Latest for Pendleton & OCeanside
on Base
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Two Russian women in ICE custody after entering Pendleton base
Two Russian nationals remain in ICE custody after entering Camp Pendleton without authorization, according to federal and Russian officials.
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Two Russian women detained at the main gate of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, on Jan. 17 remain in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending immigration proceedings, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Natalia Dudina and Krystina Malyshko are being held at an undisclosed detention facility, DHS said Tuesday. Both entered the United States at San Ysidro, California, north of Tijuana, Mexico, on Dec. 11, 2021.
Camp Pendleton is approximately 50 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. According to DHS, Dudina was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department in July 2023 for domestic violence and assault but was later released without notification to ICE.
DHS described Dudina as a “criminal illegal alien” and said she is expected to remain in ICE custody until removal proceedings are completed. Malyshko is also expected to remain in custody during her immigration case.
Russian media outlets RT and TASS reported that SHOT, a Telegram social media channel, shared posts claiming the women were driving along Interstate 5 and mistakenly entered Camp Pendleton after pulling off in search of a McDonald’s restaurant.
The women, reportedly from Russia’s Samara region, were detained by military personnel at the gate and then turned over to ICE, according to SHOT.
The Russian Embassy said in a Jan. 28 statement that it had contacted U.S. authorities to request information, citing a Jan. 26 notice from ICE that two Russian female citizens were transferred to federal custody after what was described as an “unauthorized entry.” The embassy also called for U.S. officials to ensure respect for the women’s legal rights.
Camp Pendleton officials declined to comment on claims from Russian sources. In a Jan. 29 statement, the base reaffirmed that it does not discuss specific enforcement actions.
“Camp Pendleton coordinates with federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as appropriate,” the statement said. Base access requires valid credentials, and unauthorized entry is prohibited, officials said.
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Pendleton: Vandegrift, Rattlesnake Canyon Road Closure
Eastbound traffic on Vandegrift and southbound on Rattlesnake Canyon Road is closed due to and accident. Please plan for alternate routes and expect traffic delays.
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Eastbound traffic on Vandegrift and southbound on Rattlesnake Canyon Road is closed due to and accident. Please plan for alternate routes and expect traffic delays.
California
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ARC breaks ground on Palm Springs clinic rebuild
American Reproductive Centers aims to finish its rebuilt Palm Springs clinic by Dec. 31 after a 2025 bombing destroyed the original site.
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American Reproductive Centers broke ground Monday on a new fertility clinic and surgical center in Palm Springs, nearly a year after a bombing destroyed its original facility.
Founder and Medical Director Dr. Maher Abdallah was joined at the ceremony by Palm Springs Mayor Naomi Soto, City Manager Scott Stiles, Fire Chief Paul Alvarado, and City Council members. He hoped construction would be completed by Dec. 31, with full operations beginning in 2027. Abdallah said the new facility will include a new IVF lab, expanded patient services, and added safety and security infrastructure.
Since the bombing, the clinic has operated from the El Mirador building, where space has limited services, Abdallah said.
A key focus since the bombing has been the embryos stored at the clinic. First responders restored electricity after the blast, preserving frozen eggs, sperm, and embryos.
Abdallah said the clinic has thawed 60 frozen embryos that survived the blast, and 40 transfers resulted in pregnancies.
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California seeks State Farm sanctions over fire claims
“Our investigation found that State Farm delayed, underpaid, and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives,” the Insurance Commissioner said.
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California insurance regulators said Friday they were seeking to suspend State Farm’s license for up to a year and impose millions of dollars in penalties, alleging the insurer mishandled wildfire claims in Los Angeles County after the Jan. 7, 2025, fires.
The Department of Insurance said it filed an administrative action against State Farm General, California’s largest home insurer, after a market conduct exam of 220 sample claims found 398 alleged violations of state law in about half the claims reviewed.
Department spokesperson Michael Soller said the action could result in State Farm losing its certificate of authority for up to a year, which would prevent it from writing policies during that period.
State Farm has handled about 11,300 residential claims, or nearly one-third of those filed after the fires, which damaged or destroyed more than 16,000 homes and killed 31 people.
The department launched the exam in June 2025 after complaints from fire victims in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and nearby communities. The exam results, released Friday, said the company in some cases failed to conduct a “thorough, fair and objective investigation,” failed to reach “prompt, fair, and equitable settlements,” and made settlement offers that were “unreasonably low.”
The filing also alleged State Farm failed to respond to claims on time, provide a factual or legal basis for denials, or assign a primary point of contact after moving policyholders among three or more adjusters in six months. It also cited alleged problems handling smoke-damage claims, including denials of payments for hygienic toxin testing.
