Author: KESQ

Spencer Blum

We are tracking a windy evening here in the Coachella Valley. Our First Alert Weather Alert took effect at 4:00 PM Wednesday as westerly onshore winds began to build up around the valley in the evening hours. Winds were expected to gradually build throughout the evening and overnight hours shifting more north and northwesterly.

A Wind Advisory took effect for the Coachella Valley at 8:00 PM. This all comes as a result of a fast-moving low pressure system (inside slider) passing to our south, and as a much larger trough (area of low pressure) moves in from the north.

As the more prominent trough moves south and east, our winds will strengthen. Later into Wednesday night and Thursday morning will see strong winds both in and around the Coachella Valley. Stronger winds will be felt in areas like Desert Hot Springs and the San Gorgonio Pass where we could see gusts 45-65mph.

However, the usual culprits (like the interstate) will also see some gusty winds at times. As the system moves east, the winds will begin to shift and become more offshore. This will help clear out our skies. In the coming days, a ridge of high pressure will move into the region. This will allow skies to remain clear and temperatures to rise.

The First Alert Weather Alert will remain in place through 1:00 PM tomorrow as we track the possibility for strong winds. Friday will cool in the low 60s with chilly Saturday morning temperatures in the low 40s! This ahead of a warming trend that continues into next week. We could hit 80 by Wednesday.

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Luis Avila

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – An investigation is underway after puppies were found abandoned outside two local grocery stores in La Quinta.

Over the weekend, officials say two individuals dropped off puppies and drove away from a Vons. Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies later finding a second group of puppies at a nearby Aldi.

The puppies were taken to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.

The patio area in front of Vons in La Quinta where the puppies were abandoned.

Officials note that most cases of abandonment happen out of public view. They say this situation could have turned dangerous very quickly.

“The main concern obviously would be the traffic,” explains Armando Meza, an animal control officer. “These are small dogs as we can see and very young. They have a tendency to go where the noise is so it’s definitely a high risk area going in there.”

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, animal abandonment is a crime in California, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one thousand dollars in fines or up to six months in jail.

While the puppies are now safe and out of harm’s way, Meza is reminding residents there are resources available to help keep animals off the street.

Meza says, “If you have any issues with dogs or too many dogs on your property, we’re always here. You can come by the shelter, any shelter in our area, and just ask for assistance.”

He also says preventing cases like this take a community effort. If you see something suspicious, it’s recommended you report it and be prepared to share any details that could help officials.

News Channel 3 has reached out to the property owner at Plaza La Quinta to get permission to share security camera video showing the incident.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

BUFFALO, New York (KESQ) – A fitness influencer from Palm Springs was arrested in Buffalo, New York, after an investigation into child exploitation.

Jacob A. Hanes, 24, was charged with Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

According to the New York State Police Department, investigators determined that Hanes had communicated electronically with a juvenile and requested sexually explicit images and videos while knowing the victim was under the age of 17.

Investigators further determined that Hanes was in possession of a forged New York State identification card at the time of his arrest.

Hanes was located and taken into custody in Buffalo, New York, while visiting the area. He is scheduled to be transported to the Steuben County Jail for centralized arraignment.

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Jesus Reyes

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A suspect crashed into a vehicle while attempting to flee from deputies Wednesday morning in Banning.

The incident started just before 8 a.m. when deputies responded to the area of Haugen Lehmann Way and Tamarack Road in Whitewater regarding a report of a stolen vehicle possibly involved in a robbery, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies located the vehicle near Main Street and Interstate 10 in Cabazon. 

“Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle; however, it failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated as it traveled west on I-10,” an RSO spokesperson said. “The vehicle exited the freeway at 22nd Street, Banning, where it collided with another motorist.” 

That motorist was transported to a local area hospital in stable condition. 

The driver of the stolen vehicle, along with three additional subjects, were all taken into custody. 

The Banning police department responded to assist in the traffic collision investigation.  The investigation into the stolen vehicle and possible robbery are ongoing.

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City News Service

RANCHO MIRAGE (CNS) – The Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory will celebrate its 30th anniversary today with a variety of activities for all ages.   

The free festivities will be held from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at 71-100 CA-111, with hands-on activities for kids and families, including games and crafts.  

At 6 p.m., comedian Eric Cunningham will regale patrons with a “fast- paced, hilarious look at the library’s 30-year journey,” library officials said. In addition, there will be prizes, trivia and a performance by jazz pianists Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi.   

The celebration will conclude from 8-9:30 p.m. with a public exploration night at the observatory.

The library is also offering a commemorative library card that is only available on Wednesday.

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Dillon Fuhrman

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) is asking the public’s help after they found a human leg in the Salton City area last month.

According to a post on Facebook, deputies responded to the area at around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2025.

Upon arrival, ICSO says deputies found a human leg, and says their Investigations division took over “after the remains were secured.”

After that, ICSO says their deputies and investigators conducted an extensive search, both on foot and in the air, of the area to find any additional evidence or information, but as of now, they did not find any additional remains nor evidence.

