Author: KESQ

Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center has received a technology upgrade aimed at improving access to digital resources for the local community.

The center was awarded more than $56,000 from the California Public Utilities Commission to enhance its technology offerings. The funding supported the addition of 16 new computer workstations and building-wide Wi-Fi, providing internet access throughout the entire facility—including the gym and meeting rooms.

Jarvis Crawford, community center manager, says this is more than a technology improvement but an investment for residents.

“We do lack some resources that the other districts do. Most of the folks here in the community of District 1 are low to moderate income.”

Jarvis Crawford, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center community center manager

The upgrades create more opportunities for residents of all ages to complete homework, search for jobs, and stay connected in a supportive environment, needed tools and connectivity to succeed.

“It’s a necessity because not everyone has access to a computer, internet, so having that here and being able to utilize the things that we have here at the center to make it more accessible for them it just made it a win-win for the community.”

Jarvis Crawford, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center community center manager

Officials view this as an important step toward expanding access to technology for all members of the community.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gavin Nguyen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – As the Rosa Fire continues to burn, Highway 74 remains closed.

The closure began on Monday when the fire first ignited. According to the California Highway Patrol, the highway will remain closed at least through Saturday.

Guardrails and road signs are scorched. Pink fire retardant has made portions of the roadway slick. Fire engines and crews line the roadway as they continue to work to contain the fire.

Residents on both sides of the closure have shared their frustrations as access to their homes and businesses have been limited.

News Channel 3 is speaking with officials on what it will take to reopen the highway. Stay with us for the latest.

Click here to follow the original article.

Allie Anthony

So far this year, 39 planes have gone down and crashed in the United States.

But what happens when there is an emergency at your local airport? At every major airport, both firefighters and airport personnel are on standby if anything should happen.

“Palm Springs fire provides 24/7 protection at the airport, ensuring that we protect the people that fly in and out of Palm Springs, but also the staff that work here at the airport and the critical infrastructure here,” said PSFD Chief Paul Alvarado.

A major role in keeping the airport passengers safe is how first responders prepare for and respond to emergencies from the truck to the training facility on the tarmac. Professionals say it takes months of coordination and communication to make this all happen.

“It’s all interconnected. So there’s a lot of coordination between the airport staff and my control center at the airport, here in the fire station, and then with the air traffic control tower. A lot of it’s behind the scenes, radios and telephones and signals, but a lot of that is happening in real time and ongoing throughout the day,” said Harry Barrett, executive director of aviation.

“The dispatch system here is different than if it was a City response… It’s actually a ring down directly from the tower it dispatches our dispatch center so our firefighters are picking that up and talking to the tower,” Alvarado said.

Flawless execution is the key to saving the most amount of lives in any incident, which is why the fire department and the airport trains year-round to be ready to execute on a moments notice.

News Channel 3’s Allie Anthony and Tori King get an exclusive look at how emergency crews prepare for an airport emergency.

Click here to follow the original article.

City News Service

CATHEDRAL CITY (CNS) – The Cathedral City Library will host an art exhibition and observance in honor of next month’s International Day of Peace, officials said today.

The free event will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sept. 21 at the city’s library, located at 33520 Date Palm Drive, and aims to “promote education and cross-cultural understanding,” according to a city statement.

The exhibition’s centerpiece, titled “A Message From 1945 to the Future,” will deal with the importance of nuclear disarmament.

The event will also showcase children’s art from Gaza and artwork by local children, which symbolizes a collaboration of universal peace among young people from different cultures and circumstances.

In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to create peace flags that will be displayed at City Hall.

The exhibition is part of the Cathedral City Peace Initiative, founded by local resident Robert McKechnie, a peace activist who got the idea after attending a lecture speaking out against the Vietnam War. Officials said the initiative operates under “non-political, non-religious and non- confrontational guidelines” and promotes peace throughout the world.

Cathedral City holds the designation as an International City of Peace for its commitment to peace advocacy and engagement, officials said.

International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 to serve as a global call for ceasefires and non-violence.

Click here to follow the original article.

Shay Lawson

ANZA, Calif. (KESQ) – CAL FIRE has mapped the Rosa Fire at over 1,500 acres.

Teresa Turner, an evacuee from Pinyon Pines, said she’s staying in Palm Springs.

“I just started grabbing stuff in garbage bags, anything I could get,” Turner said. “All my animals I got them in the car.”

She said before she evacuated on Monday, her power went out.

“I immediately called Anza Electric,” Turner said. “We lost about $1,700 in food just in meat alone.”

In a statement to social media Anza Electric Cooperative (AEC), Inc provided an update:

“The electric service remains off in the Rosa fire area. AEC is working with CalFire to gain access to our system to assess damage and begin repairs. Due to the difficult terrain in many locations, these repairs may take a considerable amount of time. We intend to install temporary generation in the Pinyon area to feed the system, where and when it is safe to do so.”

