Author: KESQ

Kiera McKinney

PALM DESERT, CALIF. (KESQ)- With temperatures in the Coachella Valley climbing into the triple digits, people are looking for ways to stay cool, but the animals living in the desert have their own survival strategies.

Native wild desert animals survive these extreme highs through behavioral and physical adaptations like nocturnal activity, underground burrows, and heat-dissipating features, while local pets require strict human intervention to prevent heat stroke and fatal outcomes

Surviving the desert heat isn’t new- it’s something these animals have had to adapt to over thousands of years.

Jenny Lynn Robinson with the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens says adaptations can look different depending on the animal.

“Some animals have big ears that help them dispel heat. Some animals have light coats that reflect the sun, and they know how to deal with the heat,” said Robinson.

Robinson said “burrowing owls, will go beneath the surface. It’s actually up to 15 degrees cooler, just a little bit below the surface,” is an example of the different ways animal’s deal with the heat.

Even animals that are built and used to the desert sometimes need help during the hottest months. “We like to go the extra mile and give them a new experiences to stay cool. So things like ice provide the opportunity. Maybe they play with it, maybe they munch on it, maybe they wait until the ice cools and they lay in the nice cool ground,” said Robinson

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Garrett Hottle

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) The daughter of a woman killed in an October 2024 hit-and-run on East Palm Canyon Drive is suing the City of Cathedral City, alleging a burnt-out streetlamp left the roadway dangerously dark the night her mother was struck from behind and killed.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in Riverside County Superior Court and reviewed by News Channel 3, also names William Frank Rodriguez, the Silvercrest Advertising founder charged with murder in the crash and his company as defendants.

Christina Barrington (Left) and William “Billy” Rodriguez (Right)

Christiana Lewis filed the suit on Dec. 31, 2025, over the death of her mother, Christina Barrington. The 60-year-old mother was riding her scooter east on East Palm Canyon Drive near Bankside Drive shortly before 1 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2024, along with her dog, when she was hit from behind, according to the complaint. She died the next day at Desert Regional Medical Center.

Barrington worked as a nurse, according to her death certificate, which is attached to the court filing.

Rodriguez faces criminal charges of murder, felony hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license in Riverside County Superior Court.

He has pleaded not guilty. His preliminary hearing began Aug. 3 and is set to resume Aug. 31 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

The civil case opens a second legal front one aimed not only at the driver, but also Cathedral City.

The case against Cathedral City

The lawsuit’s first amended complaint, filed June 12, alleges the stretch of East Palm Canyon Drive where Barrington was hit was in a dangerous condition because of “inadequate lighting in the area, creating a hidden danger, hazard, and extreme risk of danger for persons driving in the subject area at night.”

A government claim filed with the city in March 2025, attached to the lawsuit, is more specific: it alleges a streetlamp on the south sidewalk of East Palm Canyon Drive near the point of impact “was not in proper functioning order as the lamp was burnt and not illuminating.”

“Additionally, there were no signs to warn drivers of the dangerous condition,” the complaint alleges.

The complaint claims the city knew or should have known about the lighting and cites several standards it says the city fell short of, including the city’s own outdoor lighting ordinance.

The case against William “Billy” Rodriguez and Silvercrest

The lawsuit alleges Rodriguez drove a 2021 Porsche SUV “at speeds in excess of the marked speed limit, while under the voluntarily, willful, known, and purposeful influence of alcohol” and struck the rear of Barrington’s scooter. It alleges he then fled the scene.

Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case.

The suit also targets Silvercrest Advertising, the Palm Springs company Rodriguez founded, claiming the company owned the Porsche and negligently entrusted it to him.

Court records show Rodriguez’s driver’s license had been suspended since a 2013 DUI conviction in Los Angeles County and was never reinstated.

What the family is seeking

Lewis is seeking economic and non-economic damages, including compensation for “the loss of Barrington’s love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, moral support, training, and guidance,” according to the complaint. She is also demanding punitive damages and a jury trial.

A case filing from July puts Barrington’s medical bills at $685,612 as of mid-July.

Where the case stands

Court records show the City of Cathedral City was served in June and notified the court in July that it intends to challenge the complaint, a move that extended its deadline to respond into late August.

