Author: KESQ

Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church is reopening to the public after a long-awaited renovation over the summer.

Church officials say they’ve spent the past year fundraising and contributing nearly $4 million to their endowment fund for the renovations.

“We got a very large, single gift for our endowment. Now that we’ve taken care of our facilities, we really want to make sure again that we’re sustainable for the next generation,” Reverend Andrew Butler said.

The renovation includes a new roof, after major flooding in July of 2024, new seating, floors and a move away from the church’s pink detailing.

Officials say the goal is sustainability, and ensuring a church that will work for years to come.

“This church being built in 1989, we’re starting to have some deferred maintenance that we needed to take care of. We just have a lot of folks who love their church, and we want to make sure we take care of it for the next generation that comes,” Rev. Butler said.

Still, the best parts of the original structure remain like the iconic organ pipe, which is the largest in the Valley.

It’s a building by the community, for the community. Something Rev. Butler says is important as during cultural and politically divisive times.

“We really want it to be a center for the community to come together, regardless of their faith or no faith, regardless of their political views. That’s not important here. We just want this to be a house of prayer for all people.”

This Sunday will mark the church’s rededication and grand reopening ceremony at 10 a.m. On Wednesday September 24th at 7 p.m., the Palm Springs Symphony will present a preview concert ahead of their upcoming season at the church.

For more information on upcoming events, visit: https://www.stmargarets.org/

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Allie Anthony

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Palm Springs hosted a POW/MIA flag-raising ceremony on Friday, Sept morning in front of City Hall in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

Mayor Ron deHarte, City Councilmembers, Police Chief Andy Mills, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio), and members of American Legion Post 519 took part in the ceremony.

The POW/MIA flag will be flown at all City buildings that day as a tribute to American prisoners of war and those still missing in action. As of 2025, around 81,600 U.S. service members and civilians remain missing or unaccounted for from World War II through more recent conflicts. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Palm Springs honors the ongoing efforts to bring them home.

In June, the City Council approved flying the flag annually on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 40 million dollar renovation project is now underway in Palm Springs.

Community leaders gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of what’s being called a new chapter for the Palm Springs Public Library.

The ceremony marked the official start of a two year renovation effort.

The library building, which holds historic significance, will undergo major updates while preserving its iconic architectural design.

Palm Springs City Councilmember Grace Garner emphasized the vital role the space plays in providing access to resources, saying, “It’s huge for us. We wanted to upgrade our library for years and now that we’re finally here, it’s very exciting. The library is more than just books. This is a place for community. It acts as a cooling center, a warming center. There’s lots of clubs that meet here and our new renovation, our new library, is going to have even more space for people to connect.”

The library has opened a temporary location at Rimrock Plaza, on East Palm Canyon near Gene Autry Trail. The city has pledged to keep this interim site open until the renovated library reopens to the public.

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Cynthia White

Update:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department sent out an alert around 9:30 Friday morning that North Indian Canyon Drive is back open at the Whitewater Wash area between Garnet and Sunrise Parkway.

Original Report:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department has notified that North Indian Canyon Drive is closed at the Whitewater Wash area between Garnet and Sunrise Parkway as of 8:09 p.m. Thursday.

The closure is due to flooding caused by storms throughout the day.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley hit hard Thursday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Mario swept through the region, bringing intense rain, winds, thunder and even hail. The sudden surge in weather conditions led to flooding, traffic accidents, and road closures — leaving behind a trail of damage and soaked residents.

Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs closed between Garnet Avenue and Sunrise Parkway due to flooding — a familiar scene for locals but still a disruptive one. The storm’s intensity took many by surprise.

“It looked good to take a quick bike ride because there was no rain but I could see the clouds and sure enough I rode into the rainstorm.”

Martha Church, Palm Desert Resident

The storm unleashed heavy rain in a short period of time, creating hazardous driving conditions. One of the more serious incidents occurred in Cabazon, where a seven-car crash on Interstate 10 sent two people to the hospital with serious injuries. One vehicle veered off the roadway.

In Palm Desert, the storm brought down trees along Highway 74, with some crashing into residents’ backyards.

“The water was just raging down the side here. I mean I couldn’t believe how much water and so quickly.”

Martha Church, Palm Desert Resident

Despite the dangers, some residents welcomed the unexpected weather.

Officials continue to urge drivers to use extreme caution and avoid driving through flooded roads, even as conditions begin to dry up across the valley.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KESQ) – Downpours triggered by thunderstorms rolling through the San Bernardino National Forest today triggered flash floods, mudslides and other hazards around Idyllwild and surrounding mountain communities.   

The inclement weather gained momentum early Thursday afternoon, originating from the Santa Rosa Mountains and farther south and east in San Diego and Imperial counties, according to the National Weather Service.   

According to the California Highway Patrol, about 2:30 p.m., a storm cell drenched the area around Ponderosa and Walters drives east of Highway 243 on the north end of Idyllwild, causing roadway flooding.   

At least two vehicles became stuck due to muck on Ponderosa, the CHP stated.

The streets were shut down at 3 p.m., and Caltrans crews were requested to clear the mud and debris.

A similar hazard developed on Highway 243 at Foster Lake Road, about a half-mile south of Ponderosa, just after 3 p.m. The CHP stated rocks and debris flowed onto the highway amid rain bursts, disrupting traffic.   

The highway remained open, with traffic moving through cautiously, but Caltrans was again summoned to clean up the mess.   

A Flood Advisory was in effect Thursday afternoon for the entire San Gorgonio Pass, as well as the Anza Valley. The Weather Service issued a broader Flood Watch for the mountain communities and the Coachella Valley until 2 a.m. Friday.

