Author: KESQ

City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – In response to a series of powerful storms impacting California during the Christmas holiday, Gov. Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a state of emergency, unlocking resources and state assistance for Los Angeles County, Orange County and four others.

“California is acting early and decisively to do all we can to get ahead of dangerous winter storms. The state has prep-positioned resources, activated emergency authorities and we are working closely with local partners to protect communities and keep Californians safe,” Newsom said in a statement.  

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The emergency proclamation allows for the rapid mobilization of state resources and support for local governments under the California Disaster Assistance Act and the deployment of the California National Guard, if needed. The order also authorizes the California Department of Transportation to seek federal assistance for repairs to damaged roads and highways.   

Newsom’s office said state agencies deployed 55 fire engines, 10 swiftwater rescue teams, five hand crews, five dozers, four loaders, three helicopters and an incident management team, as well as an Urban Search and Rescue Team, and more than 300 personnel to support local response efforts.

In addition to Los Angeles and Orange counties, the emergency proclamation also effects the counties of San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Shasta in Northern California.

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City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people were arrested in Palm Desert for allegedly stealing a vehicle, authorities said today.   

Deputies located the reportedly stolen vehicle at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Highway 74 and El Paseo Drive, according to Lt. Deirdre Vickers of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

They later conducted a vehicle stop in the 72000 block of Highway 111, where two people were arrested. The two suspects were booked into Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of vehicle theft, Vickers said.   

Deputies also identified a second suspect vehicle believed to be involved in the theft.  

No further information was immediately available, but the investigation was ongoing.

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Gavin Nguyen

UPDATE 12/29/25 – 12:45 p.m.

Indian Canyon has reopened. All three main roads through the wash are now opened.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Crews are beginning to open roadways that were closed or shut down due to flooding on Christmas Eve. In Palm Springs Vista Chino reopened Friday and Gene Autry Trail reopened Saturday afternoon. Indian Canyon remains closed in Palm Springs.

(Left) Clean up efforts on Gene Autry Friday at around Noon (12/26/25)(Right) Vista Chino back open (12/26/25)

There were several major roads closed also in Desert Hot Springs but most have since reopened as well.

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In Desert Hot Springs, Little Morongo Road and Indian Canyon were closed at the wash; however, News Channel 3 crew drove by the area and found the roads were cleaned up and open by Thursday afternoon.

Stay with us for updated information on road closures throughout the valley as rain continues to impact roads.

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Gavin Nguyen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Millions of drivers are hitting the roads nationwide, and here in California, rain is adding another factor to those plans.

Residents and travelers alike are bracing for potential impacts, including slick roads and roadway flooding.

We’re tracking possible flooding impacts throughout the day. Stay with us for the latest.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A major holiday event that has traditionally served hundreds of people in need across the Coachella Valley has been canceled this year.

Well in the Desert announced it will not hold its annual Christmas Feast at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The organization says the decision was made to redirect resources toward meeting urgent food insecurity needs happening right now.

According to Well in the Desert President Matt Naylor, lingering disruptions in food assistance have increased demand across the valley, prompting the nonprofit to shift its focus from a single large holiday event to expanded, immediate outreach.

“During the government shutdown we had a problem with food insecurities and a lot of families that needed our help now so what the Well in the Desert board decided to do was take our money and put it where our mouth was and that was right now… We’re still continuing what we canceled, the Christmas event at the Convention Center, we’ve done double the amount of work of serving people without being there because they needed it now.”

Matt Naylor, Well in the Desert President

On Wednesday, Well in the Desert partnered with CV BBQ and Palm Desert Baseball to distribute free meals to the community.

For people experiencing homelessness, the support is critical. Mariah, who says she is currently unhoused, shared how impactful the meal distribution has been.

“I feel really good actually. I’m not used to people helping me. I’m used to doing it all myself so just to have a dinner to come to and be so far from home is really amazing.”

Mariah, Attendee

Despite the cancellation of the Christmas feast, Well in the Desert says its outreach has not slowed — and has, in fact, expanded.

The organization will continue distributing free meals on Christmas Day at Oscar’s in downtown Palm Springs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Spencer Blum

Good morning and happy holidays! This morning, we are tracking an atmospheric river moving into Southern California. The main focus for this system will be rain and localized flooding. However, there are some significant wind concerns as well for other areas across the region. We should expect some lingering showers throughout the rest of the morning. However, the main surge of moisture and rainfall will come later in the afternoon hours. Rainfall estimates are still varying across different models. Although most estimates have the Coachella Valley receiving somewhere between 1/4 and 3/4 of an inch of rain.