“We thank you for your patience and will keep you updated with new info as it comes in.”

Kevin Short, AEC general manager, said about 30 pole structures need to be replaced.

“They’re damaged beyond usability,” Short said.

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn more about the plan for temporary generation in the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)–The James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center received a big tech upgrade thanks to a grant from the California Public Utilities Commission. 

The center, located on 480 W. Tramview Road, received a grant over $56,000 from the California Public Utilities Commission to upgrade their facility. 

With 16 brand-new computer workstations and full Wi-Fi coverage the building has been transformed into a tech hub accessible to the community. Wi-Fi coverage spans throughout the entire building including the gym and meeting rooms, ensuring residents have tech access in any space of the facility. 

From homework to job searches, residents of all ages now have access to tools that help them better connect, learn and thrive.

For more information about the tech upgrade visit https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/james-o-jessie-desert-highland-unity-center

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Meberg

HESPERIA, Calif. (KESQ)– A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy was arrested in connection to engaging in criminal acts while on duty early Tuesday morning. 

According to the Sheriff’s Department in June 2024, they received a call alleging on-duty criminal acts by Cameron Romo, 27, a Rialto resident. 

Romo was employed by the Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff in 2020 and was assigned to the Hesperia Station in August 2021. Following the allegation, the deputy was placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the claim was conducted by the Specialized Investigations Division.

Once the investigation was completed the station submitted the completed version to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for a decision to be made. 

The District Attorney’s Office reports that on August 4, 2025, following an extensive investigation, felony charges and an arrest warrant were filed against the accused in violation of Extortion and Soliciting a Bribe. 

On Tuesday, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Romo was placed on compulsory leave and was arrested and booked into the Central Detention Center with a $90,000 bail.   

“This is unfortunate that a Deputy Sheriff would engage in this type of behavior. I am proud of all the investigators involved in bringing this case to the District Attorney’s Office so he can be held accountable.” Sheriff Shannon Dicus. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Detective Antonio Alcala, Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904, as the investigation is still ongoing.

For more updates stay with News Channel 3

Click here to follow the original article.

City News Service

   PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The first “Fix-it Fair” will be held later thismonth in Palm Springs, where residents may bring in broken items to befixed or learn new repair skills as part of an effort to keep items out oflandfills and reduce waste.

The free event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 atMizell Center, located at 480 S. Sunrise Way.

  It will be hosted by the Palm Springs Sustainability Department inpartnership with Repeat Reuse, a Riverside-based nonprofit founded byenvironmental activist Lynda Koskela, who also volunteers for the RiversideCounty Department of Waste Resources, “to help our low-income community bemore resilient in the face of the climate crisis.”   “By bringing together skilled volunteers and neighbors, we extend thelifespan of products, reduce waste and contribute to a more circulareconomy in the Coachella Valley,” organizers said.   Various local businesses will be available for repairs and “repaircoaches” will be on hand to teach residents on how to repair certain items.   All businesses and fixers at the fair will be volunteers, and repairswill be limited to two items per person, organizers said.   More information can be found at https://fixitps.org/

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Indio celebrated the return of the iconic Burger Box with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday.

Burger Box is located at 81201 Indio Boulevard.

Becky & Mike from Indio were the first customers at the reopening on Monday

The restaurant closed its doors after 70 years in business late last year.

“When you lose a staple in the valley it kind of sucks because you shouldn’t fix something that is not broken,” said Amber Hepler, a customer, told News Channel 3 in October.

It is now under the ownership of Yolanda Ruiz and her family. Yolanda worked at Burger Box for 24 years.

“Burger Box has long been more than a restaurant as it quickly became a landmark for locals and travelers alike,” said Mayor Glenn Miller. “We are thrilled to have Burger Box reopen in Indio, especially under the leadership of someone as committed to the community as Yolanda Ruiz.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Meberg

Many students are slated to return back to school, with an opportunity for high school and college students across the valley to get to class for free.

The opportunity is part of a program offered by the Sunline Transit Agency called “Haul Pass.”

The agency says all students have to do is fill out an application online.

Once it is approved, students will be able to receive a pass to show their bus driver before hitting the road.

The program has been around for several years, but officials say to this day a lot of people don’t know about it. 

“We love to make sure that students can get around without having to worry about needing a vehicle or maybe having their parents take them. They can be completely independent and actually go to where they need to go.” said Edit Hernandez, Sunline Transit Agency’s Director of Board and Legislative Affairs

Sunline says that it has noticed a steady increase of students using “haul pass” in recent years.

For more information visit https://www.sunline.org/fares-passes/haul-pass 

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

Click here to follow the original article.