Author: KESQ

Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs International ShortFest announced the programs and participants for its annual Forum as well as the jury members.

The ShortFest Forum features a lineup of panels, roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions that will bring together industry experts and filmmakers. The Forum will take place June 27 through June 29 at the Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs. Jury members will fete Academy Award-Qualifying, Student Shorts, and Special Jury Awards.

Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, screenings for the Palm Springs International ShortFest will be presented at the Festival Theaters in Palm Springs from June 24 through June 30. 

Juried award winners will be announced on Sunday, June 29 at the Awards Brunch. Presentations include awards and cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award® qualifying awards.

This year’s ShortFest jury members include:

Best of the Festival Award

Caroline Lindy – (Director, Your Monster)

Carolina Groppa – (Producer, Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul)

Cooper Raiff – (Director, Cha Cha Real Smooth)

Best Animated Short

Ahkeyah Andrada – Director of Development, Lord Miller

Mireia Vilanova – Producer, Cartuna

Ramin Zahed – Editor In Chief, Animation Magazine

Best Documentary Short

Lauren Cioffi – Documentary Producer

Isis Masoud – Casting Director/Filmmaker/Actress, the Nonfiction Hotlist

Lauren Thelen – Programming Director, Nashville Film Festival

Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes

Manuel Betancourt – Critic, FilmWeek

Imani Davis – Film Programmer, American Cinematheque

Lucas Ford – Producer, Ford Films

Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes & Under

Julien Levesque – Agent, The Gersh Agency

Peter Debruge – Chief Film Critic, Variety

Karsten Runquist – Filmmaker

Best International Short

Sola Fasehun – Founder, Co-Director, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival

Roberto Larios – TV Literary Agent, Verve Talent & Literary Agency

Ritesh Mehta – Story Consultant, Programmer, Freelance Journalist & Critic

Best U.S. Short

Marvin Lemus – Writer/Director

Craig Parish – Senior Programmer, Slamdance Film Festival

Mia Vicino – West Coast Editor, Letterboxd

Best Comedy Short

Sarah Carbiener – Writer/Producer

Aanch Khaneja – Producer

Matt Klasco – Manager/Producer, Adventure Media

Best LGBTQ+ Short

Jade Fox – Creative Consultant/Creator

Tracy Gilchrist – VP, Editorial & Special Projects, EqualPride

Daniel Talbott – Screenwriter/Director/Producer

Best Midnight Short

Lauren Botchan – Coordinator Creative Development, New Line Cinema

Meera Menon – Director

Brandt Wrightsman – VP Production & Development US Film & TV, Anton Corp

Best Student Animated Short & Best Student International Short

Pasqual Gutierrez – Director/Writer, Cliqua

Sue-Ellen Chitunya – Producer/Filmmaker

Kate Sharp – Literary Manager/Producer, Bellevue Productions

Best Student Documentary & Best Student U.S. Short

Debra Birnbaum – Editor-in-Chief, Gold Derby

Jaqueline Mosher – Manager, Rain Management Group

Brock Williams – Producer, Boxcar Films

This year’s Forum programs and participants include: 

Short to Feature

Friday, June 27 — 10:00am – 11:00am

Taking the giant step from shorts to feature filmmaking doesn’t have to be intimidating! Hear from our panel of seasoned filmmakers about their own journeys and learnings as they stepped into making features for the first time, and discover the best way to prepare yourself for the next chapter.

Panelists: Jesy Odio (Producer, Everyday in Kaimukī), Josh Margolin (Director, Thelma), Pasqual Gutierrez (Director, Serious People), Valerie Steinberg (Executive Producer, The Inspection, Disney’s Bite Size Halloween)

Moderator: Peter Debruge (Chief Film Critic, Variety)

Pitch Like A Pro

Friday, June 27 — 11:30am – 12:30pm

Don’t miss one of our most popular events, centered on the art of perfecting your pitch. Hear from industry experts about do’s and don’ts for pitching and tips on getting your delivery just right. Submit your pitch ahead of time for the chance to pitch directly to the panelists and receive feedback live! Three pitches will be pre-selected and confirmed prior to the panel. The panel is open to all, advance registration required for those wanting to pitch.

