Author: KESQ

KESQ News Team

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A Riverside County Civil Grand Jury investigation has revealed serious oversight failures in Palm Springs.

It’s from a $700 thousand grant awarded to Queer Works by the City of Palm Springs.

The Riverside District Attorney requested the investigation following the indictment of Queer Works CEO Jacob Rostovsky in October 2024 on 53 felony counts in a fraud scheme involving a Universal Basic Income Pilot Program.

The Grand Jury’s report found that the city failed to enforce key terms of its agreement with Queer Works, such as requiring monthly progress reports and financial updates.

Jury members found that city staff lacked fraud training, and that councilmembers relied heavily on Desert Aids Project’s endorsement of Queer Works without proper vetting of the non-profit.

The Grand Jury issued ten recommendations, including stricter grant monitoring, mandatory fraud training, and regular independent audits.

The city has already updated some policies, but the report urges full implementation of the recommendations by the end of 2025.

The investigation also found inconsistencies in Queer Works’ financial records and concluded the city received no tangible results for its investment.

News Channel 3 has reached out to both the District Attorney and the city of Palm Springs for comment and will continue to follow this story.

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John White

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Local 41st District Rep. Ken Calvert (R) is hoping President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will be passed in the Senate and House this week advancing the President’s agenda. 

The bill includes an extension of the President’s first term tax cuts along with cuts in Medicaid spending to offset some of the costs. The current version would also extend the nation’s debt limit by $5 trillion.

Calvert sat down with News Channel 3’s John White for a wide-ranging interview including his defense of those cuts. 

“Medicaid is fine.  We’re not doing anything to Medicaid other than people that are able bodied, men and women under the age of 65 that are in good health with no children, have 20 hour a week work requirement or 20 hours of volunteer work. That’s not too much to ask to get Medicaid insurance on your behalf.” 

You can see more of the interview here:

The interview also covered Calvert’s positions on immigration enforcement, foreign policy, tariffs, and his plans to run for re-election next year. 

You can see our full report, “Questions Answered, In-Depth with Representative Ken Calvert” next Tuesday night, July 8th, on News Channel 3 at 6:00 p.m. 

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Shay Lawson

CORRECTION: We previously reported that the event at the Mizell Center was scheduled for Sunday. The correct date is Monday. It is a third party renting space for a private event, not a Mizell-sponsored event.

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)  – After weeks of ICE activity across the Coachella Valley, including in Cathedral City, Mayor Nancy Ross is now speaking out.

At last week’s city council meeting, she said her friend had been taken by ICE agents.

On Monday, Ross sat down with News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson to share what happened and why she’s raising her voice now.

“He was pulled over on Ramon and an officer approached his vehicle,” Ross said. “When the officers come to you, they’re fully masked. They don’t wear a name badge and they will not have communication with you.”

She said agents then took him to the airport and flew him to Mexico.

“They took their wallets, so they had no ID,” Ross said. “They took their telephones, and they kind of pushed them off the plane.”

Eventually she said her friend retained his phone and called her.

“We have not been in touch since that one phone call,” Ross said.

Now, she said she’s searching for answers for her community.

“This will remain my top priority until we get some answers to where are our people?” Ross said. “It’s also my responsibility to share some of the privileges I got in life. And if I could offer some of those in any little way to somebody else, count me in.”

News Channel 3 has reached out to ICE for a comment on this situation, and are waiting to hear back.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury deliberations got underway today in the trial of a 43-year-old Banning man accused of raping two women on separate occasions while they were intoxicated, as well as molesting a 12-year-old girl.

Steven Roy McElroy was arrested in 2022 following a Banning Police Department investigation that relied on statements from alleged victims going back a decade. McElroy is charged with two counts each of forcible rape and aggravated assault, as well as one count of lewd acts on a minor.

The prosecution and defense delivered closing arguments at the Banning Justice Center Monday morning, after which Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton sent jurors behind closed doors to begin weighing evidence from the two-week trial.

McElroy is free on a $1 million bond.

