Author: KESQ

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Palm Springs hosted a community meeting Wednesday to discuss their plans for the Racquet Club Road Reconfiguration Project. The meeting focused on a Fire Response Study conducted by Kimley-Horn.

The project would configure a two-mile corridor from North Palm Canyon Drive along Racquet Club Road to Farrell Drive and Via Escuela. The project would also add bike lanes and reduce traffic to one lane in each direction.

One of the major concerns with the project is the location of Fire Station 3 within the project corridor. The station has the longest average response time of the city’s five stations.

“I have one fire engine taking care of the entire north end,” Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado said. “So naturally the times are longer than average of seven over just over seven minutes to get on scene. So that’s already two minutes over than I want to be.”

Alvarado said he joined the community meeting on Wednesday to share his response time data and how the construction would impact crew travel.

“There are some minimal increases depending on which route you were taking,” Alvarado said. “But the longest route that we studied was from Palm Canyon to Via Escuela…they’re looking at a minute and three seconds additional.”

This can be concerning for residents and crews as every second counts in emergencies.

“A house can flashover in as little as three to five minutes. Survivability is very low,” Alvarado said. “If someone is having a heart attack and their heart stops for every minute, their ability to survive, that decreases 10% for every minute.”

As the reconfiguration project is still in the designing phase, with construction possibly starting in spring 2026, Alvarado said he’s looking at other changes that could increase the stations response time and make them more efficient.

“There’s always a way around it, and you know what we’re looking at…expanding this fire station so we can accommodate more people, more resources here and we’ll be able to meet that challenge,” Alvarado said.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from city officials and Palm Springs Fire about the project.

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Allie Anthony

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – High school students and families across the Coachella Valley are invited to attend a College and Career Fair today, Thursday, at the Agua Caliente Resort in Rancho Mirage from 4 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to all students and families in the valley.

This is a valuable opportunity to explore college options, career programs, and scholarship opportunities all in one place. There will be 92 exhibitors, including representatives from UC and CSU campuses, private universities, community colleges, vocational schools, military branches, and out-of-state colleges.

Students are encouraged to come prepared to ask questions and learn more about the many educational and career pathways available after high school.

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Allie Anthony

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.(KESQ) – Rain is falling on the valley floor. Wet roads reduce traction and increase stopping distance, so it’s important to slow down by at least 5 to 10 miles per hour. Be sure to leave at least four seconds of space between you and the car ahead.

Even during the day, turn on your headlights so other drivers can see you more easily. And if you encounter standing water, ease off the gas, steer straight, and let your car regain traction. Avoid slamming on the brakes.

Never drive through flooded intersections. Just six inches of water can stall your engine, and a foot of water can carry your vehicle away.

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María García

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KESQ) – All lanes are back open on the eastbound I-10 freeway following a crash involving a big rig Thursday morning near Haugen-Lehmann Way in Whitewater.

The crash was first reported at around 4:10 a.m.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the big rig crashed into the center divider guardrail and had become jackknifed, blocking the #1 and #2 lanes.

The two lanes were closed until about 5:35 a.m.

CHP said the driver of the big rig suffered minor injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Stay with us on-air and online for the latest updates.

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Cynthia White

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – CAL FIRE reported a vegetation fire near Avenue 66 and Highway 86 in Mecca that spread to two acres on Wednesday night.

They were called to the area around 10:00 p.m. and requested additional engines after the fire began to spread.

CAL FIRE officials report that no structures were threatened, and did not have immediate information on the containment of the fire.

News Channel 3 sent a crew to the scene, and we will update this story as soon as we have any additional information.

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Blake Arthur

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — Palm Desert teenager Johnny Brande has been battling a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma.

We told you about Johnny and his difficult journey back in June. You can find the full story HERE.

An avid golfer and sports fan, Johnny has been in Los Angeles receiving treatment at UCLA hospital.

On Wednesday, Johnny got to have some fun, throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium for the Dodgers game against the Phillies.

Local teen Johnny Brande, who’s been battling rare form of cancer, threw out the first pitch tonight at Dodger Stadium. He also got to meet some of the team and enjoy the game. What a cool experience for a great kid. Way to go, Johnny! @johnbrande2028 @Dodgers @UCLAHealth pic.twitter.com/0hhtdFHX4E

— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) September 18, 2025

Johnny got to enjoy the game with his family and even had the chance to meet some of the Dodger players.

Johnny recently finished his 25th and final day of radiation. He is only half-way through chemo and is scheduled for surgery next month. Following surgery, he will have more chemo and physical therapy.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for updates on this story.

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Shay Lawson

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – An Indio mother said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents surrounded her family’s car outside her 9-month-old son’s autism therapy session at Accel Therapies in Indian Wells, and detained her husband.

Maria Alcaraz said her family had just arrived at her sons therapy session when several unmarked trucks boxed them in.

Alcaraz spoke with News Channel 3’s sister station Telemundo 15 and below are her responses translated to English.

“When we were going to turn around to enter the clinic, a truck got behind us,” Alcaraz said. “They never identified themselves at all.”

Alcaraz said her family came to the U.S. legally on visitor visas and later started a taco and hot dog stand during the pandemic. She said their growing social media presence also brought threats.

“We started to receive a lot of negative comments on social networks. How they were going to report us to ICE,” Alcaraz said.

She said her family has no criminal record.

“We have no deportation orders,” Alcaraz said. “My husband never resisted.”

Alcaraz said agents later returned to their business attempting to detain her as well.

She said her husband remains in ICE custody at this time as the family awaits answers.

News Channel 3 has reached out to ICE officials and are waiting for details of the operation.

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KESQ-Newsroom

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Acrisure Arena is making it easier for fans to get tickets this season, starting now.

The Ticketmaster box office will have extended hours — open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and staying open from 10 a.m. until showtime on event days.

This gives fans more options to buy tickets in person for hockey games — including the season opener on October 10.

As well as big concerts this fall featuring artists like Paul McCartney, The Who, and Blink-182.

John Page, senior vice president, says the goal is to make live entertainment accessible without extra online fees.

Fans can also buy tickets online on Acrisure Arena’s website or through the arena’s app.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is running for governor next year and made a campaign stop in Palm Springs Wednesday.

The Democrat addressed the Latino community on a recent Supreme Court decision allowing federal immigration officers to question their immigration status.  

“Come in military style deportations, covered from head to toe like the Ku Klux Klan, not identifying themselves, assault weapons, flash bang grenades. They’ve deported citizens. They’re targeting just Latinos for the most part,” Villaraigosa said.

Villaraigosa served as LA mayor from 2005 to 2013.  

He’s received the endorsement from current LA Mayor Karen Bass.

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City News Service

DESERT CENTER (CNS) – A fire involving two battery storage containers broke out today in Desert Center, and no injuries were reported.   

The blaze was reported about 7:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 29700 block of Corn Springs Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.   

Crews remained at the scene to protect other nearby storage containers, the department said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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