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Katie Boer

It’s been a wet and stormy Thursday across the Coachella Valley, with widespread showers and thunderstorms fueled by tropical remnants from Mario interacting with a low-pressure system to our northwest. Most of the storm activity concentrated over the mountains and deserts, but a few stronger cells moved into the northern Inland Empire and valley floor.

Several Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued throughout the afternoon and evening—including parts of the Coachella Valley, areas just north of Cabazon, and northwest of Desert Hot Springs. The most recent warning ended around 9:30 PM near Twentynine Palms. These localized storms brought brief heavy rain, nickel sized hail, and damaging wind gusts. In some locations, rainfall rates reached up to 1.5 inches per hour.

There has also been significant lightning activity, with thousands of lightning strikes across the region in the last 24-hours, including several hundred cloud-to-ground strikes, so hazardous conditions for many.Currently, a Flood Watch remains in effect through 2:00 AM Friday for much of Southern California—including the Coachella Valley, San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, and surrounding mountain and desert areas. Excessive runoff from these downpours could still lead to flooding in flood-prone areas.

Tonight, lingering storms from earlier activity, are weakening and expected to clear out. While tropical remnants still drift over the region overnight, our chances of additional showers or storms is pretty minimal.

Looking ahead, we’ll see gradual drying and warming Friday into Saturday. But conditions stay sticky Friday.

Another low-pressure system off the coast may help draw in additional tropical moisture early next week, but there will likely be changes to the forecast models this far out. By the latter half of next week, drier and warmer conditions are expected to return as high pressure builds back in.

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Jesus Reyes

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – Two eastbound lanes on Interstate 10 in Cabazon are shut down following a seven-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon.

The crash was reported at around 1:50 p.m. near the Main Street on-ramp.

The California Highway Patrol said there were several separate crashes in the same area.

The incident started at around 1:45 p.m. when officers located an overturned vehicle that had left the roadway and overturned onto the frontage road, near the train tracks. At the same location, officers located two separate crashes, a two-vehicle non-injury crash and a two-vehicle minor-injury crash.

Authorities said two patients were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Three additional patients suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital. Two patients with minor injuries refused further medical treatment.

All eastbound lanes were initially shut down; however, the #1 and #3 lanes were reopened by 3:00 p.m.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Jesus Reyes

UPDATE: 9/19/2025

THOUSAND PALMS (CNS, KESQ News Team) – Two men suspected of illegally cultivating marijuana in Thousand Palms are out on bail Friday.

Riverside County Sheriff’s officials say the two suspects were arrested and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on Thursday on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation and sale or transportation of marijuana. They were released later that day on $5,000 bail.

Officials add that the arrests were a result of a search warrant and investigation in the 31000 block of Dunham Way, where they seized about 15,000 marijuana plants, which were taken “for destruction.”

The investigation remains ongoing.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – A marijuana-related search warrant was served in Thousand Palms, briefly prompting a heavy police presence.

The warrant was served in the area of Dunham Way.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed two people were detained.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Jesus Reyes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Mpox has been detected in a Riverside County resident who returned from a trip to the Middle East, county health officials announced.

Officials said the person was no longer contagious at the time they returned to Riverside County. The individual is at home and has fully recovered.

This is the second case of clade I mpox to be confirmed in California and the sixth case nationwide.

Check Out: Experts say uptick in COVID ‘STRATUS’ variant cases throughout the state a cause for concern

County public health officials recommend vaccination before international travel.

“Travel is often a time of connection, exploration and community. If you may engage in intimate contact while traveling, getting vaccinated against mpox is a simple and effective way to protect yourself and others. If you develop a rash or get sick after international travel, it’s important that you talk to your healthcare provider,” said Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky, Riverside County Public Health Officer.

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a viral disease that is caused by two virus types, called clades. Clade I is responsible for the current rise of cases in Central and Eastern Africa, while clade II is connected to the broader spread of mpox in Riverside County in 2022, according to RUHS-PH.

Historically, clade I caused higher numbers of severe illnesses than clade II, though recent outbreaks have seen much lower severity.

Symptoms of clade I and II mpox are similar, and can include fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, headache and malaise that typically present five to 21 days after exposure. It is primarily spread through close, prolonged contact with a person infected by the virus, or contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing.

Dr. Carlos Calderon, RUHS-PH HIV/STD Medical Director, advises open communication with intimate partners about recent international travel, illnesses or rashes: “It is important to speak candidly with sexual partners and use strategies that reduce the risk of disease.” 

In 2025, nine mpox cases, including the clade I case, have been reported in Riverside County, a sharp decrease from the 316 cases reported in 2022.

While there have been recent increases in clade II reported in Northern California, Riverside County has not experienced similar increases. 

Mpox case counts in Riverside County remain low in 2025, but vigilance and vaccination remain essential to prevent further spread.

Riverside County has accounted for approximately 5.3% of all cumulative mpox cases in California while administering roughly 6.2% of the state’s total mpox vaccine doses — demonstrating a proactive effort in vaccination outreach and prevention in partnership with healthcare partners, community-based organizations and the broader community.

CDPH has recently updated its mpox vaccination recommendations.  Vaccination with the first dose is recommended at least six weeks prior to travel to areas with ongoing mpox outbreaks, with a second dose to follow four weeks after the initial dose (two weeks before departure) for optimal protection. The vaccine has shown protection for both clade I and clade II mpox. For individuals who have already had two doses, no additional doses are recommended at this time.

For RUHS-PH vaccination clinic locations, visit https://www.ruhealth.org/upcoming-vaccine-clinics or for additional options, visit  EmpoweredAgainstMpox.com.

For more information about mpox in Riverside County, visit www.ruhealth.org/mpox.

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