A Palm Springs-based pharmacy will pay the state and federal governments almost $1 million for allegedly defrauding California's Medicaid program. LASR Enterprises must repay $925,000 after allegedly seeking and receiving reimbursement from Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. Between 2015 and 2017, "LASR and its owners sought and received a total of $155,709 in reimbursement from Medi-Cal for drugs dispensed without a valid prescription, and a total of $22,177 in reimbursement for drugs that were over-dispensed per an authorized prescripti ..read more

A child tested positive for active tuberculosis in Riverside County on Thursday. The child attends Raymond Cree Middle School in Palm Springs and was briefly hospitalized, but is now receiving treatment at home, according to Riverside County officials. The student is expected to survive. Parents of around 50 students received an email from the Riverside University Health System-Public Health and the Palm Springs Unified School District informing them that their child may have been exposed to the illness. About 20 staff members who were possibly exposed were also notified. Another letter inform ..read more

It's been nearly two months since 44-year-old Antonio Garza was shot and killed by deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, and on Thursday, his family addressed the media to demand justice. Garza, a Yucca Valley resident, allegedly set fire to a trailer on Feb. 5, then led deputies on a pursuit that ended with his fatal shooting near Palm Springs in Riverside County ..read more

Two officers were hospitalized after a suspect allegedly rammed their car into the officers during a pursuit in Palm Springs on Tuesday. Two suspects were arrested, although their identities have not been released by Palm Springs Police. Officers attempted a traffic stop near Murray Canyon Drive and South Toledo Avenue a little before 10 p.m. Instead of pulling over, the suspects sped away, leading police on a pursuit. At one point, the vehicle pulled into a cul-de-sac and stopped driving. As two officers exited their car, police say the suspects “backed up at a high rate of speed, ramming the ..read more

A 44-year-old teacher in Thermal was arrested Monday after the Riverside County Sheriff's Department found him to be under the influence of alcohol while instructing students, officials said. Brian Nichols, who lives in Palm Springs, was arrested shortly after 10:15 a.m. when deputies responded to reports of an intoxicated teacher at a school in the 86100 block of Avenue 66, the Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Officials did not reveal the identity of the school, but Las Palmitas Elementary School, Toro Canyon Middle School and Desert Mirage High School all match the address provid ..read more

A Palm Springs man pleaded guilty Monday to streaming sexually explicit videos of children – some of them toddlers – in a Zoom online meeting room for individuals "interested in child exploitation," officials said. Michael John Andersen, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography — a federal criminal charge, the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a news release. In February 2018, Andersen and other individuals logged into a Zoom meeting room that law enforcement previously identified as a place for people interested in sexua ..read more

Already out two corporate endorsements, Phil Mickelson and his foundation were removed from the PGA Tour event in the California desert Saturday as the fallout continued over his shocking remarks and involvement in a Saudi-funded rival league. The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, California, reported The American Express no longer will have The Mickelson Foundation as its main charitable arm, and that Mickelson no longer will be the tournament host. The foundation had been the host since 2019. The PGA Tour said it would have no further comment except to confirm Mickelson is no longer involved. Mic ..read more

In this edition of Finally Friday: Following a two-year pandemic pause, Sassafras Saloon is bringing the Big Easy back to Los Angeles just in time for Mardi Gras. The 2022 Modernism Week wraps up in Palm Springs, but you don't have to take the 10 to feel transported to the desert. Pioneertown continues to inspire Angelenos with the new rooftop western-themed bar, Desert 5 Spot. Follow Andy and Sam for more Southern California adventures. This segment aired on KTLA 5 News on Feb. 25, 2021 ..read more

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck Wednesday at 7:19 p.m., about 14 miles from Anza, followed by two smaller quakes in the area, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The first quake occurred about 15 miles from La Quinta, 25 miles from Palm Springs and 62 miles from San Diego, the USGS said. It occurred at a depth of 8.6 miles. Less than a minute later, there was a 2.6 magnitude quake 15 miles from Anza and 14 miles from La Quinta, followed by a 2.9 magnitude quake 14 miles from Anza and 15 miles from La Quinta. At 8:27 p.m., another quake, this one a 2.0 magnitude, struck in the area ..read more

A mountain lion was captured and safely tranquilized in a Palm Springs condominium complex Monday, officials said. Officers from the Palm Spring Police Department and the California Department Fish and Wildlife were called to the Sunrise Palms condo community after the mountain lion was spotted, authorities said in a Facebook post. They added that the cougar had “her very own Teledoc appointment while she was asleep,” and it was determined that she was malnourished and needed treatment. The mountain lion will be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility in San Diego County, officials said ..read more