Joel Killam
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway reopened Wednesday afternoon after a wind closure, with the first tram up at 12:00 p.m.
They will now be operating a normal schedule. The last car up will be at 8:00 p.m. and the last car down will be at 9:30 p.m.
Earlier in the morning the Tramway was closed due to high winds.
Garrett Hottle
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif (KESQ) Union Pacific Railroad Police led an operation Wednesday to clear homeless encampments along railroad property stretching from Monterey Road to Bob Hope Drive, citing safety concerns after multiple small fires in the past week.
Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies assisted during the enforcement effort, but Union Pacific Railroad Police are the lead agency.
The operation comes after several reported camp fires near the tracks, including a brief fire Wednesday morning that Cal Fire crews were able to quickly extinguish
Many of the encampments were built in dense tamarisk trees lining the rail corridor. The trees were planted years ago as windbreaks to help reduce blowing sand across the tracks. Over time, the thick brush has created sheltered areas where makeshift structures and camps have been established.
Fire officials warn that open flames or cooking fires inside heavy brush can quickly spread, especially during dry and windy conditions common in the Coachella Valley.
Union Pacific Railroad Police have not said how long enforcement efforts will continue. News Channel 3 has reached out for additional details and will update this story as more information becomes available.
Joel Killam
UPDATE 2/26/2026
Officials sent out an alert Thursday morning saying that Gene Autry is now open. at 11:30am they also announced that Indian Canyon at the wash is also now open.
UPDATE 2/25/26
Gene Autry has been shut down due to windy conditions
UPDATE 02/23/26:
Officials sent out an alert Monday morning saying that North Indian Canyon Drive is now closed due to flooding.
UPDATE 02/21/26:
The Palm Springs Police Department sent out an alert on Saturday that North Indian Canyon Drive is back open at the wash.
UPDATE 02/19/2026
Officials say Gene Autry and Vista Chino are open at the wash.
Original Report:
PALMS SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Police Department sent out alerts Wednesday that Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino are closed at the wash. Officials say the closures are due to low visibility as winds continue to pick up dust around the Coachella Valley.
This comes after Palm Springs police shut down North Indian Canyon Drive Tuesday due to flooding following recent storm activity. It remains closed at this time.
Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest on road closures around the Coachella Valley.
Daniella Lake
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Coachella Valley local, Rose King, is competing in the Ms. Senior California of America pageant this Saturday. King has a progressive condition called retinitis pigmentosa and is completely blind. She lost her sight at the age of 40.
“I live a normal life. I dance, I go out, I enjoy life, and I have a great life. I never say, why me? Poor me, ever, ever. I count my blessings every day,” King says.
She became the first blind contestant to participate and win Miss Senior Palm Springs in 2019. She came in second place in the Ms. Senior California pageant that same year and was also the first blind contestant.
“That’s my goal and that’s what I do, is to inspire people regardless of situations,” she says.
She hopes to inspire and encourage people with vision impairments to chase after their dreams. King crochets scarves and sells them at local shops, like Kimbal’s, in Palm Springs. She’s also written a children’s book called “Wosie the Little Blind Bunny.”
“I might have lost my sight, but I will continue to soar,” King says.
Athena Jreij
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs city leadership is considering a switch back to directly electing a mayor, if approved by voters.
Since 2019, the city has rotated mayors every year from 5 elected city council members, after threat of a hefty lawsuit due to a lack of Latino representation. The current mayor is Naomi Soto from District 4.
Earlier this month, Councilmember Grace Garner asked the council to prepare materials for a discussion on the switch, something former mayors and current councilmen Jeffrey Bernstein and Ron deHarte support looking into.
“Overwhelmingly, our residents want to be able to choose who their mayor is. They want to go back to that time. They want to be able to exercise their vote and choose who their mayor is,” deHarte said.
Since 2019, the city has had three Latino mayors serve. The measure asks if it’s still needed given the efficiency.
“In a lot of ways, what it intended to set out to do has been done. We’ve had three Latino mayors. We had two of the youngest mayors we’ve ever had,” Bernstein said.
The rotation has faced critiques over the years, like a lack in consistency and influence from the mayor over the council.
“The longevity of a four year mayor is really important to the city, being able to maintain high level relationships with your community organizations and the neighborhoods,” deHarte said.