The company denied some allegations, admitted others, and often attributed problems to specific adjusters. It also said it held meetings with adjusters after learning of the alleged violations.
Each alleged violation carries a fine of up to $5,000, or up to $10,000 if found to be willful. The case will be heard by a state administrative law judge.
The department said the total penalties could reach millions of dollars.
State Farm said it had paid more than $5.7 billion to fire victims and, in an April 22 statement, outlined five commitments to policyholders, including single points of contact and improved communication.
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California Pipeline Dispute Tests State, Federal Power
The Texas company’s pipeline system had been idle since a 2015 rupture caused a major oil spill that fouled beaches from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles and harmed marine wildlife and fisheries.
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Crude oil from the Pacific Ocean is flowing for the first time in more than a decade through a pipeline that crosses Gaviota State Park after the Trump administration ordered a restart of drilling off Santa Barbara, citing national security.
California officials say Sable Offshore Corp. is trespassing on state land and asked a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge at a Monday hearing to order the company to stop using the 4-mile pipeline segment in the park and remove it.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed Sable on March 13 to restart production under the Defense Production Act, saying California relies heavily on imported crude, including oil that moves through the Strait of Hormuz. He said “more than 60% of the oil refined in California comes from overseas, with a significant share traveling through the Strait of Hormuz — presenting serious national security threats.”
The order escalated a legal fight over whether federal authority can override state objections. State officials say Sable lacked valid permission to use the state park land after 2016. Sable disputes that and says it has the proper permits.
A state judge in 2024 ordered the operation stopped until Sable showed compliance with state regulations. Santa Barbara County District Attorney also filed felony charges accusing the company of polluting waterways and harming wildlife during pipeline repairs.
The U.S. Energy Department said Sable could raise California oil production by 15% and replace nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude each month. But Paasha Mahdavi, a University of California, Santa Barbara professor, said the projected 50,000 barrels a day would not affect domestic supplies or gas prices.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who filed two lawsuits over the project, said “the U. S. already produces significantly more oil and gas than we use — it’s a completely fabricated claim intended to curry favor with the oil industry.”
Sable Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Flores said April 20 that the pipeline had already produced more than 1 million barrels of oil. “We are working tirelessly to provide American oil from American soil to consumers in California and the U. S. military,” he said.
This month, Judge Donna Geck left in place an injunction she issued last year after the California Coastal Commission fined Sable $18 million. She wrote that case law “strongly implies that the (Defense Production Act) order, by itself, does not permit the violation of applicable state regulatory law.”
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California court pauses sheriff’s election probe
California’s highest court ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to halt his election-fraud investigation and preserve seized ballots.
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The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to pause his investigation into alleged fraud in the November 2025 special election while the court reviews the case.
“To permit further consideration of this petition for review, real parties, their agents, employees, and anyone acting on their behalf are hereby ordered to pause the investigation into the November 2025 special election and preserve all seized items,” the court wrote.
Bianco, a Republican running for governor, seized more than 650,000 ballots from election officials last month, saying he was investigating possible fraud after a group of citizens told his office they believed they had found irregularities in Riverside County through their own “audit” of the results.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the seizure.
“The Riverside County Sheriff willfully defied my direct orders, seized 650,000 ballots, misused criminal investigatory tools, and created a constitutional emergency in the process,” Bonta said in a statement.
“Today’s decision by the California Supreme Court reins in the destabilizing actions of a rogue Sheriff, prohibiting him from continuing this investigation while our litigation continues,” he said.
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Trump backs Steve Hilton in California governor race
Trump called Hilton, a British immigrant and former strategist in U.K. politics, a “fine man,” saying he had known and respected him for many years.
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President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Steve Hilton in California’s governor race early Monday, backing a candidate in the crowded contest to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.”
Trump called Hilton, a British immigrant and former strategist in U.K. politics, a “fine man,” saying he had known and respected him for many years.
Hilton’s campaign thanked Trump in a social media post, writing, “With President Trump’s full backing and federal support, we are going to take California back and make it better than ever before!”
Hilton, a former Fox News host, is running against Chad Bianco, the Republican sheriff of Riverside County, and eight major Democratic candidates in California’s June 2 primary. The state sends the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, to the November ballot.
Some Democrats have expressed concern that a large Democratic field could split the vote enough for Hilton and Bianco to advance, leaving Democrats out of the general election in a state that has not elected a Republican governor in nearly two decades.
In a November interview with CNN’s Elex Michaelson, Hilton blamed Democrats for California’s high housing costs and gas prices and said voters wanted change.
