COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Coachella is set to discuss the next steps to fill its vacant mayor position next week. The topic is on the agenda list for Wednesday’s city council meeting, which starts at 5:00 p.m. According to the staff report, the council can either appoint someone to the position within the 60-day period,
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta is pressing his case in court to stop Sheriff Chad Bianco’s investigation into the November 2025 special election, while Bianco is seeking the appointment of a special master to oversee the investigation.
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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) — Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton made a stop in the Coachella Valley Friday morning, speaking directly with local business leaders about the issues shaping the state. The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a legislative breakfast at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa as part of its ongoing speaker series
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Original Report 3/24/26 – 5:30 p.m. California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal has denied AG Rob Bonta’s request to try to halt Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s investigation into the November 2025 special election Original Report 3/24/26 – 10:30 a.m. INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has gone to court to try
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The signatures of well over 100,000 Riverside County voters who added their names to a petition calling for a statewide ballot initiative that would require identification before voting in California were submitted to the county Office of the Registrar of Voters today. “Our democracy relies on confidence in our elections, but
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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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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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LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – The California Republican Party and others today filed an emergency application at the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to block California from using the congressional district lines enacted through Proposition 50 for the 2026 midterm elections. The emergency application in Tangipa v. Newsom asks Justice Elena Kagan, the justice assigned to the
Continue Reading 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
Continue Reading LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – A three-judge panel in downtown Los Angeles today began hearing arguments in a lawsuit challenging California’s new congressional district maps, which were drawn to help more Democrats win future elections. The suit asks the panel to grant a temporary restraining order blocking the newly drawn district lines by Friday — the
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert is kicking off her districtwide listening tour in Palm Springs today, appearing with U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer as she campaigns for California’s 48th Congressional District. Von Wilpert, a Democrat and former labor lawyer, is holding a media availability at 12:45 p.m. at Lulu California Bistro
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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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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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By Arit John, CNN (CNN) — Tom Steyer, the billionaire Democratic activist and former presidential candidate, became the latest contender Wednesday in the race to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Steyer launched his campaign around the theme of affordability, echoing messaging that helped Democratic candidates win key races earlier this month, and taking on corporations.
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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) — The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC) hosted a Legislative Breakfast featuring California gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco as part of its Legislative Breakfast Series. The program offered chamber members and guests an opportunity to hear directly from candidates in the upcoming governor’s race, with questions focused on issues affecting
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By Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Democrats’ sweeping election victory on Tuesday, including the approval of a redistricting ballot measure in his state, “represents a new moment” for the Democratic Party as it debates its path forward. “Clarity, conviction, purpose, energy. On our toes, not on our heels. A resurgent
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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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CORONA, Calif. (KESQ) – Local Congressman Ken Calvert confirmed he will be running for the new 40th District, one day after Prop 50 passed. Calvert released a statement Wednesday: “Californians in the newly drawn 40th District deserve a proven conservative they can trust and a fighter who has delivered results for Riverside and Orange County
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COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – California voters today approved Proposition 50, the statewide congressional redistricting proposal. By 10 p.m., the proposition had nearly 65% of the vote. Live Coverage from ABC News: 9:00 p.m. President Donald Trump reacted to today’s election results with a short post on Truth Social. Earlier this morning, Trump threatened legal
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RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Passion coming from residents across the Coachella Valley as many learn the fate of Proposition 50. The measure – passing Tuesday night. Some calling the result a win for California, others saying it misses the mark. “We’re just giving more power to our elected officials,” Johnny Coladonato, Palm Springs resident said.
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