Panelists: Aanch Khaneja (Producer, ¡WOW!), Katie White (Producer, Best Summer Ever), Matt Rosen (Manager, Navigation), Constanza Castro (Producer, Papa Melissa, 271 Films)

Moderator: Manuel Betancourt (Critic, FilmWeek)

Going Viral: Lessons from the Creator Economy

Friday, June 27 — 1:00pm – 2:00pm

In a world where content creation is king, what can filmmakers learn from viral creators? This dynamic conversation brings together digital storytellers who have cracked the code of online virality alongside industry executives seasoned in this fast-paced world. We’ll explore how short-form content is evolving, the creative strategies behind breakout success across platforms, and what narrative and audience-building techniques translate best in the age of algorithms.

Panelists: Adriana Ducassi (Director, Go Off with Jess & Julissa), Jessica Komitor (Director, People of New York), Susan Lee (SVP, Marketing and Brand Partnerships, Underscore Talent), Rebecca Rusheen (Digital Talent Agent, Gersh) and Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh (Strategist, Two Six Eighty Corp)

Moderator: Tracy Gilchrist (VP, Editorial & Special Projects at EqualPride)

Breaking Into Television

Friday, June 27 — 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Ever wondered what it takes to start working in television? Hear from prominent directors, writers, showrunners, and industry experts about the current television landscape, what they anticipate for the future, and the best ways to forge a path into this coveted area of the industry.

Panelists: Daniel Willis (Director, Matlock, The Rookie), Marvin Lemus (Writer/Director, Gente-fied), and Meera Menon (Director, Ms Marvel, Westworld, Outlander), and Auri Maruri (TV Literary Agent, Gersh) Moderator: Michael Schneider (Executive Editor, TV at Variety)

Ask Me Anything: Festivals 

Friday, June 27 — 4:00pm – 5:00pm

A Forum favorite! Meet the programmers from festivals around the country who are keen to spotlight work from emerging and established filmmakers. Learn about how selection processes work, do’s and don’ts for submissions, and how to make the most of a film festival experience. Bring all your questions as the audience are the moderators!

Panelists: Ash Hoyle (Programmer, Sundance), Gabe Van Amburgh (Senior Manager Film & TV Programming, SXSW), Paul Sloop (Lead Programmer of Short Films, Cleveland International Film Festival), Lauren Thelen (Programming Director, Nashville Film Festival), Nichole Young (Short Film Programmer, AFI)

One-on-Ones Session 1: Industry Executive Mentors (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 28 — 10:00am – 11:15am

Don’t miss the chance to meet in person with an industry professional as part of our One on Ones. These general meetings are designed to allow you the opportunity to ask burning questions about areas of the industry you are interested in working in or learning more about, general career advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating – advance sign-up required.

Participants: Ahbra Perry (Vice President, Chroma), Alan Luna (Producer/Casting Director, ABL Casting), Alberto Medina (Talent Manager & Producer, BASH Entertainment), Beau Farrell (Curator, Vimeo), Brandt Wrightsman (VP Production & Development US Film & TV, Anton Corp), Evan Schwartz (Head of Content, Wolfe Video), Francis Roman (Senior Film & TV Festival Programming Manager, SXSW), Ian Bignell (Festival Strategist, Festival Formula), Imani Davis (Film Programmer, American Cinematheque), Isis Masoud (Casting Director/ Filmmaker/Actress, The Nonfiction Hotlist), Jacqueline Mosher (Manager, Rain Management Group), Jim Buchholz (President, Riverside International Film Festival), Kate Sharp (Literary Manager/Producer, Bellevue Productions), Katie Bignell (Festival Strategist, Festival Formula), Maddie Neil (Agent, WME), Matt Klasco (Manager/Producer, Adventure Media), Matt Rosen (Manager, Navigation), Max Geschwind (Agent, CAA), Nick Romano (Creative Executive, 18hz), Ritesh Mehta (Story Consultant/ Programmer/Journalist/Critic, IndieWire), Rodrigo Moscoso (Manager/Producer, Zero Gravity Management), Sola Fasehun (Founder/Co-Director, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival), Stephanie Pfingsten (Founder/Publicist, Lumos PR) 

One-on-Ones Session: Filmmaker Mentors (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 28 — 12:00pm – 1:15pm

Don’t miss the chance to meet in person with an established filmmaker as part of our One on Ones. These general meetings give you the opportunity to ask burning questions about their careers, aspects of filmmaking you are interested in learning more about, general advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating – advance sign-up required.

