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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The new chair of the Board of Supervisors vowed today to “look ahead to the future” in prioritizing objectives for Riverside County over the next 12 months, emphasizing the importance of “fiscal transparency” and responsiveness to residents’ needs. “We can’t just look at today; we have to think about tomorrow,” Board
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Hours of testimony and debate after a proposal for the city to not recognize Pride Month, including the display of a Pride banner at City Hall. Councilmembers ultimately voted 4-1 to reject the proposal, introduced by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto. A day after the meeting, the dust continues to
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Kimberly Barraza was appointed the new president of the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board. “It is an exciting time for the Healthcare District, as we enter 2026 and continue our strategic planning process which will help determine our Board and staff priorities for the next several years,” Christensen said.
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The Palm Desert City Council voted 4-1 today to reject Councilman Joe Pradetto’s proposal for the city to stop recognizing Pride Month. Pradetto’s proposal would also have the city no longer display a Pride banner at City Hall. Mayor Evan Trubee and Councilmembers Karina Quintanilla, Gina Nestande and Jan Harnik voted against Pradetto’s proposal Tuesday
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The LGBTQ community is voicing strong opposition to a proposal introduced by Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto. During a Palm Desert City Council meeting on Thursday, Pradetto proposed that the city stop recognizing Pride Month. The proposal would include no longer displaying a Pride banner at City Hall.
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City discussed several items in its first city council meeting since the death of Councilmember Mark Carnevale in November. Councilmember started with a moment of silence before discussing their grief over Carnevale’s death. The city council voted to appoint his replacement in District 3. The city will accept candidate
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs City Councilmember Naomi Soto was officially sworn in as the city’s new mayor on Wednesday. Soto was sworn in during Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Soto, a health-care executive, was elected in November 2024 to represent District 4. She will serve for one term in the rotating position, with
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation board will conduct interviews next month to appoint a replacement for Director Arthur Shorr. Shorr announced his resignation earlier this month, but it officially went into effect on Sunday. The Board has 60 days — until Jan. 29, 2026 — to appoint or call
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Update 6:20 p.m. Mayor Steven Hernandez made his first known public appearance since his arrest. Hernandez was present at Thursday’s special city council meeting. Hernandez was not present at the start of the meeting, but briefly appeared after the closed session. City officials originally told News Channel 3 that Hernandez would not be in attendance.
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RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Councilmember Lynn Mallotto was sworn in as the new mayor of Rancho Mirage. Mallotto will serve as Rancho Mirage mayor until Nov. 2026. The city rotates the position between councilmembers every year. Councilmember Michael O’Keefe was also sworn in as Mayor Pro Tem. He is set to serve as mayor
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City officially announced a celebration of life service for Councilmember Mark Carnevale, who died last month. The service will be held on Monday, Dec. 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mary Pickford Theatre. It will be open to the public. “The community is invited to join
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Update 10:30 p.m. Reactions mixed Wednesday night as community members spoke out after Mayor Steven Hernandez missed the Coachella City Council meeting. “I think he should step down,” Stephen Nelson, attendee, said. Others said it’s too soon to draw conclusions. “I’m not going to be calling for anyone’s resignation until all the facts are in,”
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Another Democratic candidate is announcing a run for Congress in California’s newly drawn 48th Congressional District after the recent passage of Proposition 50. Palm Springs resident Marc Iannarino is a Navy veteran who believes he has what it takes to challenge long-time Republican Darrell Issa. The 48th District will be
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – One day after California voters approved Proposition 50, redrawing the state’s congressional district lines to boost Democratic representation in Washington, state Republicans filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles today challenging the constitutionality of the measure. Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, the California Republican Party, and 18 district voters brought the lawsuit,
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