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Increased permit fees for Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area in effect October 1st

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) – Off-roaders and RV enthusiasts will be paying more for recreation at Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) for the 2025 season, starting October 1st. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fees are for primary, street-legal vehicles used for transportation to ISDRA. The adjusted permit fees are: $55 for off-site weekly permits $70

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EXCLUSIVE: First look at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church after months-long renovation

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church is reopening to the public after a long-awaited renovation over the summer. Church officials say they’ve spent the past year fundraising and contributing nearly $4 million to their endowment fund for the renovations. “We got a very large, single gift for our endowment. Now that we’ve

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Two men arrested, out on bail in connection with seizure of illegal marijuana in Thousand Palms

UPDATE: 9/19/2025 THOUSAND PALMS (CNS, KESQ News Team) – Two men suspected of illegally cultivating marijuana in Thousand Palms are out on bail Friday. Riverside County Sheriff’s officials say the two suspects were arrested and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on Thursday on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation and sale or transportation

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IID crews at work to restore power to thousands in El Centro and Calexico areas after Thursday’s storm

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) – Thousands of Imperial Irrigation customers in Imperial County remained without power on Friday after the tail end of Tropical Storm Mario blew through the area Thursday. According to IID’s website page for power outage information, a little over 2,800 customers were still affected late Friday afternoon, some losing power as

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Palm Springs hosts POW/MIA flag-raising ceremony in front of city hall

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Palm Springs hosted a POW/MIA flag-raising ceremony on Friday, Sept morning in front of City Hall in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Mayor Ron deHarte, City Councilmembers, Police Chief Andy Mills, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio), and members of American Legion Post 519 took part in the ceremony. The POW/MIA flag will be flown at all City buildings

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Jobless rate declines slightly in Riverside County

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (CNS) – Payroll gains overcame losses last month across the regional economy, pushing Riverside County’s unemployment rate slightly lower, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department (EDD). The countywide jobless rate in August, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 6.3%, compared to 6.5% in July. According to figures, the

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Valley-wide homicides down for 2025 so far, what are local departments doing to keep numbers down?

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — Since last weeks homicide in Palm Springs, there have been 15 recorded homicides throughout the Coachella Valley for 2025. That number is right below 2024’s count of 16 homicides. Around September of 2024, the number was also hovering around 15 homicides Valley-wide. For cities like Palm Springs, their homicide numbers

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Thunderstorms trigger mud, debris flows on roads in mountain communities

IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KESQ) – Downpours triggered by thunderstorms rolling through the San Bernardino National Forest today triggered flash floods, mudslides and other hazards around Idyllwild and surrounding mountain communities.    The inclement weather gained momentum early Thursday afternoon, originating from the Santa Rosa Mountains and farther south and east in San Diego and Imperial counties,

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