Author: KESQ

Kendall Flynn

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The LGBTQ community is voicing strong opposition to a proposal introduced by Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto.

During a Palm Desert City Council meeting on Thursday, Pradetto proposed that the city stop recognizing Pride Month. The proposal would include no longer displaying a Pride banner at City Hall.

Two other council members supported revisiting the city’s policy.

Pradetto said he does not believe it is necessary for the city to highlight one community over another, arguing that doing so can create division rather than unity.

The City of Palm Desert sent us this statement saying:

“At last night’s meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Pradetto made a formal request for Council discussion regarding Resolution 24-038 and a potential update to Resolution 2018-09. That request was approved for future agenda placement, but no action has been taken at this time.  

As of now, the earliest this item would return to Council is the second meeting in January, though it may be February. It’s anticipated that any initial discussion would take place in a study session format, allowing space for a full and thoughtful dialogue among Councilmembers before any decisions are considered.

The scope of potential changes, if any, will be determined through that public process.”

News Channel 3 is working to hold city leaders accountable and is seeking additional comment from city officials regarding the proposal.

Community reaction and more details on the proposal will be featured tonight on News Channel 3 at 6 p.m.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Payroll gains overcame losses at the end of summer throughout the regional economy, pushing the unemployment rate down slightly in Riverside County, according to figures released today by the California Employment Development Department.

Statewide labor market figures for September were finally released Friday, following a two-month delay stemming from the federal government shutdown, which impacted all data collection and publication by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in turn affecting EDD’s publication schedule.

The belatedly released figures indicated that the countywide jobless rate in September, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 6.1%, compared to 6.3% in August.

According to figures, the September rate was roughly half a percentage point higher than September 2024, when countywide unemployment stood at 5.5%.   

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — was 5.9%, down from 6.1% in August, the EDD said.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the public sector, where an estimated 7,000 positions were added, mainly in education, as teachers and support staff in area school systems returned from summer hiatus.

Additional gains were recorded in the agricultural and health services sectors, which grew by 3,100 positions, according to figures.   

Payrolls contracted by the largest amount in the construction sector, where cuts numbered about 1,500 in September. The financial services, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, professional business services and transportation sectors altogether shed 3,100 positions, EDD said.

Miscellaneous unclassified industries showed a loss of another 300 jobs.   

The mining sector was unchanged.   

The statewide non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was 5.6%.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Dwayne Johnson and Teyana Taylor will be honored at Variety’s Creative Impact Awards during the Palm Springs International Film Festival next month.

Johnson will receive the Creative Impact in Acting Award for his revelatory and transformative performance in Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine,” which has garnered him his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.

“Dwayne Johnson is a revelation in ‘The Smashing Machine.’ His haunting and committed portrayal of MMA fighter Mark Kerr is a testament to his willingness to forgo vanity to tell a truly human story. We are thrilled to honor Dwayne with Variety’s Acting Award in Palm Springs,” said Ramin Setoodeh, copresident & co-editor-in-chief, Variety.

Taylor will receive the Creative Impact in Breakthrough Performance Award for her standout performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture.

“With her multilayered performance in ‘One Battle After Another,’ Teyana Taylor manages to do theimpossible: She stands out in one of the year’s best ensembles. Combined with her previous film roles in‘A Thousand and One’ and ‘The Book of Clarence,’ Teyana has quickly established herself as a formidableand fearless actress, and we can’t wait to see what she does next. We are delighted to honor her withVariety’s Breakthrough Performance Award,” said Ramin Setoodeh, co-president & co-editor-in-chief,Variety.

The awards will be given as part of Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch on January 4.

Check Out: Variety to honor its ’10 Directors to Watch’ during Palm Springs Film Fest

The Palm Springs International Film Festival runs from January 2 to 12, 2026. Passes and tickets are currently on sale. For additional information visit https://www.psfilmfest.org/

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

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Jesus Reyes

NEW YORK (KESQ) – A Riverside County woman was stabbed while changing her 10-month-old daughter’s diaper at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City.

The incident happened on Thursday. According to WABC, the woman was changing her baby’s diaper on the 7th floor when she was suddenly stabbed multiple times from behind in the back and arm. Her husband was able to disarm the stabber and held her for police.

Police said the attack appears to be unprovoked and is currently under investigation.

The mother was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition, according to multiple reports. The baby was not injured.

The victim and her husband are from Jurupa Valley and work for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect, a Massachusetts resident, was charged with two counts of assault, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. She is expected to appear in court Friday.

Multiple outlets, including from WABC, initially reported that the victim and her husband worked for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in Jurupa Valley. The Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on Friday on its social media pages stating that no Riverside Sheriff’s employees were involved in the assault.

“The Riverside Sheriff’s Office is aware of the incident that occurred yesterday in New York. No Riverside Sheriff’s employees were involved in the assault. Please contact the New York Police Department for any further details regarding this investigation.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Athena Jreij

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – After cancelling the annual walk in September, Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage resumes Friday at churches across the Valley, but with some changes.

The 30-mile walk that took over 20,000 parishioners from the west to east end of the Valley last year, was postponed due to immigration enforcement fears.

Participants will now walk the miles in church parking lots across the Valley, and hold celebrations on-site.

At Saint Luis Catholic Church in Cathedral City, the festivities began at 3 a.m. Thursday featuring music, dance performances, prayer and food vendors.

“The Holy Spirit is still working in the people and they’re saying, ‘hey let’s do the play, let’s do the dances.’ So, in a way I think the main point is to continue to give thanks to God and to praise him. Maybe not with the walking, but now we pray with him and many other things too,” Father Jose Orozco said.

Concepcion Cruz, a parishioner and lead dancer, said members of her community have been impacted by immigration enforcement fears.

