Author: KESQ

Shay Lawson

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)  – The American Red Cross is warning of a severe blood shortage and urging eligible donors to give now, as winter illnesses, holiday travel and fewer appointments strain supplies needed for lifesaving care across Southern California and the Coachella Valley.

The American Red Cross, which serves more than 100 hospitals in Southern California, said delays in donations could affect patients who rely on transfusions for surgeries, cancer treatments and emergency care.

The shortage is being felt locally.

LifeStream Blood Bank, which supplies blood to Desert Regional Medical Center and other hospitals in the Coachella Valley, said it is in need of donors following the holiday season.

“We are in critical need of donors with O-negative, A negative and B-negative blood, which is currently sitting at less than three days worth of supply on hand,” Michael Shepherd with LifeStream Blood Bank said.

Health officials stress that even a single donation can have a significant impact.

“Just one donation can help 3 patients,” Shepherd said. “If you have a family member, friend or loved one awaiting a transfusion necessary for surgery, having sufficient quantities of blood for the medical team can mean life or death, depending on the procedure required.”

LifeStream is encouraging donors to visit its centers in Rancho Mirage and La Quinta or donate at a mobile blood drive this weekend at Ruth Hardy Park during the Palm Springs Health Run and Wellness Festival.

Desert Care Network hospitals partner with Lifestream Blood Bank to encourage donations. They’re also hosting blood drives open to the public on the following dates:

Thursday, February 12, 2026, 09:00 am – 02:00 pm, Desert Regional Medical Center- Sinatra Education Center. Register online:  https://giftoflife.lstream.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/125524

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 10:00 am – 03:00 pm, Hi Desert Medical Center- Helen Gray Community Center. Register online: https://giftoflife.lstream.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/124105

The American Red Cross is also urging eligible donors to make an appointment as soon as possible.

As an incentive, donors who give through Jan. 25 will be entered for a chance to win a trip for 2 to Super Bowl LX, while those who donate between Jan. 26 and Feb. 28 will receive a $20 e-gift card.

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

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Desert Hot Springs man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing foster children was charged today with multiple felony offenses.   

Sergio Avalos Perez, 64, was arrested Tuesday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation that began in December.   

Perez is charged with three counts of lewd acts on a minor and one count each of forced oral copulation of a child and sexual assault of a child under 10 years old, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of targeting multiple victims in sex crimes and perpetrating sexual offenses on youths under 14 years old.  

The defendant pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Thursday before Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tucker, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Feb. 2 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

Perez is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio.   

According to a bail-setting affidavit filed by sheriff’s Detective Arnoldo Iniguez, deputies were notified in mid December of a possible sexual assault perpetrated by the defendant at the foster home run by him and his wife, whose identity wasn’t disclosed.

Court records allege the offenses were perpetrated on three girls, whose identities also were not disclosed, over a four year period. 

Iniguez said investigators interviewed a young girl on Dec. 15, who recalled an encounter during which Perez forced her to orally copulate him. 

“She stated he did the same act twice,” according to the affidavit. “During this investigation, (a total of) three underage females who were fostered by Perez and his wife disclosed they were sexually abused while they lived with him in his home, while he operated the foster care residence.”

Another young alleged the defendant forced her to perform oral sex, too, according to Iniguez.   

Investigators conducted an interview with the defendant at the sheriff’s Palm Desert station Tuesday. He denied many of the alleged offenses, but “did confess that one time when (a victim) was doing laundry, he noticed she was bent over.”

After his arrest, Iniguez said several others came forward, alleging he had fondled them or behaved in an otherwise lewd manner, according to the affidavit.

The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Springs boy made an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show today!

Six-year-old Luka Jimenez went on the show after going viral on TikTok for giving hair tutorials. The young hairstylist says that his passion for hair comes from watching his mom style her own hair.

Jimenez said he wants to “make everybody look beautiful and feel beautiful!”

He was also able to showcase his skills on the show.

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Garrett Hottle

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) What began as a simple walk down a school hallway turned into an emotional surprise for a Desert Mirage High School chemistry teacher whose impact reaches far beyond the classroom.

As part of News Channel 3’s One Class at a Time series, students and school officials joined representatives from Walter Clark Legal Group to surprise chemistry teacher Ms. Chino with a $777.77 check to support her work.

Ms. Chino was nominated by former student Erik Huerta, who studied under her in Chemistry Honors and AP Chemistry during his sophomore and junior years. Huerta is now headed to Columbia University.

