CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Residents in the Verano Neighborhood in Cathedral City are dealing with mass sand accumulation after three to four weeks of strong winds in the Valley. The north end of the neighborhood faces and unconstructed area of sand, which is easily picked up in high winds. Residents say the fences that
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Update – 5/1/25 Stephen Spurlock worked as a guest teacher/certificated specialist in the Desert Sands Unified School District, officials confirmed to News Channel 3. This is before his tenure at Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage. Spurlock served continuously as a guest teacher/certificated specialist at DSUSD from August 2013 to June 2022, records show. Spurlock was
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MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – A theft in Mecca led to two schools being placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were serving a search warrant related to a theft in the 65000 block of Dale Kiler Road. “Prior to the service of the warrant, four subjects left the location
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Update – 5/1/25 After numerous years of delays, the bribery case involving former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet and developer John Wessman will go to trial. Jury selection is set to get underway on May 6 at the Banning Justice Center. News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle spoke with Pougnet. We’ll have the latest on the
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – In an effort to combat dangerous wildfires as temperatures start to rise, beginning Thursday, May 1 through July 31, the Palm Springs Fire Department will begin annual brush removal of 87 acres that cover 27 potential wildfires zones, determined by a recent Cal Fire fire hazard severity map. Removal started in the
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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indian Wells Tennis Garden and Desert Paws Sanctuary are teaming up to host a pet adoption event on Saturday, May 3. Organizers said the event will give Coachella Valley residents a chance to meet rescue animals looking for a home. Event attendees are encouraged to bring supplies to the
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) announced Monday that AB 1145, also known as Tristin’s Bill, passed out of the Assembly Transportation Committee with bipartisan support, and is moving on to the Appropriations Committee. The bill is now one step closer to becoming law and bringing much-needed safety oversight to dangerous mountain highways
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Update 4/30/25 Jeff Sperbeck has died, according to the coroner’s office. Sperbeck was pronounced dead Tuesday just after 1 a.m. at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. Elway was reportedly driving the golf cart at the time of the accident, witnesses told News Channel 3 Sports Director Blake Arthur. Elway released a statement after
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LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – La Quinta and other Coachella Valley leaders gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the long awaited Dune Palms bridge, which runs across the wash and connects La Quinta High School to Highway 111. The project took more than two years to complete, with delays due to Tropical
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Update – 4/30/25 Police announced that a shooting that left a woman and her five-year-old son in critical condition stemmed from an altercation between two men. The victims were in a pickup truck driven by Jesus Delarosa, 25, police said. Delarosa stopped at the residence of Ricardo Mercado, 29. During the meeting, Delarosa got into
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The owner of La Quinta’s first food truck park says the endeavor is a major success, but the project is running on borrowed time. It’s a story that News Channel Three has been following for almost a year now, a piece of land near Old Town La Quinta that remained an empty gravel lot for
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – Jeff Sperbeck, longtime agent for NFL legend John Elway, was pronounced dead on Tuesday according to the coroner’s office. Now, News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson is looking into just how safe these vehicles are—and what rules are in place to prevent future tragedies. According to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study, approximately
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RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A private school teacher is facing multiple child sex charges after being arrested at his Yucca Valley home on Tuesday. While the teacher, 43-year-old Stephen Spurlock, has not been convicted, events like his arrest can be a difficult topic to navigate for parents and their children. “It’s hard because then
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BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – The defense rested today, setting the stage for closing arguments, in the trial of an 82-year-old man accused of fatally bludgeoning a senior who had invited him to stay at her and her husband’s Palm Springs home. Stephen Roy McKernan allegedly killed 75-year-old Claire Carsman in 2019. McKernan is charged
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A Cathedral City man was arrested after being accused of tossing a trash bag with five kittens, who were later found dead in someone’s backyard. The crime was first reported Tuesday after 2:00 p.m. on the 32300 block of Aurora Vista Road. A resident called police and said they found
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LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – The Los Angeles City Council today instructed the City Attorney to explore potential legal action against Southern California Edison over the Hurst Fire, which burned nearly 800 acres in the Sylmar area earlier this year. In a unanimous vote, council members approved a motion introduced April 2 by Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Summer Pass returns on May 1. Summer Passes are valid May 1 through August 31, 2025. The Summer Pass includes unlimited Tram admissions for the passholder, a 10% discount on additional Tram admissions (limit 4), a 10% discount at Peaks Restaurant and Pines Café, and free
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Wearing jeans with a purpose. Denim Day is recognized on the last Wednesday of April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. College of the Desert’s Office of Student life is partnering with Partners Against Violence to bring awareness to Denim Day and sexual violence prevention. During the awareness day, people wear
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Arrests were up for the 2025 Stagecoach Music Festival compared to last year, according to data released by the Indio Police Department on Tuesday. There were 151 total arrests during the 3-day festival this year, marking an increase of 20% over the 124 arrests made in 2024 – and a much
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Michael J. Ditoro, PharmD., has been named CEO for Desert Regional Medical Center. Ditoro joined Desert Regional as Chief Operating Officer in 2018 and was promoted to Chief Administrative Officer in 2022. Previously he served as CEO of Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park, Illinois. Michele Finney will remain Group CEO
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