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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Investigators have identified the final unidentified victim of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as the “Happy Face Killer,” 34 years after the discovery of her body near Blythe. The woman, previously referred to by investigators as “Claudia,” was officially identified on Thursday as Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter, a 26-year-old from
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A 27-year-old man was convicted and immediately sentenced days after being arrested for waving a pistol at a motorist during a road rage confrontation in Palm Desert, then fleeing from deputies. Willard Alexander Giron Jr. of Thousand Palms was arrested Tuesday following the incident and a brief chase. He was
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Rancho Mirage, CA (KESQ)- As Labor Day weekend approaches, Walter Clark Legal Group is encouraging Southern California residents to make responsible transportation choices after celebrating with friends and family. The personal injury law firm is once again offering its Safe Ride Home Program, which reimburses eligible participants for the cost of a cab or rideshare when
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – As automated license plate readers continue to face scrutiny locally and nationwide, a Rancho Mirage resident says an official notice from the California Highway Patrol linked him to a vehicle he has never owned. Michael Harrington said he received a CHP notice involving a 2024 BMW registered in Colorado. According
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs City Council members unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data center projects Wednesday night. The 45-day pause gives the city time to study the potential impacts of the facilities before deciding whether additional regulations are needed. During public comment, several residents spoke in favor of the
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LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Hundreds gathered in La Quinta Wednesday night to honor local fallen Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez and the 12 other U.S. service members killed in the Kabul airport attack five years ago. (Top row left to right) Maxton Soviak, Kareem Nikoui, David Espinoza, Rylee McCollum, Jared Schmitz, Taylor Hoover, Nicole Gee
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IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KESQ) – Tucked into the mountains of Idyllwild is a piece of Dolly Parton’s life that has remained largely untouched – down to the furniture, photographs, dishes and even bottles of Coca-Cola still sitting inside the refrigerators. Following Parton’s passing, the current owners of her former mountain home say they are thinking more
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COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella City Council passed an ordinance that would permanently ban on data centers in the city, with some exemptions. The ordinance will go into effect 30 days after Wednesday’s vote. Coachella is now the first city in the Coachella Valley to enact a permanent prohibition, although officials in Indio,
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THOUSAND PALMS, CALIF. (KESQ)- COVID-19 activity is increasing nationally as infections are growing or likely growing in 47 states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The surge aligns with federal health research identifying a recurring pattern of two distinct COVID-19 peaks each year. Unlike influenza, which primarily surges during the
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VAN NUYS, Calif. (KESQ) – Criminal proceedings were suspended today after a doubt was declared about the mental competency of a model and social media influencer charged with six felony counts, including burglary and grand theft, involving alleged victims she met through dating apps. Adva Lavie, 29, is due in at the Mental Health Courthouse
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CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – Update: 08/26 A man accused of fatally shooting an acquaintance and burying his remains near Interstate 10 in Cabazon has been charged with first-degree murder and other offenses. Jesse Bruce Kennedy, 48, of Cabazon, made his initial court appearance this afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. Investigators with the
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — This year, the Love Fund has spent $35,244 on specialized medical procedures and surgeries at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. But every day, new animals come into the shelter in need of medical procedures. With increasing veterinary costs and animals arriving at the shelter at any given moment, the fund
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – College of the Desert trustee Rubén AríAztlán Pérez pleaded guilty to DUI charges earlier this week and received 60 months of probation. Pérez, 33, reached a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. On Monday, he pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence BAC .08 or Higher
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A federal jury today found that the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department bore some responsibility for the death of a 29-year-old Beaumont man who suffered fentanyl poisoning in jail while awaiting trial for attempted murder, recommending that the dead man’s family receive millions for their loss. “After a week of trial, a
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BERMUDA DUNES, CA (KESQ) – A Bermuda Dunes man was arrested after a multi-agency effort was initiated following a tip that the person possessed videos and images of child sexual abuse material. Indio Police say on June 10, 2025, a CyberTip was received from social media platform Kik regarding a user suspected of possessing multiple
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A Riverside County judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring the county and Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco to preserve records from the November 2024 general election and the November 2025 Proposition 50 special election.
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PALM SPRINGS, CA (KESQ)- The Palm Springs Cultural Center will host two free community tribute screenings to celebrate Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. The Cultural Center says this September, they’re opening the doors of the Historic Camelot Theatre for two evenings to come together and celebrate Dolly Parton and Tim Curry—two singular performers who brought
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PALM DESERT (KESQ) – A Palm Desert man was arrested Monday after allegedly assaulting a contractor who was working to replace a vandalized license plate reader camera and threatening him with a knife, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The incident was reported at about 10:25 a.m. on August 24 near Monterey Avenue and
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Big changes are coming to the Ramon Road Bridge, but concerns are growing over the impacts of a long construction project. The Ramon Road Bridge is set to be widened from a 4-lane bridge to a 6-lane bridge, with 3 lanes flowing in each direction. The goal is to reduce
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — As college students return to campus for a new semester, tuition is only one piece of the financial pressure many are facing. The costs of food, housing and other everyday necessities are increasingly part of the equation for students trying to earn a degree. At College of the Desert, the
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