Local News Archives

Cathedral City assistance center opens for residents and businesses impacted by tropical storm

August 31, 2023 5:23 PM Jesus Reyes

The Riverside County Emergency Management Department, in coordination with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, county departments, local, state, and federal agencies, and other organizations, opened a three-day-only local assistance center for residents and businesses impacted by tropical storm Hilary. The center is at the Cathedral City Library, located at 33520 Date Palm Drive.

Sunnylands Center and Gardens to open Sept. 13 with new exhibition

September 5, 2023 9:13 PM City News Service

Sunnylands Center and Gardens today announced that its new exhibition, which will explore a maximalist approach to design, is set to go on display next week as the garden opens for a new season. “Variations to a Theme: William Haines at Sunnylands” will open Sept. 13, and will celebrate the influential design work of William

Missing 69-year-old Beaumont woman found safe

September 5, 2023 8:36 PM City News Service

Update 9/6/23 Pamela was located, is safe and is being reunited with her family, Beaumont Police announced. The Beaumont Police Department is asking for the community’s help in locating a 69-year-old woman missing since Tuesday morning. Pamela Ann Whalen was last seen sometime between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at her home in the 300

“We were on the road 9 hours,” local woman leaves Burning Man after mud trapped thousands

September 5, 2023 12:29 PM Jennifer Franco

Palm Springs resident and veteran burner Lani Garfield has been attending Burning Man since 2008. This was the 13th year that she made her way out to the northern Nevada desert with members of her camp to converge with tens-of-thousands of others at Black Rock City. “I love everything about Burning Man. The culture. The

City of Palm Desert inviting residents to weigh in on redistricting

September 5, 2023 11:25 AM Bianca Ventura

After residents voted in favor of ‘Measure B’ in the November 2022 election, the City of Palm Desert is drafting a five district map. Now in a first of its kind opportunity, the city is asking residents to weigh in on the new city council district lines. Palm Desert City Clerk, Anthony Mejia said, “Under

Authorities ID Escondido residents killed in Gene Autry crash during dusty conditions

September 5, 2023 12:51 PM City News Service

Authorities have identified three Escondido residents who were killed in a three-vehicle collision this weekend that might have been caused by dusty conditions and poor visibility in Palm Springs. The Riverside County coroner’s office identified them on Monday as 32- year-old Yovani Aguilera Tapia, and 29-year-olds David Losacco and Millicent Lewis. “As we prioritize the

Cathedral City man suspected in New Year’s fentanyl poisoning death to stand trial on murder

September 5, 2023 5:56 PM City News Service

A Cathedral City man suspected in the fentanyl poisoning death of a 22-year-old man on New Year’s Day last year was ordered today to stand trial on a murder charge. At the end of a preliminary hearing Tuesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, a Riverside County Superior Court judge ruled that there was

Riverside County proclaims local emergency due to flooding and leak of unknown materials in the Thermal area

September 5, 2023 2:10 PM Jesus Reyes

Riverside County proclaimed a local emergency in response to the breach of the retaining berm at the Lawson Dump Site on Torres Martinez tribal land near Thermal. The area was hit hard by a storm that struck the Coachella Valley on Friday. Flooding was reported across the Coachella Valley, but in particular Mecca, Coachella, Thermal,

CA Lawmakers, parents lead separate efforts for punishment for fentanyl dealers

September 5, 2023 3:42 PM Jesus Reyes, KESQ News Team

On Tuesday, there were two major efforts in Sacramento to fight for more criminal punishments for fentanyl dealers. One was led by parents, the other by Republican lawmakers in the State Assembly. Parents and those who lost loved ones to fentanyl held a press conference to announce a new statewide initiative specifically targeting dealers. The

Palm Springs International Airport holding Master Plan Open House on Sept. 19

September 5, 2023 1:19 PM City News Service

The Palm Springs International Airport today invited the public to its free Master Plan Open House later this month, which will allow community members to share their preferences for the airport’s future development. The open house will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. on Sept. 19 in Room Primrose CD at the Palm Springs Convention Center,