If the measure progresses, it could change a lot in the city.
“We could have four districts and an elected mayor, six districts, and an elected mayor. When the census happens in 2030 we’re going to have to look at redistricting anyway. So part of another question is is this a timing issue?” Bernstein said.
He also says the city has to consider if they’ll face legal challenges from the past lawsuit and the price of a new ballot measure.
However, deHarte says the cost wouldn’t compare to voters’ desires.
“Well, the cost is really minimal to the operations of the city. You have another stipend for a council member, build out costs there would be to create another office here at City Hall. So the expense to go through the effort is minimal. Being able to put it on the ballot in November when there’s already an election happening, it’s the perfect time to,” deHarte said.
The measure will come back to the city council for discussion in the first week of April. Stick with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.
Gavin Nguyen
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Fire Department is giving the media a first look before it hosts an Open House event next Monday.
News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson reported last night on the push from nearby businesses to stop the fire station due to concerns about parking.
Fire Chief Paul Alvarado said the downtown fire station sees the highest call volume in the city and desperately needs an upgrade.
He said, “This is the busiest area that we have in the city, the most call volume, the highest frequency of fires, and again, the highest risk based on the type of buildings that we have here. This is where our hotels are. This is where our restaurants are.”
With an increasing number of high-rise buildings, firefighters said they need the proper equipment to respond to emergencies. The department’s only ladder truck is currently stationed at Fire Station #2, at the airport, and would greatly benefit from a tiller truck stationed in the downtown area. Featuring a longer ladder and greater urban maneuverability, the addition of a tiller truck would be a valuable asset – and one that isn’t possible with the current Fire Station #1.
As it stands, the downtown fire station is too small. An expansion would allow the department to build a larger apparatus bay, capable of fitting larger vehicles.
And equipment aside, fire leaders showed our crews inside the living quarters 18 firefighters cycle in and out of with each shift. Deputy Chief Jeff van Lierop allowed News Channel 3 to see cramped living spaces, limited storage space, subpar heating and cooling systems, and a single shower shared by six personnel.
Chief Alvarado said the upgrades are needed. “For me to recruit, hire and retain the very best people, I have to have the best facilities.”
He also acknowledged the pushback from residents. News Channel 3’s Gavin Nguyen brought their concerns to him during the tour, asking, “When we go back to the parking, I know that was one of the big questions. You said this is an open conversation?”
“It is an open conversation. You know, we have to start somewhere. And we’ve had a lot of conversation with some of the local business owners,” Alvarado responded. “I want to hear the feedback I want to make sure they have an opportunity to talk to me and what are their needs here in the local businesses.”
Alvarado hopes the public Open House next Monday will offer that opportunity for residents and businesses to share their thoughts, and hopefully, brainstorm a compromise that will still allow business access – as well as maintain the functionality of an expanded fire station.
“Our goal on Monday is to have people come in, take a look and provide comment. I’m going to have staff here that’s going to take down their questions. We’re going to get back to them with answers,” reassured Alvarado.
Deputy Chief van Lierop agreed. He highlighted what he hopes the public takes away from the upcoming event.
“At any given weekend, we can have over 100,000 people in the city, in the downtown area, and we have to be able to protect them and provide EMS support for all of those people in the city,” the deputy chief explained. “And we are having a difficult time doing that in the current conditions that we’re living in.”
Julia Castro
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) — A Riverside County Sheriff’s patrol vehicle was involved in a crash early Wednesday morning in Rancho Mirage, authorities said.
The collision happened shortly after 3 a.m. near Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive.
Officials say no injuries have been reported.
Authorities temporarily closed the roadway while crews worked to remove the tree and tow the damaged vehicle.
Details about what led to the crash remain limited. Authorities have not yet released information about other vehicles involved or the cause of the collision.
News Channel 3 will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Joel Killam
PALM DESERT, Calif. — A power outage in Palm Desert left 134 customers without electricity Tuesday evening, according to utility officials.
The outage was first reported at 6:51 p.m. and remains in progress. The utility company said there is no estimated time for restoration as crews continue working to determine the cause.
The outage is currently marked as “analyzing problem.” A field investigator has been alerted and is en route to assess the situation.
No additional details on the cause of the outage were immediately available.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Jesus Reyes
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 28-year-old man was arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in Indio in December 2021.