In his nomination letter, Huerta described Chino as “the best teacher on our campus,” citing not only her dedication to academics, but her commitment to making students feel valued and capable.

“Her passion for teaching and her commitment to making every student feel valued and capable are truly inspiring,” Huerta wrote.

Chino teaches chemistry at Desert Mirage High School, where she currently leads a dual enrollment course in partnership with College of the Desert, allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school.

“I know chemistry has a bad reputation of being very difficult,” Chino said. “But I am so passionate about it. I’m just trying to share a little bit of that with them.”

The surprise included a check for $777.77, which Chino said she plans to use to support her classroom, including lab equipment she has previously purchased out of pocket.

Outside the classroom, Chino also leads the Paw Patrol Club, a student organization focused on raising funds and providing support for animal shelters across the Coachella Valley. The club organizes donation drives, fundraisers and community outreach, and helps care for rescued and stray animals.

Walter Clark Legal Group representatives said the award was intended to support not just Chino’s classroom, but the broader impact she has on students and the community.

Chino credited her students for the recognition, saying their hard work and passion continue to inspire her as an educator.

A teacher shaping futures, one student, one class and one surprise at a time.

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City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Desert officials at a scheduled City Council meeting today will consider approving a 10-year loan agreement with Goldenvoice concerning an art installation that would be placed at Civic Center Park.   

At issue is Stephanie Lin’s “Taffy,” an artwork comprised of five vertical towers made of lightweight framing wrapped in translucent, mesh fabric, with the towers changing in color and tone as sunlight passes through them, and each standing between roughly 25 to 50 feet tall.

“Taffy” was one of the featured art installations at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

City officials said the towers would provide economic and community benefits including a tourism boost, regional marketing, cultural branding and a long-term impact on the city. Civic Center Park, at 43900 San Pablo Ave., was identified as a prime location for visibility, accessibility and community engagement.  

Goldenvoice commissions large-scale interactive art for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, located at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, and after each festival, a number of artworks are made available for public exhibition in the Coachella Valley.

Under the proposed terms, Goldenvoice would retain ownership of “Taffy,” and the city would be responsible for transportation, installation and maintenance.

An estimated cost of artwork and installation would be $180,070. An additional cost of $119,930 for landscaping, lighting, benches and foundations would total to $300,00, according to a city document.  

The city council meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive.

The meeting can be watched on the city’s YouTube channel.

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Luis Avila

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — Growing concerns surrounding a development in Thermal.

The massive 619-acre development centered around a 231-acre luxury equestrian center would be called the Thermal Ranch. A lawsuit has been filed against the county over the project citing air pollution and manure removal concerns.

Ivanna Uriarte, a housing and land use policy advocate, says this will put nearby disadvantaged residents at risk.

“The ECV (Eastern Coachella Valley) unfortunately does lack a lot of access to clean water, adequate housing, a lot of nearby homes are mobile homes that rely on private wells and still don’t have access to clean water,” she explains.

News Channel 3 visited a mobile home community just a few blocks away from the project site.

One resident — who asked to remain anonymous — says the development and amenities it would offer its guests is unfair for residents who live in the area, adding she had recently lost access to electricity and water for three days.

Uriarte says the end goal is not to stop the project, but for residents to be heard when new developments come to the area.

She clarifies, “Semillas de Resistencia and residents aren’t opposed to development in the area. They just want to see development that really reflects their needs and priorities.”

The office of Supervisor V. Manuel Perez tells News Channel 3 infrastructure concerns have been addressed.

Thermal Ranch Development County Response:

“The Thermal Ranch project is a 619-acre development that includes an equestrian facility, a variety of residential units, including workforce housing, and retail-service uses.

The project represents a major investment in the Eastern Coachella Valley, proposing critical infrastructure and amenities within the community, most notably, a new water reservoir and new substation each with additional capacity for the community.

The equestrian facilities, residential neighborhoods, and commercial spaces will attract visitors and stimulate local tourism.

This combination of amenities is expected to generate significant economic benefits, including jobs creation related to hospitality, retail, and event operations.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Athena Jreij

MORONGO VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s been nearly 3 months since 50-year-old Chris Garcia of Morongo Valley was killed in what authorities called an ‘intentional hit and run,’ and the family says no arrests have been made.

News Channel 3 spoke with Garcia’s wife just days after her husband’s death on November 6, 2025.

She alleges a suspect rear-ended the couple near Highway 62 and when they pulled over to exchange information, a heated exchange unfolded. That’s when his wife says he was run over by the suspect and left in the road.

