Author: KESQ

City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – A three-judge panel in Los Angeles federal court today ruled against California Republicans in their bid to nullify the new congressional map California voters approved in November.

In their lawsuit, filed one day after California voters approved Proposition 50, Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, the California Republican Party and a group of Republican voters — joined by the U.S. Department of Justice — urged judges to block the new district lines at least temporarily so California’s original map would stay in effect for the 2026 midterm elections.   

Proposition 50 was passed after Republicans in Texas redrew their congressional map, a move California leaders said was designed to favor Republicans in the upcoming midterms.

The suit, which names Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber as defendants, argues the new Proposition 50 maps are unconstitutional because they improperly use voters’ race as a factor in drawing districts and asked the court to block them from taking effect.   

The proposition’s passage increases Democrats’ chances of winning five additional U.S. House seats in the state in November and seizing control of the chamber.

Republicans had asked the court for a preliminary injunction blocking the maps from being used in 2026.

Corrin Rankin, chairwoman of the California Republican Party, said plaintiffs’ attorneys would seek an emergency order from the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Although the majority of the three-judge panel did not side with our challenge to the Prop 50 map, we appreciate the thoughtful and timely work of all three judges,” she said in a statement to City News Service.   

“The well-reasoned dissenting opinion better reflects our interpretation of the law and the facts, which we will reassert to the Supreme Court. The map drawer’s plain statements acknowledging that he racially gerrymandered the Proposition 50 maps, which he and the legislature refused to explain or deny, in addition to our experts’ testimony, established that the courts should stop the implementation of the Prop 50 map. We look forward to continuing this fight in the courts.”

State Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, posted on X that Wednesday’s ruling against the Proposition 50 challenge “is deeply troubling.”

Strickland said the issues raised in the lawsuit “remain unresolved and deserve continued attention. The architect of these gerrymandered maps has publicly stated that he purposely drew them to favor one minority group over another to gain five more congressional seats for California Democrats. That is a NO-NO as it violates the Voting Rights Act by using race as a factor in drawing district boundaries.”

In its 2-1 decision, the court upheld the new congressional districts, rejecting plaintiffs’ claims that the maps had been drawn to favor Latino voters over other voting groups.

Judge Josephine Staton, a Barack Obama appointee, wrote the ruling, with Judge Kenneth Lee, a Trump appointee, dissenting. Joe Biden appointee Judge Wesley Hsu joined Staton in her ruling.

“We find that Challengers have failed to show that racial gerrymandering occurred, and we conclude that there is no basis for issuing a preliminary injunction,” Staton wrote. “Our conclusion probably seems obvious to anyone who followed the news in the summer and fall of 2025.”  

The ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court by the California Republican Party and the Trump administration.   

Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50 in November, which supporters dubbed “The Election Rigging Response Act.”   

Proposition 50 establishes new congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections that will also be used for the 2028 and 2030 elections. An analysis by the election news website Ballotpedia said it would shift five Republican-held congressional districts to Democrats.

Democrats hold a 43-9 advantage in the state’s House delegation.   

“Republicans’ weak attempt to silence voters failed,” Newsom said in a statement Wednesday. “California voters overwhelmingly supported Prop 50 — and that is exactly what this court concluded.”

Weber, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, said she was pleased the court acknowledged “that the will of California’s voters should prevail. Our democracy is in jeopardy and the fight to maintain our constitutional right to vote must continue. … Our democracy is worth protecting and today’s ruling was the right result.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The Palm Springs Animal Shelter has rescued five puppies found abandoned in a parking lot, marking another troubling case in the Coachella Valley.

Shelter officials say a good Samaritan discovered the puppies last Friday inside an open box. The puppies are believed to be a pug mix and are estimated to be five to six weeks old.

They are currently in foster care and will remain there until they are old enough to be spayed or neutered. After that, they will be available for adoption.

The incident comes just days after other puppies were found abandoned outside two grocery stores in La Quinta — a moment caught on camera.

While shelter officials say abandoning animals in high-traffic public areas is uncommon, overall pet abandonment remains an ongoing issue. They say some owners may feel shame about surrendering an animal or may distrust government-run shelters.

Officials are reminding the public that spaying and neutering pets can help prevent unwanted litters. They also say fostering animals can make a significant difference.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A teacher at Cathedral City High School was placed on administrative leave following allegations of inappropriate conduct with a female student, although police determined that there was no criminal activity.

According to a statement from the Palm Springs Unified School District, officials received a report and the teacher was placed on administrative leave. PSUSD noted that relevant outside agencies were informed.

Police said that they became aware of possible inappropriate contact on Dec. 10. The investigation led to police determining there was no criminal violation.

“The School Resource Officer immediately began investigating the case, and at the conclusion, we determined there was no criminal violation,” reads an email from the Cathedral City Police Department. “While the Palm Springs Unified School District may determine there could be internal district policy violations, we were unable to substantiate any crimes and are not involved in their investigation.”

Police said CCPD’s investigation was completed around Jan. 1. PSUSD was notified days later.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Premier architectural design firm Brian Foster Residences joins Cotino, a Storyliving by Disney community, as its fourth homebuilder.

Disney officials said the homes by Brian Foster Residences will showcase the firm’s visionary approach to modern architecture featuring bold, structural designs that harmonize with nature and highlight the beauty of the Coachella Valley.

Exclusively crafted for Cotino, the single-family residences will be offered on expansive 120-foot homesites within the Estate Collection.

The initial release includes four one-story floorplans ranging from approximately 4,000 to 5,000 square feet. Each designer-curated home comes complete with a pool and a dedicated landscaping package. Homebuyers can further personalize their space with options such as detached guest house or expanded garages.

