Author: KESQ

Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs officials say night-time road closures on South Palm Canyon Drive will continue this week.

The road will be closed in both directions between East Sunny Dunes Road and Mesquite Ave.

Construction will resume from Tuesday, January 20th through Thursday, January 22nd, as crews complete gas line installations and other related work. Gas service will not be impacted.

The closure will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. and a detour will be in place at Belardo Road.

Officials say crews will make efforts to complete louder work activities before 9 p.m.

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Shay Lawson

EL DORADO PALM ESTATES, Calif. (KESQ)  – Dozens of El Dorado Palm Estates neighbors held a peaceful protest Sunday.

Organizers said they’re voicing opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and the administrations push to gain control over Greenland.

“It causes more damage to the image of our country,” Bill Holzhauer, attendee, said. “There’s no strategical reason for us to take over a land, other than somebody who has a voracious appetite to rule others.”

Some European leaders warn that the crisis over Greenland could lead to the demise of the NATO alliance.

Trump said Saturday that he will impose a 10% tariff on several European countries unless a deal is reached for the U.S. to purchase the island.

He said he wants the U.S. to gain control over Greenland primarily for national security and access to critical resources.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from protestors and why they’re planning future actions.

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KESQ News Team

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Community members held a protest this morning from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Highway 111 near the ARCO in Cathedral City. Organizers have been protesting outside the ARCO every Sunday since the summer.

Another group will be protesting across the street, outside El Dorado Palm Estates at 2 p.m.

There will also be an anti-ICE protest held in Joshua Tree at 2 p.m. at Avenue 62 and Park Blvd.

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Isaiah Mora

Update 1/20/26

The coroner identified the man killed in the crash as Ricardo Marano, 56, of Palm Springs.

Police also announced that investigators identified the vehicle believed to be involved as a black 2005 Chevrolet Silverado. The vehicle was seized by officers on Tuesday in Thousand Palms.

No arrests have been made; the investigation into the driver’s identity and the circumstances surrounding the collision remains ongoing.

Check Out: Deadly hit-and-run in Palm Springs raises safety concerns among residents

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Palm Springs Police Department Traffic Division at 760-323-8125.

Update:

Around 3:31 a.m. on Sunday, Palm Springs Police Department officers responded to a report of a person lying in the roadway on East Vista Chino, between Hermosa and Avenida Caballeros. Upon arrival, officers found an unresponsive adult pedestrian in the eastbound lanes of traffic who appeared to have been struck by a vehicle.

First responders arrived at the scene and pronounced the pedestrian deceased around 3:40 a.m. The pedestrian’s identity has not yet been determined.

The roadway was temporarily closed to allow police to conduct an investigation. But around 7:30 a.m., the Palm Springs Police Department issued an alert stating that Vista Chino, between Hermosa and Avenida Caballeros, has reopened.

At this time, there is no information on any suspects or vehicles, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Palm Springs Police Department Traffic Division at 760-323-8125.

Original Report:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department sent an alert on Sunday morning that part of Vista Chino is closed due to a traffic collision.

Around 3:58 a.m. on Sunday, Palm Springs police warned residents that Vista Chino is closed between Hermosa and Avenida Caballeros due to a crash.

There is no word on any injuries. News Channel 3 has reached out to the Palm Springs police department for more information. Stay with us for any updates.

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Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Indio is preparing for a busy 2026, with several major infrastructure and community-focused projects aimed at improving quality of life for residents and supporting long-term growth.

City leaders say the planned investments focus on public safety, recreation, flood control, and downtown development. One of the largest projects is the Avenue 44 all-weather bridge, which is designed to maintain access during storms and improve emergency response routes when flooding affects surrounding roadways.

Another major initiative is the Indio Sports Park, a new recreational space intended to provide more family-centered activities for residents. The project is expected to include athletic fields and community amenities, responding to long-standing requests from residents for more year-round recreational options.

Plans are also underway for a new Civic Center campus, which would consolidate city services into a centralized, modern facility, making it easier for residents to access municipal departments in one location.

In downtown Indio, the city is moving forward with a storm drain improvement project aimed at reducing flooding in areas that have historically experienced water buildup during heavy rain. City officials say the project is critical to protecting local businesses and strengthening infrastructure in the city’s core.

Outdoor recreation is also part of the city’s long-term vision. Updates are planned for the Indio Badlands trailhead, with improvements designed to enhance access for hikers and visitors while preserving the surrounding natural environment.

