Author: KESQ

Peter Daut

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ)– Rancho Mirage councilmember Steve Downs is speaking out about an ongoing state ethics investigation involving allegations related to his economic interest disclosures and potential conflicts of interest.

The investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission comes after an anonymous complaint alleged Downs failed to report continuing work with a real estate company now run by his son.

I-Team investigators spoke exclusively with Downs to ask him the tough questions.

Downs says he is cooperating with the FPPC in their investigation; which so far, has not made any determination of wrongdoing.

We reviewed Downs’ statements of economic interests, commonly known as form 700 filings; which he filed in 2023 and 2024, showing the company he formed with his wife generated between $10,000 to $100,000 in gross income.

Downs says he sold his real estate company to his son who paid for the assets over time, which is why they’re listed as generating income in those years.

The commission received an anonymous complaint questioning whether Downs is still active in real estate, despite saying he’s retired, since he and his wife are still listed as team members on the company’s website.

“What we did in the sale is we agreed to allow my son and his business partner to use my name, image and likeness in his marketing and my wife Gerri’s name, image and likeness in their marketing. So the complaint alleges that since our name appeared in the marketing that we must have been active realtors and we must have drawn income from that activity. That’s false we did not. We sold the business to my son. He owns the business, it’s his business, not me, he manages the real estate team, not me, and I haven’t since the end of 2022.” said Steve Downs when asked about this topic.

It’s worth noting the state commission receives more than 2,000 complaints and referrals, opening investigations into only about half of those submitted in the last few years. Of those investigations, only 97 resulted in financial penalties.

For more updates stay with News Channel 3.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Palm Springs Unified School District has appointed veteran educator Kim Ballard as the inaugural principal of its new Middle College High School, set to open in the 2027-28 school year.

The district introduced Ballard during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, where she briefly addressed trustees before they approved her appointment.

The Coachella Valley’s first Middle College High School will be located at the new College of the Desert Palm Springs campus, giving students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits.

Ballard has been with Palm Springs Unified since 2005, beginning as a math teacher at James Workman Middle School before moving to Rancho Mirage High School in 2013. She has served as assistant principal there since 2017, overseeing programs including AVID, Career Technical Education, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment while working to prepare students for graduation and college.

She earned an Associate of Science in Education from North Idaho College, a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Idaho, and a master’s degree in Education Administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

District leaders say Ballard’s student-centered approach and experience expanding academic opportunities make her well-suited to lead the new school as it prepares to welcome its first students in 2027.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The number of automobile thefts throughout Riverside County plummeted 21% last year, while the county sheriff’s department ranked in the top five statewide among agencies that successfully recovered stolen vehicles, according to statistics released by the California Highway Patrol.

The number of countywide auto thefts reported in 2025 totaled 6,012, compared to 7,648 in 2024, the CHP said Tuesday in its annual publication of “California Vehicle Theft Facts.”

“Vehicle theft is not a victim-less crime,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “It fuels organized criminal activity and creates hardship for families across California. The CHP remains committed to holding offenders accountable, recovering stolen vehicles and working with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer.”

The local decline dovetailed with downward trends across California, where the total theft count last year amounted to 133,372, compared to 176,230 in 2024, reflecting a 24% drop, figures showed. It was the second consecutive year-to-year decrease.

Riverside County ranked No. 6 statewide for vehicle thefts last year. Los Angeles County was No. 1 at 47,191, according to CHP statistics.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department ranked No. 3 for theft recoveries statewide, securing 2,292 cars, trucks and motorcycles that had been reported stolen, data showed. No other Inland Empire law enforcement agency landed in the top 10 for recoveries.

Of the 6,012 vehicles reported stolen in all jurisdictions countywide in 2025, 4,795 were later recovered, though there was no mention in the CHP report regarding how many were damaged.

The agency said the majority of vehicles stolen in 2025 comprised SUVs and light pickup trucks, amounting to 43% of the total number of takings. Cars made up 37% of the sum, with commercial trucks and trailers, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, construction and farm equipment comprising the balance of thefts.

In the category of pickups and SUVs, the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado remained the No. 1 target last year, just like in 2024. Among cars, the 2013 Hyundai Elantra was the chief preference for thieves, while Honda motorcycles manufactured in 2023 were also at the top of the list, statistics indicated.

