the last three years. “It remains to be seen what the local impact will be in the coming days, weeks or months when Title 42 expires,” county CEO Jeff Van Wagenen told City News Service. “It is likely that we will see an

THERMAL (CNS) – Authorities Thursday identified a 20-year-old woman who was killed in a two-vehicle traffic collision in Thermal. Fire crews responded at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday to the 67000 block of Harrison Street in Thermal to a report of a traffic collision, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Fire officials said that one of the vehicles sustained major damage. A “patient perished at the scene prior to arrival of first responders,” fire officials said in a statement. She was identified by the Riverside County coroner’s office as Karla Juarez-Florez of Thermal. Another person was taken to a trauma center and a third person involved refused care, according to a spokesperson with the fire department. The cause of the collision remained under investigation. Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County increased one-tenth of a cent to Thursday to $4.772. The average price is 2.5 cents less than one week ago, 6.3 cents less than one month ago and $1.037 less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.601 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5. The national average price rose eight-tenths of a cent to $3.539, one day after a 19-day streak of decreases ended when it increased a half-cent. The national average price is 3.5 cents less than one week ago, 6.9 cents lower than one month ago and 86.5 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.477 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14. Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

What’s next along the US-Mexico border? Title 42 restrictions on asylum seekers are going away, and officials expect a surge based on pent-up demand.       

For the first time since 2006, desert water agencies will receive their full 100% allocation of State Water Project water this year.       

the county began receiving Riverside County CEO says large numbers of migrant transfers from Border Patrol agents who had nowhere to put them in March 2021.       

What’s next along the US-Mexico border? Title 42 restrictions on asylum seekers are going away, and officials expect a surge based on pent-up demand.       

CHIRIACO SUMMIT (CNS) – A trucker was killed Wednesday when his big rig overturned on Interstate 10 in Chiriaco Summit. The fatality occurred about 12:25 p.m. on westbound I-10 near Box Canyon Road, a little over four miles east of the Cactus City rest stop, according to the California Highway Patrol. The agency said the tractor-trailer struck the Saddle Gulch bridge and went over in the number two lane, but no other details were immediately available. There were initial reports the rig caught fire, but there was no confirmation of a working blaze when Riverside County Fire Department crews arrived. The trucker was pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP said. Officers closed the number two westbound lane due to the crash. A SigAlert was issued due to the closure and ensuing traffic jam. Caltrans engineers were requested to inspect the bridge because of the damage caused when the truck hit it. Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

Homelessness is on the rise in Riverside County. While its growth is slowing year by year, police departments on each end of the valley are putting much of their effort into helping that pattern continue. “We go out there on a regular basis, and we try to contact our homeless throughout the day,” Palm Springs Police Lieutenant Gustavo Araiza shared. “One of the issues is trying to identify out of those homeless, which ones are chronic homeless, which ones have been in the Palm Springs area for a longer duration of time. We try to provide them services and at least point them in the right direction and get the resources that they need.” “It’s not against the law to be homeless,” Indio Police Department’s Public Information Officer Benjamin Guitron said. “We continue, right now, our partnership with Riverside County to have a therapist from social services. Our CORE program is a model program, which helps those that want to get back on their feet that have realized what they need to do. We work with the court systems and we work with probation.” In

SKY VALLEY (CNS) – A 34-year-old man was arrested for allegedly shooting at multiple victims, including a 7-year-old child, in an unincorporated of Riverside County near Sky Valley, authorities said Wednesday. Ryan David Sargent of Cathedral City was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and having a warrant out for his arrest, according to Sgt. Daniel Milbrandt of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Milbrandt said deputies from the Palm Desert sheriff’s station responded to the 19000 block of Ford Avenue around 3 a.m. Sunday regarding a negligent discharge of a firearm. Sargent was subsequently identified as the suspect in the shooting. “The investigation revealed Sargent fired a shotgun multiple times in the direction of the victims, one being a 7-year-old juvenile, prior to fleeing the scene,” Milbrandt alleged in a statement. “A search warrant of the residence was served and multiple firearms were seized.” Sargent has an active felony probation violation warrant for his arrest out of San Bernardino County, according to Milbrandt. He was arrested by the Palm Desert

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – A Palm Springs pooch made history after being named the “Best in Show” at New York City’s 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, officials said Wednesday. Six-year-old CH Soletrader Buddy Holly was named “Best in Show” Tuesday, becoming the first Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen in the dog show’s history to be awarded the title, according to a statement from Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. GCH CH Pequest Rum Dum, or “Rummie,” was the runner-up. “I don’t have many words as of yet. We are overwhelmed and just so proud,” Buddy’s co-owner and handler Janice Hayes said online. “Thank you to all of his fans around the world. Thank you to his entire team of breeders and owners for trusting me with this incredible dog.” Buddy won in the competition against 2,500 dogs following two days of “Best of Breed,” “Group” and “Best in Show” competition, according to dog show officials. He was bred by Gavin and Sara Robertson and is co-owned by Hayes, Lizzie Cadmore, Cathy O’Neill and Donna Moore. As Hayes attended various interviews with Buddy on Wednesday to

The annual Palm Springs White Party returns to the valley this weekend, for three days of live music and fun. Festivities for the White Party start as early as tomorrow afternoon, but with an influx of people heading this way, health officials are urging attendees to take precautions. With six breakthrough cases of Mpox in recent weeks in fully vaccinated patients, health officials in the area are concerned. “The big concern are all the festivals coming up everywhere across the nation and including Palm Springs the White Party.” says Dr. Phyllis Ritchie, the Founder and CEO of PS Test. With so many health organizations in support of the White Party, many will be in attendance at the festival. “Riverside County is immunizing at the White Party. They’re immunizing for Mpox and that’s the big deal. They’ve been immunizing all along. They offer immunizations, DAP Health offers immunizations, so that’s that’s the plan for now.” For those with any sexual health-related questions, DAP Health is providing extra resources. “Here in the sexual wellness clinic, what we decided to do is create a walk-in clinic post White