Jesus Reyes
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A woman drowned in a home in Palm Springs Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed.
The drowning was reported at around 11 a.m. on the 1600 block of Dunham Road.
Police told News Channel 3 that the fire department responded to the call and confirmed a female had drowned.
PSPD Officers are responding to assist with the investigation, police added.
Stay with News Channel 3 as we continue to learn more details.
Jesus Reyes
PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A maintenance worker is dead after a fall in a vault Wednesday morning at a country club in Palm Desert.
The incident was first reported as a “confined space rescue” at around 10:20 a.m. at the Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas in the 1000 block of Pinehurst Lane, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
CAL FIRE wrote on social media that a person had fallen into a 20ft. manhole. A CAL FIRE spokesperson told News Channel 3 that the person was a maintenance worker who was working in a vault.
Details were limited but the officials said the patient fell. Air monitoring registered hydrogen sulfide gas, which required rescue crews to use special equipment for the operation, CAL FIRE said.
The cause of the person’s death is being investigated by the coroner’s office. CAL OSHA is also en route to investigate the incident.
Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.
Luis Avila
THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Some parents questioning the safety of their children after authorities say two staff members at Desert Mirage High School were transported to the hospital Tuesday after being exposed to a substance.
“It was pretty scary because even when I went to pick him up after school, the ambulance was still there and the fire department and we didn’t know what was going on.”
Loretta Perez, parent
But Dr. Frances Esparza says the district is responding accordingly, taking immediate action to prevent another from happening. The district holding a meeting Wednesday, going over the protocols for handling drugs and alcohol, with resources like narcan at the ready on all campuses.
Karina Vega, district support counselor, say the district has been equipping all campuses to better handle drug related issues and expanding drug prevention education.
“We have Latino Commission substance abuse prevention specialists on all middle school and high school campuses to teach them how to cope with stress and anxiety… We had the District Attorney come and talk to parents about fentanyl and the dangers around it. We also had training for all our wellness centers, therapists on campus, and all of our substance abuse counselors.”
Karina Vega, district support counselor
But Perez says it’s not enough, calling on the district to conduct searches.
“I think not only with drugs but safety in general. I think there has been a breaking point… especially with how easily it can be brought into school right now.”
Loretta Vega, parent
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.
City News Service
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – People traveling out of Palm Springs International Airport or any other airfield today should likely anticipate some delays at security checkpoints as the long-awaited Real ID requirement goes into effect.
Starting Wednesday, Transportation Security Administration officers will require passengers to present a Real ID or other acceptable form of identification to board a flight. The requirement was initially approved in 2005 as part of the response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but its implementation has been repeatedly delayed from the original 2008 deadline.
Officials at the Palm Springs International Airport said Wednesday that so far, the rollout is going smoothly at PSP. There have been no delays at the checkpoint.
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To determine if a California driver’s license is Real ID-compliant, travelers are advised to look for a golden bear with a star in the top right corner. Those who aren’t sure can check with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Other acceptable forms of identification include U.S. and foreign passports and passport cards, Department of Defense identification — including those issued to dependents — a permanent resident card, border crossing card, or photo ID from a federally recognized Tribal Nation, among others.
A full list can be found at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.
Once enforcement begins, passengers who do not present Real ID or another TSA-acceptable form of identification “can expect to face delays, additional screening, and the possibility of not being allowed into the security checkpoint,” the airport statement said.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking at a congressional hearing Tuesday, said the agency is hoping for a smooth transition to the Real ID requirement.
“What will happen tomorrow is folks will come through the line and… show (their ID) and if it’s not compliant they may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step. But people will be allowed to fly,” she said. “… We will make sure that it is as seamless as possible and that travelers will get to stay on their intended itinerary.”
For people who still need to obtain a Real ID, 18 state Department of Motor Vehicle offices will open one hour early, four days a week through June 7 to serve appointment-only customers seeking the federally mandated cards.
That includes the Rancho Cucamonga office at 8629 Hellman Ave., which will open at 7 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and devote the early hour exclusively to patrons with Real ID appointments.
On Wednesdays the hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kendall Flynn
PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is raising awareness for the endangered Mexican Wolves by collaborating with local Luchador Brewing Company.
Mexican Wolves remain the most endangered subspecies of wolf in the world. While promoting the collaboration, The Living Desert reported there are just over 600 wolves left.
These efforts come after one of The Living Desert’s beloved Mexican Wolves, Drew Hudson, died in March.
The Zoo and Luchador are partnering to raise money for conservation with the El Lobo Mexican Lager. For every pint of El Lobo sold at Luchador Brewing Company, $1 will be donated to support The Living Desert’s mission of “protecting vulnerable wildlife both locally and globally.”
Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials with The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens and with Luchador Brewing Company.
Athena Jreij
THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — Faced with a more than $50 million budget deficit, mass layoffs and less than favorable public sentiment, to say Dr. Frances Esparza was dealt a poor deck of cards as CVUSD’s new superintendent, would be an understatement.
