News Headlines

IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s a great day to get outside this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, especially as California is waiving entry fees to over 200 state parks in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. Locally in Riverside County, there are several parks participating in Monday’s free access: Anza-Borrego Desert SP (also in Imperial & San

EL DORADO PALM ESTATES, Calif. (KESQ)  – Dozens of El Dorado Palm Estates neighbors held a peaceful protest Sunday. Organizers said they’re voicing opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and the administrations push to gain control over Greenland. “It causes more damage to the image of our country,” Bill Holzhauer, attendee, said. “There’s

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Indio is preparing for a busy 2026, with several major infrastructure and community-focused projects aimed at improving quality of life for residents and supporting long-term growth. City leaders say the planned investments focus on public safety, recreation, flood control, and downtown development. One of the largest projects is the

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Community members held a protest this morning from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Highway 111 near the ARCO in Cathedral City. Organizers have been protesting outside the ARCO every Sunday since the summer. Another group will be protesting across the street, outside El Dorado Palm Estates at 2 p.m.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Art Festival has multiple weekends set for 2026, with the first being this weekend Jan 17 -18. Art will include mixed media, glass artwork, sculptures and more. The festival will be open from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m on each day and admission is free. The event

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – On Friday, officers with the Cathedral City Police Department arrested a man –accused of sexually assaulting a minor with intellectual disabilities. Investigators said the incident was reported in the early morning hours of January 1, 2026. They said the 14 year old was walking southbound on Date Palm Drive, when she

Update: 01/17 Riverside County has identified the person killed in a crash in Palm Desert on Friday morning, as 20-year-old Jamie Licht of Riverside. Original Report: 01/16 PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was killed in a traffic collision near a busy intersection in Palm Desert on Friday morning. Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 10:22

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Investigators announced an at-risk missing woman, who was last seen at her Indio home on Friday, had been found safe the next morning. She was reportedly in good physical condition after being evaluated by medical personnel. She was safely reunited with family.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Dozens of authors and thousands of readers were expected to attend the annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival. The festival is a world-class gathering of some of the biggest writers on a wide range of topics. Some of the anticipated authors included: Ken Burns, Melinda French Gates, Michael Connelly, and General David

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – An environmental group known as SAFER, Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility, is suing the city of Palm Springs over their approval of the 9-story Nexus Hotel. The hotel, which would also serve as a condominium near the Palm Springs Convention Center, was approved by the city council in November. Once

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Homeowners at a Palm Springs mobile home park claim management violated local rent control laws by failing to properly notify residents of a 2026 rent increase. Residents at Palm Springs View Estates say required written notices were not mailed in October 2025, which would have allowed the increase to take

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity Thursday in Thermal raised concerns for parents and staff near the Coachella Valley Unified School District.    There was an unconfirmed sighting of an ICE checkpoint at Avenue 70 and Harrison Street, the Coachella Valley Teachers Association said on social media Thursday. The

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) Melissa Galataud, principal of Nellie Coffman Middle School, has been named Riverside County’s Principal of the Year. The surprise announcement was made Thursday morning during a principals’ meeting at the Palm Springs Unified School District District Service Center in Palm Springs. Riverside County Superintendent Edwin Gomez presented the honor alongside district