Participants: Allie Perison (Writer/Director/Producer), Andrew Carlberg (Producer, Skin), Aurora Brachman (Director, Still Processing), Branton Choi (Executive Producer, Christmas Eve at Miller’s Point), Brock Williams (Producer, Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All), Daniel Talbott (Screenwriter/Director/Producer, Midday Black Midnight Blue), Diego Najera (Producer, Artefacto Cinema/Borderlands), Drew Dickler (Filmmaker/Producer, Fireboys), Erin Brown Thomas (Writer/Director/Producer, Chasers), Jessica Sanders (Director, After Innocence), Julianna Ornelas (Independent Producer, Kismet Productions), Lucas Ford (Producer, Portal to Hell),  Kristen Buckels Cantrell (Director/Filmmaker), Lindsay Carpenter (Writer/Director, Little One), Marissa Goldman (Writer/Director), Mireia Vilanova (Producer, Cartuna), Monika Skerbelis (Director, Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at The American Pavilion), Rona Edwards (Producer), Sue-Ellen Chitunya (Producer/Filmmaker), Usman Ally (Writer/Director/Producer, All Our Stories Inc), Wale Adetula (Director, Helium Films UK), Winter Dunn (Director), Taylor Bakken (Head of Development, Wicious Pictures), Doménica Castro (Producer),  and Ahmed El Zoghby (Director). 

One-on-Ones Session: Collaborator Matchup (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 28 — 2:15pm – 3:30pm

Our newest interactive event! Are you a director seeking a producer for your new project? An actor looking for the writer that will have your next meaty role? Whatever hat(s) you might wear in the filmmaking process, let us step in and help you find your next great collaborator through these structured general meetings. Limited seating – advance sign-up required.

Roundtable Meet & Greet: Representatives & Episodic (Filmmakers only)

Sunday, June 29 — 12:30pm – 1:30pm

We are proud to introduce a new roundtable this year! In an intimate group setting, hear directly from prominent agents & managers about how they build relationships with filmmakers, and how your work can stand out from the crowd. OR sit down with established writers and directors working in television to learn about how they began their careers and what advice helped them succeed. Bring your questions – we’ll rotate every 20 minutes, so you’ll be able to meet with 3 speakers total. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.

Participants: Bayan Joonam (Executive Producer, Laugh Cry Wow), Charlotte Lichtman (Agent, CAA), Julien Levesque (Agent, The Gersh Agency), Kimberly Ann Harrison (Showrunner/Executive Producer, 20th Century Studios), Marc Mounier (Manager/Producer, Entertainment 360), Paola Franco (Manager Drama Development Original Series, Netflix), Roberto Larios (TV Literary Agent, Verve Talent & Literary Agency), Sarah Carbiener (Television Writer/Producer, Rick and Morty)

Roundtable Meet & Greet: Development & Artist Support (Filmmakers only)

Sunday, June 29 — 2:30pm  – 3:30pm

Our signature roundtable event returns! In an intimate group setting, hear directly from development executives and organizations involved in artist support and granting to learn about how they select the filmmakers they work with, what they look for, and what opportunities exist for your project. Bring your questions – we’ll rotate every 20 minutes, so you’ll be able to meet with 3 speakers total. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.

Participants: Ahkeyah Andrada (Director of Development, Lord Miller), Greta Fuentes (Vice President Film, MACRO), Kaylee Madrid (Creative Executive, Ley Line Entertainment), Matthew Takata (Sundance), Sean Aversa (Creative Executive, Zero Gravity Management), Valerie Martinez (Senior Manager Artist Development, Film Independent), Missy Laney (Development Executive), Craig Parish (Senior Programmer, Slamdance)

One-on-ones are filmmaker-only with limited seating and require pre-registration by June 16.

For any Forum questions, please contact shortfestforum@psfilmfest.org.

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Julia Castro

UPDATE 06/13/2025 – Indio police report on Friday that a suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of a 27-year-old man on Thursday night at the Motel 6 in Indio.

Police say that their investigation revealed the suspect’s vehicle, a white Toyota Camry with paper plates, was seen fleeing the scene. They viewed video surveillance footage from the Motel 6 as well as from Flock Cameras to also get a description of the vehicle.

As IPD detectives began conducting their initial investigation at the scene, one of the detectives observed a white Toyota Camry passing by near the crime scene. The Toyota matched the description of the suspect vehicle.

Police initiated an investigative traffic stop on the Toyota. After a slow failure to yield, the vehicle finally stopped, and a high risk felony stop was conducted. Two adult males and two adult females were safely detained without incident.

