Author: KESQ

Gavin Nguyen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – This Earth Day, the City of Rancho Mirage hosted its first-ever Earth Day Celebration at the Rancho Mirage Library.

More than 10 organizations and community partners set up booths and interactive stations for attendees of all ages.

Kids made crafts and learned the importance of sustainable practices. They planted peppers with compost, created upcycled crafts, bird feeders, and more.

Meanwhile, adults had the opportunity to learn about sustainable foods, like microgreens and date farming.

Document shredding, e-waste disposal, and item donation drop-offs were also available.

The event wrapped up at noon, but organizers say they were pleased with today’s turnout and are excited for a bigger event next year.

Stay with News Channel Three to hear from organizers and attendees on the importance of learning sustainable practices this Earth Day.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Care Network and One Legacy are honoring the life of ER nurse Anabel Sanchez by raising a flag at JFK Memorial Hospital.

Organizers and Sanchez’s family member say she saved lives in her work, but also continued to do so after death by being an organ donor.

“She touched a lot of lives here at JFK,” Kimberly Garcia, Sanchez’s colleague and friend said. “Through life resuscitation measures or just a ‘How are you doing? Do you need a glass of water?’ She was one of the nurses that you would definitely want to be a part of your care.”

“For her to want to do that and to choose to save anybody in anyway, it’s definitely a big impact, not only on our lives but other people’s lives as well,” Marbella Meraz, Sanchez’s daughter, said.

The organizations joined for the flag raise in honor of Sanchez and National Donate Life Month, which recognizes the generosity of those who have saved and healed lives by becoming donors like Sanchez.

“She selflessly made that decision to make a donation possible,” Stephanie Char, One Legacy Regional Manager of Business Partnerships said. “And with her family’s commitment to honoring her wishes, it was something that we truly were able to help provide that gift of life to those individuals in need.”

Officials with One Legacy say there is a critical need for people to register as donors. Last year, Desert Regional donors helped save 20 lives. Additionally, 45 individuals were provided tissue transplants and 30 people were “given the gift of sight” with cornea transplant.

In 2024, three lives were saved at JFK Memorial Hospital, where Sanchez worked. Though individuals are receiving the care they need, officials say the necessity for organ donors is only increasing.

“There’s 20,000 individuals who are in need for that organ lifesaving [and] gift of life,” Char said. “With that being said, here in the Valley we do see a high need, especially, for individuals who are in need of kidney donations and transplantation.”

One Legacy wants people to look at Sanchez’s and other donors stories of how greatly they impacted the community, and consider the importance of becoming a donor.

“It’s just having those discussions,” Char said. “It’s something that certainly isn’t necessarily a dinner conversation, but it could be something of a topic just to ensure that individuals are aware of what their wants and wishes are, and to ensure that we are also understanding that there is an opportunity to provide a legacy to others after our presence here.”

A legacy Sanchez’s life is now a part of.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear Sanchez’s legacy from her family, and the inspiration she brings for organ donation in the Coachella Valley.

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Luis Avila

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – With prices for live music soaring, fans are turning to payment plans as a way to afford and pay for their festival tickets.

More than 60% of Coachella attendees this year used the festival’s payment plan, according to Billboard, compared to 18% when the program began at the festival in 2009.

For some, it’s necessary to experience all the music and fun.

“With the plan, yeah. I guess it can be really hard for some people because you are paying a year in advance, like you’re preparing this whole time. It gets really high, especially for camping.”

Joanna, festival-goer

Coachella plans this year required a down payment of at least $50, with the remainder paid monthly. The service requires an additional fee.

While this might be bringing some relief for ticket prices, there are still other costs associated with attending.

“Food is a huge budget, transportation is a big budget.” 

Shira, festival-goer

“Like overtly expensive. We spent 22 dollars on two slices of pizza.” 

Kassra, festival-goer

Attendees say while you can’t escape the high cost, the best way to avoid additional costs is to plan ahead.

“If you prepare correctly and go about it the right way you can avoid a lot of the extra stuff. All the extra things you need, you can bring with you.” 