“The fear is there, people are afraid to go out, people don’t go to the store but today we are here united, people have been coming in and out to support the event yesterday and today. So we had a good reaction towards the event.

It’s shown fear won’t sent their cultural traditions into hiding, but many still expressed a hope that the pilgrimage would come back next year.

“Our community is so big, 64% of the Valley is Hispanic. So this tradition, all the churches they need to keep it going,” Rafael Oscal said.

Several churches across the Valley are planning festivities into Friday evening.

Stick with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Luis Avila

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — What is typically a joyful time of year can also bring increased stress—and for some families in the Coachella Valley, that stress is contributing to a troubling rise in domestic violence calls.

Local support organizations report that the holiday season consistently sees an uptick in requests for help, and this year is no exception.

At Shelter From the Storm, phone lines have been especially busy. Executive Director Angelina Coe says the number of calls they’re receiving has already climbed above normal levels.

“In a month, we average anywhere from 189 calls to 319 calls. Right now, we’re averaging about 285 and that’s only November we’re not even talking about December numbers. As December goes — I know we’re only at the 12th of December — we’ve fielded over 100 calls.”

Angelina Coe, Shelter from the Storm Executive Director

Coe says the holidays often bring added financial pressure and emotional strain—factors that can intensify conflict in households already dealing with instability.

For survivors, the effects of abuse can be long-lasting. Maria, who asked not to show her face, shared her experience of enduring years of emotional abuse.

“It’s been psychological and emotional abuse. It was almost five years and it’s difficult to get out of a situation like that on top of people judging you because you keep coming back.”

Maria, Client

Maria says leaving was not something she could do alone—it took support and reaching a breaking point.

Despite the growing need, Coe says stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles preventing people from seeking help. She encourages friends and family members to speak up when they notice warning signs.

“We need to identify and not be scared to have those conversations. So if your friend or family member is experiencing abuse and you’re seeing signs and you’re concerned, follow that concern, follow that gut, talk to them about it.”

Angelina Coe, Shelter from the Storm Executive Director

Shelter From the Storm operates a 24/7 hotline for anyone in need of help or resources. For more information, click here.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 33-year-old man died today from his injuries after his motorcycle and a big rig truck collided in Indio.   

The crash was reported about 11:15 p.m. Thursday in front of a business on the 43400 block of Monroe Street, south of Interstate 10, according to the Indio Police Department.   

Upon arrival, officers found a man in the roadway with significant injuries. Paramedics initiated lifesaving measures and he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead Friday morning, the department said.

The coroner’s office identified as a Roberto Rodriguez, 33, of Indio.

The driver of the big rig was not injured and cooperated with investigators.

Monroe Street was temporarily closed between Oleander Avenue and Interstate 10, and was reopened at 2:54 a.m. Friday.   

The cause of the collision was under investigation.   

Anyone with information about the crash was asked to call 760-391-4057.

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Cynthia White

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Coachella Valley Unified School District officials say a full remediation is being performed after testing confirmed positive mold findings in two classrooms at John Kelley Elementary School in Thermal.

News Channel 3 asked the District about reports of the mold at John Kelley after a viewer reached out.

The District responded that it “remains steadfast in its commitment to the health and safety of all students, staff, and families,” and that once the mold was reported, students and staff from the two classrooms were immediately relocated.

Environmental testing firm Safeguard EnviroGroup conducted testing of the affected area and created a report of findings which served as a guide for the next steps. The District hired SERVPRO to carry out the remediation in the affected area following strict safety standards.

 CVUSD says a final report will be made public once the cleanup is complete, and another round of testing will verify if the area is safe before any students and staff return.

The District calls this a top priority and says, “We are acting with urgency, responsibility, and transparency to address this issue and ensure a safe learning environment. The CVUSD school community can be assured that certified experts are overseeing every step and that we will continue to communicate openly throughout the process.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – White Party is teasing a return to Palm Springs in 2026.

The White Party website has been updated with various famous logos, all rebranded as White Party Palm Springs. The bottom of the page reads “Coming In 2026.” The same message is visible on the event’s social media pages.

Little facts are known about the return, we have attempted to contact the White Party directly, and city officials tell us they have not been made aware of the event’s return.

The White Party was one of the largest LGBTQ+ dance music festivals in the country. It has taken place in downtown Palm Springs since 1989. The 2025 edition of the event was canceled, and at the time, its future was uncertain.

Statement from White Party on 2025 Cancelation (1/14/25)

“Thank you for your energy, support, love and commitment to the longest running gay destination event in the country. White Party Palm Springs started in 1989 as a safe space to gather, meet new life long friends, dance and celebrate our uniqueness, diversity and beautiful community. We feel that Jeffrey Sanker’s original idea for starting White Party Palm Springs has been accomplished. Today, there are multiple safe spaces across the globe and a younger community that no longer hides in the shadows with the need for events like White Party Palm Springs to feel safe. We have made the hard decision to take 2025 off and not produce White Party Palm Springs. The legacy of White Party Palm Springs will continue to grow and evolve as we look forward to 2026 and beyond.”

– Jack Ketsoyan, White Party

White Party founder Jeffrey Sanker died in 2021 after a battle with liver cancer. He was honored with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2023.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – Firefighters contained a fire that involved multiple greenhouses in Mecca, according to CAL FIRE.

The fire was first reported just before 6 p.m. on Lincoln Street and Avenue 64.

Viewers shared dramatic images from a distance. As the flames broke out on reservation land, News Channel 3 crews were unable to get close to the fire area. 

The fire was contained by 6:45 p.m. Firefighters will remain on scene for four to six hours performing mop-up.

Authorities said there were no injuries or evacuations reported. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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