Author: KESQ

Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — Father’s Day celebrations looked a little different across the Coachella Valley this year as families found ways to honor dads while dealing with triple-digit temperatures.

With the valley under another stretch of extreme heat, many residents adjusted their plans to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Restaurants were busy with Father’s Day breakfasts and brunches, while some families headed out early for golf rounds, walks, and other outdoor activities before temperatures climbed.

Others opted to stay indoors, spending the day at movie theaters, museums, shopping centers, and other air-conditioned venues.

Despite the heat, families said the holiday was less about the activity and more about spending quality time together. Many fathers enjoyed gathering with children, grandchildren, and loved ones for meals and celebrations throughout the weekend.

Health officials continue to remind residents to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, and limit prolonged outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours. They also encourage people to check on older relatives and neighbors, who can be especially vulnerable during extreme heat events.

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Bruno Lopez-Vega

NEAR DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Lanes are back open on State Route 62 South of Morongo Valley after a motorcycle crash temporarily closed all northbound lanes.

The California Highway Patrol received reports of that crash just before 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon just past North Indian Canyon Drive.

Lanes were shut down as authorities investigated and cleared debris, but are now open.

News Channel 3 has reached out for more information in injuries and a cause of that crash.

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Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — A new weekly food truck festival is bringing food, entertainment, and community gatherings to Palm Springs.

The Wanderlust Food Truck Festival officially launched Saturday at Sunrise Park in downtown Palm Springs. The free event features more than 20 food trucks and vendors offering a variety of options ranging from barbecue and comfort food to international cuisine and desserts.

Organizers say the festival is designed to create a welcoming space where residents and visitors can gather, enjoy local food, and spend time together during the summer months. In addition to food vendors, the event includes lawn games, open seating areas, and family-friendly activities.

The Palm Springs festival is the latest addition to Wanderlust’s growing network of food truck events across California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. The company has hosted similar weekly events in cities including Murrieta, Hemet, and Lake Elsinore.

Attendees said the wide variety of food and relaxed atmosphere make the event a welcome addition to the city during the slower summer season.

The Wanderlust Food Truck Festival will be held every Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Sunrise Park. Admission and parking are free. Organizers plan to announce participating food trucks and vendors each week through social media.

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Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, CALIF. (KESQ) — A charter bus caught fire Saturday morning on eastbound Interstate 10 west of Box Canyon Road in Chiriaco Summit, prompting a major response from firefighters and traffic delays in the area.

According to CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, the fire was reported at approximately 7:44 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find the bus fully engulfed in flames.

All 36 passengers on board safely evacuated before crews arrived. Paramedics evaluated the passengers at the scene as a precaution, and no injuries were immediately reported.

Fire crews remained on scene to extinguish the fire and conduct cleanup operations. Officials said eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 would be impacted for several hours, causing significant traffic delays through the area.

Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes and check traffic conditions before traveling through Chiriaco Summit.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Timothy Foster

Twentynine Palms, Calif. (KESQ) — A Twentynine Palms man is behind bars after investigators say he kidnapped two people, killing one of them, following a shooting the night before.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were first called to the 6300 block of Lupine Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Thursday for reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. When they arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound.

The suspected shooter had already left the area before deputies arrived. The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.

Less than 24 hours later, deputies responded to another call on Lupine Avenue, this time for a reported kidnapping. As investigators worked the case, they learned the suspect in the shooting, identified as 30-year-old male, he had allegedly kidnapped the surviving victim as well as a 62-year-old male.

The 62-year-old male was later found at a home in the 6100 block of Lupine Avenue with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sheriff’s Homicide Detail took over the investigation and quickly obtained an arrest warrant for Banales. Members of the Sheriff’s Specialized Enforcement Division located and arrested him a short time later.

The suspect was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and kidnapping. He remains in custody without bail.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Detail. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Music, dance, storytelling and community came together Saturday as the Sunset Music and Education Foundation hosted its Joyful Juneteenth Celebration at Revolution Stage Company in Palm Springs.

The free event honored Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

Residents gathered for an afternoon featuring live music, poetry, dance performances, storytelling and educational programming focused on freedom, culture and community connection.

The celebration showcased a variety of local artists, performers, educators and community leaders. Young artists also took center stage, including student performers recognized through the foundation’s educational programs.

Organizers said the event was designed to bring people together while highlighting the importance of preserving cultural traditions and sharing stories across generations.

Sweet Baby J’ai, CEO and Executive Artistic Director of the Sunset Music and Education Foundation, said the event provided an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to connect through music, art and culture.