The reason behind the Coachella Valley’s poor air quality

September 5, 2023 11:14 AM Tatum Larsen

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an Air Quality Alert for the Coachella Valley due to Monday’s gusty winds. The South Coast AQMD says soil moisture, recent rainfall, humidity, forecasted winds and historical data are used to determine if an Air Quality Alert needs to be called. The South Coast AQMD says they

N. Gene Autry Trail through the wash is now open following closure after deadly crash

September 5, 2023 10:51 AM KESQ News Team

N. Gene Autry Trail between Salvia and Via Escuela is now open after being closed since September 3rd. The road was closed between Salvia and Via Escuela on September 3rd just before 3 p.m. due to a three car crash that left three people dead. Dusty conditions that caused reduced visibility played a factor in

Vista Chino reopens through wash following low visibility closure

September 3, 2023 7:27 PM KESQ News Team

The City of Palm Springs reopened East Vista Chino at the wash to traffic Tuesday morning. The same roadway was closed due to blowing sand and dust which resulted in low visibility. The City closed the roadway just before 5 p.m. Sunday. Gene Autry Trail remained closed to traffic Tuesday morning following a fatal 3-car

Labor Day travel; gusty winds and low visibility on the freeways

September 4, 2023 9:43 AM Crystal Jimenez, Miyoshi Price

Gusty winds and low visibility affected travel on the freeway Monday as visitors started their travels back home following Labor Day weekend. “It’s scary. I mean, you’ll it’ll be driving and you can’t It’s like driving in a snowstorm or something you can’t see in front of you. You are blinded basically,” said Roak Ely,

Palm Springs Police Department outlines protocol for closing wash areas after low visibility causes deadly three-car collision off North Gene Autry

September 4, 2023 12:21 PM Bianca Ventura

News Channel 3 reported yesterday that low visibility caused by wind and sand led to a three-car collision on North Gene Autry Trail at the wash. An investigation by the Palm Springs Police Department tells us that all three vehicles were traveling Northbound on Gene Autry when the collision happened. The two vehicles in front

“They haven’t been forgotten about,” local business owner donates meals to storm victims

September 4, 2023 12:11 PM Jennifer Franco

Residents continue clean-up efforts in the Panorama neighborhood of Cathedral City following Tropical Storm Hilary, and other members of the community continue to show their support for those in need. Today, Mar-Vet Fire Protection donated a Spaghetti lunch with all the trimmings to residents and workers as a token of their appreciation and support. “I

Valley-Wide Employment Expo returns on Sept. 20 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino

September 4, 2023 2:45 PM Jesus Reyes

The Valley-Wide Employment Expo returns on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The in-person hiring event takes place at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino at 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway in Indio. It’s an opportunity for job seekers to find their next career path in the Coachella Valley and for local businesses to find qualified and talented job candidates. The

Reduced visibility a factor in Palm Springs crash that left three dead

September 3, 2023 7:53 PM Marian Bouchot

Three people died in a car crash due to dusty conditions in Palm Springs Sunday afternoon. Palm Springs Police responded to the three-car crash on North Gene Autry Trail at the wash just before 3 p.m. Officials closed Gene Autry at the wash until further notice. The department said the other people involved in the

TODEC works to help East Valley residents impacted by storm

September 4, 2023 5:54 AM Crystal Jimenez

The Training Occupational Development Educating Communities Legal Center (TODEC) in Coachella has been trying to help as many East Valley residents as it can after Tropical Storm Hilary. For Glady’s Barnachia, tragedy struck not once when Tropical Storm Hilary flooded her Thermal trailer, but twice when a fire tore through it just a few days

Labor Day party setup tips post storms

September 3, 2023 5:27 PM Miyoshi Price

People are honoring American Labor workers and movements for Labor Day in many ways; a backyard party is one way valley residents celebrate. A young man says he gets to live his dream of owning a party rental business, and on holiday weekends, he sees an economic boost. Due to the past two storms, the