Author: KESQ

Jesus Reyes

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A generational donation. Vicky’s of Santa Fe gifted its historic Baldwin 9-foot concert grand piano to Painted Hills Middle School. The piano has been a centerpiece of live music at the iconic restaurant for more than 37 years.

“It was such a joyful experience for me to sit down at a piano of this, like a 9 ft grand. The strings are so long and the tone is so rich and vibrant. It’s just a joyous instrument and it was. You know, ah, what a glorious, glorious thing,” said Slim Man, an award-winning Jazz vocalist who performs at Vicky’s.

It reflects Vicky’s long-standing commitment to music education and community engagement

“This is an absolutely amazing instrument. I believe there’s not a middle school program that has an instrument of this caliber. This is a world-class instrument played by world-class musicians, and so it leveled up our program,” said Dr. Brian McDaniel, the school’s director of bands and choirs.

The Baldwin Concert Grand was originally purchased from the Los Angeles Unified School District nearly four decades ago. Now, in a full circle moment, it’s making its return to education.

The restaurant’s owners hope that the piano will inspire students for many years to come.

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Jesus Reyes

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – The search continues for a teenage girl from Hemet who went missing in December.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) along with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, are urgently asking for the public’s help to locate missing 17-year-old T’Neya Tovar.

Tovar was last seen on December 1 heading to Thermal. Authorities believe she may still be in the Thermal area. 

Investigators have since confirmed that later that day, she traveled more than 70 miles to Thermal and believe that she left to possibly meet up with an adult male.

Her mother says that she always shared her location with her mother and kept in contact with friends and that stopped the day she went missing.

Charro hopes T’Neya will see this message:

“T’Neya, we all love and miss you so much. We are thinking about you every day and will not stop searching until you are found safe. I need you to come back home to me.”

She is described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 129 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo on her left hand.

If you have any information about T’Neya or her disappearance, contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office at (951) 684-0911.

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Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Recognizing people who bring inclusion and change to the Coachella Valley. Today, Desert Arc held its 8th annual Champions of Change awards luncheon. News Channel 3’s Patrick Evans emceed the event.

Several dignitaries from across the valley were on hand. Palm Springs City Council member Jeffrey Bernstein received the Champion of the Year award. Direct support volunteers were also recognized for their work.

“This is my home away from home. My clients, they appreciate things. It makes me feel good knowing when they’re smiling I’ve done something right for that day,” said

Desert Arc focuses on enhancing the quality of life and creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Click here for more on Desert Arc

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif, (KESQ) – Police are searching for potential witness to question on a fire at a Prescott Preserve in Palm Springs over the weekend, Chief Andy Mills wrote on social media.

The fire burned 3.5 acres and nearly 100 palm trees Sunday afternoon in the area of Ramon Road and Farrell Drive. It’s being investigated as a potential case of arson, according to the Oswit Land Trust, who operates the Prescott Preserve.

Mills said a woman was seen about 20 minutes prior to the fire, who may have seen something. She was identified as a White Female Adult, 5’8” with blonde hair who was walking a small dog.  

He said she is not a suspect, but detectives would like to interview her.

Anyone with information is asked to call PSPD at (760) 323-8116.

If you’d like to help Oswit’s rebuilding efforts, visit: http://www.oswitlandtrust.org/donate

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Springs connection to the Epstein case. Palm Springs businessman Peter Mahler and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein messaging each other — revealed in newly unsealed federal records.

Justice Department files News Channel 3 has been going through show Mahler, operated a staffing company with a Palm Springs office, helped recruit potential employees for Jeffrey Epstein in 2013, five years after Epstein pleaded guilty to child prostitution charges.

Mahler has not been accused of wrongdoing, and there is no indication that any candidates recruited were victims of Epstein.

Mahler shared a statement exclusively to News Channel 3:

“While our firm doesn’t comment about the thousands of staffing searches and interviews we have conducted over the past three decades, I am making an exception under these circumstances. The revelations about Jeffrey Epstein are abhorrent. We were conducting searches for professional administrative staff and property management positions for Jeffrey Epstein. These ultimately failed because he did not like the qualified candidates we identified for him to interview. Knowing what we know now, we would never have worked with him under any circumstances.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Gunfire today in a Banning park prompted an immediate police response, but the parties doing the shooting fled before officers arrived, with no indications of injuries.

The “shots fired” call was received shortly before noon Thursday in Repplier Park, adjacent to the Playhouse Bowl in the 300 block of West George Street, according to the Banning Police Department.

“Witnesses in the park reported hearing shots and observing subjects running from the park,” police Capt. Brandon Smith said. “Officers … located expended shell casings at the location. The subjects involved in the incident were reported as being young adult males.”

There was nothing to suggest anyone was injured because of the gunfire, he said.

“Schools in the area were on brief lockdown but resumed normal operations after the scene was determined to be safe,” according to the captain.  

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information was asked to contact the police department at 951-922-3170.

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Shay Lawson

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Some Rancho Las Palmas Country Club homeowners are raising concerns about the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa bringing in heavy equipment, fencing, portable restrooms and piping a week ago without obtaining permits.

Lisa Christensen

Gabe Codding, Rancho Mirage Director of Marketing, confirmed the city issued a stop-work order as the proper permits had not been secured.

Codding added that, “Due to the ongoing nature of this active Code Compliance investigation, that is all the information we can provide at this time.”

News Channel 3 reached out to the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa.

In a statement a spokesperson said:

“Omni values its longstanding relationship with the Rancho Las Palmas community and is thoughtful about the future of the resort. No construction has begun at the property. Materials were delivered to the site, but Omni will not start work without all required permits. Permits have been delayed, and Omni is fully complying with the City’s stop-work order as the process moves forward. At this time, there is no confirmed timeline to resume work.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage as Shay Lawson speaks with concerned homeowners.

See the full report at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A free, family-friendly resource fair will be held next month in Indio for Coachella Valley residents looking for essential services and fun activities from local service providers and community organizations.   

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 7 at the Riverside County Department of Child Support Services Indio branch office, at 47950 Arabia St.

Attendees can expect a wide range of free services and activities, including child support services, family law support, legal aid and immigration services, food resources, mental health resources, free developmental screenings and immunizations, free bike helmets for children in need while supplies last, free haircuts for kids and families, and live music. The Mexican consulate will offer direct on-site assistance.   

To RSVP for the fair, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026IndioRSVP.   

To learn more, contact DCSS Indio branch office at 951-955-0899.

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Jesus Reyes

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was displaced after a fire at a mobile home in Cabazon Thursday afternoon.

The fire was reported at a little after 1:20 p.m. on the 52000 block of Lois Ave.

The fire was contained at 2:25 p.m., CAL FIRE confirmed.

No injuries were reported, but one adult was displaced.

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City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – After claims on social media that an aircraft suspected of carrying 100 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents landed yesterday at Thermal Airport, Fourth District Supervisor Manuel Perez dispelled the information today as “unfounded.”

Perez said in a press release Thursday that after checking with the county’s Aviation Division and Desert Jet — an aviation business on-site — that the information was false.

Instead, two Department of Homeland Security aircrafts landed at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, at 56-850 Higgins Drive in Thermal, and carried only mechanics and flight crew personnel, with one plane set to leave at an unspecified time Thursday.

The information was crucial to “prevent unnecessary concern in the community,” Perez said.  

Anyone with questions may contact Perez’s office at 760-863-8211.

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