🌱 1 Arrested For Loaded Gun On Campus + Middleton Running For Senate

Hello all. I'm back with your fresh edition of the Palm Springs Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Mostly sunny and cool. High: 72 Low: 51.
• Saturday: Brilliant sunshine, but cool. High: 72 Low: 48.

📈 Interested in reaching our highly engaged readers with targeted messaging that drives proven results for local businesses? I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Palm Springs who want to build awareness, connect with customers, and increase sales. If that's you, click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Palm Springs today:

1. Cesar Martinez, 21, was arrested on Tuesday night for allegedly driving into College of the Desert with a loaded firearm. He was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol with a full-auto switch and a 33-round extended magazine, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. He was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a machine gun and carrying a loaded firearm and was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, where he remains held on $10,000 bail. (Subscription: Desert Sun)
2. Lisa Middleton, the first transgender person elected to a non-judicial political office in California, has announced her candidacy for California's 19th State Senate District. Middleton plans to bring daily rail service to the Coachella Valley and the San Grogonio Pass, making it possible for individuals who currently cannot commute into metropolitan Southern California for work. If elected, Middleton would become the first out transgender person to serve in the California Legislature. (News Channel 3)
3. In nearby Rancho Mirage, Eisenhower Health has opened the John Stauffer Center for Innovation in Learning. The high-tech simulation laboratory cost $3.5 million to construct. The center features ICU, obstetrics and gynecology/neonatal intensive care unit, medical/surgical, and emergency rooms equipped with simulator manikins by Gaumard that can simulate heart tones, lung and bowel sounds, cry and talk. The center is expected to provide advanced training and education opportunities for graduate students, physicians, nurses, respiratory technicians, and other healthcare professionals. (Subscription: Desert Sun)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Palm Springs Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Palm Springs Patch newsletter possible.

Today in Palm Springs:

• Legally Blonde The Musical At Richards Center For The Arts At Palm Springs High School (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Palm Springs' own Sandra Villa, a sixth grader at Nellie N. Coffman Middle School, competed in the 45th annual Riverside County Spelling Bee yesterday. (Patch)
• If you live in the desert but aren't about the music festival scene, check out the link for eight things to do instead. (Locale Magazine)
• The "Hitting for the Hungry" golf tournament, aimed at supporting food security in the valley, is being held by the Palm Springs Rotary Club on Monday, Mar. 27. (News Channel 3)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Garage Sales on Dempsey Drive in Palm Desert CA (March 24)
• Dance Party FUNdraiser W/ Coach Syreeta (March 25)
• Saturday Night Music Series at The River! (March 25)
• Stagecoach Night at The River. Win free Stagecoach tickets! (April 1)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.