Responses from Rodriguez and Silvercrest Advertising were due Friday, according to a filing by the family’s attorneys.

The City of Cathedral City told News Channel 3 it does not comment on ongoing litigation.

News Channel 3 first spoke with Lewis in October 2024, days after her mother was killed.

The criminal case against Rodriguez continues Aug. 31.

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Athena Jreij

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A new 24/7, no-appointment needed mental health clinic in Indio is bringing much needed services to the East Valley, officials with Riverside University Health say.

The Indio Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Center opened earlier this week. It comes as a Palm Springs mental health clinic, San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health, is set to close at the end of August.

At 47-915 Oasis St, Suite B, patients can walk in with no appointment or referral needed, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.

Clinic Director Karyn Sprinkle says that’s rare as patients typically face many challenges to receiving care.

“A huge barrier for people is if they want to get mental health services. They call, they have to wait two months, sometimes three months to see a psychiatrist. Then in the meantime, they kind of get lost in the system. So for us, you can come here, you can see all the disciplines, like a therapist, psychiatrist, a peer.” Sprinkle says.

Officials say it’s an important step in providing the community with mental health services outside of an emergency room or jail cell.

Sprinkle says their services range from mental health holds, psych evaluations, therapy sessions, and drug treatment.

It comes as recent studies by HARC showed locals are struggling to find fast, affordable mental health care. According to data from 2025, over 36% of locals experienced mental health issues. However, of the more than 150,000 with a mental health disorder, just 47% actually received treatment.

Sprinkle says that’s apart of a growing issue also impacting youth, who have minimal options in the Coachella Valley.

“One of the major downfalls in our community is services for our youth. Currently there are no youth mental health facilities other than an involuntary unit, which can be traumatic and unnecessary. So this will be a place where our young kiddos can go for crisis services, therapy, medication management, and psychiatry services as needed,” she said.

Now, Sprinkle hopes it’s a first step for many hoping to heal.

“We’re not just going to see you and then good luck, you’re out the door. We’re going to make sure that you’re connected with what the next steps are, whether that’s outpatient services or inpatient treatment, residential, shelter, etc,” Sprinkle said.

For more information on the clinic, visit: https://www.wellnessequityalliance.com/crisis-walk-in-center-cwic.

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Dakota Makinen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – As thousands of music fans head to the Coachella Valley for Splash House this weekend, one local DJ is preparing to take the stage at the festival for the very first time.

DTOMP, a Coachella Valley native, is set to perform Saturday at the Hilton, marking another major milestone in his growing music career.

Over the past year, he has organized and performed at his own events, released original music and remixes, and recently reached another career milestone by performing at Coachella.

Now, he says he’s excited to bring that momentum to Splash House while representing local talent on one of the festival’s stages.

For DTOMP, the moment is especially meaningful because he has been attending Splash House for the past nine years, watching some of his favorite artists perform.

He said getting the call that he would be part of this year’s lineup was surreal.

DTOMP has been making music for more than a decade. He started playing guitar as a child before learning drums and piano, eventually discovering electronic dance music at 13.

Along the way, he has also worked to bring local DJs and producers together through events around the Coachella Valley, creating opportunities for up-and-coming artists to perform and connect with the local music community.

DTOMP will be one of the first artists to take the stage at the Hilton, where he says fans can expect bass music, house music and plenty of energy.

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Gavin Nguyen

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – In the aftermath of a deadly shooting in Twin Falls, Idaho, some gun rights activists are advocating for concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits.

The shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Idaho killed three people and hurt seven others. During the shooting, an off-duty state trooper and a private citizen, both armed with handguns, engaged the suspect. Law enforcement praised the actions of the two gun owners and said their presence prevented more people from getting hurt.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco joined in on the calls for more “good guys with guns.”

In a post to his Facebook page, he wrote the following:

“My heart goes out to the victims killed and harmed by another coward. It is being reported the shooting was stopped by a hero with a gun. His quote from 2024 on social media: train like your life depends on it, because God forbid, one day it might.” I issue CCW permits because I know law abiding heroes can protect Riverside County. The only person who can stop a lunatic with a gun is a hero with a gun. I will always fight for Californians and their ability to protect themselves. It’s a God given right, not one granted by government.”

