By Leah Asmelash, CNN (CNN) — The “Wicked” musical and its offshoot movies are meant to celebrate diversity and preach radical acceptance in the face of rising fascism. The protagonist, the witch Elphaba, is consistently misjudged for her bright green skin. As “Wicked: For Good” has filled theaters and its publicity tour has circled the
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By Fredreka Schouten, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s endorsement of how Texas Republicans redrew the state’s congressional map is offering hope to California Democrats as they prepare to defend their map in court this month – and emboldening other states to move ahead. The high court allowed Texas to use a congressional map giving
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By Eric Levenson, CNN (CNN) — Competing for Team Canada, Ryan Wedding finished as the 24th-best parallel giant slalom snowboarder in the world at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Over two decades later, he’s now part of another distinctive group: The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. “Make no mistake about it: Ryan Wedding is a modern-day
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By Gordon Ebanks, Leigh Waldman and Maria Sole Campinoti (CNN) — A high school senior was charged with federal arson after allegedly setting fire to a sleeping subway passenger in New York early Monday morning. Hiram Carrero, 18, is accused of arson resulting in injury after authorities said he lit a piece of paper and
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COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Coachella continued its welcome to the holiday season with the Enchanted Holiday Parade with Elf and Friends on Friday evening. The parade was hosted by Coachella Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza. A happy procession of performers, floats, and Grand Marshall Lee Espinoza, founder of the
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A warm and quiet stretch is ahead for the Coachella Valley as high pressure strengthens over the region through the weekend and into next week. Evening temperatures will still be chilly, but should moderate a bit, climbing out of the upper 40s at least. Tons of activities going on across the valley this weekend, so
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Imagine winning a new luxury home in the heart of the Coachella Valley. Your chance is here – Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Coachella Valley St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. The home is being built by GHA Companies in south Palm Desert. It’s a single-story, 2,600 square
Continue ReadingStory by Reuters (Reuters) — Crowds at Indian airports eased on Saturday but hundreds of passengers were still gathering outside Bengaluru and Mumbai airports as 385 IndiGo flights were canceled, in the fifth day of a crisis that has hit the country’s biggest airline. Air travel across India has been in turmoil this week after
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A star-studded lineup welcomed hundreds to Frances Stevens Park Friday evening for the city’s annual tree lighting. The city lit up its new 26-foot holiday tree, towering several feet higher than last years. The celebrations included a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, free cookies and cocoa and arts and crafts. There
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By Sarah Owermohle, Adam Cancryn, CNN (CNN) — Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary is under renewed scrutiny by Trump officials amid continued turmoil at the agency, including a series of high-profile departures that have raised questions in the administration about Makary’s ability to lead, according to two people familiar with conversations. The pending
Continue ReadingDESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Desert Hot Springs is hoping to double its tourism revenues by drawing in new businesses. City leaders just updated a program to give tax breaks to new hotels and spas. The number of spas has dwindled in the city over the years, so officials are hoping
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LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Big changes are coming to this year’s Ironman 70.3 race in its sixth year. Instead of spreading across La Quinta and Indian Wells, this year will be all in La Quinta, which has made the race easier for all the competitors. “The city of La Quinta has been so proactive
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Local Congressman Raul Ruiz was set to host his annual Veterans University on Saturday. He said it was a great way to learn about the benefits and other resources for veterans, service members, and their families. The event slated to bring organizations and experts together — helping to serve veterans.
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A major road improvement project on Gerald Ford Drive in Palm Desert is causing frustration among nearby businesses and residents, who say the timing and limited notice are creating unexpected challenges during the valley’s busy season. The project — which stretches from Cook Street to El Paseo del Corazón —
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – An ex-Riverside County sheriff’s deputy who abused his authority and perpetrated felony and misdemeanor crimes while off-duty was convicted today of stalking and more than a half dozen other charges, though jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on one of them. An Indio jury deliberated two days before finding
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THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — Aziz Farms receives a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for a new education center. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday morning to mark this milestone. Now entering its fourth year, the program continues to educate students through immersive, hands-on field trips, this time with the addition of
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By Helen Regan, CNN (CNN) — Looking at the weather map on his computer and seeing three tropical storms forming simultaneously across Asia in late November, climatologist Fredolin Tangang’s first thoughts drifted to the 2004 disaster movie “The Day After Tomorrow.” The film, in which three massive storms plunge the earth into a new ice
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A convicted drug dealer who supplied a deadly dose of fentanyl to a 30-year-old Temecula man was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison. A Riverside jury in September convicted Quinn Aaron McKellips, 39, of Winchester of second-degree murder for the death of Calin Sender in 2020.
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A San Rafael-based press freedom advocacy group is suing Riverside County for alleged violations of a state law intended to ensure timely access to documents tied to in-custody deaths, based on significant delays in responding to media requests and other deficiencies, it was announced today. “Transparency in government is always
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By Ellis Kim, CNN (CNN) — Rep. Adelita Grijalva said Friday she was pepper-sprayed and pushed around during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Tucson, Arizona, a claim that the Department of Homeland Security swiftly disputed. The Arizona Democrat said in a video on X the incident occurred near a restaurant she frequents and
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