As we track the wet weather moving into the region, we are monitoring flood concerns across the region. The Weather Prediction Center (based in Washington, D.C.) has issued a slight rise (at least 15% chance) of flash flooding for the Coachella Valley. There are also widespread Flood Advisories currently in effect across the region and beyond (as denoted by the green shading).

We are also tracking a number of wind concerns throughout much of Southern California. The darker orange colors represent a High Wind Warning, and the lighter tan colors represent a Wind Advisory. The Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass are NOT currently included in either of these advisories, but that could change at any time. Keep this in mind as you travel across the region.

The First Alert Weather Alert will remain in place through early Thursday afternoon as we track the impacts of this atmospheric river. Expect temperatures to stay in the 60s and low 70s for much of the next week, with varying amounts of clouds day by day. We’re keeping our eyes on another potential system next week as well.

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City News Service

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Two drivers were arrested for allegedly driving on DUI-suspended licenses during a DUI checkpoint in Cathedral City, authorities said today.

The checkpoint was conducted from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday on Date Palm Drive at Victoria Drive, according to the Cathedral City Police Department.

Eight people were cited for driving without a license, and one person was cited for having an open container inside a vehicle, police said.   

Checkpoint locations are selected based on data involving impaired-driving crashes, according to police.

Funding was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Drive safe, sober, and obey the speed limit during the upcoming Christmas holiday or face consequences, the California Highway Patrol warned today.

The agency will initiate its annual Christmastime “holiday enforcement period” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, when all available officers will deploy to catch drunk or drug-impaired drivers, speeders and other scofflaws.   

The HEP will only span about 30 hours, concluding late Thursday night.   

“Every instance of speeding or reckless driving carries the potential for life-changing consequences,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “Our officers see the destruction these choices can cause, and we urge every driver to slow down, stay alert and make decisions that protect themselves and others. No destination is worth risking a life.”  

During last year’s Christmas HEP, CHP officers statewide arrested just over 300 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence, compared to about 900 the year before. The 2024 campaign lasted only a day and night because it fell midweek, like this year’s. The 2023 campaign spanned a full three days and nights because Christmas fell on a Monday.   

According to the agency, 17 people died in crashes within the CHP’s jurisdiction during Christmas 2024, compared to 20 the year before.   

The abridged campaign in 2024 still netted 2,251 speeding tickets — with 132 motorists caught going over 100 mph, the CHP said. The effort to crack down on speeders led to a pilot program initiated earlier this year dubbed Forward Actions for Speeding Tickets, or FAST. The operation involves deployment of “100 low-profile specially marked patrol vehicles,” the agency stated.

“Every decision behind the wheel matters, and obeying the speed limit can make the difference between arriving safely, or not at all,” the CHP said.   

Officers from the Riverside, Blythe, Beaumont, Indio and Temecula CHP stations will be on inland freeways, highways and unincorporated roads, looking to snare traffic violators.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, along with multiple municipal agencies countywide, are currently conducting their own operations, staffing sobriety checkpoints and deploying targeted patrols as part of a year-end enforcement mobilization that began about two weeks ago.

Another HEP is slated for New Year’s Eve.

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Hernán Quintas

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – As 2025 comes to an end, many in our community continue to struggle to make ends meet. This is why we are highlighting the FIND Regional Food Bank homebound program, which serves those who are in dire need of food.

FIND launched a Home Bound Delivery Program in 2020 in response to the stay-at-home orders mandated by the State of California. Through this program, volunteers utilize their own vehicles to deliver 40-50 pounds of food to families and individuals who are isolated or unable to collect food via the various distribution sites throughout the region. FIND Food Bank is committed to continuing this program beyond the pandemic in order to make sure we best serve our most vulnerable and isolated clients.

Our Telemundo anchor Hernan Quintas spoke to a recipient and volunteers who are truly making a difference.

Contact the Volunteer Programs Department to sign up to become a homebound delivery driver at 760-542-2176 ext. 132 or email volunteers@findfoodbank.org  

For more information on the FIND Regional Food Bank, including how to help, click here.

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City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Two Temecula residents have been arrested for allegedly stealing a horse valued at around $80,000 from a ranch in the unincorporated community of Thermal, authorities said today.   

The suspects, a 22-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, were arrested Monday and booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy to commit theft, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The theft was reported on Nov. 26 in the 56000 block of Monroe Street. A preliminary investigation revealed that a bay thoroughbred mare was stolen, according to Sgt. Ernestina Contreras.  

Sheriff’s officials said deputies are continuing to work on recovering the horse and returning her to her rightful owner.   

Anyone with additional information about the case was asked to call 760-863-8990.

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