“I was very heartbroken for everyone involved there,” the sheriff said in an interview with News Channel 3. “It may sound odd, but I was extremely proud of the two people who stood up and tried to take care of that situation to save everybody else there.”

Sheriff Bianco has long been an advocate for CCW permits. Last year, he provided statistics for how many permits have been issued under his watch in Riverside County. According to him, only 3,400 permits had been issued before he became sheriff, dating back to the founding of the county. Since he took the spot as the county’s top cop, over 70,000 permits were issued under his watch.

We asked Bianco if there were any numbers that showed a reduction in violent crime due to the high number of CCWs in the county. He answered, “You can’t prove a negative… you will never, ever, ever be able to prove by a statistic that everybody having CCWs has less crime. I can tell you that they don’t have more crime. I can tell you that states that have open carry, states that have everybody’s carrying guns, their crime rates are not more than us.”

“I know for an absolute fact that more than a handful of our CCW holders have saved their own lives and the lives of others with the gun that they were carrying because of their CCW permit,” he continued.

Riverside County is considered to be one of the fastest places in the state to become a CCW holder. Bianco made it clear that the number of CCWs he issued doesn’t mean it’s easy to get one; rather, the county prioritizes the application process and doesn’t wait around like other counties.

Corporal Michael Buelna, an instructor at the shooting range at the Ben Clark Training Center, showed News Channel 3’s Gavin Nguyen basic fundamentals that CCW applicants are expected to have an understanding of prior to becoming a permit holder. From basic gun safety to adequate marksmanship, it all plays a role. Applicants also go through three days of courses to learn about laws, mental health resources, and more.

More information on the CCW permit process is available on the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office website, found here.

Corporal Buelna said many of the applicants have a similar goal in mind when they choose to pursue their CCW. “They really want to be here. Any time we ask them what their purpose for getting the the permit is, it’s always positive. It’s always ‘I want to protect my family’ or ‘I want to protect myself,'” he said.

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KESQ News Team

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – An update tonight on a story we have been following for years. Residents at the Oasis Mobile Home Park near Thermal say they’re working to make sure new tenants know their rights more than a year after a legal settlement.

The Oasis Mobile Home Park continues to welcome new residents, but advocates say long-standing concerns remain. Last year, residents won a settlement against the park’s owners after filing.

A lawsuit over water supply problems and living conditions. Now members of the tenants association are focused on educating new arrivals about the protections they gained.

“Through residents, one of the terms in the settlement agreement is that, uh, rent, there cannot be rent increases, only once per year capped at 5%, with a 90-day written notice,”

The Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability says the park is still under an EPA emergency order because its water exceeds federal limits for arsenic. Residents continue to receive bottled water for safe drinking. The group says its goal is to keep residents informed of their rights and ensure the agreements reached in the settlement continue to be followed.

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Peter Daut

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – More than 1,800 free backpacks and a thousand free scoops of ice cream will be handed out tomorrow in Indio.

The annual giveaway helps local students prepare for the upcoming school year, while bringing the community together for an evening of fun.

It will take place during the “Food Truck Friday” event on Towne Street & Bliss Avenue in downtown Indio from 5 to 10 p.m.

Now in its fourth year, the mayor says the backpack giveaway has become a cherished tradition.

“This is important to support our kids on their first day of school, make them happy, give them some really exciting things to do, and that pride in starting school with a brand-new backpack,” said Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes.

The backpacks were donated by Costco and several local businesses. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is providing the free scoops.

Click here for more information on the event.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – After President Trump’s second round of birthright citizenship executive orders were signed today, a local immigration attorney is breaking down the order’s new provisions.

Ally Bolour with the Bolour/Carl Immigration Group in Palm Springs says he doubts the executive order will have an impact with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling to uphold the 14th amendment.

The President’s second attempt at curbing birthright citizenship outlines stricter guidelines for children of foreign diplomats, alien enemies, those born in U.S. territories, and for purposes the administration calls ‘birth tourism.’

However, Bolour says guidelines already exist to limit ‘birth tourism,’ and claims it is unlikely a pregnant woman already showing would be granted a visa.

“Overall, I don’t see it changing anything. Some of it is already in the law, such as the diplomats, the foreign terrorists. Getting a U.S. visa is already just extremely, really difficult. If somebody’s showing already, they’re likely aren’t going to get the visa,” Bolour said.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, nearly 26,000 births every year fall into the category of ‘birth tourism.’ That’s compared to 3.5 million annual births in the U.S.