For the past year, Esparza has made tough decisions while weighing the fate of the district, including laying off 300 teachers and classified employees apart of the district’s deficit.
“The district is overstaffed. We’d love to keep all these employees, but simply we can’t afford to,” she said.
Just recently, the Coachella Valley Education Foundation was cleared by the Department of Justice after an investigation into the misuse of nearly $3 million in donations from Goldenvoice.
That investigation was launched after previous district leaders spent an unauthorized $12,000 on last year’s state of the district, and pulled it from the foundation.
Dr. Esparza says the CV Ed Foundation currently holds $2.8 million dedicated to art and music education, but that money has been sitting in the district’s account because the foundation was out of compliance. In past years, the district has failed to meet tax compliant standards.
But it’s something she says she was hired to get in order. After the investigation revealed no wrongdoing, they’re ready to use that money.
“What we’re going to do is hire an elementary and secondary coordinator for music and arts programs.”
She also says they plan to develop a rotating arts curriculum special to each school.
The district has been in headlines this year, many of which News Channel 3 reported on first including West Shores High School campus fights and a Desert Mirage High School staff member that was exposed to drugs. But Dr. Esparza says the part of CVUSD that goes most unnoticed are the accomplishments of the students.
“We’re going to highlight our students who won the science and engineering program for the county. We’re going to highlight our spelling bee champions from the county. We’re going to highlight our students who won National and World for Kids in Science Programs,” Esparza said.
Reflecting on a year of work, she tells News Channel 3 that next year she wants to bring the attention back to students.
“We have our students who are scholars, I call them our champions, and we’re going to continue to create champions. We have students right now who have been identified to go to some of our Ivy League schools in the nation, some who are taking on trade, some who are going to our awesome COD and wanting to transfer,” Esparza said.
Tori King
La Quinta Brewing is set to permanently close its Old Town La Quinta location on Monday, May 26, 2025. The Taproom made the announcement on Instagram Tuesday night.
“This decision was not made lightly, and we are incredibly grateful for the support the community has shown us over the years. While we’re closing this location, we remain committed to serving you at our other two locations, The Brewery in Palm Desert and our taproom in downtown Palm Springs,” said La Quinta Brewing in a statement.
See the entire announcement here.
Gavin Nguyen
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – May marks AAPI Month, otherwise known as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Each year, May commemorates the history and culture of these groups.
According to data from HARC’s 2022 Coachella Valley Community Health Survey, Asians or Asian Americans accounted for 3.8% of the valley’s population, or less than 12,000 people.
KPop Foodz, a restaurant in Cathedral City that serves a mix of Korean street food and homestyle favorites, is approaching its one-year mark.
Kevin Kim, the owner, says it’s his passion to cook Korean cuisine for the Coachella Valley. “I love to be here. I love to cook,” he says with a smile.
Kim says it was difficult to start the business at first, especially as a Korean-American living in the valley.
“When you open the business, first time, it starts off very slow,” he recounts. But Kim continues, “In these days, Korean culture and, like, dramas and music is a very, very, you know, famous around the world.”
He says the growing interest in Korean culture is helping lower people’s guard when it comes to trying new food.
“They knew, they heard and they want a taste of the Korean food,” Kim says. He serves Korean street foods, like tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and skewers, but also comfort foods, like bibimbap and beef stews.
Just down the road and still in Cathedral City is Fil-Am Oriental Mart, another Asian-owned business with nearly three decades of history.
Nina Cabrera, who has been working at the market for ten years, says there’s no shortage of good food on display.
“We make adobo, of course. Pancit is our best seller. A lot of like, dinuguan … and, you know, just the authentic food that we miss in the Philippines,” Cabrera, who is also affectionately known as “Auntie Nina,” says. “There’s a lot of food that we miss from home. So we tried to bring them over here.”
Staff at the market say recent tariff talk has raised concern about importing Asian groceries to the desert. They say the cost of the items they sell will likely increase, though they will try to balance the prices.
Despite these challenges, Auntie Nina says the market will continue to serve the community delicious Filipino food and Asian groceries.
“The Filipinos or the Asian communities are growing. So, you know, hopefully they will, you know, come. But we’re happy that we have this little stuff here.”
Here’s a brief list of some Asian-owned businesses that have been sent into our newsroom for you to check out:
Fil-Am Oriental Market (Cathedral City)
KPop Foodz (Cathedral City)
Vienna Donuts (Cathedral City)
Peppers Thai (Palm Springs)
AJ Filipino Market (Palm Springs)
Thai Hot Restaurant (Indio)
Pho of the Desert (Indio)
This is an incomprehensive list, so if you have any suggestions, let us know by sending us an email at share@kesq.com!
Cynthia White
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – In the Tuesday meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors authorized the Sheriff’s Office to raise the rates it charges local cities and agencies for law enforcement services.
The 7% increase, retroactive to July 2024, raises the base hourly rate charged for the use of patrol personnel.
