Author: KESQ

Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Homeless Navigation Center has now been open for more than a year. So far, hundreds of people have used the new homeless resources. And as News Channel 3’s Peter Daut discovered, demand is so high the facilities are operating at full capacity.

Victoria Scuro is the first person to ever live inside one of the modular units at the Navigation Center. It comes with its own bed, bathroom, kitchenette, and enough space for her two cats to live with her. The former County social worker from Bermuda Dunes said she lost nearly everything after covid left her disabled and unable to work. Before arriving at the Navigation Center in December, she had been living in motels and on the streets.

“You’re just one step away from becoming me. I had a savings account, I had a car, I had a very nice condo, I had clothes, I had a life. And it went away just like that,” Scuro said.

Scuro is one of nearly 90 people now living at the Center, which opened six months ago. The 80 units are meant to house individuals and families on a medium-term basis to help them find permanent housing. There’s a playground, dog park, computer room, and cafeteria that serves three meals a day. Scuro said her experience has been good: “There are rules, some I don’t necessarily agree with, but I know rules are for a reason. And if they’re explained to me, I go ‘Ok, I get it. Now I understand it.’ But most everyone here is very empathetic and very kind,” she said.

Palm Springs native Jeff Fischer said he had been living on the streets for the past five years as he struggled with substance abuse. The Center is now helping him to remain sober, as he searches for a job and permanent housing. “It’s like there’s a network of people that really want to see me do well. And I’m doing so much better than I’ve ever done in the last five years. I feel completely safe, and sheltered. And that’s what they do,” he said.

The campus on McCarthy Road also includes the Early Entry Facility, which opened a year ago. The overnight shelter provides up to 50 beds on a first-come, first-served basis, and it’s full nearly every night. Martha’s Village and Kitchen operates the Navigation Center, which cost about $40 million to complete.

“Are you pleased with how things are going so far?” Daut asked Chief Operating Officer Rosa Verduzco. “I think overall we’re very successful,” she said.

Here are the numbers: So far, the Early Entry Facility has served 275 homeless people with 41 successful exits, which means people have been reunited with their families or transitioned to other resources. The Navigation Center has served 86 people, with six successful exits into permanent housing. Nearly everyone was from the Coachella Valley.

“Not only are we transitioning people into permanent housing, but it is a meaningful transition. Meaning they stay in permanent housing and do not go back out in the streets once one type of service ends,” Verduzco said.

According to the County’s most recent homeless point-in-time count conducted in January, there are at least 982 homeless people in the Valley, up three percent from 2022.

“Is this navigation center really making a difference?” Daut asked Verduzco. She replied: “Yes it is. Based on the capacity of the folks we have in house, there’s less homeless individuals out on the streets.”

In addition the shelter, the Center provides wraparound services that include mental health support, job training, life-skills education and case management.

Meanwhile, people like Victoria Scuro are working to find a better life. “It does give you hope. It gives you a chance to think yes you have a future. You’re not going to be stuck in the streets or in a sleeping bag, or in the hot, hot summer with nowhere to go.”

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Jesus Reyes

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indian Wells Tennis Garden and Desert Paws Sanctuary are teaming up to host a pet adoption event on Saturday, May 3.

Organizers said the event will give Coachella Valley residents a chance to meet rescue animals looking for a home.

Event attendees are encouraged to bring supplies to the event or donate online through the Desert Paws website to be entered for a chance to win tickets to the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

When:            Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where:          Indian Wells Tennis Garden (West Gate); 78-200 Miles Ave; Indian Wells, CA 92210

Directions:   Enter Gate 7 off Miles Avenue and park in the West Lot.

Visit the Indian Wells Tennis Garden website for more information or call the pro shop 760-200-8200.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — “Talladega Nights,” a special enforcement operation targeting unsafe driving in Palm Springs, is cracking down on drivers.

As of Wednesday evening, the operation had served 234 citations, 2 custodial arrests and 2 misdemeanor cites, according to Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills.

“We have a lot of accidents, involving drunk drivers, speeding and just simple people not abiding by the traffic laws of the city,” Special Enforcement Detective Kyle Wilson said.

Chief Mills announced the enforcement period earlier this week via social media, “Sometime in the next week, PSPD will have a massive dragnet to stop and ticket as many speeders, light runners and stop sign rollers as possible. A maximum deployment including all command staff. You’ve been warned.”

Det. Wilson says the erratic driving comes from a combination of factors, including tourism and locals getting too comfortable. According to the department, nearly 60% of those ticketed are locals.