True to the Cotino community’s emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, these homes will feature open concept layouts with large sliding glass doors that blur the boundaries between interior spaces and sweeping desert views.

With more than 35 years of experience, Brian Foster Designs is renowned for creating modern, detail oriented homes that embody the desert lifestyle. Each residence is a work of art—defined by innovative use of shapes, materials and light—delivering both comfort and sophistication.

Those interested in learning more about Brian Foster Residences and the other homes available at Cotino, can call the Cotino Sales Studio at (760) 459-6700 or visit Cotino.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 53-year-old man accused in a stabbing on the CV Link pleaded not guilty to charges on Wednesday.

Jacob Ethan Masters was charged with cruelty to elder/adult and assault with a deadly weapon, according to court records. He was arraigned at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Wednesday before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Harry Elias, who set his bail at $100,000.

A new court date was not immediately scheduled. Masters is being held at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

Masters was arrested on Sunday near the CV Link trail in the area of the Cimarron Golf Course.

The arrest stems from a stabbing on Dec. 31 along the CV Link trail between Golf Club Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive.

The victim, a man out for a walk, reported that he made eye contact with a man on the trail as they passed. The victim said that about 15 minutes later, as he headed toward home, the suspect was still in the area.

Police said the suspect reportedly put on a ski mask, approached while yelling profanities, and assaulted the victim, knocking him to the ground. The victim fought back, and the suspect fled on foot. After the altercation, the victim learned he had been stabbed.

The victim was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and later released.

Police said that the incident appears to have been an unprovoked attack. The suspect did not demand property, and the motive remains under investigation.

Court records show Masters has prior convictions for domestic violence and auto theft.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – What has 17 stars, 16 Tony Awards, and 3 comedies, the brand new series “Replay,” benefiting the newly reopened Plaza Theatre.

Tony Award winner and Palm Springs resident David Zippel is bringing his celebrated expertise to the project, which begins at the theater next month.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke in depth with Zippel about “Replay” as the plaza continues to become a performing arts destination.

Click here to follow the original article.

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A search was underway today for a 78-year-old Indio woman who vanished weeks ago, but may be somewhere in Riverside or San Diego counties.

Laura Ann Brown was last seen in November in the vicinity of Avenue 48 and Jefferson Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.   

The agency issued a Silver Alert after receiving the missing person notification from the Indio Police Department. Silver Alerts focus on finding missing seniors, who are often suffering from health complications or otherwise considered at-risk, throughout the state.

Authorities were uncertain where Brown may have gone, though the alert is focused on Riverside and San Diego counties. The last verified sighting of her was on the afternoon of Nov. 20, when she walked away from her residence. It was unclear Wednesday why she wasn’t reported missing earlier.

The senior is 5-feet-6 inches tall and 178 pounds, with short hair and brown eyes. The type of clothing she may have been wearing was unconfirmed, and there was no word on what she may have taken with her.   

Anyone with information about her whereabouts was asked to immediately contact their local law enforcement agency, or dial 911.

Click here to follow the original article.

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 35-year-old Moreno Valley man suspected of stealing more than $20,000 in landscaping and construction equipment in Palm Springs was arrested, authorities said today.

The suspect was booked into Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of grand theft and an enhanced penalty, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

Bail information was not immediately available.   

On Dec. 5, around 4:30 p.m., the department’s Detective Bureau received information stemming from a social media post regarding equipment stolen from a work truck. Authorities identified a suspect through law-enforcement databases, the Flock camera system and private surveillance footage that captured the alleged theft.   

Although the suspect repeatedly changed license plates on his vehicle and traveled through multiple cities throughout the Coachella Valley, a suspect vehicle was found around 9 p.m. the same day at a residence in Moreno Valley, police said.

He left the residence in a vehicle before police could execute a search warrant. Authorities conducted a traffic stop and confirmed that the driver was the same person seen in the surveillance footage, the department said.

Police said the suspect consented to searches of his vehicle and residence and guided authorities to the stolen property he hid in a desert area in Desert Hot Springs. In addition, detectives found “a large quantity of suspected stolen landscaping and construction equipment, consisting of 50 high-value tools worth more than $20,000, in the garage of his residence,” the agency said.

Authorities were continuing to identify additional alleged victims based on the recovered property.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy and a pedestrian were hospitalized after a crash stemming from a pursuit Wednesday morning in Palm Desert.

The crash was reported just after 8:30 a.m. near Frank Sinatra Drive and Drexell Drive.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident started as a pursuit in the area of Monterey Avenue and Frank Sinatra Drive. The suspect collided with a pedestrian working in the center median. The Riverside Sheriff’s Motor Unit also collided with an uninvolved motorist.

The motor deputy and pedestrian were transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

The suspect, whose identity was not released, was taken into custody without incident. The investigation remains ongoing. Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

Click here to follow the original article.

Garrett Hottle

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) Silvercrest CEO William Frank Rodriguez appeared in court Wednesday in connection with a 2024 deadly hit-and-run crash in Cathedral City.

Rodriguez faces a felony hit-and-run charge tied to a crash that killed 60-year-old Christina Barrington. Prosecutors allege Rodriguez fled the scene without stopping to render aid.

The hearing was continued until March 25 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 3R. According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Rodriguez is not required to return to court until that date.

However, defense counsel and prosecutors will be back in court February 4 for a hearing tied to subpoenaed documents from Acrisure Arena.

Stick with News Channel 3 for updates as we continue to track this story.

Click here to follow the original article.