A new law, by State Assemblyman Paul Cook, deals with custody rights of military children. Reporter Dan Stork explains... A bill authored by Assemblyman Paul Cook's (Republican of Yucca Valley) which deals with the custody rights of military parents, was signed into law by Governor Brown. When a divorced couple shares custody of a child and one of the parents is deployed due to military orders, full custody of the child is given temporarily to the non-deployed parent. Often, when the…

A Twentynine Palms learned the hard way not to talk on his cell phone without a hands-free device. According to a Sheriff's report, Roscoe Partin, 49, was stopped about 11 a.m. Friday night near Highway 62 and Dumosa Avenue for talking on a cell phone, and for having a loud muffler. The deputy determined Partin was on probation, and during a search of the vehicle, found a glass pipe and small baggy of methamphetamine. Roscoe Partin was arrested for investigation of possession of a…

Three Twentynine Palms men were arrested early Sunday morning after they were found with drugs and a weapon. According to a Sheriff's report, shortly after 1 a.m., a deputy suspected a drug deal between Brandon Coyer, 22, Christopher Blackler, 22, and Forrest Page, 26, in the 6000 block of Ocotillo Avenue in Twentynine Palms. All three have been convicted of various crimes, including burglary and drug charges during the past few years. During a search of the men and their car, the deputy…

The Morongo Valley CSD Board meets tonight. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says a public hearing on their budget and new fire standards will be discussed... In Morongo Valley the Community Services District meets in regular session at 7 o'clock tonight in the Covington Park Multi-Purpose Room. The meeting is expected to open with a presentation from the Well Christian Revival Center regarding the Church's interest in purchase or lease of the Mojave Road property formerly used as a Women's…

A section of Highway 62, which has been closed to through traffic since flash flooding washed out portions of the road last weekend, has been re-opened, according to Officer Alex Scott of the California Highway Patrol. Heavy rains and flash floods last Saturday forced Caltrans officials to close the highway between Godwin Avenue just east of Twentynine Palms and Highway 177 in Riverside County. Officer Scott announced that the road has been reopened all the way to Rice Road. Drivers are asked to…

The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission got down to the nuts and bolts of development codes in a hard-working meeting last night. Reporter Dan Stork says the hard questions were being asked... Suppose there was a religious community in Twentynine Palms whose rituals included animal sacrifice. Could the city's development code be amended to require that the practice be shielded from public view, or would that infringe freedom of expression? The Planning Commission asked the City's…

With just three weeks left on the job as Yucca Valley's Chief of Police, Captain Donnie Miller is not slacking off on the job. Last night he and Lieutenant Rich Boswell were going to the Yucca Valley Community Center about 5:30 for the Town Council meeting. Miller and Boswell saw a group of teens and young adults smoking and decided to check their ages to see if they were all 18, the legal age for smoking. Some of the youths fled at their approach, but Miller and Boswell were able to detain…

The Yucca Valley Town Council upped the ante in their attempt to get grants for senior housing last night. They also told staff to meet with those residents opposing some rezoning. Managing Editor Tami Roleff was at that meeting and files this report... The Town of Yucca Valley got some bad news at its meeting last night about its attempts to secure funding for the affordable senior housing project on Dumosa Avenue. Town Manager Mark Nuaimi told the Council that the Town did not receive the $14…

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is reserving spots for the Sixth Annual Perseid Meteor Shower Star Party, Saturday, August 11, from 7 p.m. to midnight, at the Integratron in Landers. Join Mojave Desert Land Trust for the brightest event of the season, and what many consider to be the best meteor shower of the year. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy star and meteor gazing with friends and family at the extraordinary Integratron. Live images from deep space will projected by the Southern…

The hot and dry conditions of our desert, especially following rain, can bring fire danger. Assignment Reporter Corrisa Evans has these desert fire reminders... Our beautiful scenery here in the Morongo Basin unfortunately holds some consequences when it comes to wildfires. The desert winds empower wildfires, making them spread quicker, farther, and more sporadically than they would on their own. If you are in a fire-prone area, make sure you take the necessary precautions to protect your home,…