Author: KESQ

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Springs police officer is recovering in the hospital after being stabbed during an altercation with a suspect Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened at around 2:40 p.m. on the 1500 block of N. Sunrise Way.

Officers initially responded to a disturbance call in the area, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

PSPD said officers arrived and contacted a 41-year-old man who was reportedly causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the premises. During the initial contact, the suspect suddenly produced a knife and assaulted one of the officers, stabbing the officer in the hand.

Officers used minimal force to quickly subdue the suspect and take him into custody without further incident, police said.

“The injured officer was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. The officer’s condition is currently stable and is expected to recover,” reads a PSPD news release.

The suspect was arrested and is expected to face charges including assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues. 

“This incident serves as a solemn reminder of the unpredictable and often dangerous situations law enforcement officers face each day while protecting our community. The Palm Springs Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety of all residents and encourages continued public support for the men and women who serve,” PSPD wrote.

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Tori King

Earth day is a good reminder that we can always improve our habits, including picking up a few more that keep our planet in top condition, and two local companies are proving you don’t have to go very far to get help making those greener choices. Although living more sustainably can seem intimidating, it can really be as simple as taking the bus, or changing out your laundry detergent.Coachella Valley residents Miranda Lopez and Basil Martinez are living proof that a more sustainable lifestyle is easier to achieve than you may think.”We’re constantly, constantly doing things that aren’t the best for our planet, said Martinez, who co-owns It Refills with Lopez. “You want to use the cleaner, the more safer option. We have to think about the next generation”It Refills is a local Palm Desert store helping people ditch single use plastics and harmful chemicals. It’s a zero-waste refillery for every day household items. Instead of going to the store and buying single use plastics that make their way back into landfills and our oceans, It Refills offers a sustainable way to get, use, and reuse things like clothing, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, laundry detergent, yoga mats, even dog wash and room spray.”We wanted sustainability to be exciting,” said Lopez. “Accessible and easy to jump into. You can start with just a deodorant bar, then slowly start building your collection. A lot of people will start with just a few products, and then they eventually switch over all their household needs to zero waste.” Event the store itself was built with sustainability in mind. “For the design, we were inspired kind of by breeze blocks,” explained Lopez. “So we used cinder blocks and wood sealed that with beeswax, and everything was cut and made to the space. And so we’ve been kind of adding and growing and building into it, doing it all ourselves.”

It Refills is a self-serve store that uses glass containers to hold their products.

“We definitely wanted to minimize waste, and we were finding it pretty difficult to find good, clean ingredients and products that weren’t in single use plastics,” said Lopez. “And so here, all of the bottles that we have are glass. We encourage customers to bring their own container in, or they can start a container here with us.” Then when its empty, you simply bring it back and refill it. Customers even get a discount for bringing back the container.

It Refills also donates soaps to local charities, including Martha’s Village, who provides free showers to homeless folks living in the Coachella Valley.

Another company that promotes renewable energy is SunLine Transit Agency. They have been a pioneer for green technologies in transit operations for three decades now, operating off hydrogen technology. Edith Hernandez, the Director of Board and Legislative Affairs with SunLine Transit says the technology is helping to reduce the carbon footprint here in the Coachella Valley.

“If ever you see a hydrogen bus out on the road and you see anything coming out of that tail pipe that’s actually just water,” said Hernandez. “So if you’re thinking about a clean bus, it’s not gas, it’s not diesel. Hydrogen, it’s completely clean.”

Hernandez also says using a SunLine Bus is easier than most people may think.

“If anybody does want to take the bus, it’s actually only one dollar,” said Hernandez. “So it’s very economically friendly for anybody that wants to zip around town and maybe doesn’t even want to drive.”SunLine has 32 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, that’s more than 50% of their fleet operating here in the Coachella Valley. The company is on track to meet the state’s ICT zero emissions regulations by 2035, five years ahead of the state deadline.

On Tuesday, SunLine also provided free rides to residents in honor of Earth Day, however, the company says it promotes renewable energy every day by offering an affordable, renewable source of transportation. “We can see all the congestion here and we really want to reduce the carbon footprint,” said Hernandez. “We know that the air quality in the Coachella Valley hasn’t been the best. So what can we do to help make that just a little bit better? Anybody can hop on one of our busses and go to either their doctor’s appointments, or if they just want to go to any any place, any key destinations, they can just get on the bus. They’re air conditioned. They have wifi.” Both companies show making little, more sustainable choices every day, pay off by benefiting our planet in the long run.If you would like to learn more about It Refills, click here.

To learn more about SunLine Transit Agency click here.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Prosecution testimony got underway Tuesday in the trial of two men accused of gunning down the owner of a Cathedral City convenience store during a robbery.

Charles Lamar Campbell of Beaumont and Joel Ortiz Hidalgo of Desert Hot Springs, both 23, allegedly killed 61-year-old Chris Sgouromitis of Cathedral City in 2021.