Police recovered a bag thrown from within the vehicle on the street during the traffic stop. The bag contained a loaded Glock semi-automatic firearm, and the car was later confirmed to be the suspect vehicle from the shooting incident.

The 23-year-old male driver of the car was later identified as the shooter/homicide suspect.

Police say the investigation revealed there was a dispute between the victim and the suspect before the shooting. The suspect was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, charged with murder (187 PC) and being in possession of an unregistered firearm (29850 (c)(6) PC).

The other adult males and two adult females who were initially detained with the suspect during the traffic stop were later released from the station.

Police add that the confirmation of the victim’s identity is pending the coroner’s office investigation, and there is no additional danger to the community regarding this investigation.

The Indio Police Department encourages anyone with information on this incident to contact IPD Detective Shane DaCosta at (760) 541-4529.

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Indio Police are investigating a deadly shooting that left a 27-year-old man dead at a local motel.

Officers responded around 11:30 p.m. Thursday to the Motel 6 located on Indio Boulevard, near Sun Gold Street and Fred Waring Drive. Police say the victim was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident is being investigated as a homicide. As of Friday morning, no arrests have been made.

A hotel guest contacted News Channel 3 shortly before midnight, reporting a heavy police presence in the area. When our crew arrived, they found crime scene tape surrounding the motel parking lot and eastbound Indio Boulevard shut down between Fred Waring and Sun Gold.

The road remains closed as detectives continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Shane DaCosta with the Indio Police Department at (760) 541-4529.

This is a developing story. Stay with News Channel 3 on-air and online for updates.

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Cynthia White

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – A daring rescue was undertaken by firefighters in Coachella on Thursday.

A concerned citizen drove in to CAL FIRE’s Station 79, reporting mysterious meows coming from their engine.

Fire crews were able to locate a tiny kitten tucked deep inside the vehicle’s undercarriage. Despite the heat, the kitten was able to claw its way to survival with the firefighters’ help.

They notified animal control to provide proper care, and a well deserved nap. 

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Cynthia White

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office reports a high speed chase that started in Cabazon Wednesday evening finally ended in Palm Springs with an arrest.

Is a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, they say the pursuit began with an attempted traffic stop at Main and Fern Streets in Cabazon just before 5:00 p.m.

The driver, a 46-year-old Coachella man, did not stop for deputies and instead drove away at a high rate of speed, entering eastbound I-10 headed towards Palm Springs.

The driver exited the freeway at Highway 111 and the pursuit ended on North Indian Canyon Drive where deputies arrested the driver without incident.

The Sheriff’s Office says in addition to charging the man with felony evading and reckless driving, he also had outstanding arrest warrants.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A heavy police presence was in Palm Desert near Monterey Avenue and Sagewood Drive Thursday as Sheriff’s deputies on the ground and in the air searched for a hit-and-run suspect.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called out to a hit-and-run crash at around 5:25 p.m. in the area of Bob Hope Drive and Dinah Shore Drive.

Deputies were able to get a description of the vehicle, which was later located in the 4000 block of Sagewood Drive.

One suspect was taken into custody; however, deputies actively searched for a second suspect for around four hours. They report the search of the area has been concluded, but the investigation remains ongoing.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – The Palm Springs Police Department hosted a free “know your rights” session on Thursday.

Dozens attended.

Lorraine Kochis, attendee, said she’s thankful for the department’s initiative.

“It’s better to be informed so that we know what we can do,” Kochis said. “I appreciate the police department for offering this.”

The session covered numerous topics including protest zones, agitators and how to assert your rights peacefully.

Lt. Michael Torres said it’s ok to raise your voice, as long as it’s done safely.

“If you’re being vocal about whatever your stance is and you’re not trying to assert yourself in a physical way, there’s no issue with that,” Torres said.

As of now he said no other classes are planned.

“If it catches momentum and people would like to be educated in the current laws that we currently facilitate, we’d be more than happy to demonstrate that for others.”

Stay with News Channel 3 at 10 and 11 p.m. for the key takeaways from Thursday’s session.

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KESQ News Team

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – A federal court hearing is set for Tuesday to determine who is in charge of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles.   

Until then, the troops will remain under the guidance of President Donald Trump, who federalized and deployed them late Saturday amid community demonstrations against ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the L.A. area.

