Update 6:20 p.m. Mayor Steven Hernandez made his first known public appearance since his arrest. Hernandez was present at Thursday’s special city council meeting. Hernandez was not present at the start of the meeting, but briefly appeared after the closed session. City officials originally told News Channel 3 that Hernandez would not be in attendance.

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

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City officially announced a celebration of life service for Councilmember Mark Carnevale, who died this past weekend. The service will be held on Monday, Dec. 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mary Pickford Theatre. It will be open to the public. “The community is invited to

Update 10:30 p.m. Reactions mixed Wednesday night as community members spoke out after Mayor Steven Hernandez missed the Coachella City Council meeting. “I think he should step down,” Stephen Nelson, attendee, said. Others said it’s too soon to draw conclusions. “I’m not going to be calling for anyone’s resignation until all the facts are in,”

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Another Democratic candidate is announcing a run for Congress in California’s newly drawn 48th Congressional District after the recent passage of Proposition 50. Palm Springs resident Marc Iannarino is a Navy veteran who believes he has what it takes to challenge long-time Republican Darrell Issa. The 48th District will be

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,

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

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

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez was arraigned Thursday morning on perjury and conflict of interest charges for alleged illicit acts connected to his decisions on projects in the city, along with other matters. A grand jury indicted Hernandez, 42, on nine criminal counts. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and is

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) — La Quinta City Councilman Steve Sanchez is running to represent the Fourth District of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Sanchez made the campaign announcement first with News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij, announcing he plans to unseat Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, who was elected Supervisor in 2018. The fourth district

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein announced his reelection bid for his District 2 seat in November 2026. Bernstein is a small business owner who was first elected to the council in 2022. He has already received several endorsements, including from the Palm Springs police officers and firefighters associations. If re-elected,

As work continues for an agreement to end the shutdown, many are asking questions. Congressman Raul Ruiz sat down for an exclusive interview with News Channel 3’s Peter Daut for a live at 4PM about what this closure means for our nation and especially right here in our desert.

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – California voters will be deciding the fate of Proposition 50 in a state-wide special election on November 4th in a little over four weeks.  And the decision could have major implications in the battle for control of Congress in next year’s mid-term elections.  It would redraw the state’s congressional districts, giving democrats

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – More than a hundred people gathered this evening at Palm Desert Civic Center Park for a candlelight prayer vigil honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Attendees held candles and signs as they reflected on Kirk’s work and the impact he had on many young conservatives. Throughout the evening, residents embraced one

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today approved amending Riverside County’s campaign finance regulations so the county superintendent of schools is required to comply with the same caps in place for other county elected officials, while also approving new requirements for so-called “intra-candidate transfers” of funds. In a 4-0 vote without comment —

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) — The California State Assembly and Senate have greenlit Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan. On Thursday, the majority-Democrat Assembly approved the plan 57-20, sending it to the Senate where it then passed 30-8. Among the no votes were District 36 Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, District 47 Assemblyman Greg Wallis and District 19 Senator

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – California officially released the first draft of redrawn congressional districts on Friday. One of the major districts that would be changed would be Rep. Ken Calvert’s. Calvert currently represents the 41st district, which covers a portion of the Coachella Valley. The proposed revision would change the district to District 48, keeping

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – We’re hearing from local Republican Congressman Ken Calvert in the wake of Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement that California will move forward with putting proposed new congressional maps on the ballot in a November special election. Check Out: First draft of California’s redrawn congressional district maps released Newsom has framed the

Watch the announcement below: Originally Published: 14 AUG 25 05:30 ETUpdated: 14 AUG 25 15:39 ETBy Arit John, CNN (CNN) — Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps in response to a Republican-led effort in Texas Thursday, setting up a standoff against a coalition of opponents. Joined by labor leaders

Six months into the Trump administration, News Channel 3 anchor John White sits down for a wide-ranging interview with local Republican Congressman Ken Calvert, asking the hard questions on important local issues. “Does ICE need to be more open about what they’re doing?” What the Congressman says on the local impacts of immigration enforcement, foreign

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Local 41st District Rep. Ken Calvert (R) is hoping President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will be passed in the Senate and House this week advancing the President’s agenda.  The bill includes an extension of the President’s first term tax cuts along with cuts in Medicaid spending to offset some of

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – As the United States’ military actions in the Middle East continue to stir debate, the ripple effects are being felt even in the Coachella Valley, where community members, including local veterans, express mixed feelings about U.S. involvement in the region. The situation, marked by increasing tensions between the U.S. and

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)- City Manager Charles McClendon announced his retirement from Cathedral City following his 11 years of service to the community.  McClendon began his tenure in March of 2014. City officials said he was the catalyst for significant growth and improvement in the community. The most significant improvements during his time as City

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Local Republican State Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez announced Wednesday the Joint Legislative Audit Committee has approved his request to consider an audit of the Coachella Valley Unified School District. “This has to do with right and wrong. And wrong is taking place and we want answers!” Gonzalez said. The announcement comes in