What Readers Focused on in 2025 to Create Top Stories of 2025

PALM SPRINGS — The numbers are in and have been tallied. The results for the top 10 stories of the year are ….

  1. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial hopeful, is narrowly leading the crowded primary field to replace outgoing California Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to a new poll commissioned by one of the Democratic candidates in the race and reported in Newsweek. Read the whole story here: https://www.newsweek.com/republican-leads-california-governor-poll-chad-bianco-11011473
  2. United Airlines is bringing back nonstop service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), starting Dec. 18. The route will operate five to seven times per week depending on the month, using a Boeing 737-700 aircraft, according to a news release. 8Read the ebtire story here: http://United Airlines is bringing back nonstop service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), starting Dec. 18. The route will operate five to seven times per week depending on the month, using a Boeing 737-700 aircraft, according to a news release. Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/united-airlines-reveals-nonstop-service-to-newark/
  3. Nearly one year after Brian Nestande was found dead in his Palm Desert home due to “multiple substance intoxication (Fentanyl and cocaine), Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told Uken Report, “We know that he did not willingly ingest this fentanyl.” Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/nestande-did-not-willingly-ingest-fentanyl/
  4. Yadira Perez is no longer a sworn deputy with the Riverside County Sheriff’s office, Sheriff Chadd Bianco confirmed for Uken Report on Wednesday evening. Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/update-yadira-perez-no-longer-employed-at-rso/
  5. Another new independent statewide political poll – this one from the LA Times and UC Berkeley – shows Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco as a Top Two candidate for California Governor, leading every Republican and nearly every Democrat. Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/political-poll-delivered-news-bianco-anticipated/
  6. Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez, 42, was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on Tuesday, according to jail records. His bail was set at $112,500. He posted bail Tuesday afternoon and was scheduled to be released. Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/coachella-mayor-steven-hernandez-arrested/
  7. Fallout continues from the 3-2 vote in January to oust former City Manager Gabriel Martin.  Gabriel Perez, Development Services Director, this week announced his resignation effective Tuesday, April 8. Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/nestande-did-not-willingly-ingest-fentanyl/
  8. Former City Councilmember and Mayor Christy Holstege, who is pregnant and who twice ran unsuccessfully to represent District 47 in the State Assembly has filed for divorce from Adam M. Gilbert, according to court documents. Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/nestande-did-not-willingly-ingest-fentanyl/
  9. City Councilors may finally get from the Coachella Valley Unified School District what no one else has been able to —answers, This City Council means business. They describe what’s happening in the school district as “egregious mismanagement of the District’s budget,” Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/nestande-did-not-willingly-ingest-fentanyl/
  10. On Friday, heavily armed and masked ICE and Border Patrol agents (allegedly) stormed Cathedral City neighborhoods in a coordinated federal raid, Joy Silver, Chair of the Riverside County Democratic Party, said Sundaya in a letter    to Riverside County Democrats,  Read the full story here: https://ukenreport.com/nestande-did-not-willingly-ingest-fentanyl/

Looking forward to 2026!