Update – 2/3/26: Jorge Andres Huerta Arias was cleared of all charges, the jury ruled. Original Report – 1/15/26 INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A man accused of fatally shooting a Halloween partygoer in La Quinta more than six years ago intentionally initiated hostilities, a prosecutor claimed today, while the defendant’s attorney argued his client encountered
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) Melissa Galataud, principal of Nellie Coffman Middle School, has been named Riverside County’s Principal of the Year. The surprise announcement was made Thursday morning during a principals’ meeting at the Palm Springs Unified School District District Service Center in Palm Springs. Riverside County Superintendent Edwin Gomez presented the honor alongside district
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – In celebration of Black History Month, two Black authors will discuss their books at the second annual “Our Voices Our Stories: Celebrating Black Authors” next month at Mizell Center, the Palm Springs Public Library announced today. The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb.
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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
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The family of a 68-year-old undocumented migrant who died at a local hospital while under ICE custody is speaking out to News Channel 3. Luis Beltrán Yanez-Cruz, an undocumented man from Honduras, died on Jan. 6 after being admitted to JFK Memorial for heart-related health issues, Immigration and Customs Enforcement says.
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Originally Published: 14 JAN 26 21:57 ETUpdated: 14 JAN 26 23:04 ETBy Danya Gainor, CNN (CNN) — A Venezuelan migrant was shot in the leg by a federal law enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening after resisting arrest and “violently assaulting” an officer, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, as the
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Dozens of Democrats of the Desert and friends activists gathered Wednesday afternoon in front of the Social Security Administration (SSA) building in Indio. Organizers said they’re trying to draw attention to what they describe as growing turmoil within the agency and threats to the program’s ability to serve Americans. Debbie Green,
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COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – A free Health Fair and Fun Run will be held Feb. 6 at Temalpakh Farm in Coachella, organizers announced today. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will begin with a run that will receive a traditional elder blessing and a be accompanied by music played
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A 21-year-old man was sentenced for his role in a Palm Desert shooting. Jorge Arturo Morales of Cathedral City pleaded guilty to attempted murder, assault with a gun, and stalking charges. He was immediately sentenced to 14 years and 8 months in prison. Morales was arrested along with Jaden Xavier
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COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Recent rainfall has pushed the entire state out of drought conditions for the first time in a quarter century. The Coachella Valley has long been known to rely on its own aquifer, managed by water authorities like the Coachella Valley Water District. The underground source of water is finite; natural annual rainfall
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The Palm Springs Animal Shelter has rescued five puppies found abandoned in a parking lot, marking another troubling case in the Coachella Valley. Shelter officials say a good Samaritan discovered the puppies last Friday inside an open box. The puppies are believed to be a pug mix and are estimated
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) Silvercrest CEO William Frank Rodriguez appeared in court Wednesday in connection with a 2024 deadly hit-and-run crash in Cathedral City. Rodriguez faces a felony hit-and-run charge tied to a crash that killed 60-year-old Christina Barrington. Prosecutors allege Rodriguez fled the scene without stopping to render aid. The hearing was continued until March
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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KESQ) News Channel 3 has confirmed that Jake Mitchell Haro, convicted in the 2025 killing of his 7-month-old son Emmanuel, is currently housed at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. Haro was transferred from Wasco State Prison, where he was first sent following his sentencing last fall. Haro pleaded guilty
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COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – A former Coachella Valley Unified School District janitor was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The 20-year-old Coachella resident was arrested on Jan. 7. He remains in custody at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of invasion of privacy and possession of child pornography.
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Administered by the National Park Service at the U.S. Department of Interior, the National Register helps identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 53-year-old man accused in a stabbing on the CV Link pleaded not guilty to charges on Wednesday. Jacob Ethan Masters was charged with cruelty to elder/adult and assault with a deadly weapon, according to court records. He was arraigned at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Wednesday before Riverside County
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A teacher at Cathedral City High School was placed on administrative leave following allegations of inappropriate conduct with a female student, although police determined that there was no criminal activity. According to a statement from the Palm Springs Unified School District, officials received a report and the teacher was placed
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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
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BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Concerns mounted today regarding the welfare of a 16-year-old girl who disappeared after leaving her home in Banning. Juliet Ruiz was last seen at about 9:40 p.m. Saturday leaving the Peppertree Apartments at 456 E. Nicolet St., according to the Banning Police Department. “Family members advised Juliet (left) … her
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RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Premier architectural design firm Brian Foster Residences joins Cotino, a Storyliving by Disney community, as its fourth homebuilder. Disney officials said the homes by Brian Foster Residences will showcase the firm’s visionary approach to modern architecture featuring bold, structural designs that harmonize with nature and highlight the beauty of the
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