Pedro Angel Gonzalez was arrested on Feb. 11 in Coachella during a traffic stop, the Indio Police Department announced on Tuesday.
Gonzalez has been charged with first-degree murder, shooting at a vehicle/dwelling, assault with a gun, and convicted felon and narcotic addict own or possesses firearm.
According to court records, Gonzalez was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at the Hall of Justice in Riverside, however, that hearing was delayed to March 5.
The case dates back to Dec. 14, 2021 on the 43000 block of Nairobi Street. Joseph Espinoza Mendez was killed in the shooting.
The investigation was ongoing and Gonzalez was identified as the suspect.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the lead detective, Indio Police Department Detective Shane DaCosta, at (760) 391-4057 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (760) 341-STOP.
City News Service
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A man partly responsible for supplying a deadly dose of fentanyl to a 35-year-old Riverside resident was sentenced today to six years in state prison.
David Ray Mullins, 48, of Jurupa Valley pleaded guilty on Feb. 6 to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of possession of controlled substances for sale under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dropped a second-degree murder charge against Mullins.
During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.
Mullins’ co-defendant, 32-year-old Jaclyn Christine Sherman ofRiverside, admitted one count of voluntary manslaughter and transportation of controlled substances for sale under a separate plea bargain. Sherman, who isbeing held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center, is slated to be sentenced on March 30. Details on the stipulated sentence for her were unavailable.
Last week, the pair’s co-conspirator, 39-year-old Miguel Garcia of Riverside, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, possession of drugs for sale and transportation of controlled substances for sale under a pretrial agreement. Garcia, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center, is also scheduled for sentencing on March 30. The stipulated sentence for him was not disclosed.
Sherman and Garcia delivered the fentanyl that killed Christopher Nicholas Lucia in 2023. Mullins was the original source of the synthetic opioid, prosecutors said.
According to an arrest declaration affidavit filed by Riverside Police Department Detective Scott Levesque, Garcia and Sherman were partners in narcotics sales to a stream of purchasers throughout the Riverside metropolitan area.
In the predawn hours of Nov. 8, 2023, they met Lucia after he contacted Sherman via text to request two grams of fentanyl, the affidavit said. While sitting in the back of Garcia’s Honda Element compact crossover SUV, the victim consumed the drug as his girlfriend waited for him in his car, parked nearby on Stony Brooke Circle.
Lucia returned to his vehicle moments later and got behind the wheel, Levesque said.
“Since he was already becoming irritable and sick, it’s possible he used a larger dose (of fentanyl) than normal, which could cause a higher-than-normal amount of the drug to enter the blood stream,” the detective said.
Lucia drove a short distance before falling unconscious, prompting his girlfriend, whose name wasn’t disclosed, to call 911. Lucia lingered in a coma for five days, at which point he died from the toxic substance.
Garcia and Sherman were soon identified as the sellers, and a search warrant was obtained and served at their shared residence in the 4900 block of Gardena Drive.
“Detectives located and seized more than three-quarter pounds of powdered fentanyl, as well as evidence these suspects continued selling fentanyl after Christopher’s death,” Riverside police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback said.
The defendants’ supplier was identified as Mullins, and a search warrant was executed at his property at 7226 Front Ave., where officers seized “scales, baggies, white residue and other items consistent with sales of fentanyl,” according to the affidavit.
Mullins was later convicted in a separate drug trafficking case and sent to state prison for less than a year.
“Sherman, Garcia and Mullins are responsible for the fentanyl that killed Lucia,” Levesque wrote.
Court records show Sherman has documented prior convictions for petty theft and driving on a suspended license. Mullins had priors that were not listed in court documents. Garcia has no priors in Riverside County.
Since February 2021, prosecutors have charged over three dozen people in connection with fentanyl poisonings. Two prosecutions have resulted in murder convictions.
Public health statistics indicated there were 328 known fentanyl-related fatalities countywide in 2024, compared to 571 in 2023, a 42% decline. Numbers for 2025 haven’t been finalized.
Fentanyl is manufactured in overseas labs, principally in China, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which says the opioid is smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border by cartels.
Fentanyl is 80-100 times more potent than morphine and can be mixed into any number of street narcotics and prescription drugs, without a recipient knowing what he or she is consuming. Ingestion of only two milligrams can be fatal.