At its Council meeting on Tuesday, the La Quinta City Council voted unanimously to approve the proposed contract agreement with the county for fiscal years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027, which increased the amount for law enforcement services from about $18 million to nearly $22 million.
A statement from Rancho Mirage says the new rate will raise the city’s law enforcement budget to about $13 million, which includes 33.27 total personnel and 28.27 total sworn personnel.
Palm Desert says their currently budgeted amount is just under $21 million. They currently have a budget study session scheduled for Thursday at noon, where they’ll discuss the new rate.
We’ve also reached out to other local cities that contract with Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates on this story.
KESQ News Team
VATICAN CITY, Rome – As the Catholic Church prepares to elect its next spiritual leader, here’s a detailed look at the centuries-old ritual of the papal conclave, an event marked by history, secrecy, and sacred tradition.
WATCH: Vatican Media’s LIVE coverage of the 2025 Papal Conclave
The 2025 Papal Conclave
The Vatican officially announced the papal conclave to elect a new pope begins on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis. The election takes place in the Sistine Chapel, the Renaissance masterpiece nestled within Vatican City.
This solemn gathering of cardinals, who are some of the highest-ranking leaders in the Roman Catholic Church, represents one of the most sacred and confidential events in the religious world. While rooted in tradition, the conclave also serves as a critical moment of discernment, shaping the future direction of a faith followed by over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
What Is a Papal Conclave?
The word “conclave” comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key.” The term reflects the practice of locking the cardinal electors inside a secluded space, now the Sistine Chapel, until they reach agreement on who will become the next pope. The Church has used the conclave process for over 700 years, with modern rules codified by recent popes, most recently Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
The conclave is not only about casting votes; it is a spiritual event, grounded in prayer and carried out with elaborate ceremony. Once the conclave begins, all participants are sworn to absolute secrecy, forbidden from communicating with the outside world in any form.
Who Participates in the Conclave?
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, only cardinals under the age of 80 at the time the papacy becomes vacant are eligible to vote.
These electors, typically around 120, travel to Rome from across the globe. They are a diverse group, representing the universal nature of the Church. Although any baptized male Catholic is eligible for election, in practice, the new pope is almost always chosen from among the cardinals.
The Pre-Conclave Meetings
Before the conclave officially begins, cardinals attend a series of general congregations, formal meetings where they reflect on the state of the Church, hear reports, and discuss what kind of leader is needed.
These discussions are private, but they often help shape consensus around potential candidates, known informally as papabili, those considered likely to become pope.
During this period, logistical preparations are finalized, and the Sistine Chapel is inspected and secured. Specialized staff ensures that electronic jamming and counter-surveillance measures are in place to preserve the integrity of the conclave.
Oath of Secrecy
Once the conclave officially begins, the cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel, chanting hymns as they pass under Michelangelo’s famous fresco of the Last Judgment. Upon entering, each elector takes an oath of secrecy, pledging not to disclose anything that occurs within the conclave under pain of automatic excommunication.
After the doors close, they are locked from the outside, and the chapel becomes the cardinals’ exclusive space for discernment and voting.
CNN
The Voting Process
Each day of the conclave includes two voting sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon, with time for prayer and informal discussions between.
Here’s how a vote works:
Each cardinal writes his choice on a paper ballot marked with the Latin phrase “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”).
Ballots are folded and placed into a chalice, then deposited into a receptacle atop the altar.
Three cardinals designated as “scrutineers” count the votes aloud.
If no one receives a two-thirds majority, the process repeats.
Ballots from each session are burned in a special stove inside the chapel.
To let the world know what’s happening, smoke rises from the chapel’s chimney:
Black smoke (fumata nera) means no decision has been reached.
White smoke (fumata bianca) signals that a new pope has been elected.
Election and Acceptance
When a candidate receives the required number of votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals formally asks: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” If the chosen cardinal accepts, he is then asked what papal name he wishes to take.
The new pope is led to the nearby Room of Tears, where he dresses in white papal vestments prepared in various sizes. The room gets its name from the emotion often experienced at that moment – grief, awe, or humility, as the weight of responsibility settles in.
CNN
Public Announcement: “Habemus Papam”
Once dressed, the new pope is introduced to the world from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
A senior cardinal steps forward and proclaims: “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”), followed by the pope’s birth name and chosen papal name.
Moments later, the new pope offers his first Urbi et Orbi blessing – “to the city and to the world” – a tradition that stretches back centuries.
Why the Conclave Still Matters
In an age of technology and transparency, the conclave remains a powerful symbol of mystery, unity, and sacred duty. It is deliberately designed to prevent political lobbying, media pressure, or factionalism. It reminds the world and the faithful, that leadership in the Church is not merely elected; it is discerned through prayer and tradition.
With over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, the choice of pope has spiritual, cultural, and even geopolitical consequences. The 2025 conclave brings together cardinals from more than 70 countries, many of whom were appointed by Pope Francis himself, possibly shaping a continuation of his pastoral, globally minded legacy.
