News Archives

Dr. Tulika Singh discusses the importance of plasma donations from those recovered from coronavirus

July 17, 2020 11:38 PM Justin Tarpening

Trina Gonzales-Alesi, President of the Desert Sands Teachers Association, discusses the Governor’s decision on when schools should open

July 17, 2020 11:37 PM Justin Tarpening

Rep John Lewis dies at 80

July 17, 2020 8:47 PM Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a lion of the civil rights movement whose bloody beating by Alabama state troopers in 1965 helped galvanize opposition to racial segregation, and who went on to a long and celebrated career in Congress, died. He was 80. Lewis’ death was confirmed by a House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Local restaurant owners take action as they struggle to stay open

July 17, 2020 10:44 AM Dani Romero

As the pandemic continues to impact businesses here in our valley, local restaurant owners are taking action as they struggle to keep their doors open. “It’s been very difficult being a family business,” said David Gomez, manager at La Bonita’s Mexican restaurant. “We got three to four families that depend on everything right here” La Bonita’s

Coachella Valley schools weigh in on Gov. Newsom’s new school guidelines

July 17, 2020 11:51 AM Shelby Nelson

On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom released strict guidelines to reopen schools and ordered counties on the state’s monitoring list, which includes Riverside County, to keep classrooms closed and start the new school year with distance-learning programs. The valley’s three school districts already planned on starting the school year digitally. With Palm Springs Unified School District

US Military arrives at Eisenhower Health to help with staffing shortages

July 16, 2020 7:18 PM Shelby Nelson

On Thursday afternoon a team of 21 U.S. Air Force medical personnel arrived at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage to assist with the hospital’s staffing shortages. Some of the team members were dressed in uniform, and others in plain clothes as they entered the hospital doors. “Their primary mission is to support the COVID response,”

Indio Senior Center gives away 500 senior care packages

July 17, 2020 6:18 PM KESQ News Team

500 local seniors received care packages Friday morning at the Indio Senior Center. The packages included food, water, face masks, hand sanitizers, and sunscreen. Organizers said the event is great for the senior community. “We miss them here at our Indio Senior Center for sure and some of them are stuck at home so to

Missing 12-year-old girl possibly spotted in Coachella Valley

July 17, 2020 5:09 PM City News Service

A 12-year-old girl who ran away from a group home in Calimesa more than two months ago may have been spotted in the Coachella Valley this week, authorities said today. Witnesses reported seeing a girl matching the description of Genevieve “Lexi” Brinson on Tuesday in a commercial area in the 72000 block of Varner Road,

Previously evacuated nursing facility in Riverside reopens to patients

July 17, 2020 3:32 PM Jesus Reyes

The Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Riverside has reopened its doors. This comes a little over three months after more than 80 patients were forced to evacuate it when most of the staff failed to show up. Shortly after the evacuation, officials confirmed there were 34 known coronavirus cases found among the residents and

Riverside County reports 518 new cases; Steep decrease in hospitalizations at Eisenhower Health

July 17, 2020 2:28 PM Jesus Reyes

CASES IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY On Friday, the county reported 518 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total up to 28,695. Download the News Channel 3 app to get the latest local coronavirus data and updates. The app is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. Over 307,617 tests have been conducted so far.

Gov. Newsom lays out strict criteria for reopening schools

July 16, 2020 8:01 PM Jesus Reyes, City News Service

Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all school campuses to remain closed when the new school year begins in counties on the state’s monitoring list due to spiking coronavirus cases — including Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties. The order means districts in 32 counties will start the new school year with distance-learning programs. All

Victim in Desert Hot Springs double shooting dies; Teen charged with homicide

July 17, 2020 1:16 PM Jesus Reyes

The Desert Hot Springs Police Department is now investigating a double shooting from earlier this week as a homicide after one of the victims succumbed to his injuries. The shooting happened Tuesday at around 11:54 p.m. in the area of Santa Cruz Road and West Drive. Officers arrived at the scene and found two victims

OPEN 4 BIZ: Sakura Bed and Breakfast struggles during pandemic

July 17, 2020 8:15 PM Angela Chen

The coronavirus pandemic has been brutal to many businesses, especially local hotels and inns. In a typical year, the summer months can be a financial drain, with the heat keeping visitors away and ongoing maintenance upkeep. The financial pain has only been amplified by the coronavirus effects, which is what one Palm Springs inn keeper

Marti Alter, owner of Phenix Salon Suites, discusses difficulties business owners are having to facing to survive financially

July 17, 2020 12:08 AM Justin Tarpening

CVUSD votes students will start school with distance learning from home

July 16, 2020 5:19 PM Jake Ingrassia

The heated debate around valley children’s school year continued Thursday evening – as the Coachella Valley Unified School District board decided students will start the year using distance learning at home. The start of CVUSD’s school year is approaching on August 13. Coachella Valley Unified is the third and final district to decide not to

$34 Thousand Dollars Worth of Meth Found in Drug Smuggler's Backpack

More than $34,000 worth of meth found in drug smuggler’s backpack

July 16, 2020 6:00 PM Kylie Miller

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a drug smuggler Thursday morning near the Calexico Border. When federal agents searched the man’s backpack, they found 15 cellophane-wrapped packages inside. The substance inside the packages later tested positive for methamphetamine. The combined weight of the drugs was 15.2 pounds and the estimated street value was $34,200. The incident

Coachella Valley farmers changing crops and operations due to pandemic

July 14, 2020 7:20 PM Jeff Stahl

Your grocery store produce aisle may look different this fall and winter when our Coachella Valley summer crops are harvested. The fields are being planted right now. But local farmers, like the rest of us, are having to make major changes to their operations just to stay in business. Jeff Percy of Ocean Mist Farms

Assemblyman Mayes shares thoughts on how pandemic has been handled

July 16, 2020 8:44 PM Jesus Reyes, Peter Daut

State Assemblyman Chad Mayes (I-Yucca Valley) says it is possible there could soon be even more restrictions and so he’s now looking at ways to help small businesses survive. He joined News Channel 3’s Peter Daut during our 6:30 p.m. show on Fox 11 and CBS Local 2 to discuss the pandemic and what he

Rally in Palm Desert calls for supporting police, recall Governor Newsom

July 16, 2020 2:06 PM Dani Romero

As protests across the country have grown, protestors here in our valley are showing their support for police. Today, residents gathered in Palm Desert for a “Pro-Police, Pro-America Rally & Recall Gavin Petition Signing Party & Potluck Dinner.” Ralliers gathered on the corner of Highway 111 and San Luis Rey starting at 6 p.m.. A

Mosquito spraying set for parts of Coachella Valley through September

July 16, 2020 3:12 PM City News Service

With potentially deadly mosquito-borne viruses continuing to be detected in the Coachella Valley, vector control officials today announced additional pesticide spraying beginning this weekend and continuing into the fall. Spraying will occur on weekend mornings in Palm Desert and La Quinta through Sept. 13, from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., except for one Sunday in