Author: KESQ

Bruno Lopez-Vega

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Coachella Valley Unified School District migrant student-athletes were given the unique and exclusive opportunity Wednesday, to meet with LA Galaxy soccer club players, amid the ongoing 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational preseason Major League Soccer tournament at Empire Polo Club in Indio.

Students attended the LA Galaxy vs. St. Louis City SC match, followed by a “fireside chat” with LA Galaxy players, moderated by broadcast announcer Joe Tutino.

The district says the unique experience was designed to inspire and motivate students through athletics, mentorship, and direct engagement with professional athletes.

The Coachella Valley Invitational, featuring MLS and NWSL teams, is being held at the Empire Polo Club from February 7th thru the 21st.

The CVI will host 12 Major League Soccer (MLS) and 9 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) teams, making it CVI’s largest event ever. 

Participating clubs will be Austin FC, Bay FC, San Jose Earthquakes, D.C. United, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Chicago Fire FC, New York City FC, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City Current, San Diego Wave FC, Denver Summit, St. Louis City SC, Angel City FC, Portland Timbers, Portland Thorns, Minnesota United FC, Charlotte FC, Houston Dash, Utah Royals FC and Seattle Reign FC.

The complete tournament schedule can be found here.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A change for students at Palm Springs Unified School District is on the way.

The Board considered a new policy Tuesday night that would keep students from using cell phones in the classroom. It wrote in its policy that the Board “recognizes that the use of personal smartphones and other mobile communication devices during school hours may be disruptive of the instructional program and negatively impact school culture and climate in some circumstances.”

Mark Arnold, the Executive Director of Student Learning at PSUSD, said phones “can have an impact to self esteem and student anxiety. It also can impact their academic performance because it is a distraction when it’s sitting there on their desk.”

He continued, “Just as an adult, if it beeps on my desktop, it draws my attention away. And so that’s what we’re seeing happening a lot with our kids.”

Students from TK to 5th grade must put away and turn off their technology during the school day, while students from 6th to 12th grade will be permitted to use them during lunch.

The district said this policy is the bare minimum requirement for schools to enforce. There is room for schools to enforce the policy more strictly if they want to. 

There are some exceptions: teachers can allow students to use it for instructional purposes, and in the event of emergencies, students are allowed to contact their parents.

The change will go into effect next school year.

But some questions remain between now and then. Karen Johnson, the President of the Palm Springs Teachers Association, said she’s heard concerns from teachers over the restriction.

“The concern that has come to me from some of our teachers is, ‘Great, we have no cell phones during class time. … how can we enforce that when the student then tells the teacher, no, I’m not putting it away,'” she explained. She said teachers are worried about confiscating phones, which can often value hundreds of dollars.

“It’s still that computer that kids have that nobody else really wants to lay hands on.”

The district said it will continue refining its communication to parents and the community before next school year.

District leaders say the policy isn’t a shock to most, especially as many of its secondary schools already had some form of phone restriction in place. This policy creates a district-wide requirements that gets all schools on the same page, though leaders give specific school sites the freedom to enforce the policy more strictly if they choose.

All school districts in California will be required to have some form of phone restriction policy in place by July 1, 2026.

CORRECTION, 6:26 p.m. 02/11/26: Previous versions of this article called the policy a “phone ban,” but the district clarified it is “restricting” phone usage.

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Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Guthrie case is putting a spotlight on the importance of having a working home alarm system.

While alarms may not stop every intruder, experts say they can make a critical difference. Studies show many older adults still do not use home security systems, raising concerns in communities with large retirement populations.

Coming up tonight on News Channel 3, why security experts say effective home protection is often more affordable than expected and why proper maintenance matters.

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Daniella Lake

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Bath & Body Works at The River in Rancho Mirage is closing on February 21st. Despite the upcoming close, remaining business owners are still optimistic about customers flowing into The River.

Stay with News Channel 3 with more on Bath & Body Works’ closure.

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Garrett Hottle

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) Two of the Coachella Valley’s most iconic events kick off February 12, bringing tens of thousands of visitors and a major economic boost to the region.

The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival runs February 12 through March 1 at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio.

The 13-day event traces its roots back to 1921 and celebrates the region’s date palm harvest — an industry that still produces the majority of the nation’s dates. Organizers say this year’s fair will include fan favorites like monster trucks, rodeo events, agricultural exhibits, concerts, and new attractions inside the fairgrounds.

