Ani Gasparyan

1 week ago | desertsun.com | Ani Gasparyan

Owners of Coachella Valley cannabis businesses have said they face several challenges, including competition from illegal sellers and a crowded marketplace. Several cities have already cut some of their cannabis taxes. In its latest move, Desert Hot Springs is cutting the retail tax rate for cannabis. The city earlier cut the tax rate charged to cultivators. Desert Hot Springs is halving its cannabis retail tax in order to financially help the ailing industry.

1 week ago | desertsun.com | Ani Gasparyan

Jim Henson retired as Desert Hot Springs police chief early this year. Steven Shaw, who'd been deputy chief for five years, was appointed as interim chief. The city manager chose to officially give Shaw the chief job, citing his proven leadership in 30 years in law enforcement. Desert Hot Springs leaders appointed a familiar face, Steven Shaw, as the city's new police chief this week. Shaw had been serving as interim chief since Feb. 28 after former chief Jim Henson’s retirement.

2 weeks ago | desertsun.com | Ani Gasparyan

Palm Springs police arrested an armed man who threatened Walmart employees and customers at the store on Tuesday. Officers responded to a report of a man armed with a knife at Walmart and refusing to leave around 11 p.m., the Palm Springs Police Department said. They found Jason Sandoval, 49, outside the store with a knife, taser and pepper spray. People reported that he had made threats and tried to discharge his pepper spray inside, the department said.

2 weeks ago | desertsun.com | Ani Gasparyan

Cathedral City police arrested a man who was allegedly driving under the influence after he crashed into a car and injured its two passengers on Wednesday. Multiple callers reported a traffic collision in the area of Avenida Los Ninos and Ramon Road around 2 p.m., the Cathedral City Police Department said in a press release. Police arrived at the scene and found that Frank Corona, 60, of Hemet, had been driving a Honda CRV on Avenida Los Ninos and crashed into two parked cars.

2 weeks ago | desertsun.com | Ani Gasparyan

Large crowds of protesters gathered in Palms Springs and Rancho Mirage on Saturday to speak out against the Trump administration's actions, part of hundreds of such gatherings across the United States and beyond. Organizers referred to the national day of action as “Hands Off!” protests, and tens of thousands rallied in cities big and small across the country, including Washington, D.C, Los Angeles and more locally Joshua Tree and Idyllwild.