Author: KESQ

Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – A 1951 stainless steel train car that once rolled across the country is getting a new life in the Coachella Valley.

Gloria Franz, board trustee for the Coachella Valley History Museum and second vice president, said the Coachella Valley History Museum is turning it into a replica of a Southern Pacific dining lounge car.

“The Coachella Valley was founded by the Southern Pacific Railroad,” said Franz. “Trains like this used to go through here on a regular basis, and it was a very common way to travel.”

She said the entire project has cost about $250,000 so far.

Coachella Valley History Museum

“That includes buying it, transporting it from Indiana, having to go through 3 different train operators, bring it by train into La Mirada to a train station there where it needed some work,” Franz said. “We’ve replaced all of the windows. We’ve done some minor repairs to the outside. The interior has been completely gutted.”

She said the goal is to teach visitors about the railroad’s impact on the region while also making the space available for events.

“We want people to experience and make their own memories in the car,” Franz said.

The project extends beyond the railcar, Franz said it will include an outdoor platform, drought-tolerant garden, a native plant section and a replica of a desert submarine.

Franz said officials are currently working on getting bids for fundraising.

She encouraged anyone interested in getting involved to contact the museum.

“We’d love to talk to anyone who maybe has history about Southern Pacific Railroad,” Franz said. “We want to make sure we tell the story in more than one point of view.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for the full report at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Vintage market is hosting a holiday food drive today to support the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. Organizers say they will be accepting donations all day and are looking for non-perishable food items such as tuna, dry pasta and cereal.

The market is located at 200 N Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

If you’re unable to make it today, organizers say you can drop off your donations at the center’s food bank located at 2901 E Alejo Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

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Isaiah Mora

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – One person is the hospital with significant injuries after a vehicle vs. pedestrian in Palm Springs Saturday night.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Palm Springs Police Department sent out a road closure alert for a traffic collision on North Indian Canyon Drive, near Mel Avenue and Tachevah Drive.

On Sunday morning, Police confirmed with News Channel 3 the collision involved a vehicle and pedestrian. The pedestrian was taken to a nearby hospital with significant injuries.

Palm Springs Police reported that DUI does not appear to be a factor in this crash. Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates on this story.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Thousand of people gathered in Downtown Palm Springs for the 33rd annual Festival of Lights Parade. It’s a highly anticipated event many Coachella Valley locals said they look forward to each year.

“We get here at six in the morning every year, setting up food, everything, and just kind of add people as they come in,” Rebecca Mendez said.

“We’ve been coming to this spot for ten years,” Charlton Quinn said. “And I used to work in this building, so it was just kind of convenient.”

“We bring food with us and about 20 guests, and we just enjoy,” Kevin Bowers said.

For many Valley locals, the parade has become a tradition. They arrive early in the morning to secure their curbside seats, prepare food for the evening and watch the parade go by.

Mendez said the parade has been a special tradition each year for her family. Over 25 years, they’ve expanded their parade attendee group to between 30 to 40 people – bringing in extended family members and coworkers.

“We actually started this 25 years ago. My father started a tradition. He passed away in 2020,” Mendez said. “So we kind of decided to keep the tradition alive for him…It’s meant a lot. Gets emotional sometimes, but it’s a great tradition. We have my nephews and his grandkids, so now we’re just keeping it going as time goes on.”

The parade was also an emotion time for one organizer group with the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Palm Springs. Officials said they found out they were accepted as a float in the parade on November 25th, just one week in advance.

But as they had to cancel their upcoming Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage walk due to ongoing immigration enforcement and concerns there would be low participation. Officials say hearing they were able to be a part of the parade was beyond meaningful.

“What does that mean? My heart. Our heart,” Desi Gonzalez said. “[Attendee’s are] going to be happy to see her in the street walking in between us. And I feel happy… I want to cry, but yeah, I feel so happy.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from organizers and attendees on what the parade means to them.

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Daniella Lake

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Indio’s International Tamale Festival kicks off today at 10 a.m. The event will feature the famous tamale eating contest, carnival rides and games. The event runs until Sunday at 7 p.m. and admission, along with parking, is free.

The festival is held at 82540 Miles Avenue, Indio, in downtown Miles Avenue Park.

Parking is available at he Riverside County Fairgrounds, where a shuttle service will run all day between the fairgrounds and the festival.

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Isaiah Mora

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – One Skateboarder is in critical condition after they were hit by a car in La Quinta on Friday night.