More information and tickets are available at www.datefest.org.

At the same time, Modernism Week runs February 12–22 across Palm Springs and surrounding cities. The 11-day festival highlights midcentury modern architecture, art, and design with more than 450 events scheduled. According to organizers, last year’s festival drew 115,000 attendees and generated more than $62 million in economic impact for the area.

This year’s event includes keynote speakers, architectural home tours, film premieres, and the first-ever World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize ceremony held outside New York City.

Tickets and event details are available at www.modernismweek.com.

News Channel 3 will have expanded coverage tonight, including how local small businesses are preparing for the influx of visitors.

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Jesus Reyes

Update 2/11/26 – 1:30 a.m.

Authorities have released a person who was being questioned in the Nancy Guthrie case, according to ABC 15 in Arizona. The man spoke to the station after being released.

Original Report – 2/10/26

TUCSON, Ariz. (KESQ) – A person has been detained for questioning in connection with the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department revealed that the subject was taken into custody during a traffic stop south of Tucson.

On Tuesday, the FBI released New images showing an armed, masked individual outside of Guthrie’s home in Tucson.

New images in the search for Nancy Guthrie:

Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost,… pic.twitter.com/z5WLgPtZpT

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) February 10, 2026

This is a breaking news update. Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

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Jesus Reyes

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – A celebration of all things Dancing With the Stars is coming to the Coachella Valley.

The first-ever Dancing with the Stars Con will be held from July 31 through August 2 at Acrisure Arena. The announcement was made on Good Morning America on Tuesday.

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The three-day celebration of “Dancing with the Stars,” produced by Faculty in association with BBC Studios, will feature appearances by beloved “Dancing with the Stars” professionals including Brandon Armstrong, Lindsay Arnold, Rylee Arnold, Alan Bersten, Hailey Bills, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Jan Ravnik, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Ezra Sosa, Britt Stewart, plus former celebrity Mirrorball Champions and fan-favorite contestants including Hannah Brown, Danielle Fishel, Xochitl Gomez, Joey Graziadei, Elaine Hendrix, Rashad Jennings, Amanda Kloots, Whitney Leavitt, Phaedra Parks, Jojo Siwa, Johnny Weir, Rumer Willis, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ginger Zee, and legendary DWTS Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli plus more to be announced.

Designed to celebrate the iconic television series and its passionate fan base, Dancing with the Stars Con will offer two live dance performances featured on the ballroom floor, interactive live panels with your DWTS favorites, interactive photo experiences, exhibits, Q&A sessions, exclusive merchandise and unique fan experiences inspired by the hit show that’s just celebrated 20 years on air!

“We are so excited to bring Dancing with the Stars fans a truly once-in-a-lifetime event. For the first time ever, we’ll assemble the largest cast of pro dancers, Mirrorball Champions, and fan-favorite celebrities from throughout the show’s twenty-year history for an action-packed, full-weekend experience that will thrill audiences. When everyone is under one roof, anything can happen — and we can’t wait to bring the ballroom to life this summer in Palm Springs.”

– Jared Paul, Faculty Productions

“Dancing with the Stars has always been about more than just competition, it’s about courage, connection, and the unforgettable moments that bring people together through dance. For years our fans have been clamoring for even more ways to engage with the show, and we’re thrilled to have created this rare and immersive opportunity to experience the magic, the music, the movement, the emotion, and the heart that continues to make this show so special.”

-Ryan O’Dowd, President of Unscripted, BBC Studios & Executive Producer, Dancing with the Stars

Tickets will be available starting with a Verizon presale (details below) and Mirrorball Member presale that begin Thursday, February 12. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Saturday, February 14 at 10am PST at ticketmaster.com, the official ticketing provider of Acrisure Arena.

VERIZON PRESALE: Verizon will offer customers an exclusive presale for DANCING WITH THE STARS CON 2026 in the U.S – no strings attached, simply for being a Verizon customer. The presale runs from Thursday, February 12 at 10am PST to Friday, February 13 at 10pm PST. Visit myAccess in the My Verizon app for more details. Learn more about Verizon Access here.

MIRRORBALL MEMBER PRESALE: Fans who want early access to the best seats and VIP, can sign up for a Mirrorball Membership – this membership is FREE TO JOIN. Mirrorball Member Presale starts Thursday, February 12 at 12pm PST. Head to DWTSCON.COM to sign up now.

