Author: KESQ

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Desert Care Network hospitals are wrapping up their annual Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive on Thursday. Officials are asking the public for monetary or cereal donations to feed children and their families a healthy breakfast during the summer.

The “Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive” will run through June 18.

People can donate boxes of cereal in the lobby of Desert Regional Medical Center, 1150 N. Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs; JFK Memorial Hospital, 47111 Monroe St. in Indio; or Hi-Desert Medical Center, 6601 White Feather Road in Joshua Tree.

“A healthy breakfast is important to start the day right, and through this initiative, we aim to support those in our community facing food insecurity,” Linda Evans, chief strategy officer for community advocacy for Desert Care Network, said in a statement.

The fundraiser supports Find Food Bank’s summer feeding program in Indio and the Way Station in Joshua Tree.

Officials said more than 84% of public-school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals in the Coachella Valley, which is an indicator of food insecurity in the region.

To provide a financial contribution, visit https://findfoodbank.org/event/desert-care-network-2026-healthy-over-hunger-cereal-drive/.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The first installation of Palm Springs International Airport’s new public art program was unveiled today.

“Desert in Motion,” created by artist Patrick Barwinski, was unveiled Tuesday in the baggage claim area. The large-scale installation transformed 14 baggage claim columns into painted desert landscapes using geometric forms and vivid colors, airport officials said.

The artwork was selected though a competitive process from more than 270 submissions to the new Art@PSP public art program.

“PSP is often visitors’ very first impression of our destination and a welcoming return home for our residents,” Victoria Carpenter, interim executive director of aviation at PSP, said in a statement. “Art@PSP allows us to showcase the incredible creativity and cultural identity of our region while creating a more memorable airport experience for travelers.”

Airport officials said the exhibition will be on display through January 2027 as part of PSP’s rotating baggage claim columns exhibition series.

“For years, there has been a shared vision of bringing more art into the airport,” PSP Chairman Kevin Corcoran said in a statement. “With Art@PSP, that vision is becoming a reality, connecting millions of travelers each year with the culture, creativity and character that makes Palm Springs unique.”

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City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – A 26-year-old Mecca man was killed in a two-vehicle collision in the community of Thermal, authorities said today.

Pablo Garcia Lopez was fatally injured at about 5 a.m. Saturday at Avenue 58 and Buchanan Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A 2017 Acura RDX was traveling at an unspecified rate of speed eastbound on Avenue 58 when the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign for reasons unknown and crashed into a 2009 Toyota Camry, which was traveling northbound on Buchanan.

The impact caused both vehicles to overturn, the CHP said.

Lopez, the Toyota driver, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Acura driver, whose identity was not revealed, sustained major injuries and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

No further details were immediately available.

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Jeff Stahl

Rancho Mirage, Calif. — The City of Rancho Mirage is helping local businesses and restaurants this summer, and helping people stretch their dollars.

The “Shop Local Rancho Mirage Gift Card” program’s latest offer is a 50-percent bonus to anyone who purchases a Shop Local gift card. There’s a week to go for this latest deal, which has to be purchased and used by Friday, June 19.

It’s good at approximately 70 local Rancho Mirage businesses, offering customers discounts on dining or shopping purchases while also helping retailers and restaurants during our typically slower summer months.

Rancho Mirage City Councilmember Steve Downs said, “So the whole idea is to provide an incentive for residents to go to our restaurants, go to our retail businesses, spend money at our retail businesses at times of the year when it makes sense to incent them to do that and help our businesses.”

A $200 gift card purchase will also include an extra $100 from the city, giving purchasers $300 to spend at Rancho Mirage businesses.

Down said, “It’s a great program for the employees; they stay employed. And it’s a great program for our residents. They get a great benefit from it.”

Downs says the city has issued nearly 3,800 gift cards and helped support businesses to the tune of $600,000 since starting the program two years ago.

Another bonus offer will launch on July 22 if approved by the city council to support the chamber’s Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage.

You can purchase a gift card here: https://rancho-mirage-ca.yiftee.com/

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Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – Police continue to investigate a shooting that damaged a vehicle Friday evening in Mecca.

The shooting was reported at around 6:10 p.m. near the area of Grapefruit Boulevard and 4th Street.

“Upon arrival, deputies spoke to the reporting party, who described a shooting incident that occurred in the area of Grapefruit Boulevard and 4th Street and provided a description of the involved vehicles,” reads an email from the Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies were able to find evidence of a shooting. Additional deputies located a vehicle in the area of 66th Avenue and Highway 86 that matched the description of the involved vehicle.

The agency noted that deputies contacted the driver, who reported damage to their vehicle consistent with gunshots. The driver was determined to be the victim of the shooting and reported no injuries.

During the course of the investigation, Thermal Station deputies were able to locate the suspect vehicle which fled from the area.

Thermal Station patrol, along with the assistance of the East Regional Gang Task Force and the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team apprehended the suspect. A search warrant was served on the suspect’s vehicle and place of residence where evidence related to the incident was located.

The suspect was later booked into jail and is pending arraignment.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Jonathan Ramont

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – On June 13, 2026, members of the Indio Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit (SCU), Major Crimes Unit (MCU), Post-Release Accountability and Compliance Team (PACT), and the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team (RCCET) conducted a registered sex offender compliance operation throughout the City of Indio.

The operation focused on verifying compliance with California’s sex offender registration requirements and ensuring registrants were residing at their reported addresses.