Comments under Chief Mills post also indicated driving conditions were a concern for locals.

For Charlie Rosenberg, the enforcement is much needed.

“So you’ll have people going 30 in a 50 mile per hour zone, but you’ll also have people going 65 to 75 in a 50, you know, whizzing around and just no enforcement anywhere,” Rosenberg said.

The local survived a car accident last year, and says it’s been tough getting back on the road.

“The freeway combined with Ramon Road is a nightmare. By the time I’ve gotten here, I’m just shaking because it’s just people whizzing through lights, just driving recklessly,” Rosenberg said.

Palm Springs Police say they plan to periodically conduct similar operations each week. Stick with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage on these traffic operations.

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Kendall Flynn

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Residents in the Verano Neighborhood in Cathedral City are dealing with mass sand accumulation after three to four weeks of strong winds in the Valley.

The north end of the neighborhood faces and unconstructed area of sand, which is easily picked up in high winds. Residents say the fences that once held back the sand, have since broken and let the sand into the street.

Residents are unable to drive on both sides of the road, turning it into a one-way pass. The sand has also overcome their sidewalks, backyards and filters into their homes.

They say it’s not only a safety hazard for cars as they park along the street, but it’s also a health hazard. One resident says his wife has gotten sick from the dust, and it has caused issues in their pet dog’s fur.

After conflicting responses while reaching out to Cathedral City officials and the Home Owners Association, residents are calling for help. In a community update email, HOA officials said the streets were the City’s but the blow sand would remain until September because of weather and burrowing owl mating season, which is halting construction to the area.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from Cathedral City officials and residents on the ongoing issue.

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Gavin Nguyen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A private school teacher is facing multiple child sex charges after being arrested at his Yucca Valley home on Tuesday.

While the teacher, 43-year-old Stephen Spurlock, has not been convicted, events like his arrest can be a difficult topic to navigate for parents and their children.

“It’s hard because then everything they ever did that could have been good gets painted bad. Was this interaction suspect? Was this suspect? And they repaint every moment, every time, every comment,” says Dr. Matt Larsen, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

Dr. Larsen says the best thing that parents can do when approaching their children about topics like these is to remind them they’re not responsible for others’ actions.

He also says you should show your children that you can help them handle the situation without a big, emotional reaction.

“They need to see their parents don’t have a big emotional reaction [that is] over the top or out of control, because then they learn, ‘I can’t talk to my parent about that, they will overreact,'” Dr. Larsen explains.

Palm Valley School writes in a statement to News Channel Three:

“Yesterday afternoon, the Interim Head of School PVS was notified by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office (Morongo Basin Station) that Stephen Spurlock, a Palm Valley School third grade teacher, was arrested in San Bernardino County and charged with sex against a child. The Sheriff’s office confirmed the incident did not involve a Palm Valley Student, nor did it occur on Palm Valley School property.

Stephen Spurlock was immediately placed on indefinite leave.

In adherence to our commitment to child protection and accreditation standards, Palm Valley School maintains a stringent policy mandating background checks for all individuals working in proximity to students. We emphasize our steadfast dedication to the safety of children, and this commitment remains unwavering.

We extend our gratitude to law enforcement authorities for their diligence in this matter. The well-being and safety of our students are paramount. We are focused on supporting our students, families, faculty, and staff at this time. We will continue to take all necessary measures to support our community and cooperate with law enforcement.”

Francene Fisher, Interim Head of School at Palm Valley School

Dr. Larsen says parents and children should be ready to speak about these topics.

“We can train our kids how to avoid it and we can train all of us how to handle it better when it happens so it doesn’t traumatize us forever.”

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Cynthia White

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – La Quinta and other Coachella Valley leaders gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the long awaited Dune Palms bridge, which runs across the wash and connects La Quinta High School to Highway 111.

The project took more than two years to complete, with delays due to Tropical Storm Hilary back in August 2023.

The new 86 foot wide bridge includes four traffic lanes, bike paths, a walking path, and a dedicated CV Link underpass. It cost just over $30 million and replaced the city’s final low water crossing, which will improve traffic flow in the area.

CVAG Executive Director Tom Kirk says the project is critical for the community as the bridge is a key north-south connection in the city and the prior flooding caused delays in travel time that could affect emergencies.

La Quinta city leaders are now looking ahead to the next major project starting soon – which will redo the roadways on Highway 111 from Jefferson Street to Indian Wells. The cost for that project will run about eight million dollars.