“On and on through every issue I’ll be making the case that it’s 15 years of one-party rule that have brought us to this point, where working families can barely afford to pay the bills, where we have the highest unemployment. That’s all the result of Democrat policies, not Donald Trump,” Hilton said.
According to his campaign website, Hilton attended Oxford University and began his political career with the U.K. Conservative Party during former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s tenure. He later worked in business, then returned to politics as a senior adviser to former Prime Minister David Cameron before moving to California in 2012.
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California Sets New AI Guidelines Amid Deregulation Call
Companies contracting with California must demonstrate policies to prevent AI from distributing child sexual abuse material and violent pornography.
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California will implement new standards for artificial intelligence (AI) companies aiming to do business with the state, countering President Donald Trump’s push for deregulation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Monday, directing the state to develop AI policies focused on public safety within four months. Companies contracting with California must demonstrate policies to prevent AI from distributing child sexual abuse material and violent pornography.
Additionally, these companies must show how their AI models avoid “harmful bias” and include measures to prevent “unlawful discrimination, detention, and surveillance.” The order also requires developing best practices for marking AI-generated or modified images and videos.
“California’s always been the birthplace of innovation,” Newsom stated. “But in the wrong hands, innovation can be misused in ways that put people at risk.”
These changes in California follow multiple state-level initiatives addressing AI concerns. According to the New York Times, states have passed over 100 laws to protect children from chatbots and prevent AI firms from violating copyright.
In contrast, the White House set a national AI policy framework in December discouraging state regulations. Trump’s executive order stated, “To win, United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation.”
The order instructed the Justice Department to create an “AI Litigation Task Force” to challenge state AI regulations.
More Pendleton & Oceanside News
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Southern California Police Recover $10K in Stolen Toys
Police reclaimed approximately $10,000 worth of stolen merchandise.
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Authorities in Southern California have disrupted an organized toy theft operation, retrieving an estimated $10,000 in stolen LEGO sets and other items. The Hemet Police Department’s Organized Retail Theft Team, with assistance from Southwest Cities SWAT, executed a search warrant on South Gilbert Street, leading to the arrest of Hugo Omar Sanchez-Sanchez.
Sanchez-Sanchez, age 37, faces charges of possession of stolen property and organized retail theft. Photographs shared by the police reveal numerous boxes of recovered LEGO sets and other items, like Hot Wheels.
Investigators worked with local retailers, discovering that large quantities of expensive LEGO sets and other merchandise were being stolen and subsequently sold at a local swap meet. Authorities linked the activity to a local organized retail theft scheme, with Sanchez-Sanchez allegedly purchasing stolen goods from several individuals before reselling them.
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California Officers Challenge License Plate Dispute
Riverside police officers dispute wrongful suspension over veteran plates, claiming discrimination.
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In Riverside, California, three police officers, who are military veterans, face termination over allegations of improper procurement of disabled veteran license plates. Officers Timothy Popplewell, Raymond Olivares, and Richard Cranford were suspended in May 2025, accused of misrepresenting their disabilities to obtain state-issued plates, which allow special privileges. All three officers have been certified as 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since joining the police department in 2019.
Their attorney, Matthew McNicholas, disputes the department’s actions and filed a discrimination lawsuit in July 2025, stating the officers lawfully qualified for the plates due to their VA disability ratings. McNicholas emphasized that these ratings are not synonymous with an inability to work.
In February 2026, following the Riverside city council’s decision not to settle, the department announced intentions to terminate the officers’ employment. According to McNicholas, the officers have yet to receive a Skelly hearing, which would allow them to review and respond to evidence.
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Palm Springs Homes Sell Quickly as Buyer Market Emerges
Palm Springs recorded the fastest home sales and a lower inventory as the market shifts to favor buyers.
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The latest Desert Housing Report indicates a shift to a buyer’s market, although inventory in Palm Springs saw a slight year-over-year decrease. Palm Springs recorded the lowest average selling time in the valley at 42 days. Last month, the Coachella Valley’s median price for detached homes was $675,000, a 3% drop from January 2025. Attached home prices also fell 2% to $495,000. In Palm Springs, detached home prices fell 2% to $1.2 million, while attached home prices decreased over 6% to $435,000.
Indian Wells, La Quinta, and Bermuda Dunes experienced increases in detached home prices compared to the previous year. Palm Springs had 110 sales in the three months ending in January, a slight increase from the year before, making it second only to Palm Desert in total sales in the valley. Homes were selling about 3% below list price, a smaller discount than the 3.8% seen last year.