During the operation, investigators conducted compliance checks at 14 registered sex offender residences. Ten registrants were contacted, verified to be living at their reported addresses, and found to be in compliance with their registration requirements.

Four registrants were determined to be out of compliance for failing to update their address information as required by law. Criminal cases will be submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

In addition, investigators arrested Emilio Diaz, age 32, on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. Daniel Candelario Delgadillo, age 54, was also arrested for violating the terms of his felony probation after being found in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Registered sex offender compliance operations are conducted periodically to verify compliance with state registration laws, hold offenders accountable, and enhance public safety. The Indio Police Department say they remain committed to proactive enforcement efforts that support community safety and ensure compliance with registration requirements.

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Timothy Foster

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — As triple-digit temperatures return to the Coachella Valley, many families are looking for ways to stay cool while enjoying summer break. The Palm Desert Aquatic Center is proving to be a popular destination for both local residents and visitors.

Guests at the water park said the facility offers a fun way to escape the desert heat while spending time with family and friends. Many shared that swimming and enjoying the attractions make summer more enjoyable, especially during the hottest days of the year.

Visitors also highlighted the importance of practicing heat safety. They recommended staying hydrated, wearing lightweight clothing, taking breaks from the sun, and limiting time outdoors during peak heat.

For active children and athletes, drinking plenty of water and avoiding overexertion are especially important as temperatures continue to climb.

Families from across Southern California said the Palm Desert Aquatic Center’s pools, water slides, obstacle course, and shaded areas make it an appealing place to cool off during the summer months.

Health experts recommend drinking water regularly, seeking shade or air-conditioned spaces, and checking on vulnerable family members during periods of extreme heat.

As the Coachella Valley heads into another long, hot summer, the Palm Desert Aquatic Center is offering families a safe and refreshing way to beat the heat and enjoy the season.

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Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — The City of Indio marked a milestone Friday night with its first-ever Pride celebration, bringing live music, community resources, and families together in the heart of downtown.

The free, all-ages event took over Center Stage from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., featuring performances from Julian and the Band, Giselle Woo & The Night Owls, and Mariachi Arcoíris. Food vendors and community booths were also set up throughout the space, creating a festival-like atmosphere in downtown Indio.

Organizers said the goal of the event was to create a welcoming environment that celebrated and supported the LGBTQ+ community while encouraging broader community connection across the Coachella Valley.

The Center Coachella was on site, offering outreach and resources for attendees and helping connect community members with local support services.

Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes said the celebration reflected the city’s values of inclusion and diversity, saying Indio embraces everyone and embraces diversity and culture, and that the community is welcome in the city.

City leaders and organizers said they hope the inaugural event will grow in the coming years and become an annual tradition in downtown Indio.

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Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — More than 100 students from across the Coachella Valley are one step closer to achieving their educational goals after receiving scholarships from the Dr. Carreón Foundation.

The nonprofit organization celebrated its annual scholarship awards ceremony Sunday at Shadow Hills High School, recognizing the Class of 2026 and students continuing their higher education. This year, the foundation awarded 120 scholarships totaling more than $360,000.

Foundation Executive Director Ricardo Loretta said the event brings together students, families, educators, donors, and community leaders to celebrate the recipients’ hard work and dedication while encouraging them as they continue their educational journeys.

The foundation also marked another milestone, celebrating its selection as the 2026 Outstanding Philanthropic Organization by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

For scholarship recipient Emely Chavez, a fourth-semester nursing student, the financial assistance comes at a critical time.

Chavez said the scholarship will help cover the growing costs of college as she enters her final year of studies. As a first-generation college student, she said community support like this helps students pursue careers that may not have been possible otherwise.

She hopes to become an emergency room nurse and remain in the Coachella Valley, serving patients in her hometown.

Local leaders say the scholarships have a lasting impact beyond helping students pay for tuition.

Indio City Councilmember Glenn Miller, who has helped review scholarship applications for the foundation, said rising costs for tuition, housing, transportation, and other expenses make financial assistance more important than ever. He noted that many recipients go on to attend universities across the country before returning to the Coachella Valley to give back to their communities.

La Quinta City Councilmember Steve Sanchez said education should not be limited by financial barriers. He added that scholarships help students focus on their studies and invest in their futures, ultimately benefiting the entire region.

The Dr. Carreón Foundation was established in 1991 by the late Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreón to promote educational opportunities. In 2023, the scholarship program expanded to support students from all minority ethnic backgrounds.

With this year’s awards, the foundation has provided nearly $3 million in scholarships to almost 1,420 students since its founding. Recipients have gone on to attend schools both locally and nationwide, including College of the Desert, CSUSB Palm Desert, UCLA, USC, MIT, and Harvard University.

Foundation leaders say the continued growth of the scholarship program has been made possible through community partnerships, individual donors, local Rotary clubs, OneFuture Coachella Valley, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, and other supporters.

Funds raised through the annual scholarship luncheon will help support next year’s scholarship recipients.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Three hikers were rescued Saturday evening near the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, according to Cal Fire and Riverside County Sheriff’s.

Cal Fire conducted a remote area rescue on Willow Creek Trail in the Mount San Jacinto wilderness area, around 9 p.m. Saturday.

A Riverside Sheriff’s helicopter was contacted during the rescue and made multiple attempts to help, but was unable to due to high winds.

Officials say crews were able to access the hikers around 10:18 p.m., when all were hiked out on foot by the Riverside County Sheriff Mountain Rescue Team.

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