The defendant was charged for the alleged assault on the 12-year-old girl, identified in court documents in March 2022. Detectives received information afterward concerning two women who alleged they had been sexually assaulted by him on different occasions in 2015 and 2016.

According to Detective Jack Loera, the two women heard about the child molestation charge and decided to speak to police.     

McElroy has a felony conviction in another jurisdiction that wasn’t listed in court records.

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Spencer Blum

Last week, we learned about the National Weather Service and how the meteorologists there work day and night to keep Americans safe across every inch of the country.

First Alert Meteorologist Spencer Blum is taking an in-depth look at how recent government staffing cuts and proposed budget cuts could impact the agency monitoring the land, the seas, and the skies.

Watch part 2 of the special report.

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Haley Meberg

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)- A Desert Hot Springs man was arrested in connection to the hit and run crash resulting in injuries of a bicyclist Sunday. 

At approximately 2:45 p.m., Cathedral City Police Dispatch received multiple emergency calls reporting a vehicle hitting a bicyclist along Date Palm and Perez Road.

Police said the 30-year-old victim was heading northbound in the designated bike lane when he was struck from behind by the 23-year-old suspect. 

Officers arrived at the scene soon after where the vehicle had been stopped to find the suspect had taken off on foot. 

The victim had sustained multiple injuries and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center where he is currently in stable conditions. 

The suspect was found walking down the street one mile away from scene. Police said he provided a statement to the officers and was arrested and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center and is facing charges of felony hit-and-run resulting in injury. 

No official charges have been made at this time. The Cathedral City Traffic Bureau is asking that anyone with additional information about this incident contact Traffic Sergeant Daniel Anes at (760) 202-2476 or the Cathedral City Police Department at tips@cathedralcity.gov. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates on this incident. 

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Tori King

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The Fourth of July is just days away, and local fire official are warning desert residents about the dangers of illegal fireworks here in the Coachella Valley.

“This weekend, we had over a dozen fires in Southern California,” Said Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado. “We had so many brush fires because the weather is hot, the grass and the brush out there is dry, and it’s ready for a fire. So any little spark can cause a wildfire.”

Cathedral City Fire Department is also trying to raise awareness. This year, the department teamed up with the city to pay for signage, warning residents about the fireworks laws, and the consequences of breaking them.

“It’s al about public awareness, right,” said CCFD Chief Michael Contreras. “Do some people just not know that they’re illegal in Cathedral City? Well, let’s tell them. That’s our primary goal, is to tell people they’re illegal and to not use them. And then the the second piece is to try to get as much exposure as possible. So this year, we made a conscious effort with the council’s approval that we’re going to put them on all our vehicles, and all over town.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks are responsible for thousands of incidents every year. The NFPA reports around 18,500 fires caused by fireworks on average annually, causing an estimated $43,000,000 in damages.

Not only are they dangerous, they can be deadly. Despite the annual warnings, thousands of people were injured in fireworks-related accidents here in the U.S. in 2024. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, around 14,700 people were sent to Emergency Rooms and treated for fireworks-related injuries or burns across the country last year.

“People that think that it’s okay to break the law, and light fireworks and put the community at risk, they’re wrong,” said Alvarado. “In the city of Palm Springs, we don’t stand for that.”

During that same time period, eleven people died from fireworks-related accidents. That’s why both departments are on standby for the holiday.

“Every fire department in Southern California is doing the same thing I’m doing,” said Alvarado. “We’re trying to help out our mutual aid partners with brush fires in Southern California, but we also have to make sure the city is safe, so we’re working on that today to make sure we have plenty of firefighters on standby on the fourth.”

“We get double the amount of calls every fourth,” said Contreras. “It could be something from a spark or a larger firework. It could be the big mortar type fireworks, you know, Roman candles and things like that. And so really, the day, as the day progresses, it gets worse with the amount of calls, and usually about midnight or one o’clock is where it peaks. And then we just, we deal with whatever comes our way, whether it be a fire, an injury, a DUI crash. We just want people to be safe, but we are ready no matter what happens.”

Riverside County Fire, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, and the county Code Enforcement Department will be actively pursuing individuals who light fireworks without a permit.