Across the valley, homes are generally selling below list price, with Bermuda Dunes experiencing the highest average discount at 5.2%, and Desert Hot Springs the lowest at 1.6%. Palm Springs listed 709 homes for sale at the end of January, down from 754 the previous year. Valleywide, there was a 3% increase in homes on the market, totaling 3,488 at the beginning of the month.
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Two Russian women in ICE custody after entering Pendleton base
Two Russian nationals remain in ICE custody after entering Camp Pendleton without authorization, according to federal and Russian officials.
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Two Russian women detained at the main gate of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, on Jan. 17 remain in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending immigration proceedings, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Natalia Dudina and Krystina Malyshko are being held at an undisclosed detention facility, DHS said Tuesday. Both entered the United States at San Ysidro, California, north of Tijuana, Mexico, on Dec. 11, 2021.
Camp Pendleton is approximately 50 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. According to DHS, Dudina was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department in July 2023 for domestic violence and assault but was later released without notification to ICE.
DHS described Dudina as a “criminal illegal alien” and said she is expected to remain in ICE custody until removal proceedings are completed. Malyshko is also expected to remain in custody during her immigration case.
Russian media outlets RT and TASS reported that SHOT, a Telegram social media channel, shared posts claiming the women were driving along Interstate 5 and mistakenly entered Camp Pendleton after pulling off in search of a McDonald’s restaurant.
The women, reportedly from Russia’s Samara region, were detained by military personnel at the gate and then turned over to ICE, according to SHOT.
The Russian Embassy said in a Jan. 28 statement that it had contacted U.S. authorities to request information, citing a Jan. 26 notice from ICE that two Russian female citizens were transferred to federal custody after what was described as an “unauthorized entry.” The embassy also called for U.S. officials to ensure respect for the women’s legal rights.
Camp Pendleton officials declined to comment on claims from Russian sources. In a Jan. 29 statement, the base reaffirmed that it does not discuss specific enforcement actions.
“Camp Pendleton coordinates with federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as appropriate,” the statement said. Base access requires valid credentials, and unauthorized entry is prohibited, officials said.
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Garner launches re-election bid for Palm Springs District 1
Palm Springs Councilmember Grace Garner launched her re-election campaign Sunday, citing housing, infrastructure, and safety as key priorities.
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Palm Springs District 1 City Councilmember Grace Garner officially launched her re-election campaign Sunday at Demuth Park, focusing on affordable housing, youth programs, neighborhood infrastructure, and traffic safety.
Garner, a Palm Springs native and the council’s most senior member, has served since December 2019. She was mayor in 2023 and was recognized for her leadership during Tropical Storm Hilary.
“I am incredibly grateful and humbled and honored that people have been showing up and supporting me,” Garner said at the event. “I’m really excited about making sure that we’re continuing the great progress that we already started here in Palm Springs.”
No other candidates have entered the District 1 race ahead of the November election. Districts 2 and 3 are also on the ballot. District 2’s Jeffrey Bernstein filed for re-election last October. District 3’s Ron deHarte has filed a statement of intent to run but has not formally launched a campaign.
Garner said experience is essential to advancing major city projects—including improvements to the convention center, library, airport, and Fire Station 1—and addressing ongoing housing needs. She highlighted new and planned affordable housing units in District 1.
“It’s just really wanting to make sure that we have that longevity and experience on the council to see these projects through, but then also to continue to work on neighborhood needs,” she said.
She identified pedestrian and traffic safety as a renewed focus, citing ongoing discussions with the police chief about road changes and planned safety campaigns with SunLine Transit.
Garner also emphasized community infrastructure development through the parks master plan and referenced the Tramview Heights specific plan as key to increasing housing variety and bringing new retail options to north Palm Springs.
“That is really going to be instrumental in making sure that we get a diversified housing stock in the land that is available, and that we’re also getting some retail, like that grocery store that everybody has been wanting,” she said.
Garner is a second-generation Palm Springs resident and the first Latina woman elected to the city council. Her prior service includes roles on the Planning Commission and a council-appointed Voting Rights Act working group.
She works as a senior legislative analyst for Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, focusing on environmental, children’s, and legislative policy issues and serving as liaison to various local communities.
Garner also serves on the boards of Desert Regional Medical Center and the California State University San Bernardino Philanthropy Board.
Mayor Naomi Soto, speaking at the campaign launch, called Garner a “compassionate and fierce leader” in a statement issued last week.
Garner’s endorsements include the Palm Springs Police Association, Palm Springs Firefighters Association, and former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer.
