Author: KESQ

Cynthia White

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. (KESQ) – A man wanted on a warrant for grand theft auto is in custody after fleeing into the desert from Sheriff’s deputies in Joshua Tree.

Deputies say they were attempting to arrest the man on Wednesday, who had an active no-bail felony warrant, at a home in the 62100 block of Canterbury Street in Joshua Tree. The man fled when deputies arrived, and they pursued him on foot.

Deputies caught the man after a short chase and found that he was carrying over 7 grams of what they suspect was methamphetamine. The man was arrested and booked at the Morongo Basin jail for the outstanding no-bail felony warrant, along with being charged with resisting a Peace Officer and possession of a controlled substance.

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department asks that anyone with information related to this investigation contact the Morongo Basin Station at 760-366-4175, or to call anonymously, contact 1-800-78-CRIME or wetip.com.

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Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – It was an evening full of sparkle and pride at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center on Friday as the 2025 Kings & Queens Pageant returned for another year.

The pageant has been celebrating local youth for more than 30 years. The cherished event featured adorable performances in reflective dance, spoken word, and of course—pageantry.

The highlight was a runway of poise and personality, as each young contestant took the stage in their evening gowns. In the end, every little participant was crowned a princess, complete with a sash, gift bag, and their moment in the spotlight.

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Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Police Department has notified that North Gene Autry Trail is closed at the Whitewater Wash as of 10:00 p.m. Friday night.

The closure is due to sand build up and low visibility in that area caused by current winds.

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Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Surf Club is holding a live “groundbreaking action sports spectacle” event on Saturday, June 21, featuring tricks, demonstrations, and record-breaking stunts.

The event – “The Raha Live Record Breakers & NBD Surfing Invitational” will include performances by athletes from skateboarding, BMX, big-air motorcycling, and surfing.

The athletes slated to perform include Motocross daredevil Colby Raha, who will attempt to break a long-distance jump world record, skate legend Greyson Fletcher, and mountain bike phenom Dylan Starks, among other action sports athletes. All are set to “attempt the never-before-seen in front of a live audience.”

The event starts at 3:00 p.m. For the event schedule, ticket pricing, parking, and more details, visit palmspringssurfclub.com.

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Athena Jreij

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) — Monarca Mexican Restaurant in Cathedral City is closing it’s doors for a week due to “unforeseen immigration circumstances” and safety concerns for the community, according to restaurant owners.

Owners say those concerns have stopped customers from showing up and spending money due to fear of local raids.

Earlier this month, immigration enforcement carried out it’s first operation in recent years in the desert near the U-Haul on Ramon Road, across from Ramon Plaza.

The restaurant announced via Instagram Thursday, “Due to circumstances related to unforeseen immigration matters, Monarca Mexican Restaurant will be temporarily closed from 6/19 to 6/26. The safety of our employees and patrons is priority.”

Laura Silva, the restaurant’s co-owner, says regular customers who used to visit once or twice a week haven’t shown up as frequently. According to her, traffic has already dropped 80%.

It comes as businesses throughout the desert are entering the slow summer season, which shop owners have described as a “double whammy.”

It’s not just Monarca. Vision Signs & Apparel just a few doors down says they’ve also noticed the slow traffic, comparing it to what they saw during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For us to not have a line of people waiting to come in, yea it’s definitely dead,” owner Vanesa Trigueros said.

Trigueros says many of her clients, documented or not, have been too scared to leave their homes.

“Is there somebody waiting for them outside, or are they going to be bombarded by ICE? They don’t know, so it’s a risk that they’re not willing to take.”

According to shop owners, the difference in traffic has been visually jarring with parking lots and stores empty for weeks now.

For many who are Latino entrepreneurs, it’s not just about profit, it’s also about the people.

“I never imagined this would happen around me and my family and friends and all the community,” Silva said.

Monarca plans to reopen this Thursday, June 26th and is hoping the community support them through this difficult time.

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a groundbreaking HIV prevention shot that only needs to be taken twice a year. Medical experts are calling it one of the most significant advancements in HIV prevention since the arrival of PrEP.

The injectable drug, Lenacapavir, will be sold under the brand name Yeztugo and is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. In clinical trials, the shot reduced the risk of HIV infection by 96%—a result many doctors say is nearly unheard of in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“It’s a great option,” said Dr. Phyllis Ritchie, founder and CEO of PS Test in Palm Springs. “People don’t have to take pills every day. But there are drawbacks.”

Among the biggest concerns is the price tag: about $28,000 a year at list price. Gilead says it’s working to expand access and affordability, but until insurance coverage catches up, clinics like PS Test say they simply can’t afford to offer it.

“We will offer it once insurance can be paid for it,” Ritchie said. “But until that happens, there’s no way. It’s just too expensive.”

The drug was tested in large international trials, including more than 5,000 young women in Africa and LGBTQ+ participants in the U.S. and abroad. In every group, Lenacapavir significantly outperformed daily pills.

But advocates warn that access gaps, insurance challenges, and federal funding cuts could block the benefits of the drug from reaching the people who need it most.

“In our political climate, people are trying to do away with mandating insurance companies to pay for preventive care,” Dr. Ritchie said. “And PrEP is preventive care. If that goes away—it’s a problem.”

Dr. Jon LaPook, chief medical correspondent for CBS, added that declining U.S. support for HIV prevention at home and abroad could undermine the drug’s potential impact.