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Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – Jeff Sperbeck, longtime agent for NFL legend John Elway, was pronounced dead on Tuesday according to the coroner’s office.

Now, News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson is looking into just how safe these vehicles are—and what rules are in place to prevent future tragedies.

According to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study, approximately 15,000 people are injured each year in golf cart-related accidents.

Officer Jesse Yuhas with the Indio Police Department Traffic Division said the number of golf carts on public streets has increased this festival season during Coachella and Stagecoach, and with that comes added risk.

“People often underestimate them—they lack the crash protection of a regular car and can be unstable on uneven ground or sharp turns,” Yuhas said. “Plus, they’re quieter and smaller, making them harder for other drivers to see.”

In 2011, Indio adopted a Golf Cart Transportation Program, allowing permitted carts that meet safety requirements to travel on designated pathways and bike lanes.

According to Yuhas, these carts must meet specific safety and operational standards to be considered street legal.

“It must pass safety inspection and have a current permit. Equipment includes seat belts, headlights, brake lights, rear lights, turn signals, red reflectors, horn, parking brake, back-up buzzer, mirrors, a covered passenger area and a locking device,” Yuhas said.

Golf carts in Indio are regulated under both state law and the city’s transportation plan.

“We see a good level of compliance in designated areas, especially from residents familiar with the regulations,” Yuhas said. “However, occasional violations still occur—like driving after dark or using undesignated roads.”

Yuhas is reminding residents and festivalgoers alike: golf carts may be convenient—but they’re still vehicles, and they must be treated with care.

Viewers can find other cities’ golf cart rules online.

In La Quinta, drivers must have a valid California license—or one that meets state requirements.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from a driver who made safety a top priority and for the full ride along with Indio PD.

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A Cathedral City man was arrested after being accused of tossing a trash bag with five kittens, who were later found dead in someone’s backyard.

The crime was first reported Tuesday after 2:00 p.m. on the 32300 block of Aurora Vista Road.

A resident called police and said they found a bag containing five dead kittens in their backyard, the Cathedral City Police Department announced Wednesday.

During the investigation, CCPD officers found surveillance video which showed a suspect tossing a trash bag the reporting party’s fence on Friday, April 25 at about 10:30 a.m.

“The trash bag that was tossed over the fence contained five kittens which were later found deceased inside the bag. Officers were able to locate the suspect from the video,” reads a CCPD news release.

The suspect, identified as a 54-year-old from Cathedral City, was interviewed and admitted to the crime, police said.

He was arrested and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, where he faces animal cruelty charges. Jail records show he was released on $10,000 bail on Wednesday.

Cathedral City Police remind residents that if a stray animal is located it can be reported to Cathedral City Police by calling their nonemergency phone line at (760)770-0300. If you have any information reference this incident, contact Cathedral City Police Officer Chris Jones at (760)770-0303, or cjones@cathedralcity.gov.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – The defense rested today, setting the stage for closing arguments, in the trial of an 82-year-old man accused of fatally bludgeoning a senior who had invited him to stay at her and her husband’s Palm Springs home.

Stephen Roy McKernan allegedly killed 75-year-old Claire Carsman in 2019.   

McKernan is charged with first-degree murder and sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony, inflicting great bodily injury and being in possession of a firearm during a felony.

The prosecution rested Tuesday in the two-week trial, and McKernan’s attorney was summoning witnesses Wednesday morning at the Banning Justice Center. It was unknown whether the defense would rest by Thursday, or whether the prosecution intended to present rebuttal testimony prior to closing statements.   

McKernan is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.   

According to testimony from his 2020 preliminary hearing, he had known Carsman and her husband, whose identity was not disclosed, for years, and the couple invited him to stay with them in April 2019.

On the morning of April 22, the victim’s spouse headed to an area casino to gamble, leaving his wife and McKernan alone at the single-story residence in the 300 block of Pico Road, near Zanjero Road.

At some point during the six-hour period in which the man was out, a confrontation occurred between McKernan and the woman, culminating in him allegedly attacking her with a household object, prosecutors said.   

Carsman’s husband returned around 6 in the evening to find her dead on the floor from “significant trauma” to the upper body, the Palm Springs Police Department said at the time.

McKernan was still at the property when officers arrived in response to the spouse’s 911 call. The defendant was taken into custody withoutincident.

A forensic technician testified that blood found on the defendant’s shoes, shirt and pants indicated he was near the victim when she was struck with blunt force, which caused her blood to splatter.  

A possible motive wasn’t disclosed.

McKernan has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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