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Nurses Strike in CA, Hawaii
Kaiser Permanente nurses, health professionals plan to strike Jan. 26 in California, Hawaii amid stalled contract talks.
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An estimated 31,000 nurses and health professionals at Kaiser Permanente plan to strike on Jan. 26 at facilities across California and Hawaii.
The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) delivered the required 10-day notice to Kaiser executives, the union said Tuesday.
This marks the second planned walkout by UNAC/UHCP members. A five-day strike in October paused negotiations, but talks have since stalled.
The workers’ contract expired Sept. 30. The union, part of the Alliance of Health Care Unions, has been bargaining nationally with Kaiser since May. UNAC/UHCP said Kaiser has not returned to the bargaining table for over a month.
In a statement posted online, Kaiser said the ongoing negotiations represent the longest national bargaining in its history. It said there had been no progress on key economic issues for months and that national talks were paused Dec. 14 following an unspecified incident involving UNAC/UHCP. Kaiser said the union has not resolved that matter.
UNAC/UHCP cited staffing levels, wages tied to rising costs, retirement security, and treatment at the bargaining table as reasons for the strike.
“We’re authorizing a strike to win staffing that protects patients, win workload standards that stop moral injury, and win the respect and dignity Kaiser has denied for far too long,” said Charmaine Morales, UNAC/UHCP president, in a statement.
The union represents registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, midwives, physician assistants, rehabilitation therapists, and dietitians. About 250 of its members are based in Hawaii.
The October strike included other Alliance members, but this notice applies only to UNAC/UHCP.
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Ex-Navy SEAL Convicted of Explosives Plot at Protest
Gregory Vandenberg was convicted of attempting to use explosives against police at a 2023 protest in San Diego, federal prosecutors said.
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A federal jury has convicted former Navy SEAL Gregory Vandenberg of transporting fireworks across state lines with intent to harm law enforcement at a 2023 protest in San Diego, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Vandenberg, 49, was found guilty Monday after a five-day trial in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was ordered held in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Vandenberg planned to travel from El Paso, Texas, to California to use fireworks as weapons at the June 14 “No Kings” protest. He was arrested June 13 while sleeping in his car at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.
Authorities said he had purchased six large mortar fireworks and 72 M-150 firecrackers at a travel center in New Mexico, telling a store clerk he intended to use them against police. He also claimed prior experience with explosives from serving in special operations forces, according to prosecutors.
Investigators recovered text messages and images from Vandenberg’s phone, which they said expressed political anger and included a Taliban flag as a home screen image. FBI agents testified that his vehicle contained items with anti-Israel slogans and neo-Nazi symbols, including a flag affiliated with the Caucasian Front.
Prosecutors said Vandenberg wore a shirt displaying the word “Amalek,” which he told the store clerk meant “destroyer of Jews.” The clerk contacted authorities, providing Vandenberg’s license plate number.
At the time of his arrest, Vandenberg was unemployed and living in his car. He told FBI agents he was traveling for work and visiting friends in Phoenix, according to court testimony.
He was convicted of transporting explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate, and of attempting to bring prohibited fireworks into California. A phone message left Tuesday seeking comment from defense attorney Russell Dean Clark was not immediately returned.
“People in this country are free to hold their own beliefs and to express them peacefully,” Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said in a statement. “What they are not free to do is use explosives to threaten or terrorize others. Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation.”
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Kauai Woman Sentenced in Trans-Pacific Drug Network Case
A Kauai woman was sentenced to three years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine as part of a drug ring linked to a California prison.
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A 46-year-old Kauai woman was sentenced to three years in federal prison Thursday for her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil across Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii island.
Trish Leila Henderson, also known as Trish Leila Silva, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 36 months in prison and five years of supervised release. She must report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons by Feb. 19.
Henderson pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and was held responsible for trafficking 22 pounds of the drug.
Federal court records show that in 2024, authorities seized more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.2 pounds of fentanyl, 8.8 pounds of carfentanil, numerous firearms and ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash. Investigators also documented more than 50 drug and cash shipments over seven months.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), carfentanil is a synthetic opioid approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl and is typically used to immobilize large animals. Its presence in counterfeit pills or mixed with other substances can increase the risk of fatal overdoses.
The operation allegedly trafficked large quantities of controlled substances to Hawaii for several years. Federal court records identify two members of the group as affiliated with the Mexican Mafia.
Henderson is one of 11 individuals charged in three indictments related to what prosecutors described as a trans-Pacific trafficking organization. Nine defendants have pleaded guilty, and two are awaiting trial.
