COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Coachella has a new mayor. He is expected to speak in an upcoming interview with News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson about his priorities, leadership approach and how he plans to move the city forward. Dr. Frank Figueroa was appointed mayor during Wednesday night’s city council meeting and sworn in
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — After two weekends of Coachella, country music fans are trading in flower crowns for cowboy boots as they head back to the desert for Stagecoach. With the highly anticipated festival set to kick off this weekend, many festivalgoers are preparing in more ways than one including stocking up on alcohol before
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Update 04/23/2026 8:09 a.m. Gene Autry Trail at the wash is now open. Original report: PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) –The city of Palm Springs alerts that Gene Autry is closed due to low visibility. The closure was reported before 5 a.m. as visibility dropped to unsafe levels for drivers. Authorities are urging motorists to avoid
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs City Council continued its discussions over a potential change to how the city selects its mayor. Since 2019, the city has rotated the mayor’s role each year among the five city council members. Changes then also moved the city to district council elections to avoid a lawsuit involving
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MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – A brush fire broke out in Mecca, burning 15 acres by Wednesday night. The fire was reported shortly after 9 p.m. near Lincoln Street and 70th Avenue. CAL FIRE officials said the firefight is being hampered by strong winds. One abandoned structure in the area, but the threat has been mitigated.
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cake4Kids is marking a major milestone, announcing it has supported 100,000 underserved youth nationwide through custom cakes for birthdays, graduations and adoptions. The nonprofit, which has a local chapter in the Coachella Valley, partners with volunteers and agencies to serve children and young adults in foster care, experiencing homelessness or
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COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Dr. Frank Figueroa was officially appointed the new mayor of Coachella during Wednesday’s city council meeting. Figueroa was immediately sworn in after the vote. His term will run through November, the remainder of former Mayor Steven Hernandez’s term. Figueroa’s appointment came after a nearly 30-minute discussion that got somewhat heated over
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COACHELLA, California (KESQ) – More than 100 residents attended Wednesday’s Coachella city council meeting to protest a proposed data center. News Channel 3 has followed the proposal for the past month, working to get answers on the proposed 240-acre technology campus at Avenue 52 and Filmore Street. City records show the campus could grow as
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales returned to the El Paseo Shopping District on Wednesday, continuing a beloved tradition that has brought the iconic hitch to the avenue for years. The Clydesdales unloaded and hitched at around 3:00 p.m. on the frontage road parallel to Highway 74, behind The Daily Grill. After,
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – News Channel 3 is working to get answers on the $5.9 million settlement the City of Palm Springs paid to the Section 14 Survivors Group in October 2025. Some people say they were left out or they’re disappointed in their settlement. Gregg Clayton described his reaction to a check he says was
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RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Rancho Mirage is hosting its second annual Earth Day celebration at the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory. The event is open with the public, and kicked off with a tree planting ceremony. Attendees can engage in all sorts of activities, from planting their own microgreens to creating
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A felon accused of gunning down a 41-year-old Desert Hot Springs man almost four years ago pleaded not guilty today to first-degree murder and other charges. Camillo Castillo, 28, of Desert Hot Springs, allegedly killed Jayson Jamar Green in 2022. Along with murder, Castillo is charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great
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THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – The top candidates in California’s gubernatorial election will face off on Tuesday in the CBS California Governor’s Debate. The debate will air on CBS Local 2 on Tuesday. The debate is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and is being hosted in collaboration with the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association
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ANZA, Calif. (KESQ) Howard Berkowitz says he is not an animal hoarder. But county records, a string of code violations, and his own words tell a more complicated story. KESQ News Channel 3 spoke exclusively with Berkowitz Tuesday at his current property on Cave Rock Road in Anza where he showed our cameras what he
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A 50-year-old Riverside man who sexually abused an immigrant girl and threatened or physically harmed her two brothers, over whom he had guardianship, for years was bound for state prison today to serve a term of 52 years, eight months behind bars. Mazen Aliwi Alawi was convicted by a Riverside jury
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – With the Stagecoach Festival just days away, businesses across the Coachella Valley are preparing for a surge in customers — and a significant economic boost. Shops specializing in western wear, like Boot Barn, say festival goers are already stocking up on essentials, from cowboy boots to hats and full outfits for
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation announced that it will offer an exclusive 90-minute immersive behind-the-scenes tour of the newly restored theatre. The tour will be held on Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day) at 11 a.m. Organizers said participants will have the opportunity to partake in a special guided tour
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Home sales declined in California last month while prices went up, according to the California Association of Realtors. Sales of existing, single-family homes totaled 265,320 in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, down 3.5% from February and down 2.5% from March 2025. “March home sales were subdued, as higher mortgage rates
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Veterans residing in the Coachella Valley are encouraged to attend a breakfast and a town hall meeting Friday to learn about initiatives for the veteran community. The event will begin with a free breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Indio American Legion Post, at 44-200 Sun Gold St.,
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) The Riverside County Department of Animal Services issued the following statement to News Channel 3 regarding last week’s adoption event involving 480 seized ducks from a property in Anza, in which all the animals were distributed in less than 24 hours, following concerns from animal rescue organizations. “The Riverside County Department of Animal Services took in
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