On Thursday, a federal judge ordered Trump to return control to Gov. Gavin Newsom following a hearing in which the jurist expressed doubt about the president’s claims that civil unrest in downtown Los Angeles needed to be met with military force.

In a written ruling following an emergency court hearing in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer wrote that Trump’s actions did not follow congressionally mandated procedure.

“His actions were illegal — both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the judge wrote. “He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.”

Hours later, Breyer’s ruling was stayed by a three-judge appellate panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in response to a Trump administration notice of appeal.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held an eventful news conference in West L.A. to discuss ongoing ICE operations in the Los Angeles area and declare “We are not going away,” moments before Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, was forcibly removed, forced onto a hallway floor and placed in handcuffs.   

The rough treatment of Padilla was widely condemned, including by Newsom who called it “outrageous, dictatorial and shameful” and by Mayor Karen Bass who labeled it “absolutely abhorrent and outrageous.”  

Thursday’s dramatic events came as tensions sparked by immigration enforcement and the resulting protests in the L.A. area remained heightened — with a dusk-to-dawn downtown curfew still in effect, leading to a reduction in confrontations with police — though arrests continued to mount.

While most of the protests have been concentrated near the federal Metropolitan Detention Center downtown and the nearby federal building and City Hall, smaller, scattered protests were held this week at the DoubleTree Hotel in Whittier, the Westin Hotel in Pasadena and the Embassy Suites Hotel in Downey, where demonstrators believed federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were staying.   

Protests have been occurring daily in the area since Friday, when ICE agents carried out a series of immigration enforcement raids, detaining dozens of people.

Prior to the curfew, the nightly protests often devolved into violence, with some demonstrators hurling objects or fireworks at police, who often responded by firing non-lethal weapons or tear gas.

Bass and community leaders took issue Thursday with suggestions by Trump and others that the entire city was under a siege of violence necessitating deployment of the military, including the 4,000 federalized National Guard troops and 700 active-duty U.S. Marines.

“To characterize what is going on in our city as a city of mayhem is just an outright lie,” Bass said at an afternoon news conference attended by dozens of local faith and community leaders.

The mayor pointed to comments made by Noem Thursday morning that described the city as a “war zone.”   

“There’s no one up here that sees Los Angeles like that,” Bass said. “This is not all of Los Angeles. This is isolated to a few blocks in a city that is 500 square miles. And out of those 500 square miles, the protests — and especially the protests that devolved into violence — represent half a square mile.”

Bass said the raids were spreading fear in the community, preventing some people from going to work or school. She said some raids that occurred Thursday took place at “emergency rooms and homeless shelters.”   

And she again repeated her assertion that protests in the city would stop immediately if federal immigration authorities discontinued enforcement raids.

“We want peace to come to our city,” Bass said, adding that such an action “needs to begin in Washington, and we need to stop the raids.”   

Noem said the enforcement operations were targeting violent criminals. During her news conference, photos of criminals detained during the Southland operations were shown on video screens.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s court hearings stemmed from a lawsuit brought late Monday by Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta following Trump’s escalation of military forces in the Los Angeles area.

Breyer said the issue is “the president exercising his authority, and the president is, of course, limited. That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George.”

The judge indicated Trump’s deployment of 4,000 members of California’s National Guard to the streets of Los Angeles — over Newsom’s strenuous objections — was legally deficient. The judge also was dubious about Trump’s insistence that the unrest in Los Angeles posed a “danger of rebellion.”

The judge said Trump did not appear to have met a legal requirement that such orders must pass through the governor of the state involved.  

Breyer declined to rule on Newsom’s request to block the call-up of 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, saying any action from the bench seemed premature because the troops haven’t arrived in the city.   

On Tuesday night Bass implemented the nightly curfew in a one-square- mile section of downtown Los Angeles, lasting from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. — a curfew that remained in effect Thursday, leading to fewer reports of unrest and property damage. Protesters continued to gather, but many retreated when the curfew took effect. Those who failed to do so faced arrest.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, seven people were arrested for curfew violations Wednesday night and Thursday morning. There were 71 arrests for failure to disperse, two for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and one for resisting an officer.

A motorist was arrested late Wednesday for allegedly driving through a skirmish line of protesters and police officers near Beverly Boulevard and Western Avenue in Koreatown.  

That driver led authorities on a high-speed freeway chase into the Inglewood area, where he was arrested after attempting to flee the vehicle on foot on a surface street.