At sentencing, Judge Kobayashi cited Henderson’s efforts toward recovery and community engagement as mitigating factors.
She is the third person sentenced in a nine-defendant indictment dated April 4, 2024. Co-defendants include Anthony Bravo, Leonard Gutierrez (also known as “Lucky” and “Lenny”), Nathan “Butch” Ahhoy Lee, Jorelyn “JoJo” C. Pacariem, Dominic Gomes, Faith Michelle Nelson, Francis Anthony Abergas Jr., and Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona.
Bravo allegedly led the operation from a California state prison using contraband cellphones. Nelson, Henderson, and Abergas managed trafficking efforts on Kauai and distributed methamphetamine obtained through the mail from Lee and Pacariem on Oahu. Proceeds were allegedly sent back to Oahu.
Federal agents collected evidence through intercepted communications, surveillance, traffic stops, and confidential sources.
In a related case, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced on April 30 to 240 months in prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy and drug distribution.
On Dec. 10, Nelson was sentenced to 151 months and five years of supervised release. On Dec. 16, Abergas received 210 months in prison and five years of supervised release for drug and firearm offenses.
The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), police departments from Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar.
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Palm Springs Commission Backs Police Use of Drones, AI Tools
Palm Springs Human Rights Commission backed the police use of drones, cameras, and artificial intelligence to support law enforcement activities.
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After receiving assurances from law enforcement, Palm Springs Human Rights Commission members expressed unanimous support Monday for the police department’s use of surveillance tools, including drones, automatic license plate readers, and artificial intelligence-driven systems, as part of its Real-Time Intelligence Center.
Police Chief Andy Mills told the commission that civil liberty protections were incorporated into the program to ensure it aligns with community standards. City Council members Grace Garner and Christy Holstege had previously requested those protections be included in the ordinance authorizing the program.
“We want to make sure we do it correctly,” Mills said. “It’s something our community can be proud of, and that it’s within the traditions of this community.”
The Coachella Valley Real-Time Intelligence Center (CVRTIC), operational since December, allows law enforcement to access law enforcement databases, citywide cameras, license plate scanners, and drones.
Lt. William Hutchinson cited recent cases where the technology assisted in investigations. He said surveillance helped track a suspect vehicle in an Indio homicide and alerted officers in a separate incident involving a bomb threat from Cathedral City.
The license plate readers, provided by Flock, capture vehicle details such as plate numbers, shape, and distinctive markings. “There is not facial recognition on any of these cameras,” Hutchinson said, noting that facial recognition technology is banned on drones in California.
Hutchinson added that monthly audits and access controls are in place to prevent misuse. Officers must enter a reason and case number before accessing data, and the system logs all searches for accountability.
Palm Springs police officials said they do not allow partner agencies open access to their system. Data is shared according to memoranda of understanding, including one with El Cajon Police Department. Captain Gustavo Araiza said El Cajon must print results to share data externally, which would violate the agreement if done.
Palm Springs operates 215 cameras and uses four drone docking stations located at city and private facilities. In the past 30 days, the system recorded over 457,000 vehicles.
Addressing privacy concerns, Hutchinson said cameras on drones are pointed toward the horizon when in transit. Exceptions occur if a subject flees on foot, prompting the camera to track movement more directly.
Commissioners said the system made them feel safer and believed it would help protect vulnerable groups and large crowds during events. “This is extraordinarily important,” said Commission Chair Hugo Loyola, citing the city’s high visitor traffic.
The center is intended as a regional initiative. Cathedral City has joined the system, while Desert Hot Springs and Indio are expected to join. Participating agencies can operate each other’s drones during emergencies or pursuits.
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Palm Springs board backs historic status for Sagewood
Palm Springs officials recommended historic district status for the Sagewood Condominiums, designed by Donald Wexler and built in 1972.
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The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend historic district designation for Sagewood Condominiums, a 107-unit complex designed by architect Donald Wexler and completed in 1972.
The recommendation followed an application by the Sagewood Homeowners Association, which received votes from 76 property owners, representing 70% support. Several residents attended Tuesday’s meeting to express their backing.
The 18-acre property, located south of North Sunrise Way and east of Vista Chino, consists of 27 one-story buildings with four condominiums each. Wexler designed the development in a mid-century modern style, with landscape design by David Hamilton. The units feature flat roofs, cantilevered overhangs, and rough stucco exteriors arranged around shared green spaces with paths leading to amenities such as pools and a tennis court.
According to a staff report, Sagewood is one of the largest condominium complexes Wexler designed in the city and reflects housing trends for the emerging middle class of the 1960s and 1970s.