During last year’s enforcement, nearly 300 citations were issued, while 10 people were arrested, and over 400 pounds of illegal fireworks were confiscated.

Under local ordinance, California-approved “safe and sane” fireworks such as sparklers and fountains are permitted only within the city limits of Blythe, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, and Indio. They are not permitted in other local cities.

News Channel 3’s Tori King is speaking with PSFD about safety tips this 4th of July, stay tuned for her coverage at 4, 5, and 6 p.m.

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Luis Avila

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Smoke from the Wolf Fire continues to push into the Coachella Valley, prompting health warnings for residents across the region.

The South Coast AQMD issued a smoke advisory until 6 PM on Monday. Officials said fine particle pollution, or PM 2.5, reached potentially unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, including older adults, children and pregnant women.

Short-term exposure to smoke can cause coughing, wheezing, and eye and throat irritation for healthy individuals, but long-term or heavy exposure can lead to more serious health problems like heart attacks, strokes, and even premature death, especially for those with existing conditions.

John Stoneham, respiratory therapist at Desert Care Network, says anyone can be at risk of complications as a result of poor air quality.

“Youth… think that ‘I’m healthy and I don’t have to worry about certain things,’ but unfortunately that is not the case. We should all be mindful about what is going into our lungs. It’s not like you can see every single thing in the air.”

John Stoneham, Desert Care Network respiratory therapist

But it’s not just smoke presenting a problem for residents, Stoneham says Monday’s gusty winds are making a bad situation worse.

“With the wind, blowing everything all types of directions, it becomes more invisible and hit you quicker than you realize.”

John Stoneham, Desert Care Network respiratory therapist

Residents are being advised to reduce outdoor activity, stay indoors, but if you have to go outside, monitor air quality and wear an N95 mask.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Bruno Lopez-Vega

Update 7/4/25 7:00 p.m.

CAL FIRE reports containment remains at 75%, with 2,387 acres burned. Crews will continue to strengthen the containment lines, and work on suppression repair continues. Evacuation Orders and Warnings are still in place.

Update 7/4/25 5:30 p.m.

The fire is now 75% contained, CAL FIRE announced.

Update 7/4/25 3:30 p.m.

Evacuation Orders have been changed to Evacuation Warnings for the area North of Old Banning  Idyllwild, West of Highway 243, East of Old Banning Idyllwild, and South of Smith Creek, RivCo Ready announced on Social Media Friday.

All previous evacuation warnings have been canceled.  

Residents are urged to use caution returning as emergency crews may still be working in the area.

For a map and more information visit: protect.genasys.com

Update 7/3/25 5:30 p.m.

CAL FIRE reports the Wolf Fire is now at 65% contained.

Highway 243 is open, though evacuation orders and warnings in the area west of Highway 243 remain in place.

Residents and travelers are urged to use extreme caution when traveling through the area, as firefighters remain actively engaged in full containment efforts along the highway.

Update 7/3/25 3:30 p.m.

Containment of the Wolf Fire grew to 55 percent Thursday afternoon, CAL FIRE announced.

CAL FIRE announced Highway 243 will reopen at 3 p.m. Thursday.

The area west of Highway 243 remains under an evacuation order.

Residents and travelers are urged to use extreme caution when traveling through the area, as firefighters remain actively engaged in full containment efforts along the highway.

Update 7/2/25 3:00 p.m.

CAL FIRE reports that the wolf fire remains at 2,414 acres and is now 40% contained. All evacuation warnings have been lifted and downgraded from evacuation orders to warnings with the exception of the fire perimeter. Officials tell residents to please use caution when returning to the area as fire crews still continue to work diligently to fully contain the fire.

Update 7/1/25 6:00 a.m.

CAL FIRE reports that evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. The fire is 2,414 acres and 35% contained.

Update 6/30/25 9:30 p.m.

CAL FIRE reports that evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. The fire is 2,414 acres and 30% contained. Firefighters continued to aggressively attack the fire from the air and the ground. Steep, rugged terrain, high temperatures and wind remain challenging factors for firefighters. Cooler temperatures tonight, with higher humidity will assist firefighters in constructing and strengthening containment lines.

