Le Journal

The latest in a series of earthquakes and aftershocks in the Indio area struck at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, nearly 6 miles northeast of Indio Hills with a preliminary magnitude of 4.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The aftershocks continued to strike the Indio area over the past 2 days after a magnitude-4.9 earthquake struck near Indio Hills on Monday. A magnitude-3.6 aftershock was reported shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday about 11.3 miles north of Indio, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed by two more an hour later with magnitudes of 3.2 and 2.8.     There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage Tuesday, and no such reports Monday either.     “At this time, the city of Indio has no reports of injuries and no immediate reports of any visible road damage related to this evening’s earthquake. Our water system is secure and stable,” a city spokesperson said in a statement Monday. The initial quake occurred at 5:56 p.m. Monday with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1, but was later downgraded to 4.9, and was followed about a minute later by the first aftershock, the USGS said.     The first shaker was centered about 5.5 miles northeast of Indio Hills, 12 miles north-northeast of Indio, 14.5 miles of Coachella and 16.5 miles northeast of Palm Desert. Its depth was just under two miles.     Reports indicated that shaking could be felt as far as Redlands, as well as in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and other areas in the Coachella Valley.

Authorities are searching for a group of people after a couple was held at gunpoint and robbed of thousands of dollars in Woodland Hills Tuesday night.  According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to reports of a home invasion robbery at around 11:30 p.m. at the 22000 block of Erwin Street.  Police said the masked robbers, who were wearing gloves and masks, made their way into the residence through a back entrance. Held at gunpoint, the couple was then forced to open up a safe and the group took $15,000 in cash and over $400,000 worth of jewelry, LAPD said. The victims, who are said to be high-end jewelers, were not injured in the incident.  No further details were immediately available.

The California Highway Patrol today is investigating a shooting near the 405 Freeway in Long Beach where one person was wounded and the shooter is on the loose. The shooting was reported just before 9 p.m. Tuesday near the southbound freeway and Lakewood Boulevard, CHP Officer Sergio Garcia told City News Service. The victim discovered they had been shot while driving. The name, age or gender of the victim were not immediately released, and they were taken to a hospital in an unknown condition. Garcia said the shooter was driving a black Jeep Cherokee. The CHP closed the southbound freeway briefly while officers investigated the circumstances surrounding the shooting.     It was not immediately clear if the shooting occurred on or near the freeway.

A Glendale firefighter has been detained in connection with a homicide investigation involving a woman found dead Wednesday morning in a North Hollywood home. The investigation into what police said appears to be a deadly case of domestic violence unfolded after a man approached officers at a police station and asked for a welfare check on his wife, the LAPD said. Officers arrived at the home in the 5000 block of Satsuma Avenue at around 4:25 a.m. and found a woman, believed to be in her 40s, dead. “When they entered the home, they found a female in her 50s who was deceased and appeared to be suffering from multiple blunt force trauma,” said Lt. Guy Golan. The man who made the welfare check request was taken into custody. No further details were immediately available.  In a statement, the city of Glendale said, “The Glendale Fire Department has been notified by LAPD that an off-duty member of the department has been detained in connection with an active homicide investigation in the North Hollywood area. LAPD is the lead investigating agency and the matter is ongoing.” The firefighter was identified as firefighter and paramedic, Andrew Jimenez, who served in the department since 2008. Jimenez was placed off duty and on administrative leave, according to the City of Glendale.

Former priest Michael Hunn is known for hitting the streets in Orange County to help provide health care to the poor and disabled.