Throughout the afternoon, the foundation also presented musical instruments to local youth through its SMARTS Initiative, which aims to increase access to music education and artistic opportunities for students across the Coachella Valley.

The celebration was part of a broader effort to honor the history of Juneteenth while encouraging community engagement, education and cultural understanding.

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Jesus Reyes

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Paying it forward here in the Coachella Valley. News Channel 3 is teaming up with LifeStream Blood Bank on Friday.

You can roll up your sleeves and donate at the bloodmobile, which will be located outside our studios off Dunham Way in Thousand Palms.

It’s happening on Friday, June 26, from 8 a.m. to Noon. You can click here to schedule your appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Donors will also receive a Coachella Valley shirt and $25 Target gift card while supplies last.

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Tommy Gallegos

A video circulating on social media has drawn attention to an alleged enforcement stop involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a motorist in Palm Springs near Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino.

According to the Palm Springs Police Department, local officers were not involved in the incident and were not notified in advance of Border Patrol’s presence in the city.

Palm Springs police said the traffic stop was initiated by U.S. Border Patrol in Palm Springs. Authorities reported that the motorist then fled the area, leading the incident into neighboring Cathedral City.

When contacted for additional details, Palm Springs police directed inquiries to the Cathedral City Police Department.

In a statement, Cathedral City police confirmed that Border Patrol agents were involved in a pursuit that entered the city at approximately 8:29 a.m.

Cathedral City police said the pursuit was called off within city limits, and no injuries or crashes were reported. Cathedral City police also emphasized that none of its officers participated in the pursuit.

Questions remain regarding the reason for the initial stop.

Requests for comment have been sent to U.S. Border Patrol. The agency has not responded.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A weekend of Juneteenth celebrations is kicking off in Palm Springs, hosted by the Palm Springs Black History Committee.

The holiday celebrates independence day for African Americans from slavery.

Juneteenth Freedom Weekend began Thursday evening at Villagefest in Downtown Palm Springs and continues through Saturday with a youth pageant at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Center.

Friday at 5 p.m., the Juneteenth Unity Picnic welcomes residents to Downtown Park for a lineup of educational, cultural, and community engagement experiences. The event will also feature food vendors and live entertainment.

Organizers say it’s been a way to unite the community and educate the public on the true meaning of Juneteenth.

“It’s important to keep educating not only our community, but everybody. Black history, we usually stick everything into one month, but our our mission is to celebrate Black history throughout the whole year,” Brian Jackson, Juneteenth coordinator with the committee said.

For many like Andrea Terry, the history has been passed down generations.

“Well, my mother is from Texas. Being a product of both her father being white, her mother being black, she had so much ties to slavery. She wanted us to know the importance and the significance of this day,” Terry said.

At Sweet Ashley’s, a homemade desert business, owner Ashley Johnson says Juneteenth gives her a chance to showcase her culture.

“It gives us space to be ourselves and give us a space to do recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Like the peach cobbler that’s been in our family since I was a kid,” Johnson said.

Terry says the day is a reminder that freedom is still a work in progress for some.

“This day and age, we’re fighting the administration. We’re fighting for people who are running from ICE. We are fighting for all of humanity, not just one race,” Terry said.

For more information on Freedom Weekend, visit: https://palmspringsblackhistory.org/juneteenth-weekend.

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Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Festival Theaters Palm Springs announced a summer season full of exclusive premieres and filmmaker talkbacks marking a new chapter for the Coachella Valley’s cinema legacy.

The summer season takes off on June 26th at 7:00pm, with the screening of Coroner of the Stars followed by a post-screening talkback with director Ben Hethcoat. The exclusive screening opportunities span throughout the month of July, concluding July 29th, following the Festival Theaters Palm Springs Shortfest.

Viewings like the Palm Springs premier of Atropia, include a post-screening career retrospective by actress and Coachella Valley native Alia Shawkat, giving audiences a deeper look into the filmmaking world.

“We’re building something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the desert, a place where you can see a great film and then sit in the same room as the person who made it,” said Zack Solomon, General Manager of Festival Theaters Palm Springs. “The support from our community has been extraordinary, and we’re committed to keeping these experiences as fun, accessible, and affordable as possible.”

All events offered throughout the summer season are ticketed at $20. Each film screening will be accompanied by a talkback with a director or actor from each film to reinforce Festival Theaters Palm Springs commitment to presenting cinema as a community experience.

Visit https://festivaltheaters.com/home/ for more details.

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