The estimated composite value of all the vehicles stolen in 2025 was $1.2 billion, according to the CHP.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The story of a local grandmother in need has now reached thousands across the internet, and it all began with News Channel 3’s coverage about the family’s untimely air conditioning outage.

Earlier this month, News Channel 3 spoke with Nikita Potter, the granddaughter of 91-year-old Chuck Potter, who died in his home from heat exhaustion after the air conditioning unit failed. Potter was racing against the clock to install a new unit for her grandmother, Nona, with quotes between $20-30,000.

Potter told News Channel 3 her grandmother, Nona, was staying in hotels as they struggled to afford a new HVAC system.

“The Monday morning before you reached out, I had went to bed and I was crying and a little upset. I told my sister, we need a miracle to happen,” Nikita Potter said.

However, what began as a tragedy, ended in a new chapter for the Potter family.

After KESQ’s story aired, social media influencer and philanthropist, Jimmy Darts, reached out to help and has since raised over $90,000 to assist.

“I saw the news clip of the lady, in like the Palm Springs area, that her husband passed away. I was like, oh my gosh, it’s so hot there. I’m like, dang, this grandma needs a miracle,” Darts said.

Through one of Darts’ kindness challenges, the internet fell in love with Nona.

After connecting with Nikita, Darts met with Potter at a local Walmart and asked if a diamond ring found on the floor was hers. When she denied and told the truth, Darts offered her $1,000, and from there the viral video took off.

“I think everyone just kind of felt that connection with her, that she was such like a sweet lady and everyone felt like they were her grandkids. People from all over the country gave $5, $10, $20 and it just grew traction overnight,” Darts said.

In just 24 hours, the video blew up online and gathered the support of over $100,000.

Darts surprised Potter with the money at her home, where a free HVAC system was also awaiting her from Esser Air Conditioning and Heating.

“The fact that Esser really stepped up and handled everything. They handled the crane, the permits. It is such a weight lifted,” her granddaughter said.

It’s shined a light on a path forward for the Potters they never thought was possible before.

“I think if we didn’t get the interview we did on KESQ and getting the coverage that got and just all of it, I don’t think our miracle would have happened,” Nikita said.

Her granddaughter says Nona will use the money to pay off debts, taxes and bills accrued since her husband’s death.

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KESQ News Team

As thousands of students prepare to head back to the classroom next week, the Palm Springs Unified School District is helping families with incoming transitional kindergarten students get ready for the new school year.

The district will host its Transitional Kindergarten Resource Fair on Thursday July 30th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Desert Hot Springs High School.

The free event is designed to help families make a smooth transition into transitional kindergarten by connecting parents with valuable school and community resources. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about after-school programs and other services available to support students throughout the school year.

District officials encourage parents of new transitional kindergarten students to attend, ask questions, and gather information that can help their children get off to a successful start.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – If you look around town, you might come across one woman searching for bottles and cans in the recycling bin.

“This is definitely a smelly job,” said Alisha Gerholdt, lifiting her shirt to cover her nose, laughing.

Her journey hasn’t been an easy one. Despite being a cardiac patient since she was a toddler and undergoing several heart surgeries, her fight and determination hasn’t wavered.

After her most recent open-heart surgery, she said changes to her health have changed her life for the worse. In the year since, she lost her home, belongings, financial stability, and independence – as well as her son, who she became separated with. She said because of her declining health, she could no longer provide a stable life for him, and she sent him to live with his father in Texas.

Now, she has created an initiative to reunite with him: “Recycle to Reunite.”

It’s a community-wide recycling campaign to raise money to purchase a used mobile home and move closer to her son in Texas.

That’s why, despite dealing with the heat, she goes out to sift through trash bins in search of bottles and cans. She recycles them, and slowly, nickel by nickel, she’s saving money with a dream in mind.

On her GoFundMe page, she wrote the following:

“Every can collected, every bottle donated, every dollar contributed, and every person who shares this story helps bring me one step closer to home.

I am not asking for someone to fix my life. I am asking for an opportunity to rebuild it.”

On the side, she’s been using some of the money to purchase supplies for “blessing bags” – a program her church provides to give the homeless key hydration, snacks, and other essentials to the unhoused in Palm Springs. Elders at Our Saviors Church in Palm Springs called her actions inspiring.

“It’s painful at times to see her go through her medical stuff,” said church elder, Chris Meyer. “Not to have anything, and to be homeless if it wasn’t for her grandmother. It makes us all a better person. We get to see God in action through Alisha.”

