Author: KESQ

Luis Avila

CABAZON, Calif. — Thousands of visitors are expected this weekend for the 35th Annual Morongo Thunder & Lightning Powwow, a free three-day celebration of Native American culture featuring traditional dance, music, food and art.

The event runs Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27, at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon. Organizers expect about 30,000 attendees, with more than 900 dancers and 20 drum groups from across the United States and Canada.

The weekend’s centerpiece is the Grand Entry, when hundreds of dancers in traditional regalia enter the arena accompanied by competitive drum groups and singers. Grand Entries are scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, 1 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday.

More than 100 vendors will also participate in the Indian Market, offering Native American jewelry, beadwork, pottery, clothing and basketry, along with Indian tacos, tamales and frybread.

The powwow will also feature Cahuilla Bird Singing and Dancing, a tradition that uses songs and dances to tell stories of the Cahuilla people’s migration and pass cultural teachings between generations.

Event Details

Friday: 4 p.m.–midnightSaturday: 11 a.m.–midnightSunday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Location: Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon

Admission: Free

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)— Students at Palm Desert High School and Sacred Heart School were placed under a temporary secured lockout Friday afternoon as deputies investigated a reported burglary in progress at a residence on Calle Lantana in Palm Desert.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to Calle Lantana at approximately 1:49 p.m. after receiving a report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, deputies made announcements and searched the residence but did not find any suspects.

Out of an abundance of caution, deputies placed a school in the area under a temporary lockout while they conducted their search, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The lockout has since been lifted.

A public safety update from the Sheriff’s Office earlier Friday reported a heavy law enforcement presence in the area of Deep Canyon Road and Moss Rose Lane and asked residents to avoid the scene while first responders conducted their investigation.

At approximately 2:43 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office announced that the schools would be released and that there was “no further public safety threat.”

Palm Desert High School Principal Sarit Saig also notified families that all students were safe. In a message to parents, Saig said the school had been placed under a temporary secured lockout because of police activity off campus and out of an abundance of caution. The recommendation came from local law enforcement, according to the message.

“DSUSD received an all clear from law enforcement and the secured lockout has been lifted. All regular activities are resuming and classes are in session,” Saig told families.

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and that no further details are currently available.

It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured or whether any arrests had been made.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Kiera McKinney

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ)- A person was taken to the hospital after being struck by lightning in Palm Springs Thursday.

Palm Springs Fire said firefighters responded in the Chino Canyon area to a palm tree fire and a person who had been struck by lightning.

Lightning strike survivor Sabrina Riccio said she was driving on Interstate 10 near Morongo during a monsoon in 2012 when lightning struck her car.

“My dog and I got struck, and I had to cross over all four lanes with no power steering,” Riccio said.

She said she eventually reached the shoulder, but the damage was extensive.

“The next day, when the car repair guy was looking at my car, everything was melted inside,” Riccio said.

CAL FIRE Captain John Clingingsmith said the time between a lightning flash and thunder can help estimate how close a strike is.

“When you see the lightning flash, if you count by seconds, whatever you come up with, divide that by five,” Clingingsmith said. “That’s generally how far the strike was in miles.”

CAL FIRE says people caught outside should avoid tall structures and conductive materials, seek shelter as soon as possible and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back outside.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Three Riverside County residents who conspired to steal more than $3 million in federal funds intended for economic relief during the COVID lockdowns pleaded guilty this week to felony charges.

Vanessa M. Williams, 37, of Corona and Denise Mata, 36, of Moreno Valley each admitted on Tuesday one count of wire fraud, while their co-defendant, 34-year-old Daryl Knighten of Perris, admitted the same charge on Thursday.

The individual plea agreements with the U.S. Attorney’s Office were submitted to U.S. District Judge Kenly Kato, who accepted them and scheduled a sentencing hearing for the trio on Jan. 14 at federal court in downtown Riverside.

One other alleged co-conspirator, 35-year-old Mikhail Hoalim of Moreno Valley, is awaiting trial on nine counts of alleged wire fraud. Proceedings are set in his case for November.

According to federal prosecutors, Mata, Williams and Knighten admitted that, between March and August 2021, they filed applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans for themselves, relatives, friends and unnamed persons who were recruited into their scheme.

PPP loans were intended by the government to help recipients cover expenses while their ability to earn a living was disrupted because of the lockdowns stemming from the declared public health emergency.

“The defendants lied to the United States Small Business Administration and banks in connection with the fraudulent PPP loan applications,” according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office statement. “Each application falsely stated that the PPP loan applicant was self-employed and falsely certified that each loan would be used for permissible business purposes.”

The defendants ultimately utilized tax and other information from over“100 co-schemers” to perpetrate their scam, prosecutors said.

“Knighten, Williams, Mata and their co-schemers used the illicitly obtained money for their own personal benefit and not for expenses allowable under the PPP,” according to the government. “The defendants also submitted fraudulent documents to the SBA and lenders to obtain loan forgiveness for the illegally obtained loans.”

The total loss from the crimes was estimated at roughly $3.5 million.

The defendants are facing a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the offenses.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, CA (KESQ)– September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about suicide and the warning signs that someone may need help.

According to the CDC, someone in the U.S. dies by suicide about every 11 minutes. In 2022, nearly 50,000 Americans died by suicide, and there were about 1.6 million reported suicide attempts.

Recent data also shows the suicide rate among U.S. children ages 8 to 12 has increased over the past decade.

So, what warning signs should people look for?