The curfew applies to an area between the Golden State (5) and Harbor (110) freeways, and from the Santa Monica (10) Freeway to where the Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway and Golden State Freeway merge. That area includes Skid Row, Chinatown, and the Arts and Fashion districts.

On the first night of the curfew — Tuesday night into Wednesday morning — 17 people were arrested for curfew violations. During the day Tuesday, the LAPD arrested 203 people for failure to disperse. Three people were arrested for possession of a firearm, one for assault with a deadly weapon and one for discharging a laser at an LAPD airship, police said.   

Two officers were injured during Tuesday’s unrest, according to the LAPD.    There are “limited exceptions” to the curfew — including for residents of the area, “people traveling to and from work and credentialed media representatives,” the mayor said.

Bass said she expected the curfew to be in effect for “several days.”

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Spectrum is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information on a vandalism incident in the Palm Springs area this week.

According to the company, individuals intentionally cut its fiber lines on Wednesday in the southeast area of Palm Springs, causing a service outage for some customers and businesses in the area.

Service was restored within a few hours.

“These acts of vandalism appear to be attempts to locate and steal copper. While it’s important to note that our fiber lines do NOT contain copper, they are still being targeted and damaged,” reads a Spectrum news release.

Spectrum officials said they are working with the Palm Springs Police Department and are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with information on this act of vandalism can contact Spectrum at 833-404-8477 or reach out to local law enforcement.

Spectrum statement:

Criminal acts of network vandalism have become an issue affecting the entire telecommunications industry, not just Spectrum, largely due to the increase in the price of precious metals. These acts of vandalism are not only a crime, but also affect our customers, local businesses and potentially emergency services. Spectrum’s fiber lines do not include any copper.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Public Library will relocate its services to a temporary location within the city later this year, as it moves forward with a $30 million-plus renovation project, officials said today.   

The Palm Springs City Council approved a three-year lease agreement Wednesday with Rimrock LLC that will use a 6,000-square-foot building as its short-term location starting the first week of August.   

The facility will be held at Rimrock Plaza, 4721 E. Palm Canyon Drive, on the corner of Gene Autry Trail.

“We’re excited about it; it’s a great space, ” said Library Manager Julie Warren.

The library, located at 300 S. Sunrise Way, will be open until July 19, which coincides with the end of its summer reading program, and it will be closed for up to 36 months for renovations.

Officials said the plaza will retain all essential services, including the use of public computers, baby and toddler story times, teen S.T.E.A.M. events, passport acceptance services and all of its digital media services.   

Library staff will expand adult programs at other libraries within the city, including Welwood Murray Library, at 100 S. Palm Canyon Drive.   

According to the project timeline, construction will be expected to conclude in February 2027.

More information about the project can be obtained by calling the library at 760-322-7323.

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Kenji Ito

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) Here at the Rozpedski Performance Tennis Academy, they have a special player, Daniel Blinov, and he couldn’t be more grateful to call the valley his home, which has helped him achieve his dream.

“Being here, being in the middle of such a hotbed of tennis is honestly incredible, and I could not wish to be in a better place than this right now,” Blinov said.

This place means more to Daniel than you may think. Being in the valley, facing the desert’s conditions, it’s built him to be ready and face any challenge that comes his way.

“The intensity of the workouts, of the practices, the fact that we go 5 to 6 hours a day, it’s, it’s perfect for me,” Blinov said. “But at the end of the day, it’s about the player. It’s about whether you’re willing to put the work in.”

He has put in the work, which has not gone unnoticed by his coach.

“For him to in two weeks blossom into almost a full-grown big-time tennis player is unbelievable,” owner/director of the Rozpedski Tennis Academy Marcin Rozpedski said.

Coming off winning the Newport Beach 25K wildcard tournament, it’s his determination that makes him the champion he is today.

“I’ve always been focused on what comes next because, of course, sometimes you can feel like you’re facing overwhelming odds, but at the end of the day, it’s just about whether you can keep going or not,” Blinov said.

With all the tools that Daniel possesses, his coaches realized that his dream will soon become a reality in playing professional tennis.

“He’s got a great potential,” owner/director of the Rozpedski Tennis Academy Rozpedski said. “He’s got a big game. He walks on the court and he’s got a big statue about him, big footwork, big game. He hits an incredibly heavy ball, so all those things are a huge potential for him to become a professional tennis player.

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