INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) Â – The Indio Police Department (IPD) is cracking down on illegal fireworks this Fourth of July, and this year enforcement is taking flight. Officer Felipe Escalante said the department is deploying several drones to help identify and respond to firework violations. “The entire city,” Escalante said. “When people are calling in illegal
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Californians will now pay more for legal cannabis products after a new state excise tax took effect July 1. The 19% tax represents a 4% increase from the previous 15% rate. Double Eye Dispensary in Cathedral City said it has been preparing customers for the tax increase, by letting them know
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Last week, we learned about the National Weather Service and how the meteorologists there work day and night to keep Americans safe across every inch of the country. First Alert Meteorologist Spencer Blum is taking an in-depth look at how recent government staffing cuts and proposed budget cuts could impact the agency monitoring the land,
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29 PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) Another national retailer is shutting down locations across our valley. rite aid is closing all of its stores in the coachella valley and that’s leaving customers scrambling to fill prescriptions and workers uncertain about their futures. The doors are still open but not for long. rite aid’s 29 palms location is
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Leaders in the Coachella Valley met Tuesday to discuss how policy changes could affect immigrant communities. Representatives from UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, hosted the discussion on Tuesday at the Mizell Center in Palm Springs. Several different organizations, ranging from healthcare companies to local advocacy groups
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)–The Cathedral City Fire Department just commissioned a brand new ambulance, making it the department’s fourth in it’s fleet. The ambulance, along with six newly-hired firefighters and paramedics, were introduced to the community in a ceremony on Tuesday. The celebration took place at CCFD’s Fire Station #2. Cathedral City Fire Chief Michael
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A mother and her son were charged in connection with the death of a 24-year-old Indio woman who was found last week near the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission campus. Mario Morales Jr., 25, of Coachella, faces multiple charges, including murder, for the death of his girlfriend, Alexis Cano. He pleaded not
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BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Firefighters are getting the upper hand on the Wolf Fire burning south of Banning. The brushfire is at 35 percent contained and has burned more than 2,400 acres. This progress, in large part, thanks to retardant lines. Retardant, or PHOS-CHEK, is made of a salt mixture that helps to slow the
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RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County Department of Animal Services is calling out for immediate help from fosters and adopters as they continue to push capacity numbers to the highest levels all year. RCDAS announced on Tuesday they are operating at 125% capacity for cats with a population of over 300 cats in their
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RIVERSIDE (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today approved a new three-year contract with the union representing upper-level Riverside County sheriff’s personnel, District Attorney’s Office investigators and other county peace officers, guaranteeing pay increases to members totaling 19% over the duration of the compact.  In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board authorized implementation of
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LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – Acquiescing to concerns expressed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the U.S. Department of Defense agreed today to release 150 California National Guard troops who had been deployed to protect federal buildings and personnel in Los Angeles and return them to their wildfire-protection assignments. Â Â According to U.S. Northern Command, which is overseeing
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to impose special assessments totaling $4.16 million on thousands of Riverside County property owners’ tax bills to collect unpaid trash collection debts.  In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on Department of Environmental Health Director Jeff Johnson’s request to apply the
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PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – Palm Springs’ “Love Local” digital gift card program will return Monday to encourage residents to shop at participating businesses. Starting July 7, residents can purchase a digital gift card with a maximum value of $300 per person, and the city will contribute an additional 50%. While the gift card itself has
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By Sarah Ferris, Alison Main, Lauren Fox and Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — Senate Republicans narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts package Tuesday after a dayslong grind to secure the support of key holdouts. Some of the hardest work may still lie ahead, however, as Trump and GOP leaders must now
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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
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CORRECTION: We previously reported that the event at the Mizell Center was scheduled for Sunday. The correct date is Monday. It is a third party renting space for a private event, not a Mizell-sponsored event. CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – After weeks of ICE activity across the Coachella Valley, including in Cathedral City, Mayor Nancy Ross
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A Riverside County Civil Grand Jury investigation has revealed serious oversight failures in Palm Springs. It’s from a $700 thousand grant awarded to Queer Works by the City of Palm Springs. The Riverside District Attorney requested the investigation following the indictment of Queer Works CEO Jacob Rostovsky in October 2024 on
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Smoke from the Wolf Fire continues to push into the Coachella Valley, prompting health warnings for residents across the region. The South Coast AQMD issued a smoke advisory until 6 PM on Monday. Officials said fine particle pollution, or PM 2.5, reached potentially unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, including
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The Fourth of July is just days away, and local fire official are warning desert residents about the dangers of illegal fireworks here in the Coachella Valley. “This weekend, we had over a dozen fires in Southern California,” Said Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado. “We had so many brush fires
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BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury deliberations got underway today in the trial of a 43-year-old Banning man accused of raping two women on separate occasions while they were intoxicated, as well as molesting a 12-year-old girl. Steven Roy McElroy was arrested in 2022 following a Banning Police Department investigation that relied on statements from alleged
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