“My husband was walking back to my car, the guy actually put it in reverse and backed up and then floored it and rammed right into my car, the back of my car with my daughter in it still. He then backed up and proceeded to go around my vehicle, which he then struck my husband and drug him under the truck,” his wife said.

Now, she claims movement in the case happened just days after the incident, but no arrest was made. It’s a process she says her family feels left out of.

“They ended up telling us that a suspect did get a lawyer and step forward four days after the incident, But they didn’t tell my husband’s sister or I for about a month and a half. They won’t release his name now. There were no arrests made. All they did was take a written statement and let him go. He’s claiming that it was he felt he was in fear of his life, basically,” Garcia said.

Having watched the accident, Garcia says she doesn’t believe the self-defense claim.

“The other driver struck him, and you know, ultimately drug him under his truck. So how is that? You know, if I felt in fear of my life, I would turn around and go the opposite way, not towards what I’m saying is dangerous to me,” she said.

Since her husband’s death, Garcia says it’s taken both an emotional and financial toll on her family, especially without answers.

“They took about five weeks to give the car back before I could even go and retrieve my belongings out of it. That was deemed a total loss because they had to take parts out of it. So it’s been frustrating. It’s been expensive. I mean, my daughter and I emotionally it’s been a lot. We had to spend the holidays without him,” she said.

News Channel 3 reached out to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s for more information but have been told it is an active investigation, and there are no further updates.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people were arrested a month after a burglary in Palm Desert that included multiple stolen firearms, authorities announced.

The suspects, a 32-year-old resident of Banning and a 32-year-old resident of Beaumont, were arrested Tuesday afternoon in the 11000 block of Legends Lane in Beaumont, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrest was connected to a burglary on Dec. 22 in the 74000 block of Joni Drive in Palm Desert. The victim reported multiple items stolen, including several firearms.

The Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) assumed the investigation and identified the suspects responsible for the burglary.

After the suspects were arrested, deputies served a search warrant in the 1100 block of East Ramsey Street in Banning. The agency said several stolen items were recovered, including the stolen firearms, as well as an additional unserialized firearm.

Both suspects were booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility and face charges of burglary, conspiracy, grand theft of firearms, and possession of an unserialized firearm. The suspect from Beaumont was also determined to have several active felony warrants for his arrest for being a felon in possession of ammunition, as well as narcotic-related offenses.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Pouchoulen of the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 836-1600.

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Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – Dozens of protesters gathered Wednesday afternoon for a peaceful march in Indio calling for changes to immigration enforcement and greater accountability from federal authorities.

Organizers called the demonstration “ICE Out of Indio,” urging community members to stand in solidarity with people they said have been harmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Protesters met near 45th Street and Jackson Street around 4 p.m. and marched to Indio City Hall.

The event was promoted as a peaceful gathering, with organizers encouraging participants to address city leaders during public comment at the Indio City Council meeting, which began at 5 p.m. in the council chambers.

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

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Taxi drivers at Palm Springs International Airport say the loss of a designated staging area is making it harder for them to work efficiently.

Leonel Reyes, a local taxi driver, says the problem began last month, when the airport stopped allowing taxis to use a dedicated waiting area that previously offered air-conditioning, restrooms, food space, and vending machines. Drivers say those amenities were especially important during busy travel days.

Reyes says the airport is still allowing taxi drivers to wait in other areas on airport property, but that is creating a new set of problems.

“We are kind of being pushed into the ‘call lot’ where most of the local residents who are here to pick up their loved ones are normally waiting for their passengers to arrive,” he explains. “There are restrooms available but these are porter potties. Now, that’s one of the bigger concerns.”

Reyes says he was unsure of the reason behind the relocation, noting only that he had heard it might be designated for construction engineers. He also raised concerns about gaps in communication between airport officials and taxi drivers.

He says, “They may be communicating but we’re not getting the communications. When I say that, I don’t want to put the owners at fault but we’re not getting a complete story as to where we’re going to go.”

An airport spokesperson tells News Channel 3 they were not aware of the drivers’ concerns but said the issue is being reviewed.

Palm Springs International Airport Statement:

“As part of ongoing airport improvement projects, the previous taxi staging area is temporarily being used for construction staging.

Taxi operations remain active and supported, with access to curbside queuing, alternative waiting locations, and restroom facilities both at the new waiting area and inside the terminal.

These adjustments are part of planned airport enhancements and are not expected to impact service for passengers or drivers.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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