Update 6/30/25 2:30 p.m.

The fire has been mapped at 2414.6 acres by CAL FIRE Intel aircraft.

Update 6/30/25 2:00 p.m.

The fire is now 30% contained, per CAL FIRE

Update 6/30/25 11:20 a.m.

Evacuation warnings have been expanded, CAL FIRE announced.

#WolfFIRE [6/30 UPDATE 11 a.m.] EVACUATION WARNINGS have been expanded to include the following zones:

RVC-0652RVC-0528BAN-0538ABAN-0536BAN-0530BAN-0525BAN-0649BAN-0647BMT-0827

Evacuation Map Link: https://t.co/1ihemE7uvr Please be prepared to leave if necessary.…

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) June 30, 2025

Click the image for an interactive map of evacuation orders/warnings

Update 6/30/25 9:11 a.m.

The Wolf Fire has grown to 1,400 acres scorched, and it’s now 10% contained.

Firefighters made good progress overnight. Multiple aircraft, along with hundreds of firefighters on the ground, will continue to establish containment lines. Overnight, Evacuation orders and warnings were expanded. Those can be found here.

Three firefighters have sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

Update 6/29/25 6:09 p.m.

The Wolf Fire has grown to 1,165 acres burned.

Evacuation orders and warnings are now in place for areas of Banning and Cabazon south of Interstate 10. Those can be found here.

Update 6/29/25 4:23 p.m.

The fire has been mapped at 62 acres and continues to burn at a moderate rate. No evacuations have been ordered.

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) Firefighters are on the scene of an approximately 20 acres vegetation fire, which they say is burning at a moderate rate of spread.

That fire first reported at 3:06 p.m. in the area Old Banning and Idyllwild Roads, near Wolfskill Truck Trail, south of Banning.

They report several air and ground resources have been assigned to aid in the fight, no injuries or evacuations have been reported at this time.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

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Shay Lawson

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Malyssa McCubbin, history teacher, said she is starting to prepare her classroom for next school year by gathering supplies.

“We spend our own money,” McCubbin said.

Team Mom Charities Inc. is holding an upcoming backpack distribution event, aimed at supporting dedicated teachers across the Coachella Valley.

“Our teachers are true heroes, consistently investing their own funds to ensure our children have the resources they need to succeed,” said a representative from Team Mom Charities Inc.

The initiative is aimed at helping educators alleviate the financial burden when buying school supplies for their classrooms according to organizer Margaret Webb.

“Team Mom likes to help the teachers out,” McCubbin said.

“We are thrilled to give them a much-needed break by providing essential school supplies through this backpack distribution,” said a representative from Team Mom Charities Inc.

The distributions will take place at various Quick Quack Car Wash locations throughout the Coachella Valley on July 10th, 11th and 12th.

McCubbin said school districts provide supply assistance as well.

“You get a little bit from our school sites that the district helps out with,” McCubbin said. “But it’s not enough. Especially all year.”

In a statement to News Channel 3 a spokesperson from Desert Sands Unified School District said:

DSUSD ensures that all teachers are provided with the essential supplies they need for their classrooms. Teachers submit supply requests through their school sites, and the district fulfills those requests. 

In a statement to News Channel 3 a spokesperson from Palm Springs Unified School District said:

The district supplies essential supplies. Our Foundation supports classroom grants. Teachers apply for a particular program or project (which often includes supplies they don’t have). We also have community organizations that often do supply drives before start of school that are donated to schools that need them the most.

Distribution Schedule:

Wednesday, July 10th

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Desert Hot Springs Quick Quack Car Wash

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Palm Springs Quick Quack Car Wash

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Cathedral City Quick Quack Car Wash

Thursday, July 11th

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Coachella Valley Quick Quack Car Wash

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Indio Quick Quack Car Wash

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Palm Desert Quick Quack Car Wash

Friday, July 12th

Rancho Mirage Quick Quack Car Wash 9:30AM-11:00AM

La Quinta Quick Quack Car Wash 1:00PM-2:30PM

Indian Wells Quick Quack Car Wash 4:00PM -5:30PM

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