Author: KESQ

Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Palm Springs renewed a six-figure deal with the local hospitality industry to devote tax dollars to tourism.

The deal was meant to funnel a portion of the city’s transient occupancy tax to PS Resorts – a nonprofit composed of several Palm Springs hotels.

The amount was estimated to be about $780-thousand in the current fiscal year.

The council voted unanimously to renew the deal, which had been in place since 2012 – for another ten years.

Watch Peter Daut’s full interview with Peggy Trott – PS Resorts Chair.

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Cynthia White

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KESQ) – A federal judge late Friday ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop broad, untargeted immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Riverside County.

The two temporary restraining orders (TRO) granted by the judge come after a lawsuit was filed by immigrant advocacy groups, accusing federal agents of targeting Latino communities.

TODEC Executive Director Luz Gallegos says the restraining orders “apply to Los Angeles and six surrounding counties, which encompass Riverside County. The lawsuit that led to this ruling specifically named Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties.”

The court found that the federal government’s ongoing immigration raids in Southern California and its denial of access to counsel for arrested immigrants likely violated the Constitution.

The TROs prohibit the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from continuing these unlawful actions.

The first TRO bars immigration agents from stopping individuals without reasonable suspicion and from relying on four factors – alone or in combination, including:

apparent race or ethnicity

speaking Spanish or English with an accent

presence in a particular location like a bus stop, car wash, or agricultural site

the work a person does

The second TRO orders DHS to provide access to counsel on weekdays, weekends, and holidays for people who are detained in B-18, the federal building in downtown Los Angeles.

In a statement responding to the court’s action, the White House said, “No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy – that authority rests with Congress and the President. Enforcement operation require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview (or) jurisdiction of any judge. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal.”

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Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – College of the Desert officials reported to Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday that progress is being made on the Palm Springs Campus project.

The official groundbreaking was last November, and currently progress is being made on underground utilities and infrastructure work that is expected to be completed by mid-September.

After that, work will begin on the first area of campus to go vertical – the campus support building. COD is planning a “going vertical” ceremony later this year to celebrate the construction milestone.

Of the anticipated start of construction on the first building, COD Superintendent/President Val Martinez Garcia told councilmembers, “After more than two decades of visioning, planning, and perseverance, this moment will mark the shift from ground work to skyline, when steel begins to rise and the communities can finally see what has long been believed can transform this community.”

Martinez added that the campus will expand COD’s offerings in programs such as Hospitality and Tourism, Healthcare Certification, Digital Media and Artificial Intelligence, plus more, describing them as “Educational opportunities that directly respond to regional employer needs.”

The new Palm Springs Campus represents a massive $405 million capital investment, the largest higher education infrastructure project in the history of the west valley.

When fully open and operational, the campus will serve over 3,000 students, faculty and staff.

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Athena Jreij

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Trash, many telling us it’s a problem for residents in Thousand Palms. 

From people’s trash to construction waste, it’s a problem that’s piling up.    

Code enforcement has been working for years to clean up illegal dumping and homeless encampments at a 93-acre lot at the corner of Monterey and Varner. But business owners say it’s all showing up again – this is just one of many lots in Thousand Palms facing this issue.

Since 2010, code enforcement has opened 30 cases on the property at Monterey and Varner. The worst of them in 2022, when it took them two years to clear 18 homeless encampments. It’s come a long way since then but locals fear what new trash could mean for the future.

News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij goes in-depth on the issue in her special report, Trash Talk.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Friday is the final day of Amazon’s extended Prime Day sales event, with online shoppers flocking to score discounts on everything from electronics to home goods. Nationally, Prime Day spending is expected to top $23 billion.

But not everyone is buying into the hype.

Local businesses say the growing dominance of e-commerce, especially during major sale events like Prime Day, is creating serious challenges, including lower sales.

“It’s slow for everybody… It’s not only the weather, it’s Amazon and all that it’s hard for small businesses.”

Maria, local small business employee

But local shoppers say you just can’t beat shopping in person.

“Online is easier but it’s nice to support them because these people have families and they live here and I just feel like it’s a personal type thing where you can help them out… Just now I asked her which looks best on me and I guess the advice and support from the person who works there you don’t get that online. You just have to get the size and hope it fits. This I can try on and I can make sure it fits good and she can tell me whether it looks good or not.”

Janae, Palm Springs resident

Some businesses are even making a push of their own, reminding residents that some of the best deals, and biggest impacts, are still found close to home.

“My main focus because we’re under $10 clothing shop, is to keep my merchandise better and better. Sale is always there, but I try to keep my quality… I think the best thing is start showing our stuff online too. What kind of merchandise we carry. That helps maybe more businesses.”

Azmatqazi, L.A.’s Fashion owner

Owners who see an opportunity to reconnect with consumers eager to shop.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A suspect in the shooting death of a 66-year-old man at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Elijah Ray Burt, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5.

