Author: KESQ

Raymond Kalra

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A training flight near Palm Springs turned into an investigation after a California Highway Patrol helicopter was repeatedly struck by a laser, eventually leading officers to a home in Desert Hot Springs.

CHP says the incident happened during the evening of Aug. 21 while Pilot C. Rhodes and Flight Officer R. Espinosa were conducting a training flight in the Palm Springs area.

According to CHP, the helicopter was struck by a laser several times intermittently over the course of several minutes.

The crew used the aircraft’s onboard camera system to trace the apparent origin of the laser to a residence in Desert Hot Springs. CHP then contacted Desert Hot Springs Police, which sent officers to the home.

Police arrested a suspect without incident, and CHP says a laser pointer was recovered at the scene. Desert Hot Springs Police handled the arrest and subsequent charges.

CHP officials say incidents like this are far more serious than they may appear from the ground.

A laser entering an aircraft cockpit can temporarily impair a pilot’s vision, create glare or disorientation and potentially interfere with a crew’s ability to safely operate the aircraft.

Officer Matt Napier, a flight officer and paramedic with CHP’s Office of Air Operations in Thermal, spoke with News Channel 3 about what pilots experience when they are struck by a laser and why authorities continue to warn people against pointing them at aircraft.

CHP says laser strikes are illegal and can carry significant state and federal consequences.

News Channel 3 is taking a closer look at the danger laser strikes pose to pilots, what happens inside the cockpit when one occurs and the consequences for the person on the ground. Watch the full report today on News Channel 3 at 5.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Labor Day weekend is expected to bring more drivers to Coachella Valley roads — and AAA says timing your trip could help you avoid the worst delays.

AAA expects the heaviest traffic Thursday and Friday between noon and 8 p.m., when commuters and holiday travelers hit the road at the same time.

Drivers heading west should also prepare for major delays on Interstate 15. AAA says the drive from San Diego to Palm Springs could take more than four hours around 5:45 p.m. Thursday.

AAA recommends leaving before noon when possible, checking your vehicle before the trip and giving yourself extra time.

Gas prices are also higher compared to last Labor Day. AAA says the national average is currently $4.12 a gallon, compared with $3.19 last year.

Drivers can compare gas prices before leaving by using KESQ’s gas gauge.

Stay with KESQ for the latest updates.

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Luis Avila

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A day after the Desert Hot Springs City Council unanimously approved a plan to expand the city’s police force, residents are reacting to the decision and what they hope it will mean for public safety.

The council approved a resolution Tuesday to increase the Desert Hot Springs Police Department’s authorized staffing level from 33 sworn officers to 45 over the next five years.

Some residents say they welcome the increase, especially as the city continues to grow.

“The more people into the city, the more coverage you need to have. The police needs to be able to cover everything,” one resident said.

Desert Hot Springs Mayor Scott Matas says the additional officers are needed not only to keep residents safe, but to make sure officers aren’t overworked while responding to calls.

“Finally getting to a point where we can implement that and have the officers needed to make sure that not just our citizens are safe but our police force is safe,” Matas said.

Some residents say they want to see the additional police presence help address ongoing concerns in the community, including homelessness and drug activity.

“I like the increase in numbers of police officers because we need them,” another resident said. “Drugs and homelessness is out of control.”

For resident Kim Campbell, concerns about property crime also make the additional police presence important.

Campbell says her husband’s trailer was stolen from their backyard after someone cut through a lock and took it, and she says neighbors have also experienced break-ins.

Despite those concerns, residents also say they’re grateful for the work police are already doing in their neighborhoods.

The plan also includes a hiring trigger that could allow the department to add even more officers once it reaches the 45-officer benchmark.

News Channel 3 reached out to the city and police department for additional comment, but officials were unavailable Wednesday.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

EL CAJON, Calif. (KESQ) – A woman who fatally stabbed her wife, a veteran state firefighter, at their Ramona home, was sentenced today to 36 years to life in state prison, according to Fox 5 San Diego.

Yolanda Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the slaying of her spouse of two years, Cal Fire Capt. Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, at the couple’s Rancho Villa Road home on the night of Feb. 17, 2025.