The complex was developed in partnership with Levitt & Sons, the East Coast firm known for building Levittown, New York, one of the first mass-produced suburbs. Board members noted this is the only Levitt & Sons project in the Coachella Valley.
A historic resources report by Claude Peck and Steven Keylon highlighted the contrast between Levitt’s typical housing developments and Sagewood’s distinct planning, landscaping, and architectural design.
City staff concluded Sagewood meets multiple criteria for historic designation, including its representation of a significant period in local history, association with a master architect, and the district’s collective character.
Before the vote, board Chair Janet Hansen said, “This is what I like to call professionally a ‘no brainer.’”
The City Council will make the final decision on the designation.
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Trump administration sues two Calif., cities over gas limits
Trump administration sued two Calif., cities over local ordinances restricting use of natural gas in new construction projects.
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The Trump administration filed lawsuits Monday against the California cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma, seeking to block local ordinances that limit natural gas infrastructure in new buildings.
The lawsuits, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal court in Northern California, argue that the cities’ natural gas restrictions violate a 1975 federal law prohibiting state and local regulations on the energy use of products governed by federal standards.
“The natural gas bans not only impose crushing costs on California residents but are also unlawful,” the complaint stated.
Morgan Hill and Petaluma, both located in the San Francisco Bay Area, enacted ordinances starting in 2019 to limit natural gas in new construction as part of broader climate initiatives. Since 2019, dozens of U.S. cities have adopted similar restrictions.
In 2023, a federal appeals court ruled that the city of Berkeley could not enforce its 2019 ban on natural gas infrastructure, saying the measure conflicted with federal law.
Petaluma City Manager Peggy Flynn said the city had no immediate comment. Morgan Hill officials did not respond to a request for comment. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have not publicly addressed the lawsuit.
In July, Petaluma and Santa Clara County, where Morgan Hill is located, joined separate lawsuits challenging Trump administration funding restrictions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and sanctuary city policies.
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Trump administration sues two Calif. cities over gas laws
The Trump administration sued two California cities over local bans on natural gas infrastructure in new buildings, citing a 1975 federal law.
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The Trump administration on Monday filed lawsuits against the California cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma, seeking to block local laws that limit natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction.
In complaints filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, the Department of Justice argued the ordinances violate the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which limits state and local regulations on the energy use of products covered by federal standards.
“The natural gas bans not only impose crushing costs on California residents but are also unlawful,” the complaint stated.
Petaluma and Morgan Hill, both located in the San Francisco Bay Area, passed ordinances restricting natural gas infrastructure beginning in 2019. Neither city immediately responded to requests for comment.
Dozens of municipalities across the U.S. have enacted similar measures since 2019. In 2023, a federal appeals court ruled that the city of Berkeley could not enforce its own natural gas restrictions.
California officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, have not commented on the lawsuit.
In July, Petaluma joined other counties, including Santa Clara County where Morgan Hill is located, in an unrelated lawsuit against the Trump administration over federal funding criteria. Both cities also joined a separate suit with more than 30 Bay Area jurisdictions challenging administration policies on immigration enforcement.
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Pendleton: Vandegrift, Rattlesnake Canyon Road Closure
Eastbound traffic on Vandegrift and southbound on Rattlesnake Canyon Road is closed due to and accident. Please plan for alternate routes and expect traffic delays.
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Eastbound traffic on Vandegrift and southbound on Rattlesnake Canyon Road is closed due to and accident. Please plan for alternate routes and expect traffic delays.
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California man may plead guilty in 2023 Hawaii assault case
Nathaniel Radimak is expected to change his plea in an alleged road rage assault case in Kakaako after being deemed fit for trial.
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A Southern California man convicted in previous road rage incidents is expected to change his plea in a 2023 assault case in Hawaii.
Nathaniel Radimak is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing Tuesday in Oahu Circuit Court. He previously pleaded not guilty on May 22, 2025, to first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and two counts of third-degree assault stemming from an alleged May 7, 2023, altercation in Kakaako. His trial remains set for Jan. 19 before Judge Clarissa Malinao if he does not change his plea.
Radimak was driving a Tesla on Halekauwila Street when he allegedly had an exchange with an 18-year-old woman who was parking her vehicle. He is accused of exiting his vehicle and assaulting both the woman and her 35-year-old mother.
His attorney, Rosa Flores, filed a pretrial memorandum stating he will pursue a mental disease, disorder, or defect defense. Flores also filed a motion for a mental examination on July 8 but said Radimak refused to attend a related hearing on July 9.
