Local News

Coachella Valley Firebirds president Steve Fraser no longer working for organization

February 24, 2023 6:32 PM Blake Arthur

Steve Fraser is no longer working for Oak View Group as Firebirds team president. BREAKING: @Firebirds president Steve Fraser no longer working for organization. @oakviewgroup @KESQ @Qassignmentdesk @AcrisureArena https://t.co/aeirbvQrQ7— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) February 25, 2023 Vice President of Marketing and Communications Gina Rotolo confirmed this to Sports Director Blake Arthur on Friday night. Moments later,

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway closed Saturday due to extreme weather forecasts

February 24, 2023 7:15 PM Marian Bouchot

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will be closed Saturday “due to extreme weather forecasts.” Tram officials said they do expect to reopen on Sunday but are asking visitors to check back on their website for updates. They also said they are closing to avoid equipment malfunction and icy roads that could cause an accident. Snow at

Jury recommends death penalty for Palm Springs quadruple killer

February 23, 2023 10:15 AM Jake Ingrassia, KESQ News Team

After years of legal proceedings, a jury has sentenced convicted quadruple murderer Jose Larin Garcia to death for killing four people in Palm Springs in 2019. VERDICT: “We the jury…fix the penalty as death for the murders…”— Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) February 24, 2023 Larin Garcia fell from his feet into his chair as the death

Court of Appeals overturns decision in ‘Forever Marilyn’ statue lawsuit

February 24, 2023 2:07 PM Jesus Reyes

California’s 4th District Court of Appeals has overturned the decision to dismiss a lawsuit over the placement of the “Forever Marilyn” statue in downtown Palm Springs. The lawsuit was filed in March 2021. “Committee to Relocate Marilyn,” which was formed by a group of residents, sued the city of Palm Springs for allowing the statue

Man sentenced to 16 years, 4 month to Life for deadly Palm Springs DUI crash

February 24, 2023 6:11 PM City News Service

A Whitewater man pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for driving drunk and killing a 56-year-old man, apologizing to the family and hearing the fianceé and daughter of the decedent speak about the life that was taken from them. Austin George Jackson, 35, pleaded guilty Friday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio to

Man alleged to have cocaine arrested with Coachella teen suspected of possessing a ghost gun

February 24, 2023 5:58 PM City News Service

A 21-year-old man was arrested for allegedly being in possession of 26 grams of cocaine and a Coachella teen was arrested on suspicion of being armed with a loaded ghost gun, authorities said today. During a robbery investigation Thursday, the Thermal sheriff’s station Special Investigations Unit and the Fugitives and Warrants Enforcement Team were in

Banning camp: ‘Opportunity Village’ will be implementing new changes

February 24, 2023 6:00 PM Amber Juarez

The emergency homeless shelter will be making new changes to its rules for its participants. On Thursday, City Manager Doug Shculze, Faith in Action staff and Temporary Shelter Coordinator Jeff Platt, met with Opportunity Village Shelter participants to talk about the new changes that will be implemented. The new rules that will be implemented are residents will

Murder charged filed against Arizona woman for 2021 Yucca Valley drug overdose death

February 24, 2023 3:18 PM Jesus Reyes

Murder charges have been filed against an Arizona woman accused of providing drugs that led to an overdose death in Yucca Valley in March 2021. Alicia Hegarty, 47, was arrested in Sierra Vista, Arizona on Thursday. The charges stem from the drug overdose death of Marshall Luppke, 22, of Yucca Valley on March 14, 2021.

Snow falls on Palm Springs Aerial Tramway base station for the first time since 2018

February 23, 2023 2:55 PM Jesus Reyes

It technically snowed in Palm Springs! There was snow at the base station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for the first time in several years. The base station is the area where people park to go on the tramway to head up to the mountain. “I mean, it was unbelievable. Never seen that before

Pedestrian injured after being struck by vehicle in Indio

February 23, 2023 8:26 PM Jesus Reyes

A man was taken to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle Thursday evening in Indio. The crash happened at around 6:47 p.m. near the intersection of John Nobles Avenue and Daisy Street. Ben Guitron, spokesperson for the Indio Police Department, said the preliminary investigation revealed that the pedestrian was struck as the vehicle