Residents say the city’s focus on long-term investment is encouraging, particularly the emphasis on projects that prioritize families and people who live in Indio year-round rather than only seasonal visitors.

Local business owners also view the planned projects as an opportunity for continued economic growth. Some say downtown improvements could increase foot traffic, support small businesses, and help entrepreneurs establish long-term roots in the city.

City officials say community input played a role in shaping the list of projects planned for 2026, and additional details, including construction timelines and funding updates, are expected to be released as plans move forward.

For more information on upcoming projects, residents can visit the City of Indio’s official website.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Art Festival has multiple weekends set for 2026, with the first being this weekend Jan 17 -18. Art will include mixed media, glass artwork, sculptures and more.

The festival will be open from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m on each day and admission is free. The event is hosted by West Coast Artists and is located at Frances Stevens Park (538 N. Palm Canyon Dr).

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KESQ-Newsroom

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – On Friday, officers with the Cathedral City Police Department arrested a man –accused of sexually assaulting a minor with intellectual disabilities.

Investigators said the incident was reported in the early morning hours of January 1, 2026.

They said the 14 year old was walking southbound on Date Palm Drive, when she was approached by an unknown 20-year-old man.

The suspect reportedly coerced the girl to his home.

While at the home, investigators said the man sexually assaulted the girl. 

During the investigation, detectives said they identified the home and the suspect’s description.

On Friday, officials served a search warrant at the home and said they located evidence related to the crime.

The suspect was arrested and booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio on a million-dollar bail.

There was no word on the condition of the victim.

Anyone with information on this incident was asked to contact Cathedral City Police at
(760) 770-0300.

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KESQ-Newsroom

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Dozens of authors and thousands of readers were expected to attend the annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival.

The festival is a world-class gathering of some of the biggest writers on a wide range of topics.

Some of the anticipated authors included: Ken Burns, Melinda French Gates, Michael Connelly, and General David Petraeus.

Organizers said they had no idea how popular the festival would become when they started it a decade ago.

The festival was set to be held January 28-30 at the Rancho Mirage Public Library.

More information could be found at rmwritersfest.org.

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KESQ-Newsroom

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Investigators announced an at-risk missing woman, who was last seen at her Indio home on Friday, had been found safe the next morning.

She was reportedly in good physical condition after being evaluated by medical personnel.

She was safely reunited with family.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – An environmental group known as SAFER, Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility, is suing the city of Palm Springs over their approval of the 9-story Nexus Hotel.

The hotel, which would also serve as a condominium near the Palm Springs Convention Center, was approved by the city council in November. Once constructed, it could be the city’s tallest building at nearly 100 feet.

Now, environmentalists say the city council’s approval violated the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, that requires agencies to assess and limit significant environmental harm.

Lawyers representing SAFER allege the city did not review the project through an Environmental Impact Report as mandated under CEQA, and therefore has not considered the development’s full impacts.

“The court should require the project to be stopped and require the city to conduct the proper environmental review, which hopefully will require the city to consider alternatives, to consider mitigation measures that could reduce the impacts of this project,” Richard Drury, who represents SAFER said.

Drury says multiple experts deployed by the group found it could include increased carbon emissions from traffic, the threatening of special protected species on the land and harm air quality from construction.

“They found 13 special status species, so these are protected species who use the site. It will have very significant traffic impacts. In fact, it’s eliminating almost half of the parking for the Palm Springs Convention Center. Those cars have to go somewhere and they’ll spend time circling the area, looking for parking. We also had an air quality engineer review the project and found it will have very significant diesel impacts during construction and from use of backup generators. It could also increase Valley Fever cases,” Drury said.

The suit alleges the city passed the project with a mitigated negative declaration, which applies to projects that will have less than significant environmental impacts.

Now, the group hopes teh suit will force the city to reckon with and mitigate the risks.

“The diesel emissions can be mitigated by requiring the use of modern clean construction equipment, that can lower emissions by nearly 90%. Biological impacts can be mitigated by requiring site surveys, removing protected species, perhaps creating habitat for them off site,” Drury said.

Opponents to the development have also argued it clashes with the aesthetics of Palm Springs and it’s mountain views. Environmentalists say if the height of the building were shorter, it would also lessen environmental impacts.

In 2025, the city defended the project by stating Section 14 zoning rules allow for buildings up to 100 feet on such properties.

Drury says they’re now waiting for the city to set a date for a CEQA settlement conference.

Experts say a lawsuit like this could delay construction for years.

News Channel 3 reached out to the city of Palm Springs and Nexus Development, but have yet to hear back.

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