Bolour admits ‘birth tourism’ cases can exist, but denies they are as prevalent as most think. He also tells News Channel 3 denying visas to pregnant women could be a difficult standard to implement across the board.

“Birth tourism certainly exists. I’m not saying it doesn’t but what they’re saying is we’re going to deny visas to anyone who we suspect is going to come and give birth. How would they know? Are they going to do maternity tests on every female applicant, which is not doable,” he said.

Either way, Bolour is certain the executive orders will make their way back to the Supreme Court.

“I think the courts will have a thing or two to say about this,” he said.

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KESQ STAFF

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — As the Coachella Valley faces high temperatures, Berger Foundation Iceplex is bringing the ice back just in time.

The rink reopens to the public on Monday, August 10, after crews began flooding the ice on August 5 and painted the surface, lines and logos on August 6.

To celebrate the return of public skating, the Iceplex is offering BOGO Saturdays on August 15, 22 and 29 from 6:30–9 p.m. Guests who purchase two or more public skate admissions will receive 50% off, plus a complimentary Denny’s pancake coupon while supplies last.

Guests can also take advantage of the new Skate & Swim promotion by pairing a Friday Night Extended Skate with a Saturday 21+ Night Swim at Palm Springs Surf Club to receive 50% off the second experience.

Registration is also open for Skate Academy, running August 12–October 3, with skating and hockey programs for all ages and skill levels, including adaptive skating.

With temperatures soaring across the desert, Berger Foundation Iceplex offers a cool and affordable way for families and skaters of all experience levels to stay active this summer.

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City News Service

BLYTHE (CNS) – The ongoing turnaround plan for bankrupt Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe is continuing apace with assistance from local, state and federal sources.

“We brought operational expertise from the Riverside University Health System, but this hospital has its own history, its own way of doing things. The learning (has gone) both ways,” Interim Executive Director of Administration Michelle DeArmond said earlier this week.

According to the Palo Verde Healthcare District, plans are afoot to modernize treatment rooms and the cardiopulmonary unit, as well as install appropriate Americans with Disabilities Act signage around the edifice, located at 250 N. First St. Hundreds of boxes of decades-old documents are being removed, too, officials said.

In May, more than two dozen certified emergency room physicians were brought aboard under a contract with Emeryville-based Vituity Healthcare Solutions for 24-hour patient intake and treatment. However, additional slots remain unfilled, including radiology, environmental services, ultrasound andcardiopulmonary technicians, according to the district.

The county Board of Supervisors in February signed off on a six-month financial and technical rescue plan to bring the facility back to a sustainable condition.

The board authorized a $3.44 million allocation from the General Fund as payment to the California Department of Health Services on behalf of the healthcare district. That followed a separate $1 million General Fund disbursal directly benefiting the hospital. The money was the core of a stabilization loan to keep the insolvent hospital afloat.

According to the district, the county’s outlays enabled the district to tap into taxpayer-backed credit available under Medi-Cal totaling $9.9 million to bolster hospital operations. Afterward, the district was further awarded a $3 million state grant, which came on the heels of $1.8 million infederal relief.

A “strike team” authorized by the board and composed of RUHS medical professionals initiated a reformation on Feb. 23 intended to stabilize the hospital’s emergency clinic.

Under the management services agreement between the county and PVHD, RUHS staff are implementing all necessary processes connected to the strike team support plan, with the goal of maintaining emergency operations at the cash-strapped hospital.

The monetary agreement between the county and district specifies the county will have “first priority” status among the district’s creditors and will not be liable for any of its debts.

Last September, the PVHD Board of Directors voted to seek federal Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection while efforts were made to stanch ongoing financial losses. Administrators noted the hospital had been struggling to remain afloat since the start of the current decade, with revenue streams withering while patient loads remained unchanged.

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority extended an $8.5 million infusion from the Distressed Hospital Program in 2023, but that turned into a short-term fix, according to the district. Officials expressed frustration at the time about the inability to recruit a chief financial officer who would stay the course in sorting out possible solutions. Four CFOs came and went in an 18-month span.

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