María García, Author at KESQ

Government agencies plan for cash rewards for private bounty hunters to locate undocumented immigrants

February 20, 2026 10:53 AM María García

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — Recent legislative proposals have explored utilizing private contractors or “bounty hunters” for immigration enforcement to track down and locate undocumented immigrants. They use surveillance and location verification in order to increase arrest numbers. The reward is said to start at $1,000. One nonprofit, “United Youth We Stand” says they’ve received

Homelessness and available resources amid encampment clean-up efforts

February 19, 2026 4:47 PM María García

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – City leaders are citing safety concerns after several small fires broke out over the past week at homeless encampments. News Channel 3 is getting answers on what’s being done to make sure those experiencing homelessness know resources are available. News Channel 3’s Maria Garcia spoke with the county and one

Floor signing of St. Jude Dream home marks construction milestone

February 17, 2026 11:38 AM María García

Palm Desert, Calif. (KESQ) — A big milestone is underway inside the St. Jude Dream home in the Silver Spur Ranch community in South Palm Desert, just a walk away from the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Those who made the Dream Home a reality had the chance to sign the floor on Tuesday. The

TODEC hosts Valentine’s day food drive to help immigrant families in need

February 13, 2026 10:21 AM María García

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – The TODEC Legal Center hosted a Valentine’s Day food drive Friday morning aimed at helping immigrant families in need. The event provided free groceries and essential items that may assist impacted families. The suggested items include: corn tortillas, beans, rice, canned chicken, baby wipes, and hygiene products. “We had two full

Banning High School student arrested after allegedly bringing weapon to campus

February 12, 2026 11:10 AM María García

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) — A Banning High School student is under arrest after police say they brought a weapon to campus and threatened another student Tuesday morning. According to the Banning Police Department, officers responded just after 9 a.m. to reports of a student in possession of metal knuckles. When officers attempted to make contact,

Coachella Valley High School students march to city hall to protest ICE activity

January 30, 2026 8:13 AM María García

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Students from Coachella Valley High School, along with students from other campuses, walked out of class and marched to Coachella City Hall on Friday morning. The student-led demonstration was organized in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a national day of action. “I’m so thankful to have

Indio DUI head-on crash sends two to hospital, driver arrested

January 27, 2026 7:36 AM María García

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Indio police are investigating a head-on crash that left two people injured and resulted in one driver being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Officers were called to the intersection of Calhoun Street and Avenue 48 just after 5 a.m. Tuesday. Police say a 28-year-old man driving a Lexus

Weekend anti-ICE protests organized in Coachella and Palm Springs

January 9, 2026 10:24 AM María García

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – There will be a local protest Saturday morning after two shootings this week involving federal agents. The rally kicks off from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. on the corner of Sixth Street and Cesar Chavez. The rally is being organized by Comité Latino, which is also raising concerns about immigration

Mountain View Road Reopens After Power Pole Crash in Desert Hot Springs

January 5, 2026 5:37 AM María García

Update (01/05/26) Mountain View Road at Dillon Road in Desert Hot Springs has reopened in both directions. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Original Report: DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A traffic collision early Monday morning forced a major road closure on the south side of Desert Hot Springs after a vehicle struck a power pole, bringing down high-voltage

Transgender center receiving death threats in confusion with Queer Works fraud case

December 19, 2025 1:49 PM María García

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Community reaction is pouring in after the delay in the case against former Queer Works CEO Jacob Rostovsky. He faces 53 felony counts stemming from an investigation into a Palm Springs universal basic program. According to documents from the Riverside County District Attorney’s office, Rostovsky’s defense team filed a motion for

51-year-old man killed in crash early Thursday morning in Desert Hot Springs

December 11, 2025 7:06 AM María García

Update 12/12/25 The pedestrian was identified as Marc Nolasco, 51, of Desert Hot Springs. Original Report 12/11/25 DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A pedestrian was killed in a crash in Desert Hot Springs early Thursday morning. According to police, the crash happened at around 12:15 a.m. at the intersection of Pierson Boulevard and Western

Aziz Farms Hosts Ribbon Cutting for New Outdoor Education Center

December 5, 2025 9:54 AM María García

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

Joshua Tree National Park sees surge of visitors over Thanksgiving weekend

November 28, 2025 10:18 AM María García

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. (KESQ) — Joshua Tree National Park is a popular, crowded destination during Thanksgiving weekend. Officials say to expect long lines, full campgrounds, and limited parking. The holiday season brings plenty of activity to the High Desert, and for many, that means navigating busy streets and crowds. “You can’t find parking anywhere, it’s

Woman killed in crash with farm tractor in Mecca identified

November 24, 2025 7:19 AM María García

UPDATE 11/24/2025 – The Riverside County Coroner has identified the woman killed in the crash as 58-year-old Maria Moreno de Hernandez of Mecca. MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) — A woman was killed Monday following a two-vehicle collision involving a pickup truck and a farm tractor, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash occurred just before

Renova Energy hosts “Green Day” event

November 7, 2025 6:30 PM María García

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Renova energy opened its doors to the community for their “Green Day”event. Attendees at today’s event had a chance to get an inside look of Renova’s state-of-the-art facilities, while exploring job opportunities with the company. They also learned about the company’s leadership, which includes chief operating officer, Erick Quintero. He

All Lanes Now Open After Crash on I-10 Near Cook Street

October 22, 2025 5:16 AM María García

UPDATE 10/22/2025 – 6:03 AM — All lanes are now open. THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — A traffic collision early Wednesday morning caused significant delays on the westbound I-10 near Cook Street. The collision was reported just before 4:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes near Acrisure Arena. All westbound traffic came to a complete stop,

Stories that inspire: Local restaurant owner makes his dreams come true

October 17, 2025 10:44 AM María García

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — Eduardo Brambila, born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, came to the Coachella Valley to support his family. Throughout the years, he managed to become the owner of his own restaurant, Flor de Jalisco. His passion for cooking goes back to one of the many jobs he had upon arriving to

Immigration officials warn about the use of false documentation

October 10, 2025 6:55 PM María García

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — Immigration officials have a warning about the use of false documentation. According to San Diego University, sanctuary cities like Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs, have about 14% of unauthorized immigrants living in the valley. The Consulate of San Bernardino urges the community to stop any use of false documents

Stories that inspire: Yoga teacher nourishes the bodies and souls of Coachella Valley residents

October 10, 2025 10:34 AM María García

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) — Crissy Hastings, a yoga teacher born and raised in Queens, New York, dedicates her time to teaching the community what yoga is all about. “I fell in love with the city of Coachella because being a Latina and Hispanic, I know that there’s like an opportunity to bring wellness and all

Three-Vehicle Crash Slows Eastbound I-10 Near Palm Springs

October 6, 2025 8:10 AM María García

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — A three-vehicle crash on eastbound Interstate 10 is causing delays in Palm Springs. The wreck happened just before 7:00 a.m., west of Palm Drive and Gene Autry Trail. According to early reports, two trucks, one hauling a trailer, and a white sedan were involved in the collision. The left lane