La Quinta News

Don't drink and drive, you will get caught. That's the warning from Valley police.

Good Friday morning, Coachella Valley!

We hope you're gearing up for a fun-filled Labor Day weekend.

Meanwhile, here's a look at the week in review:

• In Palm Springs, an Orange County man linked to the disappearance of his wife was found at a local hospital Monday night and arrested. Police say he was at the hospital being treated for attempted suicide.
• Palm Desert remembered long-time councilman Richard Kelly this week, holding a visitation. The 87-year-old was mayor six times in the city. A memorial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church on Highway 74.
• Previously, Desert Hot Springs only had one family physician serving the whole city. This week, a new health clinic opened up. The new center will have nine exam rooms and three doctors.
• John F. Kennedy Hospital in Indio is officially tobacco-free. Not only are people banned from smoking on its campus, hospital staff took classes and quit smoking.
• At one point this week, the top two gas stations with the lowest gas prices in the valley was in Coachella. Both were Arco gas stations, selling its regular unleaded gas at $2.69 a gallon.
• A 71-year-old bicyclist was hit by an SUV in Cathedral City. The bicyclist was riding on the wrong side of the road, and the driver of the SUV was driving under a suspended license.
• The new high school slated to open in Rancho Mirage will be the "Rattlers." There's not an official name of the school yet, but it does have a mascot now!
• A man wanted by Los Angeles police for drug-related charges barricaded himself in a home in La Quinta. He ended up surrendering himself after 20 minutes, and was arrested.
• Phoenix Suns dancers visited the Coachella Valley this week, ahead of the Suns vs. Mavericks game in October at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
• Military families in the Hi Desert talked about how they felt about U.S. combat troops withdrawing from Iraq.

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A wanted Los Angeles man was arrested in La Quinta Wednesday, following a brief standoff with police that had led to some home evacuations.

Lesco Wooten, 26, was staying at a house in the 53000 Block of Avenida Vallejo when authorities tracked him down Wednesday, according to Lieutenant Frank Taylor of the La Quinta Police Department.

In this week's "What's Going Around" with Brooke Beare...

• Dr. Clifton Cole has seen a few cases of intestinal flu in his Palm Springs office. He says these were viral infections, and responded well to fluids, rest and some over the counter medications. Dehydration is always a risk with the flu, especially in the summer heat...so remember to drink plenty of water. Some doctors have already received their flu shots, so ask if you are ready to get your vaccination. 


• Children in Rancho Mirage are still coming in for treatment of swimmer's ear this week. "Patients need to have proper external ear hygiene after swimming," says Dr. Arturo Quintanilla. Using an over the counter swimmer's ear solution or rubbing alcohol in each ear at bedtime can cut down on the infections. Dr. Quintanilla's office is also busy with back-to-school physicals, immunizations, hearing and vision checks.


• Exudative pharyngitis has popped up again in Palm Desert. Teens to those in their early 20's appear to be most at risk. Urinary tract infections are more common in the summer. And sinusitis triggered by allergies is also an issue according to Dr. Andrew Cyrus.

Click here to watch the video and read more.