Athena Jreij
PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s a girl! The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens announced a baby girl giraffe was born on September 7th.
The baby was born to Mama Vicki Lou at a whopping 6 feet already.
Zoo officials say the baby is alert, healthy and curious. They’re now inviting others to come check out the new addition to the zoo family.
Timothy Foster
UPDATE: News Channel 3 and the Palm Springs Animal Shelter extend a thank you to all who turned out to support our first ever Cans ‘N Kibble event.
The community came through to show their care for the animals – donating over 8,000 pounds of kibble, 4,100 cans of pet food, and more than $16,000 in support.
Palm Springs Animal Shelter Executive Director Dan Rossi was grateful for the turnout, saying, “So to double, almost triple, what we thought we might get is just mind blowing and amazing for us. It’s amazing to see people, when the need is there, to step up and help.”
While the event ended at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, the shelter says there’s always a need for volunteers, and pet food and money donations are always accepted at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is calling on the community to help keep pets with their families during hard times through its upcoming Cans ‘N Kibble Pet Food Drive — a one-day event designed to collect essential pet food for families facing financial hardship.
Join News Channel 3 live at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. The drive will take place on Friday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with donation sites set up at multiple locations across the Coachella Valley. In partnership with News Channel 3, the shelter is aiming to collect both wet and dry dog and cat food.
The focus is on essentials only — no treats or specialty diets — to ensure every donation goes directly to families who need it most.
Jack Hagerman, Associate Executive Director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, explained that the primary goal of the food drive is to help people avoid surrendering their pets during times of crisis. He emphasized that the shelter is committed not only to finding homes for animals but also to helping families keep the pets they already have.
According to Hagerman, keeping people with their pets is central to the shelter’s mission, and one of the most impactful ways they achieve that is through their pet food bank.
The Rick Erwin Pet Food Bank, launched in 2015, currently distributes more than 20,000 pounds of pet food each year. However, Hagerman noted that demand for this service has surged recently, growing by 33 percent in just the past three months.
As the shelter struggles to keep up with that increased need, this food drive represents a critical opportunity to restock supplies and support more families.
For those interested in donating, pet food can be dropped off on September 26 at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter on East Mesquite Avenue, the Desert Community Animal Center on Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs, the Sun Community Federal Credit Union on Avenue 42 in Indio, or the Rancho Mirage Library on Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage. Volunteers will be on-site at each location to accept donations throughout the day.
Hagerman explained that the food collected will be distributed quickly. The shelter operates on a weekly distribution schedule, so donations received during the drive will be out the door and into the hands of pet owners in need almost immediately.
He added that if someone cannot make it to one of the locations on the day of the event, they are welcome to drop off donations at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter or the Desert Community Animal Center at any time.
For those unable to donate physical pet food, financial contributions are also encouraged. Monetary donations help the shelter purchase exactly what is needed and can be made online. The donation portal can be found at psanimalshelter.org/petfood.
Hagerman stressed that pets are family, and no one should have to experience the heartbreak of giving up their companion because they can’t afford to feed them. He said that just like food banks that serve people, a pet food bank plays a vital role in stabilizing families during difficult times.
Through this community effort, the Palm Springs Animal Shelter hopes to make a real impact by keeping pets in their homes and out of the shelter system. Every donation, no matter how small, helps make that possible.
Athena Jreij
COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Authorities are investigating a homicide in Coachella after a man was shot dead Sunday.
Riverside County Sheriff’s responded to the 85000 block of Calle Limon in Coachella shortly after 11:30 a.m. when they found an adult man suffering from a gunshot wound.
Family members of the victim on scene told News Channel 3 crews that the shooting began with an altercation.
The victim died at the scene. He was identified as Enrique Arrieta, 51, of Coachella.
No other injuries were reported.
Deputies say no suspects have been arrested yet.
The Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit is conducting an investigation. Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story.
Athena Jreij
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was arrested for arson Saturday after authorities allege they set a car on fire in front of the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
According to Indio Police, officers and the California Department of Forestry responded to a vehicle fire at 46200 Oasis Street around 1 a.m. to find a car fully engulfed in flames near the court’s front entrance.
No one was injured, but investigators did determine the fire was intentionally set.
At 3:29 a.m., officers responded to a nearby gas station in the 82000 block of Indio Boulevard for calls of a suspect who refused to leave and was carrying a firearm.
Officials say that suspect was arrested while carrying a gun, and confirmed to be the owner of the vehicle set on fire. Evidence collected also found they were responsible for the arson.
The suspect was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on arson charges.
Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story.
Kendall Flynn
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a block party and resource fair at City Hall. The celebration was created with the help of the Cathedral City Senior Center.
The senior center is also celebrated it’s newly-added bilingual programs to accommodate more residents in their space. They said hosting an event like this was important to them to show the community they have continued support, especially as the hispanic community faces uncertain times.
A Sept. 8 U.S. Supreme Court ruling voted in favor of continuing “roving patrols” in Southern California for immigration enforcement. Officials with the Cathedral City Senior Center said they heard from residents who were afraid to attend the heritage event because of the latest ruling.
Just over 100 people attended the block party and resource fair event, and organizers said it was fewer people than they expected. However, they said it was still important to hold the event and show their continued support.
Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from organizers and locals about the Hispanic Heritage Month event and it’s importance.
Shay Lawson
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Dozens of residents gathered at Rancho Mirage City Hall for Democrats of the Desert and friends first “Say Yes to Prop 50”, peaceful sidewalk sign waving protest.