Judge Malinao held a hearing on Oct. 22 regarding Radimak’s mental state. She denied a defense request to delay proceedings, citing reports by three court-appointed examiners who found him fit to stand trial and criminally responsible for his actions.
A Friday status conference was canceled after Flores confirmed a meeting with her client at the Halawa Correctional Facility, where he remains without bail. He is being held due to a parole violation in California.
Radimak was convicted in September 2023 for multiple road rage incidents in Southern California and released on parole on Aug. 28 in Los Angeles County. Authorities said he was known for driving a Tesla and using a metal pipe, often targeting women. Several incidents, including the Hawaii case, were reportedly captured on video and circulated on social media.
The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Radimak will not be released on bail despite the court setting it at $100,000, due to the outstanding parole violation.
If convicted in Hawaii, he will first serve his sentence there before being extradited to California.
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California residents gain new tool to request data deletion
California residents can now request data deletion from all registered brokers using a new state-run platform.
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California has launched an online platform allowing residents to request that registered data brokers delete their personal information.
The Delete Requests and Opt-Out Platform (DROP), now live, enables users to submit a single data deletion request covering all current and future data brokers registered with the state. Users must verify their California residency to begin the process.
The tool supports a 2023 law known as the Delete Act, which aimed to simplify prior requirements that residents submit deletion requests individually to each company. More than 500 data brokers are registered with the state.
Data brokers are scheduled to begin processing these requests in August 2026. They will have 90 days to act on requests and report back to the state. If a broker is unable to locate a user’s data, individuals may submit additional information to assist.
The requirements apply only to third-party brokers that buy or sell data and do not affect companies’ use of first-party data collected directly from users. Publicly available information such as voter records and sensitive data regulated under laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is exempt.
The California Privacy Protection Agency said the tool gives residents more control over their data and could help reduce unsolicited messages and the risks associated with fraud or data breaches.
Brokers who fail to register or comply with valid deletion requests are subject to a $200 daily penalty plus enforcement costs, according to the agency.
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Pendleton: Del Mar Gate and Las Pulgas Gate to reopen
The Del Mar Gate and Las Pulgas Gate will reopen tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 05, 2026 at 0600. Basilone Road, from San Mateo Road to Meadowlark Drive, remains closed due to severe damage.
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The Del Mar Gate and Las Pulgas Gate will reopen tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 05, 2026 at 0600.
Basilone Road, from San Mateo Road to Meadowlark Drive, remains closed due to severe damage.
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Events this week around Palm Springs
Film screenings, concerts, markets, and art walks are among this week’s highlights in the Coachella Valley.
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The 37th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival continues this week, screening 169 films from 72 countries at multiple theaters in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and La Quinta. The festival includes 44 international feature submissions for the Academy Awards. It concludes with a closing night screening of “Glenrothan,” directed by actor Brian Cox on Jan. 11, followed by Best of Fest screenings on Jan. 12. Admission varies by screening.
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino resumes its weekly Two-Step Tuesday, which features country music, dancing, and lessons for newcomers. The event is free, with drinks available for purchase.
The Palm Springs Backstreet Art District will host its monthly art walk, offering visitors the chance to explore 13 art galleries with food, beverages, and live entertainment. The event takes place at South Cherokee Way and Matthew Drive.
The Creativity Club One-Year Anniversary Exhibition opens at Hi-Desert Artists, showcasing work created through a weekly art program in partnership with Desert Arc, a nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities.
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Rock the Park concert series continues at Downtown Palm Springs Park. This week’s performance features Bee Gees Forever. Concerts are held the first Wednesday of each month through May and are free to attend.
A weekly farmers market is held every Thursday in the parking lot of Southwest Church. Visitors can shop for local produce, prepared foods, and crafts. Admission is free.
Magician Jen Kramer will perform at the McCallum Theatre. Kramer, recipient of the Female Magician of the Year award, is known for her interactive presentations and has been recognized by Tripadvisor with a Travelers’ Choice Award.
Revolution Stage Company will present two days of new plays performed by local artists. On Saturday, Jan. 10, Group 1 performs at 1:30 p.m. and Group 2 at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Jan. 11, Group 2 performs at 2 p.m. and Group 1 at 5 p.m.
Peter Noone, an English singer and actor, will perform in Palm Springs this weekend. His hits include “Oh You Pretty Things” and “I’m Into Something Good.”
Daughtry will perform an acoustic concert benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at the Morongo Grand Ballroom. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.
The Arthur Newman Theatre’s Sunday Cabaret Series continues its 16th season this month. This week’s show features an original musical by Bill Spera, written by Scott Calcagno with music direction by Chip Prince.