For Meyer, the most inspiring part of Gerholdt’s story was her selflessness. Despite going through so much, her willingness to help others stood out to him.

I asked Alisha that question: “How do you still find the ability to go out and make things like these homeless bags and be able to give back to the community?”

“Because it’s something I’ve always done regardless,” she said without missing a beat. “I’ve got things, but, you know, somebody else may have it worse.”

You can find her GoFundMe donation page by clicking here. She had put in $1,100 on the page in an offline donation, representing what she had saved and raised through recycling as of Wednesday, July 29th.

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Dakota Makinen

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. — A mobile home fire in Desert Hot Springs destroyed one home and damaged two others Wednesday morning, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The fire was reported around 9:43 a.m. in the 17700 block of Langlois Road.When crews arrived, they found one mobile home on fire with flames spreading to two additional double-wide trailers.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire, preventing the two additional homes from being completely destroyed, officials said.

Nine pieces of equipment responded to the scene, including eight engines, a truck, and a battalion chief.

Fire officials said mobile home fires can present unique challenges because of the close spacing between homes and the way the structures are built.

One civilian was treated and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The Red Cross is assisting four adults displaced by the fire, including two adult men and two adult women.

Firefighters remained on scene for several hours conducting salvage and overhaul operations. The incident was cleared shortly after 12:30 p.m.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Tommy Gallegos

MECCA, Calif. — One person was killed, and two others were injured following a suspected DUI traffic collision on eastbound Interstate 10 near the Cactus Rest Area on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at approximately 7:01 a.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, preliminary investigation suggests a Tesla Model 3 was driving in the #1 lane going eastbound when it was struck in the rear by a Kia Forte traveling at a high rate of speed.

“For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the Kia failed to adjust the vehicle’s speed for changing patterns ahead,” reads a news release by CHP. “The force of the crash caused both vehicles to veer out of control and overturn in the median.”

During the rollover, a passenger in the Kia, later identified as Alexis Dare, 33, of Desert Hot Springs, was ejected from the vehicle, police said. Dare was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Tesla and the driver of the Kia were transported to Desert Regional Medical Center for their moderate to major injuries.

Police said alcohol and/or drugs are suspected to be a factor in the crash. The crash is still under investigation and anyone with information regarding the crash is encouraged to call Officer J. Young, at (760) 772-5300.

No other injuries were reported. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Kiera McKinney

THOUSAND PALMS, CALIF. (KESQ)- We are now halfway through the 100 deadliest days of summer, that is the dangerous period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal traffic crashes.

CHP says crashes have not increased compared to previous years, and we’re looking at what that means as we head into the second half of the summer.

Key Risk Factors

Inexperience: Teen drivers are 3 times more likely to be in a fatal crash than older drivers.

Distractions: Cell phones/multiple teen passengers in the car heavily raise the risk.

Risky Behavior: Speeding, driving late at night, and failing to use seat belts.

Impairment: Summer parties increase instances of driving under the influence.

Anlleyn Venegas, Senior public affairs specialist, AAA says, “We are asking all drivers, especially teens, to commit to these four simple actions. Put the phone away and avoid distractions at all times. Obey speed limits. Always wear a seatbelt and never drive impaired.”

AAA says that more than 30 percent of fatal crashes involving teen drivers happen during the summer.

Brian Schmidt, Morongo CHP says “I don’t think we’ve had any significant increase in injury or fatality crashes over the summer as compared to last year.”

CHP says drivers should still avoid distractions behind the wheel.

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KESQ News Team

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s time to hit the bowling alley. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is offering Valley residents a way to get out of the heat and under the neon lights.

Organizers say the summertime matinee is kicking off at Fantasy Lanes. For those interested, their special laser bowling nights take place every Friday and Saturday. And if that’s not enough to entice you, here is one thing that will scholarship money. Fantasy Lanes has its own student bowling league where winners may get some big payouts.

“All of this is all scholarship-based, so whatever money they win from tournaments, fundraisers, it all accumulates in a smart account once they graduate high school. It is all returned back to the bowler to whatever studies they decide, if it’s a trade, if it’s school, whatever it is,” said Jose Rodriguez, bowling center manager for Fantasy Lanes.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is also holding a series of other summertime promotions through the end of September.

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