The organization is planning 3 other events throughout the Coachella Valley:
Saturday 10/4/25 – La Quinta City Hall from 9-10:30 AM
Saturday 10/18/25- Palm Springs at south Sunrise Way and East Palm Canyon Dr., 9-10:30 am
Saturday 11/1/25- Indio at the corners of Jefferson and Fred Waring Dr., 9-10:30 am.
Proposition 50, introduced by Gov. Gavin Newsom, asks voters to approve a plan to temporarily redraw California’s congressional districts through 2032. The move comes in response to Republicans in Texas, who approved redrawing their congressional maps.
The proposition will be on the November 4, 2025, special election ballot and could lead to a gain of up to 5 U.S. House seats for Democrats.
Dr. Catherine Dillon, organizer, said attendees gathered to support Gov. Newsom’s Prop 50.
“We want to make sure that we counter the gerrymandering that went on in Texas,” Dillion said. “The legislator just grabbed 5 more Republican seats without having input from the people of Texas.”
She said if the proposal passed, it would have an impact on the Coachella Valley.
“District 41 gets split up quite a bit,” Dillion said.
Brandon Riker, a congressional candidate — possibly representing either District 41 or 48 depending on what happens with Prop 50 — said seeing the local support felt incredible.
“We just see it, the grassroots rising up all across the state in support of this,” Riker said. “To make sure that we have a free and fair election and giving Californians the right to vote on it.”
Christine Massey, another protester, highlighted frustrations with longtime representation.
“Ken Calvert’s constituents here in CA-41 have spent the last year trying to get in touch with him,” Massey said. “For everybody here, we’ve been ignored. We’ve been abandoned by Ken Calvert.”
Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is opposing Prop 50 saying “two bad behaviors don’t make a right behavior. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Meanwhile, a recent poll by Emerson College found 51% of likely voters plan to vote yes on Prop. 50, with 34% opposed and 15% undecided.
Cynthia White
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) – Off-roaders and RV enthusiasts will be paying more for recreation at Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) for the 2025 season, starting October 1st.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fees are for primary, street-legal vehicles used for transportation to ISDRA.
The adjusted permit fees are:
$55 for off-site weekly permits
$70 for on-site weekly permits
$185 for season permits
Last year’s weekly permit fees were $35 for off-site and $50 for on-site, with $150 for season permits.
BLM officials say the permits are required between October 1 and April 15 each year, and are an important revenue source for ISDRA’s operation, management, and maintenance.
They add that the recreation fees support essential services including emergency medical, search and rescue, and law enforcement, along with maintenance for roads and facilities, and trash collection/removal. Fees also improve recreation opportunities and experiences for visitors.
Permits are not required for day use at Osborne Overlook, Plank Road Cultural Resource Site, Buttercup Ranger Station, or the Watchable Wildlife Area.
The BLM reinvests all recreation fees collected at sites directly back into the local recreation program to expand and improve recreational opportunities as authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004.
BLM reports that the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area is one of the most popular off-highway vehicle areas in the United States, attracting the highest concentration of visitors of any BLM recreation area nationwide with more than 1.2 million visitors each year.
Luis Avila
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A significant electricity rate increase for Southern California Edison (SCE) customers is set to take effect next month, and residents across the Coachella Valley are bracing for higher bills — particularly during the region’s energy-intensive heat.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently approved a nearly 10% rate increase for SCE customers. While the utility says the added revenue is necessary to support critical infrastructure upgrades, wildfire mitigation, and day-to-day operations, many local customers like Sean Taylor say the hike couldn’t come at a worse time.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s not affordable for the average person… It’s really going to impact them daily — I mean everyone is living pay check to pay check as it is. We got the increase with the water, the power, the gas is going to go up.”
Sean Taylor, Desert Hot Springs Resident
Even with solar, Taylor has been forced to scale back usage, limiting central air conditioning and relying instead on a single window unit to cool his bedroom overnight.
According to the CPUC, the new rate increase will cost the average Southern California household an additional $17 per month, or about $200 per year. But in hot-weather regions like the Coachella Valley — where electricity consumption tends to be much higher — the impact is expected to be more severe.
“If we didn’t run the solar, it would be around $250 a month at least.”
Sean Taylor, Desert Hot Springs Resident
For example, a typical Palm Springs household using around 1,800 kilowatt hours currently pays approximately $759. With the 10% increase, that same household would see their monthly bill rise by about $75 in the summer months.
Still, for some valley residents, the rate hike represents more than just an added expense — it’s a grim reality.
Experts suggest looking into energy-saving programs or income-based assistance programs.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.
Jesus Reyes
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – An 18-year-old man wanted in connection with an attempted homicide of a Barstow police officer was arrested Friday in Indio.
The suspect was arrested by the Riverside County Gang Impact Team after a brief standoff around 2:40 p.m. on the 47000 block of Palen Street, according to county jail records.
He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
Details on the case he was originally wanted for were not immediately available. We’ve reached out to the Barstow Police Department for additional details.
Jesus Reyes
PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A two-vehicle crash led to a ruptured natural gas line early Friday evening in Palm Desert.
The crash was first reported just before 5:25 p.m. on the 74000 block of Abronia Trail.
One person sustained minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
SoCalGas was requested to repair the ruptured gas line. An adjacent hotel was temporarily evacuated in an abundance of caution.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
