Month: February 2026

Timothy Foster

PALM DESERT, Calif. — The red carpet was rolled out Saturday night for a celebration centered on inclusion, joy, and community.

The GALA Special Stars Come Out Tonight welcomed adults with intellectual, developmental, and neurodiverse disabilities to Palm Valley Country Club for an evening designed to make every guest feel celebrated and valued.

Participants arrived in limousines and specialty vehicles before walking the red carpet in formal attire. Guests posed for professional photographs and spent the evening enjoying dinner, dancing, and live music.

Earlier in the day, professional hair and makeup services were provided by local salons, helping participants prepare for the special night. Organizers emphasized the event was not a fundraiser, but a dignified and meaningful experience created exclusively for individuals with special needs and their families.

More than 300 guests attended the gala, which was hosted by Lisa Valerio of the Fenixia Foundation and Renée Griffin of Building Bridges for Special Needs. Organizers say the goal is to continue bringing the community together and creating memorable opportunities that promote inclusion and connection for people with disabilities.

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Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – A new public mural celebrating Indio’s history, culture and festival legacy is now complete at the corner of Avenue 45 and Jackson Street, marking a milestone for local artist Adam Enrique Rodriguez.

“This is my first large-scale public mural in the city of Indio,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to tell the story of where I come from. This is where I was born and raised, and I have a lot of pride in where I come from.”

He said the mural moves from day to night across the wall, weaving together Indio’s history.

Rodriguez said he incorporated recognizable imagery from the Date Festival to the Coachella Music and Arts Festival.

“I wanted it to be something that everyone in the Valley could kind of see themselves in,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said he was selected from about 30 artists who applied from around the world.

He said his local roots helped shape his vision.

“I grew up here,” Rodriguez said. “I know exactly what my community would want to see and what they would respond to.”

He said the mural took about 3 months to complete, beginning in early November.

“Contributing to where I come from has been paramount for me as an artist,” Rodriguez said. “If I can reach even the students where I grew up and they can drive by and see this and this becomes part of their history too, it’s very important to me.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the mural is scheduled for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the site.

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Timothy Foster

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Patrick Warburton is instantly recognizable for his unmistakable voice, bringing life to some of Disney’s most iconic characters, from The Emperor’s New Groove to the billion-dollar hit Zootopia 2. But beyond Hollywood and the big screen, Warburton says his most meaningful work happens far from the recording booth, right here in the Coachella Valley.

For nearly two decades, Warburton has been a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, hosting the annual Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament to raise money for children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. This year marks the tournament’s 16th year, an effort that has grown into one of St. Jude’s top fundraisers nationwide.

The inspiration began in 2010, when Warburton and his wife, Cathy, visited St. Jude and met young patients and the medical teams caring for them. With four children of his own, the experience left a lasting impact.

Warburton says seeing the work being done, and the families supported without ever receiving a bill, motivated him to get involved and help make a difference.

What started as an idea has since become a major philanthropic force. Last year alone, the tournament raised a record $6.5 million, pushing the event’s total fundraising impact to more than $38 million. Warburton credits the success not to himself, but to the generosity of the Coachella Valley community, the tournament’s leadership team, and longtime chairman Clark Rainey.

The event has drawn support from Hollywood actors, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists, and donors from across the country, all united by St. Jude’s mission to ensure families never have to worry about the cost of treatment, travel, housing, or food.

While his philanthropic work continues to grow, so does Warburton’s on-screen presence. He recently joined the cast of Disney’s Zootopia 2, voicing Mayor Wind Dancer, a character fans quickly recognized as quintessentially Warburton. The film became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, surpassing $1 billion worldwide in just 17 days.

Warburton says joining an already beloved Disney universe made the experience especially meaningful, praising the filmmakers and creative team behind the project.

Looking back on his long relationship with Disney, Warburton reflects on how deeply the company shaped his childhood, from family movie nights to his first visit to a Disney park, memories that still resonate decades later.

At 61, Warburton is also expanding into stand-up comedy, recently wrapping his first nationwide tour and releasing his debut comedy special, Still Catholic, now streaming on the Angel app.

Despite a busy schedule, Warburton says St. Jude remains front and center.

For him, the goal is simple. Continue raising as much as possible to support the hospital’s lifesaving work and rely on a community that has proven, year after year, it is willing to show up for children who need it most.

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Bruno Lopez-Vega

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A fire that burned 3.5 acres and nearly 100 palm trees Sunday, is now being investigated as a potential case of arson, according to Oswit Land Trust.

The trust owns Prescott Preserve, where the fire ignited around 2 p.m. Sunday. City officials say no firefighters were injured and no structures were damaged.

Now, Oswit is speaking out on the fire, which they’ve called devastating.

“What makes this loss even more painful is that we can say with a high degree of certainty that this fire was human-caused. An arson investigation will be taking place this week. The trails on the east side of Farrell will be closed until further notice,” Executive Director Jane Garrison said.

Garrison went on to say there is still much unknown, but they are clarifying the fire was not caused by dry conditions.

She said in a statement:

“* It is important to be clear that this fire was NOT caused by dry conditions. The preserve is healthy and green. 

* We have not yet been able to assess how the turtle population fared ( or the owls, bats, coots, etc). 

Because the palm oasis was so well-established and thriving, it was not included in our restoration grant. As a result, all immediate response, recovery and replanting efforts will need to come from donations. 

We need help ASAP to cover the costs of:

1. Hiring people to immediately to clear burned vegetation and assess the damage. 

2.Removing damaged or hazardous trees

3.Replacing and expanding security camera coverage

4.Potentially replacing equipment that may have been damaged in the fire.

5. Ultimately, restoring and replanting this critical habitat.”

If you’d like to help Oswit’s rebuilding efforts, visit: http://www.oswitlandtrust.org/donate

Update 5:15 p.m. :

The fire has been extinguished as fire crews continue to mop up the area.

A cause of that fire has not been confirmed.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs firefighters are on the scene of a large brush fire burning on the Prescott Preserve, in the area of Ramon Road and Farrell Drive.

That fire was first reported just past 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, and quickly grew in intensity.

Firefighters have closed roads closer to the fire as they work to extinguish it.

Stay withy News Channel 3 for updates.

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