Burt was arrested along with his twin brother, Emanuel Rick Burt, and a third suspect, Reginald Charles Trice, for the slaying of Michael Moser of Palm Springs in March 2022.

Michael Moser is pictured far left

Emanuel Burt, 22, was convicted in November of robbery charges. He was sentenced to 72 months in state prison, according to court records.

Trice, 21, is currently on trial on multiple charges, including first-degree murder. His trial will continue on Monday, court records show.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Ramirez alleged Trice confronted Moser shortly before 7 p.m. on March 24, 2022, in the 48600 block of Seminole Drive, though the specific location within the mall wasn’t provided.

Ramirez said Moser was shot at least once, prompting calls to 911, after which deputies and paramedics converged on the location. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

There was no sign of the defendants when deputies reached the mall. However, Ramirez said over the ensuing weeks, detectives developed leads pointing to Trice as one of the alleged assailants. A warrant was obtained and served at his residence in the 15500 block of Morada Road on April 21, 2022, according to the sheriff’s spokesman.   

The defendant was taken into custody without incident.

The brothers were identified and named in the criminal complaint after Trice’s arrest.

They were tracked down and taken into custody in Las Vegas at the end of April 2022. A month later, they were returned to Riverside County.   

None of the men had documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Jesus Reyes

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ) – Construction crews will be working on Indian Canyon Drive between Sunrise Parkway and Garnet Avenue in North Palm Springs from 8:00 p.m. on Friday to 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, officials said.

Drivers are advised to watch out for traffic control as crews will be striping the road.

To ensure the safety of construction crews, the speed limit along Indian Canyon Drive will be reduced to 35 mph while our team is hard at work.

Residents can find key information on the Indian Canyon Drive Widening project, the latest updates, and frequently asked questions at www.indiancanyonproject.com.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Indian Canyon Drive widening, please contact our hotline at 760-203-5224. For more direct assistance, contact construction manager Andrew Beebe at andrew.beebe@weareharris.com or call 949-396-4735. 

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Haley Meberg

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ)– The Beer Hunter Sports Bar & Grill in La Quinta loses liquor license after employees served alcohol to two minors resulting in great bodily injuries. 

According to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in January 2024, two bartenders were said to have supplied two minors with alcoholic beverages at The Beer Hunter Sports Bar & Grill without conducting proper ID checks leaving the two underaged individuals exiting the property clearly intoxicated. 

After leaving the property one of the minors backed their vehicle into a parked car, exited the vehicle and entered the roadway where they were struck by an oncoming car, causing major bodily injuries. 

Following the incident the ABC conducted an investigation where it was determined the La Quinta sports bar employees furnished the alcohol to the minors leading to the injuries.

“Keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors is one of our top priorities,” said ABC Acting Director Frank Robles. “We’re reminding businesses and their employees to check IDs carefully and do their part to keep Californians safe.”

The ABC sought disciplinary action against the bar for supplying alcoholic beverages to minors, service of alcohol to someone that was clearly intoxicated and other business-related violations resulting in the suspension of their alcohol license.

The Beer Hunter Sports Bar & Grill had closed its door September 2024 due to alleged lease issues. 

Even though the bar had been closed prior to a conclusion the ABC reported they still continued on with the investigation that had been in place. 

We asked an ABC official what this license suspension will mean for the property in which they responded, “Under the agreement with the licensee, the license is revoked, with the revocation stayed for the next 180 days to allow for transfer of the license. In addition, the license is suspended indefinitely until it is transferred.” 

No further information about the future of this bar has been released. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

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Luis Avila

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Vector control officials will conduct anti-mosquito spraying to help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne viruses starting this week throughout the Coachella Valley.

The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District will operate the treatment on Saturdays from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. starting on July 19 through Sept. 6.

The agency said it will apply a wide area larvicide using truck-mounted equipment that combines high volumes of air and low volumes of liquid larvicide mixed with water. The product applied for the operation is an organic larvicide approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute and is safe for people, pets, and other insects.

The cities targeted will include Cathedral City, Palm Springs and Palm Desert.

“Every year we analyze our trap data, our mosquito abundance data from across the valley and we’ve determined that these four communities have increase mosquito at least in the last year so in order to prepare for the upcoming mosquito season, we are targeting these communities to try to eliminate any mosquito breeding.”

Robert Gaona, CV Mosquito & Vector Control District public information officer

To view a map of treatment areas and for more information, go to www.cvmosquito.org/mosquito-control-treatments-e755425.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Iris Williams, a local resident and renowned singer, has died at the age of 79, according to the BBC.

Williams performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2004, Queen Elizabeth II honored Williams with the title of OBE, Order of the British Empire, for her contribution to music.

In 2022, Williams spoke with News Channel 3 about her experience with Queen Elizabeth II.

Williams was a friend of President Gerald Ford, a fellow Rancho Mirage resident. She performed for the President multiple times over the years.

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