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INDIO- A man accused of being drunk when the pickup truck he was driving struck and killed a bicyclist was free on bail for an earlier DUI charge when the accident occurred, and he remains free today, police said. Arturo R. Hernandez, 64, of Indio, was driving on Highway 111 west of Madison Street around

Protecting your skin from the sun should begin at a young age. Wills Lavin, 17, says it’s an important lesson to be taught and it could save your life. Lavin spoke to a crowd of 7th graders at Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage last week. Lavin, a junior at the private school, is trying

In these tough times, school districts have to make tough decisions. “We need to make choices on what we can keep going and what we can’t,” says Jim Majchrzak, Morongo Unified School District Superintendent. Teachers, programs, and activities fit into that “can’t afford” category. Last week, Morongo Unified School District handed out 45 lay off

News Channel 3 has learned a local bank received TARP funds. TARP, or the Troubled Asset Relief Program, allows theU.S. Treasury to buy or insure billions of troubled assets. Western Community Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of El Paseo Bank. It received nearly $7.3 million from the government. And, it isn’t alone. The list

We are starting with the second push of our News Channel 3 investigation “Scientology vs. Anonymous” Thursday night at 11 on KESQ. Wednesday night, we will have the first half of our interview with former Scientology marketing director Jeff Hawkins. We will have the second half of Hawkins’ interview Thursday night at 11. Here are

PALM SPRINGS – Palm Springs International Airport officials are keeping tight control on spending in response to a decline in passenger traffic, leading to a drop in revenue, the airport’s executive director said Tuesday. “We are controlling our expenses extremely tightly in anticipation that people are flying less at the moment,” Tom Nolan said. The

Palm Springs Police is trying to find the owner of jewelry pieces that were pawned last month. According to police, the pieces, including rings, watches, bracelets, and a pair of crucifix necklaces, were pawned on February 14 and 15 by Matthew Mcleroy at Palm Springs Finest Jewely. One of the items included an ID bracelet

SANTA MONICA – San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will conduct what is being billed as a “conversation about California’s future” Tuesday night at Santa Monica High School in connection with his expected campaign for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Newsom will give a brief overview of the state’s problems, focusing on health care, the economy

RIVERSIDE – A rock climber who died in a fall in Joshua TreeNational Park in San Bernardino County was identified Monday as a 67-year-old Riverside man. Curtis Woodrow Stark II was pronounced dead at the scene of the fall around 4:40 p.m. Sunday, according to the coroner’s office in Riverside County. A second climber, 44-year-old

In an effort to keep viewers and those visiting KESQ.com informed of the progress of our News Channel 3 Investigation: “Scientology vs. Anonymous,” we’re posting online updates. Our first update will focus on the process of securing the interviews that we have to date. I have received many emails from viewers wanting to know the

PALM SPRINGS- For the first two months of 2009, the 11 airlines operating at Palm Springs International Airport served 11.9 percent fewer passengers in January and February, compared with the same period of time in 2008, officials said Monday. In February, 165,315 passengers passed through the airport, down 14.3 percent from 192,857 travelers in the

PALM SPRINGS – A former olympian and valley resident was honored today for his activism and commitment to the fight against racism. Amural was unveiled Saturdaymorning at Palm Springs High School, commemorating John Carlos’s civil rights protest at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Carlos is now a Palm Springs High School staff member. He won

PALM SPRINGS – The spring break season is underway, over the next four weeks college students across the nation will pack their bags and head to their spring break destination. Years ago, the valley was a prime spot for young spring breakers, but the scene has changed. Now local businesses are trying to revive the

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Desert Hot Springs police and residents are on alert. One neighborhood has seen an increase in violence — with 3 shooting deaths in less than 2 months. Now the search continues for the suspect who gunned down the latest victim Thursday night. In this morning’s crime alert, Eddie quezada talks to

PALM SPRINGS- Palm Springs police searched Friday for a gunman who shot a 16-year-old boy several times, inflicting wounds that the victim is expected to survive. Officers responded to a call of a shooting at a shopping center at 1751 N. Sunrise Way about 6:15 p.m. Thursday and arrived to find the teenage boy suffering

Highway 62 is clear again north of Indian Avenue following a pile-up involving 10 vehicles near Desert Hot Springs and just south of the San Bernardino County line, CHP reports. According to California Highway Patrol, the pile-up stemmed from an initial single-car crash which was reported just after 3 p.m. Acar going southbound hita side

INDIO – The criminal case against a confessed child killer accused in the kidnap-slaying of a 10-year-old Beaumont boy was suspended Friday when a Riverside County judge said he wanted two doctors to evaluate the defendant to help determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial. Joseph Edward Duncan III, 45, is accused of

On this Friday morning, pink is in. Teachers from districts across the Coachella Valley wore pink clothes and held pink signs, rallying for support before school started. Ironically, pink may also mean they are out, as in, out of a job. “It’s one of the most heart-wrenching things that we have to do,” Cahuilla Desert

Our second half of our one-on-one interview with one of Scientology’s leaders continues in Hollywood. We confront spokesman Tommy Davis with the confidential works of L. Ron Hubbard and ask why there are threats of death by pneumonia for those who read it. Nathan Baca: Somebody from the Village Voice apparently said the Church of