Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez is facing a nine-count grand jury indictment alleging conflict-of-interest violations and perjury tied to city actions and financial disclosure forms, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

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

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs officials were seeking residents today to apply for vacancies on numerous boards and commissions to help shape city policies and issues. The application period runs through April 30, and appointments will be made in June.   Applicants may apply to be on the following boards and commissions:   — administrative

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

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Following a weekend of strikes in Iran by the U.S. and Israel, both Coachella Valley congressmen have reacted, on opposing sides of the aisle. Republican Ken Calvert (CA-41) issued a statement reading: “Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iranian regime is the head of the snake that is responsible for killing thousands

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Saving at the gas pump. Some state lawmakers introduced a bill to temporarily suspend California’s gas tax. Local Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez was among those leading the effort during a news conference in Sacramento on Tuesday. Lawmakers calling for immediate relief, they say, as California drivers pay among the highest gas prices

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

Feb 11th Update: At the Wednesday night Cathedral City Council meeting by a unanimous vote the council approved the five year contract for Andrew Firestine as its new city manager.   (Original Story)  CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – After an extensive nationwide search, Cathedral City is set to hire Andrew Firestine as its new city

ADELANTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Congressman Raul Ruiz visited the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Wednesday morning. After about an hour, he was ultimately denied from entering. This comes after a previous denial of entry in July 2025 and recent ICE operations facing public scrutiny. “We have been continuing to hear reports of

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

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The controversial statue of former Palm Springs mayor Frank Bogert will remain in storage after the city council voided a recent decision by the Art Commission on its new location. The decision came in a closed session meeting. City Attorney Jeffrey Ballinger said the commission’s vote is considered void as

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

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The new chair of the Board of Supervisors vowed today to “look ahead to the future” in prioritizing objectives for Riverside County over the next 12 months, emphasizing the importance of “fiscal transparency” and responsiveness to residents’ needs. “We can’t just look at today; we have to think about tomorrow,” Board

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Hours of testimony and debate after a proposal for the city to not recognize Pride Month, including the display of a Pride banner at City Hall. Councilmembers ultimately voted 4-1 to reject the proposal, introduced by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto. A day after the meeting, the dust continues to

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Kimberly Barraza was appointed the new president of the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board. “It is an exciting time for the Healthcare District, as we enter 2026 and continue our strategic planning process which will help determine our Board and staff priorities for the next several years,” Christensen said.

The Palm Desert City Council voted 4-1 today to reject Councilman Joe Pradetto’s proposal for the city to stop recognizing Pride Month. Pradetto’s proposal would also have the city no longer display a Pride banner at City Hall. Mayor Evan Trubee and Councilmembers Karina Quintanilla, Gina Nestande and Jan Harnik voted against Pradetto’s proposal Tuesday

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The LGBTQ community is voicing strong opposition to a proposal introduced by Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto. During a Palm Desert City Council meeting on Thursday, Pradetto proposed that the city stop recognizing Pride Month. The proposal would include no longer displaying a Pride banner at City Hall.

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City discussed several items in its first city council meeting since the death of Councilmember Mark Carnevale in November. Councilmember started with a moment of silence before discussing their grief over Carnevale’s death. The city council voted to appoint his replacement in District 3. The city will accept candidate

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

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation board will conduct interviews next month to appoint a replacement for Director Arthur Shorr. Shorr announced his resignation earlier this month, but it officially went into effect on Sunday. The Board has 60 days — until Jan. 29, 2026 — to appoint or call

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 last month. 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 join

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,”