COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ)  – Moments ago, the Coachella City Council decided to continue the search for City Manager. Councilmembers were in closed session to discuss appointing a new city manager, but once city leaders returned, officials announced there was “no reportable action from closed session.” The new mayor, Dr. Frank Figueroa, previously told News Channel

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Coachella will host a community town hall on Monday regarding the city’s Municipal Utility and the proposed data center concept. The meeting will be held on Monday, May 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Coachella Valley at 85350 Bagdad Avenue. According to a

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Registrar of Voters Office has sent 1.4 million vote-by-mail ballots for the June 2 Statewide Direct Primary Election to the U.S. Postal Service, officials announced on Monday. “The County of Riverside Registrar of Voters encourages all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming Statewide

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Beginning Tuesday and continuing to the day of the primary election, Riverside County residents interested in seeing how the Office of the Registrar of Voters processes vote-by-mail ballots and coordinates other tasks are welcome to have a look. “Election Observer Tours” start Tuesday and thereafter will be held every Tuesday and

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – With candidate changes, endorsements, and shifting polls. “There are so many top-tier candidates,” said former local Assemblyman Chad Mayes. Watch News Channel 3 this Wednesday night for in-depth “Your Vote 2026” coverage of the governor’s race. “Is that a product of an open primary?” John White asks. The remaining candidates,

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – California voters could be deciding new voter identification requirements in November. The ballot initiative has received enough signatures to appear on the November ballot. If approved, voters would be required to show a government-issued ID every time they go to the polls. Mail-in ballots would need the last-four digits of

Takeaways from the latest California governor’s debate Originally Published: 28 APR 26 22:36 ETUpdated: 28 APR 26 22:40 ETBy Arit John, CNN (CNN) — Eight candidates seeking to become California’s next governor met for an unwieldy debate Tuesday, where the candidates discussed their plans to make the state more affordable and sought to gain ground

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Dr. Frank Figueroa, Coachella’s new mayor, joined News Channel 3 live at 4:00 p.m. for an in-studio interview with Peter Daut. Figueroa was appointed on Wednesday following a contentious meeting. He was serving as the city’s mayor pro tem before. More: Dr. Frank Figueroa talks transition, priorities in first interview

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County voters will have to choose between three attorneys for their next judge, all of whom are women. The three candidates are vying for a single seat in the upcoming June election, and an upcoming judicial candidate forum in Palm Desert will help voters make their decision, hosted by

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

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

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

Jessamyn Dodd IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez (R) was recognized for his service both in uniform and in the community as he was honored as Veteran of the Year by the Calexico Baja Runners. The award recognizes his military service and continued work supporting local Veterans. Assemblymember Gonzalez, who represents California’s 36th

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Leaders of culture, justice, and law all meet at College of the Desert in Palm Desert on Thursday. The Mobius Conference is a two-day event connecting local students with those figures. At the event on Thursday is a Democratic candidate for California governor, Xavier Becerra. We asked his opinion on

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County will not be picking up the tab in the legal battle over Sheriff Chad Bianco’s ballot investigation. The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to decline to hire or pay outside counsel to defend Bianco in four lawsuits tied to his ballot seizure investigation. A county spokesperson confirmed

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