Residents in the high desert prepare for more snow

February 23, 2023 2:05 PM Marian Bouchot

Residents in Yucca Valley welcomed a fresh blanket of snow Thursday with conditions expected to get worse for Friday. Pamela Fields has been living in Yucca Valley for nearly two decades, yet rarely sees heavy snowfall. “I think we’re gonna stay inside. For sure not go out on the roads,” said Fields. “This is really

A Year of Fear: Local Ukrainian residents reflect as 1 year anniversary of Russian invasion approaches

February 21, 2023 5:16 PM Samantha Lomibao

Friday marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. It’s made a big impact on millions of people worldwide, and even here in the Coachella Valley. News Channel 3’s Samantha Lomibao caught up with two local Ukrainian business owners who have been directly impacted by the war. Elena Vitkovskaya has owned Marmelad Beauty House for 3 years. Every day,

Man who assaulted Cathedral City police officer pleads guilty to two felony charges

February 23, 2023 5:48 PM City News Service

A man who sped away from Cathedral City police during a 2018 traffic stop, dragging an officer, pleaded guilty to two felony charges. Steven Flores, 36, of Cathedral City, faced five felony counts, one each of attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and resisting

AG Rob Bonta opens investigation into Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept; Bianco calls it a ‘political stunt’

February 23, 2023 1:10 PM Dailyn Simmons, Jesus Reyes

Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that a civil rights investigation is being opened into Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RSO). The investigation will determine if the agency engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional policing. “All Californians deserve fairness and respect from the institutions that serve them,” Bonta said. “When some communities don’t see or feel they

Thousands of customers remain without power in the Salton City area

February 23, 2023 12:00 PM Miyoshi Price, Jesus Reyes

Imperial Irrigation District crews continue to work to restore power to over 1,000 customers still affected by an outage caused by Tuesday’s strong winds. Tuesday’s winds knocked down 76 power poles around the area, leading to classes being canceled at two Coachella Valley Unified School District schools. A Salton City Resident was frustrated for many

Mother & daughter found with nearly 700 pounds of meth after traffic stop near Indio

February 23, 2023 4:46 PM Jesus Reyes

A mother and daughter were arrested after border patrol agents said they found them in possession of nearly 700 pounds of meth during a traffic stop on the I-10 near Indio. The arrest happened Tuesday at around 6:00 a.m. Border Patrol agents were conducting anti-smuggling operations on Interstate 10. Agents stopped two separate vehicle stops

Young duo charged in Palm Desert shooting plead not guilty

February 23, 2023 1:26 PM City News Service

A pair of young men suspected of assaulting two people in Palm Desert, one of whom suffered a gunshot wound to his face, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder today. In addition to the attempted murder charge, Cathedral City residents Jorge Arturo Morales, 18, and Jaden Xavier Garcia, 19, were each charged with one felony

Man wanted for allegedly setting partner on fire arrested in Beaumont

February 23, 2023 3:54 PM Jesus Reyes

Police have arrested a man wanted for allegedly setting his partner on fire in Beaumont earlier this month. Nicholas Norman, 38, was arrested on the 600 block of Palo Alto Avenue on Thursday afternoon, Beaumont police announced. Police said he was taken to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital for an evaluation for booking and transported to

Defense rests in penalty phase of Jose Larin Garcia’s murder trial

February 22, 2023 2:53 PM Jake Ingrassia

The defense brought its final witnesses before a jury then rested its case in the penalty phase of the murder trial for convicted quadruple killer Jose Larin Garcia. He could face the death sentence after a jury found him guilty of murdering four people in Palm Springs in February 2019. During the final testimony of

Palm Springs Black History Month Parade postponed until Sunday due to weekend storm

February 23, 2023 11:16 AM Rich Tarpening

According to the city of Palm Springs, The Black History Parade and Town Fair has been moved to Sunday, Feb. 26th to avoid anticipated rainstorm on Saturday. According to a notice sent out Thursday morning, the Palm Springs Black History Committee will not let it rain on their parade! With support from the City of