“It’s a game changer on paper,” LaPook said. “Now it’s up to the clinics, the coverage, and the commitment to make sure this shot reaches the people who need it most.”

But funding decisions and insurance mandates could determine whether this latest medical breakthrough delivers on its promise or remains out of reach for too many.

For more information on Lenacapvir, click this link.

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Zachariah Perez

CABAZON, CALIF. (KESQ) – Hollywood Superstar Mark Wahlberg added a little sizzle to his family restaurant.

On Wednesday, while making a special guest appearance visit at Wahlburgers within the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa. Where he mingled with casino guests and diners where he posed for selfies, traded hugs, and shared stories with excited patrons and Wahlburgers team members. 

Wahlberg later posted a video of the official visit to his official Instagram page. An actor, producer and music legend, Wahlberg is no stranger to Morongo, which served as the backdrop for scenes in 2014 film, “The Gambler”. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Wahlberg (@markwahlberg)

“We’re delighted to have welcomed Mr. Wahlberg back to Morongo for another visit to the first Wahlburgers in the nation to open in a tribal casino,” said Morongo’s Chief Executive Officer Mike Bean. “It just goes to show that you never know what celebrity you’ll bump into next at Morongo.”

The restaurant was inspired by the Emmy-nominated reality show, “Wahlbugers” for ten seasons. Which is founded by Mark, Donnie and Executive Chef Paul Wahlberg. The fast casual eatery features a chef-inspired menu emphasizing on made-to-order delicious food inspired by the family favorite recipes. 

The Wahlberg at Morongo opened in 2021 and showcases a stage for live music and a 30-foot led video wall. Where guests can cheer for their favorite sports teams while enjoying the restaurant’s signature burger as well as sandwiches and more. 

“Our guests were beyond thrilled to meet Mr. Wahlberg, and I suspect this won’t be the last time he pops in to spend some time at Morongo,” Bean said

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Haley Meberg

UPDATE 6/20/2025 – SCE reports that as of 8:50 p.m., the power has been restored.

UPDATE 6/20/2025 – The City of Desert Hot Springs is reporting some traffic signal outages in the area affected by the power outage.

Traffic signals are out of service at the intersections of Pierson Boulevard and Skyborne, and at Pierson Boulevard and Karen Avenue.

They say crews are working to restore power, and they expect repairs to be done by 10:00 p.m. They are asking residents to use alternate routes and care when driving in the area in the meantime.

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)- Nearly 500 residents are left without power in the Desert Hot Springs area Friday afternoon.

Earlier today multiple Desert Hot Springs residents reported loss of power with social media posts speculating a sparking power line in the area to be the cause of the outage. The Fire Department was alerted and informed the residents that Edison Electric would be on the way to resolve the issue.

Power is projected to be back up and running for most by 9pm.

While this issue is being looked into residents can go to the cooling center located at Desert Hot Springs Library or any other cooling center listed by CAP Riverside to combat the summer heat of the Desert.

For more on weather check out our First Alert Weather Team’s forecast

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

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Haley Meberg

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ)- Animal Samaritans help abused and neglected shelter animals receive the medical care they need thanks to the Cade L. Morrow Dog and Cat Care Fund.

This past week, the funds provided to Animal Samaritans helped provide four at risk animals named Calvin, Daisy, Sandra, and Rosalie with the procedures they needed to give them their second chance. 

This organization’s partnership with the Adoption Alliance Animal Rescue Program helps find at-risk animals that are in need of medical assistance and help rehabilitate them to give them the best chances of adoption. 

The Cade L. Morrow Dog and Cat Care Fund has been helping the Animal Samaritans for a number of years and continues to provide aid to this program with the support of generous donors from the community.

Animal Samaritans not only gives pets hope in finding a family but provides education to the community on the importance of caring for these four legged friends. Animal Samaritans is said to have to have educated over 225,000 school children about the compassion involved in caring for animals. This organization shows the true importance of community outreach by setting up programs in nursing homes and hospitals that provide pet therapy, showcasing how animals play a role in helping community members as much as the community helps them . 

Animal Samaritans believe it is important to pair owners up with the animals that are the best fit for them. They emphasize the importance of animal-human connections during the adoption process. 

Animal Samaritans is holding an adoption event this Saturday at the PetCo on Highway 111 from 11am to 1pm where you can meet the animals showcased on their website. To help give additional support in providing care to these animals you can visit www.animalsamaritans.org/cade to donate to their cause.

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City News Service

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – City officials asked residents today to weigh in on the location and design of a proposed passenger rail station in Coachella.   

The Coachella Valley Rail project is a proposed daily passenger service that would run from downtown Los Angeles through Orange and Riverside counties to the Coachella Valley.

City council officials said that the Pueblo Viejo district area will be looked at as a potential site for the rail.

Participants willing to share their insights will be able to attend the workshop at the main branch library, located at 1500 Sixth Street, from 4 until 6 p.m. July 10.

The first 50 attendees will be entered into a raffle to win a $100 grocery store gift card.

“Attendees will have the opportunity to share thoughts on station access, surrounding connections, amenities and design features that would make the station a welcoming community hub,” officials said.   

For more information, go to: https://www.coachella.org/departments/coachella-passenger-rail-station-feasibility-study

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