Governor urges stricter rules to protect wilderness areas -- P-E

Gov. Schwarzenegger recently escalated a battle of words with federal officials over how to manage the remaining wilderness areas in Southern California's national forests.

'A bright light went out' -- The Desert Sun

Merv Griffin, who launched his career as a $100-a-week crooner before transforming TV talk shows and creating two of the most successful game shows in television history, will be remembered in Hollywood and the Coachella Valley as a visionary.

Griffin took on local causes, embraced role of desert beacon -- The Desert Sun

Merv Griffin was no ordinary desert celebrity basking in past glories.  He built equestrian-styled ranch homes, produced movies and TV shows, trained race horses, and wrote songs at his tree-lined La Quinta estate.

Rapid response helps crack Soboba casino robbery -- P-E

It was less than 72 hours from heist to arrests. But in that brief span, Riverside County sheriff's investigators were able to take three people into custody and recover almost all of the $1.58 million taken in the brazen vault robbery at Soboba Casino on Aug. 2.

March base goes solar -- P-E

The historic base recently took center stage as the largest Air Force installation to hook up a state-of-the-art solar panel grid, a project that will net the base a pile of cool cash in energy savings.

City stands to win with expanded casino -- The Californian

New deals with four casino-operating Indian tribes ratified last month by state legislators give Temecula officials significantly better odds of getting the Pechanga tribe to ante up millions of dollars to offset the impacts of the casino on the city.

Gallant's resignation sparks backlash -- The Desert Sun

For months, many residents have been asking for change in this city of 24,000 and with the start of campaign season they were hopeful they would get it.

Opinion: Griffin, our neighbor, will be greatly missed -- The Desert Sun

Merv Griffin lived a large life. He did many things and he did them well.  He seemed to have no fear, no doubt, only ideas and success beyond most people's wildest dreams.

Opinion: Growing 'green' -- P-E

Building "green" is not just a socially conscious fad, but a sensible strategy for California's future.