Around 6 p.m. on Friday, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a crash near Highway 111 and La Quinta Drive. Upon arrival, deputies located a collision involving a vehicle and a person on a skateboard. 

The person on the skateboard was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene. 

Riverside County sheriff’s department says no arrests have been made in this incident. The investigation is ongoing, so stay with News Channel 3 for any updates on this story.

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KESQ News Team

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Coachella continued its welcome to the holiday season with the Enchanted Holiday Parade with Elf and Friends on Friday evening.

The parade was hosted by Coachella Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza. A happy procession of performers, floats, and Grand Marshall Lee Espinoza, founder of the Coachella Valley Boxing Club, traveled through downtown Coachella entertaining the crowds.

Activities for the the whole family included Santa’s Bounce House Village, a scavenger hunt, face painting and balloon twisting, and more.

One parade attendee told News Channel 3 what the celebration was all about: “This is beautiful. This is absolutely beautiful. It’s great for the kids being here, great for the kids decorating the trailer all day. This is, this is for the kids.”

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KESQ News Team

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Imagine winning a new luxury home in the heart of the Coachella Valley. Your chance is here – Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Coachella Valley St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.

The home is being built by GHA Companies in south Palm Desert.

It’s a single-story, 2,600 square foot home. It will have three bedrooms, three and a half baths, a flex room, and a three-car garage. The home also includes an open concept layout, an upgraded kitchen with a large island, and a walk-in pantry.

The foundation was poured last month, and framing is already underway. The best part is the beautiful location in the Silver Spur Ranch community right by The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.

Tickets are $100 each, and each ticket sold helps St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to continue its promise to families with children fighting cancer.

St. Jude Lead Advisor of Area Development Jennifer Castel says, “Your $100 ticket purchase ensures that no St. Jude family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.”

The home, worth about $1.25 million, and all the prizes will be given away live on News Channel 3 on March 10, 2026. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit kesq.com/st-jude-dream-home.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates on the Dream Home as construction continues.

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John White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Mayor Ron DeHarte is urging public comment from residents following the proposal of a 217-acre industrial complex by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, located between Highway 111 and Interstate 10.

A message from Mayor DeHarte claims he just learned of it Friday and that the city council is not pushing the item through.

“I learned yesterday—like many who read this update—about a proposed 2.85 million sq ft industrial project on Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Trust Land near I-10 and SR-111. This is a massive development involving four concrete tilt-up buildings. You can email me, but your efforts over the next few days will have more impact if you comment directly to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians,” Mayor DeHarte said.

He went on to encourage residents to submit comments on the item before Monday, December 8, 2025, and demand a community meeting from the tribe.

To clarify, the development was slated on a December 10th city council agenda to approve a conformity report, but Mayor DeHarte has since asked to pull the item from the agenda.

Residents can submit comments in writing to Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Associate Planner Mark Tristan at mtristan@aguacaliente-nsn.gov.

News Channel 3 has reached out to the tribe for comment and is awaiting a response.

The Desert Mountain View Business Park Project would include four warehouse buildings ranging in size from 248,000 square feet to 1.14 million square feet. A full description of the project along with potential environmental impacts can be found on the tribe’s website: aguacaliente.org/planning-department.

The report includes maps and renderings of the project.

An environmental impact report found that there will be “significant and unavoidable” air quality impacts. It also calls for the tenant/facility operator to develop a Commute Trip Reduction plan. The project would be built by a private developer and the property would be leased from the tribe.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A skateboarder killed in a crash in unincorporated Desert Hot Springs Friday night was identified as Juan Mejia Calvillo Jr., 20, of Desert Hot Springs.

The crash was reported at around 6:20 p.m. near Mountain View Road and Dillon Road. Witnesses report that both northbound and southbound lanes on Mountain View Road were blocked off from Louisan Road to near the entrance of Mountain View Mobile Home Park. Mountain View Road remained closed in the area of the crash until 9:00 p.m.

According to the California Highway Patrol, officers learned that a driver decided to pass a slower-moving vehicle over the solid double yellow lines and subsequently struck a pedestrian riding a skateboard.

The skateboarder was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as Juan Mejia Calvillo Jr, 20, of Desert Hot Springs.

The driver involved in the crash remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, CHP confirmed. It does not appear alcohol and or drugs are a contributing factor at this time.Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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