PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A town hall hosted by Congressional representative and gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell, scheduled for Thursday in Palm Desert, was canceled. News Channel 3 was given late notice that the event was canceled due to illness. Representative Dr. Raul Ruiz was set to join Swalwell, a democrat who is leading in

Update – 4/8/26 The city council discussed its options on how to fill the vacant mayoral position, revealing divided opinions from the four person council. Councilmember Stephanie Virgen suggested that Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Frank Figueroa fill the position for the remaining six months of the term and appoint a replacement on the city council.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – The California Supreme Court has ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to pause his investigation into the November 2025 Proposition 50 special election. On Wednesday, a formal stay was granted against Bianco’s ballot investigation. The CA Supreme Court has kicked this back to the appellate court.  California Attorney General Rob Bonta

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Jeff L. Grubbe will return to the role of tribal chairman for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The tribe released the results of its March 17 annual election on Tuesday, when the results were certified. Tribal Council Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe was elected to a full two-year term in office. Tribal

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs City Council will discuss the possibility of altering the city’s mayoral selection process during Wednesday’s council meeting. The agenda item comes as some residents are pushing for a ballot measure that would establish a directly elected, at-large mayor and provide for a November 2026 election to fill

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – President Donald Trump is weighing in on the upcoming California gubernatorial race as we approach the primaries in June. After a weekend debate between the top two republicans in the race in Rancho Mirage, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton, Trump endorsed Hilton.  Check

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – President Donald Trump has endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton for California governor. He wrote in a post on Truth Social, “I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years. He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is pressing his case in court to stop Sheriff Chad Bianco’s investigation into the November 2025 special election, while Bianco is seeking the appointment of a special master to oversee the investigation.

UPDATE 3/29: RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Sheriff Chad Bianco’s investigation of the 2025 Prop 50 special election has been put on hold, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. In a statement to News Channel 3, Bianco’s office said, “We are on hold because of the politically motivated lawsuits and court filings.” According to Robert

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) — Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton made a stop in the Coachella Valley Friday morning, speaking directly with local business leaders about the issues shaping the state. The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a legislative breakfast at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa as part of its ongoing speaker series

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Steven Hernandez is now also out as chief of staff for Supervisor Manuel Perez, a day after Coachella’s ex-mayor pleaded guilty to a conflict of interest charge. “Steven Hernandez no longer working for the County of Riverside. Supervisor Perez terminated his employment today,” reads a message from Darin Schemmer, Perez’s communications

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Members of the Coachella City Council were in the process today of identifying suitable candidates to fill the mayor’s seat following the resignation of ex-Mayor Steven Andrew Hernandez, who admitted perpetrating a felony. “While an unfortunate situation for the people involved, the council and city staff remain committed to providing the

Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez is facing a nine-count grand jury indictment alleging conflict-of-interest violations and perjury tied to city actions and financial disclosure forms, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Original Report 3/24/26 – 5:30 p.m. California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal has denied AG Rob Bonta’s request to try to halt Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s investigation into the November 2025 special election Original Report 3/24/26 – 10:30 a.m. INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has gone to court to try

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs officials were seeking residents today to apply for vacancies on numerous boards and commissions to help shape city policies and issues. The application period runs through April 30, and appointments will be made in June.   Applicants may apply to be on the following boards and commissions:   — administrative

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The signatures of well over 100,000 Riverside County voters who added their names to a petition calling for a statewide ballot initiative that would require identification before voting in California were submitted to the county Office of the Registrar of Voters today.   “Our democracy relies on confidence in our elections, but

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Following a weekend of strikes in Iran by the U.S. and Israel, both Coachella Valley congressmen have reacted, on opposing sides of the aisle. Republican Ken Calvert (CA-41) issued a statement reading: “Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iranian regime is the head of the snake that is responsible for killing thousands

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Saving at the gas pump. Some state lawmakers introduced a bill to temporarily suspend California’s gas tax. Local Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez was among those leading the effort during a news conference in Sacramento on Tuesday. Lawmakers calling for immediate relief, they say, as California drivers pay among the highest gas prices

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs city leadership is considering a switch back to directly electing a mayor, if approved by voters. Since 2019, the city has rotated mayors every year from 5 elected city council members, after threat of a hefty lawsuit due to a lack of Latino representation. The current mayor is

Feb 11th Update: At the Wednesday night Cathedral City Council meeting by a unanimous vote the council approved the five year contract for Andrew Firestine as its new city manager.   (Original Story)  CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – After an extensive nationwide search, Cathedral City is set to hire Andrew Firestine as its new city

ADELANTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Congressman Raul Ruiz visited the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Wednesday morning. After about an hour, he was ultimately denied from entering. This comes after a previous denial of entry in July 2025 and recent ICE operations facing public scrutiny. “We have been continuing to hear reports of

WASHINGTON D.C. (KESQ) – The House passed all 12 appropriations bills ahead of the January 30 government funding deadline, passing the four final bills on Thursday.  It includes “The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill” which local Republican Congressman Ken Calvert says contained more than $67 million for our 41st Congressional District water and

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The controversial statue of former Palm Springs mayor Frank Bogert will remain in storage after the city council voided a recent decision by the Art Commission on its new location. The decision came in a closed session meeting. City Attorney Jeffrey Ballinger said the commission’s vote is considered void as

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – A three-judge panel in Los Angeles federal court today ruled against California Republicans in their bid to nullify the new congressional map California voters approved in November. In their lawsuit, filed one day after California voters approved Proposition 50, Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, the California Republican Party and a group of