Both men are charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery and a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery. Campbell is additionally charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

On Monday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling swore in two separate juries — one for each defendant — to hear the matter at the Larson Justice Center, after which the prosecution and defense delivered opening statements.

The judge directed both panels to return to the Indio courthouse Tuesday for prosecution testimony.

Each defendant is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center.   

On the night of Feb. 21, 2021, Cathedral City Police Department officers were sent to the Outpost Market at 68171 Ramon Road to investigate reports of a holdup and discovered the convenience store owner mortally wounded.

Despite first responders’ efforts to save him, Sgouromitis was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.   

The victim was a beloved member of the community, and the CCPD released a statement within a few days of his murder, saying he was a “father of four with strong local ties, who was not involved in criminal activity and died in his longtime place of business.”

Detectives relied on evidence gathered at the scene, including security surveillance tape, as well as other leads, to identify the defendants, who were both arrested without incident within a week of the deadly shooting, thanks in part to anonymous tips.

Neither man has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Gavin Nguyen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – This Earth Day, the City of Rancho Mirage hosted its first-ever Earth Day Celebration at the Rancho Mirage Library.

More than 10 organizations and community partners set up booths and interactive stations for attendees of all ages.

Kids made crafts and learned the importance of sustainable practices. They planted peppers with compost, created upcycled crafts, bird feeders, and more.

Meanwhile, adults had the opportunity to learn about sustainable foods, like microgreens and date farming.

Document shredding, e-waste disposal, and item donation drop-offs were also available.

The event wrapped up at noon, but organizers say they were pleased with today’s turnout and are excited for a bigger event next year.

Stay with News Channel Three to hear from organizers and attendees on the importance of learning sustainable practices this Earth Day.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Care Network and One Legacy are honoring the life of ER nurse Anabel Sanchez by raising a flag at JFK Memorial Hospital.

Organizers and Sanchez’s family member say she saved lives in her work, but also continued to do so after death by being an organ donor.

“She touched a lot of lives here at JFK,” Kimberly Garcia, Sanchez’s colleague and friend said. “Through life resuscitation measures or just a ‘How are you doing? Do you need a glass of water?’ She was one of the nurses that you would definitely want to be a part of your care.”

“For her to want to do that and to choose to save anybody in anyway, it’s definitely a big impact, not only on our lives but other people’s lives as well,” Marbella Meraz, Sanchez’s daughter, said.

The organizations joined for the flag raise in honor of Sanchez and National Donate Life Month, which recognizes the generosity of those who have saved and healed lives by becoming donors like Sanchez.

“She selflessly made that decision to make a donation possible,” Stephanie Char, One Legacy Regional Manager of Business Partnerships said. “And with her family’s commitment to honoring her wishes, it was something that we truly were able to help provide that gift of life to those individuals in need.”

Officials with One Legacy say there is a critical need for people to register as donors. Last year, Desert Regional donors helped save 20 lives. Additionally, 45 individuals were provided tissue transplants and 30 people were “given the gift of sight” with cornea transplant.

In 2024, three lives were saved at JFK Memorial Hospital, where Sanchez worked. Though individuals are receiving the care they need, officials say the necessity for organ donors is only increasing.

“There’s 20,000 individuals who are in need for that organ lifesaving [and] gift of life,” Char said. “With that being said, here in the Valley we do see a high need, especially, for individuals who are in need of kidney donations and transplantation.”

One Legacy wants people to look at Sanchez’s and other donors stories of how greatly they impacted the community, and consider the importance of becoming a donor.

“It’s just having those discussions,” Char said. “It’s something that certainly isn’t necessarily a dinner conversation, but it could be something of a topic just to ensure that individuals are aware of what their wants and wishes are, and to ensure that we are also understanding that there is an opportunity to provide a legacy to others after our presence here.”

A legacy Sanchez’s life is now a part of.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear Sanchez’s legacy from her family, and the inspiration she brings for organ donation in the Coachella Valley.

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Luis Avila

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – With prices for live music soaring, fans are turning to payment plans as a way to afford and pay for their festival tickets.

More than 60% of Coachella attendees this year used the festival’s payment plan, according to Billboard, compared to 18% when the program began at the festival in 2009.

For some, it’s necessary to experience all the music and fun.

“With the plan, yeah. I guess it can be really hard for some people because you are paying a year in advance, like you’re preparing this whole time. It gets really high, especially for camping.”

Joanna, festival-goer

Coachella plans this year required a down payment of at least $50, with the remainder paid monthly. The service requires an additional fee.

While this might be bringing some relief for ticket prices, there are still other costs associated with attending.

“Food is a huge budget, transportation is a big budget.” 

Shira, festival-goer

“Like overtly expensive. We spent 22 dollars on two slices of pizza.” 

Kassra, festival-goer

Attendees say while you can’t escape the high cost, the best way to avoid additional costs is to plan ahead.

“If you prepare correctly and go about it the right way you can avoid a lot of the extra stuff. All the extra things you need, you can bring with you.” 

Leila, festival-goer

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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