Silvia Kaminsky, board president of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, says sudden changes in behavior can be a red flag.

That can include someone who is normally kind and even-tempered becoming angry or aggressive, or someone who has been very sad suddenly appearing unusually cheerful. An increase in substance use can also be a warning sign.

Kaminsky says mental illness and substance-use disorders can be factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Suicide is currently the 11th leading cause of death in the United States.

If you or someone you know is struggling or showing signs of suicidal thoughts, help is available by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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City News Service

MOUNTAIN CENTER (CNS) – A young man riding his dirt bike just west of Mountain Center was fatally injured today when he lost control and crashed, possibly while intoxicated, after failing to negotiate a bend in the road.

The crash was reported at 6:25 a.m. Friday in the area of McCall Park Road and Vista Way, within the San Bernardino National Forest, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Ricardo Palomera said that the rider, identified only as a 21-year-old Hemet man, was aboard a Honda CRF450R Motocross, traveling at an unconfirmed speed along McCall Park, when he came to a curve near Vista Way and “lost control and left the roadway.”

“The Honda overturned, and the rider was subsequently ejected from the dirt bike,” Palomera said. “He was not wearing a helmet.” Riverside County Fire Department paramedics reached the location ashort time later and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

“Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash,” the CHP spokesman said.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation was asked to contact the agency’s Beaumont office at 951-846-5300.

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Clarissa Ayala

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) —UPDATE 9/25 10:37 AM- A driver was killed early Friday morning after a single-vehicle traffic collision in Indian Wells, authorities said.

At approximately 2:05 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to a reported collision at the intersection of Highway 111 and Desert Horizons Drive.

When deputies arrived, they found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Palm Desert Station’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation.

As deputies investigated the crash, State Highway 111 was temporarily closed between Cook Street and Eldorado Drive. The roadway has since reopened to traffic.

Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased driver. The name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation, and authorities said no additional details will be released at this time.

Anyone who may have information about the crash is encouraged to contact Deputy Ju Yoo at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600.

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Dakota Makinen

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The 19th annual Concert for Autism kicks off Saturday in Indio, bringing live music to the Coachella Valley while raising money for autism services.

The kickoff event is set for Saturday, September 26, from 6 to 11 p.m. at The Dune Room in Indio.

Concert for Autism founder Josh Heinz will also reunite with his band, Blasting Echo, for the event. The band has not performed together since 2023.

Blasting Echo has a longtime connection to the fundraiser, first performing at the Concert for Autism in 2009.

A $10 suggested donation will benefit the Desert Autism Foundation.

The Concert for Autism series has raised more than $175,000 over the years to support autism-related services.

Saturday’s event is the first of four events planned for the 19th annual series.

When: Saturday, September 26, 6–11 p.m.Where: The Dune Room, IndioSuggested donation: $10Beneficiary: Desert Autism Foundation

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KESQ News Team

PALM DESERT, CA (KESQ)- After more than a decade in development, DSRT Surf will officially open to the public on Saturday, September 26, bringing surf sessions to the desert for the first time.

The destination opened its public booking calendar September 24 at 5:00 p.m. PST, allowing guests to reserve sessions ahead of the opening.

DSRT Surf will begin with a phased soft opening, with the Surf Lagoon and Surf Center available at launch. Additional amenities and experiences will roll out over the coming weeks and months, while some offerings and capacities will remain limited as the team refines operations.

The facility will operate 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with surf sessions beginning every hour.

For first-time surfers, DSRT Surf is also offering a Learn-to-Surf Experience featuring 30 minutes of land instruction followed by a 60-minute guided water session. The experience costs $100 for the general public and $75 for Coachella Valley residents, with weekday sessions currently offered at 4 and 6 p.m.

Billed as the largest Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon in North America, DSRT Surf also features what it describes as the world’s first surf lagoon to achieve International Dark Sky Certification and a sustainability-focused turf-for-surf program designed for net-zero water usage.

The opening comes ahead of the ISA World Para Surfing Championship in November, when DSRT Surf will welcome athletes and guests from around the world.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Palm Springs firefighters are actively patrolling the area as lightning continues to strike along the mountainsides surrounding the city, prompting crews to respond to multiple incidents, including two fires and a lightning strike that sent one person to the hospital.

Firefighters responded to an approximately half-acre vegetation fire sparked amid the ongoing lightning activity. Palm Springs fire units have since cleared the scene.

In a separate incident in Chino Canyon, firefighters responded to a palm tree fire as well as a report of a person struck by lightning. The individual was transported to a hospital for medical treatment.

A small brush fire was put out this afternoon in the Snow Creek area, and officials from the Bureau of Land Management say an investigation is underway into the cause of the fire, and that lightning strikes were reported in the area at the time the blaze started.

The ongoing storms are producing what is known as dry lightning, lightning that occurs with little or no rain reaching the ground. Dry lightning can ignite vegetation and increase the risk of fires, particularly when grass, brush and trees are dry.

Fire crews are continuing to patrol the area and monitor the mountainsides for smoke and additional fires. Palm Springs firefighters remain prepared to respond to new incidents as conditions develop.

Residents and visitors are urged to take lightning seriously. If you hear thunder or see lightning, go indoors and remain there until the threat has passed.

Officials recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before returning outdoors.

Anyone who sees smoke or flames, or encounters someone experiencing a medical emergency, should call 911 immediately.

With lightning activity continuing across the area, firefighters are reminding the public to remain alert and take precautions while crews monitor conditions throughout Palm Springs and the surrounding mountains.

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