VIP: VIP Packages and VIP Upgrades will be available for DWTS CON 2026. VIP packages and upgrades vary and may include solo or group photos with a selection of DWTS CON talent, VIP Hospitality Area, Friday welcome event with select DWTS CON talent, Exclusive Merch, crowd free shopping and much more. Head to DWTSCON.COM for more information

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS: Traveling in from out of town? DWTS CON is working with a variety of hotels in the greater Palm Springs area to get discounted rates for DWTS CON attendees. DWTSCON.COM for details.

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Human remains were found while crews were working on a drainage port on the Date Palm overpass in Cathedral City, authorities told News Channel 3.

Police said CalTrans crews were conducting a routine inspection of the drainage culverts on Date Palm Drive at the Interstate 10 overpass. While conducting their inspection they believed they located human remains.

The crew called for assistance and patrol officers arrived on scene shortly after the call. Officers determined the remains appeared to be human and the Cathedral City Police Department Detective Bureau took over the investigation. 

“We have a tentative potential identification from a debit card that was found on the person and so we will wait for positive ID from the Riverside County coroner’s office,” said CCPD Commander Jon Enos.

Due to the condition of the remains, an obvious cause of death was not immediately apparent.

The on-ramp was closed for several hours. The coroner removed the remains at around 5:30 p.m. and the scene was cleared a short time after. If you have information related to this incident or believe you may have information, please contact the Cathedral City Police Detective Bureau at (760) 770-0300; or via or email tips@cathedralcity.gov.

You may also report information anonymously through Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers, by calling (760) 341-STOP; or through the WeTip hotline at: 1-(800)-78-CRIME or WWW.WETIP.com . Some tip information may qualify for a cash reward

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Shay Lawson

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The FBI has released new surveillance video of a subject in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie — the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie.

Investigators said they were about to pull video from residual data after it was believed to be lost.

The images show an armed individual who appears to be tampering with a camera at Nancy’s front door the morning she vanished.

New images in the search for Nancy Guthrie:

Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost,… pic.twitter.com/z5WLgPtZpT

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) February 10, 2026

This is now day 10 in the search for Nancy, who investigators said was abducted from her Arizona home.

The case has sparked a massive investigation with law enforcement working around the clock to find her and identify the person seen in the video.

As the search expands, the FBI is taking the message across state lines.

Billboards featuring Nancy’s case are now up. Including some in Palm Springs.

The FBI said they hope this campaign will lead to the crucial piece of information that helps bring Nancy home.

Anyone with information is being asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing live coverage starting at 4:30 p.m.

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Jesus Reyes

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – The FBI officially confirmed on Tuesday that it is investigating the disappearance of a Hemet teenager last seen in December heading to Thermal.

T’neya Tovar, also known as “TT” Tovar, has been missing since December 1, 2025. Investigators said she was last seen in Thermal.

On Friday, FBI investigators were out at a home on Harlequin Court, just off the 86 Expressway, in Thermal. News Channel 3 crew at the scene saw law enforcement with tools heading into the property.

The address investigators were at on Friday has been mentioned as a possible connection with Tovar’s disappearance, according to a flyer by her family.

Investigators believe Tovar traveled more than 70 miles to Thermal and believe that she left to possibly meet up with an adult male. Her mother says that she always shared her location with her mother and kept in contact with friends and that stopped the day she went missing.

Neighbors told News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle on Monday that agents canvassed the area and asked questions related to Tovar’s disappearance, but law enforcement did not confirm whether the search was tied to a missing persons investigation.

Tovar is described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 129 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo on her left hand.

The FBI is asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 1 800 CALL-FBI.

We’ll have the latest on the investigation starting at 4 p.m. on News Channel 3.

Statement from Tovar’s father:

“Our daughter, T’Neya, is a 17-year-old who has been missing since December 1st from Hemet, California. Her disappearance is completely out of character. She was in regular contact with her family and friends, had plans she did not miss, and then suddenly all communication stopped.

I can confirm that law enforcement executed a search warrant connected to T’Neya’s case. We are grateful that agencies are continuing to take this seriously and are working together.

Out of respect for the investigation, I won’t discuss details or speculate about what that activity means.

What I do want people to understand is this: T’Neya is a child. She is loved, she is missed, and she matters. Online speculation and rumors are harmful and do not help bring someone home.

The most important way the community can help right now is by sharing accurate information and directing any tips to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Our family is asking for prayers, privacy, respect, and continued awareness as we wait for answers.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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