In addition, ICSO says the remains have yet to be identified, and says their investigators “are working to determine the circumstances surrounding how they came to be at the location.”

The investigation remains ongoing, but ICSO is asking for anyone who is aware of someone who has recently gone missing, or if anyone knows someone who was traveling through or visiting the Salton City area, but never heard from them since, to call ICSO at (442) 265-2052.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A hiker was rescued today after suffering an ankle injury on a Palm Desert trail.  

The rescue was reported shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Art Smith Trail, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.   

Crews reached the injured hiker, who was identified only as a woman, on an all-terrain vehicle and took her to an awaiting ambulance. She was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

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Athena Jreij

Update 1/8/25

The statue of Frank Bogert will be moved to Village Green in downtown Palm Springs.

The Palm Springs Public Arts Commission approved the move Thursday after a nearly two-hour discussion.

The commission asked that a subcommittee work with the Palm Springs Historical Society to add an educational component regarding the controversial history related to the sculpture.

Some public commenters had suggested moving the statue to Bogert Trail, but commissioners noted that it is private land.

Original Report 1/7/25

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A controversial statue of former Palm Springs mayor, Frank Bogert, could have a new home this year. 

The statue was removed from Palm Springs City Hall in 2022 after a recommendation from the Human Rights Commission in 2021, as the city reckoned with the mayor’s alleged role in evicting Section 14 victims from a plot of land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

This Thursday, the Public Arts Commission will consider rehoming the statue at the Village Green in the Palm Springs Historical Society, where several chairpersons have requested it be placed permanently.

Section 14 survivors have argued against the relocation, saying Bogert’s statue glorifies a painful part of their history.

“How does a mayor oversee a city without having some type of input on burning down a community?The harm was devastating. Reinstalling the statue sends a very painful message that our suffering is secondary to nostalgia,” Pearl Devers, the president of Section 14 Survivors and Descendants said.

Not all agree however. Gordon and Stacey Winn, Palm Springs residents, say they believe the former mayor’s legacy should be honored.

“I saw that his star is here, so it’s really appropriate. It’s a good place for him. I mean, I know people have mixed feelings, but he’s an important part of our history,” they said.

The Friends of Frank Bogert have also supported the relocation, while refuting claims that Bogert played a role in Section 14’s mass displacement. The group believes Bogert worked with leaders in the Black community to find alternative homes and place eviction moratoriums.

Former Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton oversaw the statue debate and recommended it be placed at the Village Green.

“When you look here at, the Village Green and the historical society, the buildings and the history that we have going back no a hundred years for us in Palm Springs, that focus on that history is right here,” Middleton said.

Survivors disagree, with Devers saying they have no objections to placing the statue in a museum with context, but it doesn’t belong in the public eye.

The Public Arts Commission is slated to decide the future of the statue Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

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Kendall Flynn

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif (KESQ) – The Cathedral City Police Department is holding active shooter and mass casualty trainings for officers near James Workman Middle School on Wednesday and Thursday. CCPD Police Commander Andrew Diaz said the trainings continue to grow in importance.

“Since 1999 and Columbine, training and police response to these kinds of incidents has completely, turned around,” Diaz said. “As we get new officers coming into the police department, we want to train them up, not to mention keeping our, tenured officers also their skills sharp.” 

Officers are split into four-hour training groups to work through different scenarios and tactics, followed by a debrief of how the training went. Officials said the lectures and real-life scenarios are essential to stimulating the officers into making a decision and acting.

“The primary focus is for them to understand that when they’re responding to an incident like this is that they’re prepared to show up and engage right away,” Diaz said. “That means entering the facility, looking for the suspect and stopping them before they continue their killing. Ultimately, our goal is to save as many lives as possible.”

At locations, like the school, officers are immersed in a high pressure scenario with loudspeakers, blanks in firearms and role players. Each factor challenges the way an officer reacts in the moment and changes his next move.

“When we introduce those training needs and we introduce blanks, the loud noise areas that are unknown to them, buildings, hallways, classrooms, the role players, especially when they’re coming out,” Diaz said.

He went on to say, “The ones that are designed to be victims, they’re reaching out to the officers, sometimes pulling on their pant legs, asking them for help. Well, the officer, based on the training, knows that they can’t stop and render aid. They have to continue moving towards the sound of the gunfire to find the suspect and stop them.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from CCPD on the importance of these trainings in event of critical situations in the Coachella Valley.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – When Michelle Bloom evacuated Altadena, she had no idea she wouldn’t come back, like the many others who are still displaced by the fire. The Eaton and Palisades fires burned over 16,000 structures and left tens of thousands of people displace, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

“I never imagined I wouldn’t be coming back in a day or two. No, I mean absolutely no,” Bloom says.

Bloom lived in Altadena for 20 years and says she lost everything in the fire. After bouncing around temporary housing for months, she moved to Palm Springs in April.

“I don’t really see a way for me to get back to Altadena. You know, I think that boat has sailed,” Bloom says.

Bloom says she never would have expected to end up in Palm Springs, but once she moved to the neighborhood, something clicked.

“I found my places, my things to go to, my people,” she says.

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