Leila, festival-goer

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Firebirds defeat the Calgary Wranglers in a 4-3 triple overtime marathon. Game two will be on Saturday back at Acrisure Arena.

Wow! Firebirds defeat the Wranglers in a 4-3 triple overtime marathon. Mitchell Stephens plays hero for Coachella Valley with the game winner. Much needed rest days ahead before Game 2 on Saturday back at Acrisure Arena. @KESQ

— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) April 23, 2025

The Firebirds were 6-2-0 against the Wranglers, the Calgary Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate, in the regular season, including a 3-1-0 record at Acrisure Arena.

This is the third consecutive year the teams have met in the playoffs. The Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate, winning both of the previous matchups en route to the Calder Cup Finals.  

The Firebirds (37-25-5-5) were fourth in the 10-team Pacific Division with 84 points. Calgary (37-28-4-3) was fifth with 81 points.   

The entire best-of-three series will be played at Acrisure Arena, with Game 2 Saturday, and Game 3, if necessary, Sunday.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was sent to the hospital after a fire damaged an RV and a structure in Coachella on Tuesday morning.

The fire was reported at around 9:00 a.m. on the 84700 block of Avenue 53.

According to CAL FIRE, firefighters arrived at the scene and reported a fully involved RV with flames extending into a residential structure. The structure sustained moderate damage, but residents were not displaced.

The fire was contained at around 9:45 a.m.

One person was treated for moderate injuries and transported to a local trauma center via ground ambulance.

Firefighters will be committed for approximately three hours for overhaul.

There was no word on a possible cause of the fire. Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Cynthia White

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is holding an open house for this year’s Dream Home Giveaway.

News Channel 3 was live at the home on Avenida Villa in the La Quinta Cove on Monday, just in time for the ribbon cutting ceremony!

The deadline for purchasing tickets for the Giveaway is quickly approaching – The drawing for the home is set for April 29.

Tickets are just $100, and benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s mission of battling childhood cancer.

The 2,000 square foot home features top of the line amenities along with three bedrooms, three baths, and a two car garage. There’s also plenty of lighting and an amazing walk-in closet with a rotating shelf.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital treats more than 8,000 children a year, at no cost at all to their families.

All you have to do is call 1-800-535-6748 to buy a ticket for a chance to win this beautiful Dream Home – while supporting St. Jude. Only 17,500 tickets will be sold.

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Cynthia White

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A new expansion is open at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage.

The ribbon cutting on Monday introduced the casino’s addition of over 12,000 square feet of gaming space. The expansion includes over 250 new slot machines and table games.

The month of April also marks Agua Caliente Casinos’ 30th year in gaming – since starting back in 1995.

Chief Operating Officer Saverio Scheri says they’ve purchased over 500 additional games for the tribe’s three casinos.

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Cynthia White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The County of Riverside Supervisors and the County Executive Officer have offered a series of community budget workshops this month to inform residents about the county’s services and budget process.

More than 40 county departments provide services ranging from healthcare and housing to law enforcement and public works projects. All these services require funding, whether it’s from locally generated property taxes or from the state and federal government. These workshops will provide a “Budget 101” overview that will go over where the county’s revenue comes from and which public services that money goes towards.

“As Chair of the Board of Supervisors, I am excited we are doing new things this year to increase outreach to community members during the budget process,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “For the first time, we will be bringing these discussions to our communities, in all five Supervisorial districts of Riverside County. We want to hear from you about what is most important in your county government.”

These feedback sessions are open to all residents and will provide an opportunity to give input into county services and priorities ahead of next fiscal year’s recommended budget in May and the annual budget hearings in June.

The workshops have been held throughout the county this month – Supervisor V. Manuel Perez will be hosting the District 4 workshop on Tuesday, April 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Classic Club, 75-200 Classic Club Boulevard in Palm Desert.

County officials say the goals of the community workshops are to make a complicated process more accessible and to ensure that the county’s budget reflects the needs of its growing population. For more information or to access a copy of “Budget 101: The County Budget Explained,” visit www.RivCo.org/budget.

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