Marodi also admitted to having a serious prior felony conviction for voluntary manslaughter, for which she was sentenced to prison for fatally stabbing her husband in San Bernardino County more than 20 years ago.

According to an arrest-warrant declaration filed by a detective with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Rebecca Marodi sought to leave the marriage shortly before she was killed.

The day after the slaying, Yolanda Marodi sent someone a text message stating, “Becky came home and told me she was leaving me, she met someone else, all the messages were lies. We had a big fight and I hurt her … I’m sorry,” the declaration states.

Testimony from a preliminary hearing held earlier this year indicated the victim sustained 23 stab wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen.

Rebecca Marodi, who had worked for the state firefighting agency for more than 30 years, including several years in the Coachella Valley, died at the scene.

The victim’s mother, Lorena Marodi, who lived at the home with her daughter and daughter-in-law, testified that on the day of the killing, Yolanda Marodi told her, “She and Becky had some things to work out, but there wouldn’t be any fighting” when Rebecca returned home.

Lorena went out with friends that evening. At the end of the night, as she was dropping her friends off, she drove past her home and noticed Yolanda’s car was gone, she testified.

When she returned home, she found a trail of blood leading inside the house, found her daughter’s motionless body, and called 911.

Sheriff’s deputy Angela Peratis, who was one of the first deputies to respond to the home, said she and her partner found the victim face down in a hallway.

The deputies attempted life-saving measures until firefighters arrived and took over, at which point Peratis testified that she overheard one of the firefighters say, “Is that Becky?”

The warrant declaration states that footage from a Ring camera captured images of Rebecca Marodi fleeing their home as her wife chased her.

The video footage was not played in court, but sheriff’s Homicide Det. Jessica Ricca testified that in her review of the video, the victim can be heard calling out for her mother, to which Yolanda Marodi responds, “She’s not here.”

The two go out of frame for some time, and when they appear again, Rebecca Marodi appeared to be “covered in blood,” Ricca testified.

At one point, the bloodied victim was “yelling out, `Yolanda! Please … I don’t want to die,”’ the warrant declaration states. Yolanda Marodi, who appeared to be holding a knife and seemingly had blood on her arms, responded, “You should have thought about that before,” according to the document.

The victim repeatedly asked her wife to call 911 before the pair re-entered the home, the declaration states.

About 10 minutes later, the camera recorded video of Yolanda Marodi loading items into a Chevrolet Equinox and then driving off, the declaration states.

Yolanda Marodi crossed the U.S.-Mexico border about an hour after the killing. Mexican authorities arrested her just over a month later near a hotel in the Ferrocarril neighborhood of Mexicali, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

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Peter Daut

THOUSAND PALMS, CA (KESQ) – Seniors are increasingly being targeted by phishing, spoofing and other scams, with criminals using sophisticated tactics — including artificial intelligence.

The FBI recorded nearly 50,000 scam reports involving Americans 60 and older in 2025, with about $80 million in reported losses.

A new report ranks California as the fourth-riskiest state for senior scams, driven by the number of reports and significant financial losses.

Retirement Living says one of the biggest threats in California is business impersonation, where scammers pose as legitimate companies to steal money or personal information.

Jailyn Rodriguez, a Media Relations Specialist with Retirement Living, says unfamiliar calls or emails should immediately raise a red flag.

“If you aren’t familiar with the contact… that should be a little red flag to you. You should hesitate.”

California also has the second-highest rate of elder fraud losses, with about $160,000 lost for every 1,000 seniors.

Experts recommend slowing down, verifying unexpected requests and never providing personal or financial information to unfamiliar contacts.

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Tommy Gallegos

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) — Dolly Parton fans in the Coachella Valley can catch two of her classic films on the big screen this Labor Day weekend at Regal Rancho Mirage.

From Sept. 4-9, Regal theatres nationwide will screen Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, with 100% of proceeds benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Tickets are $9.25, a nod to Parton’s iconic hit “9 to 5.”

Regal Rancho Mirage is the only participating location in the Coachella Valley, giving local fans a chance to revisit two of Parton’s most memorable films while supporting childhood literacy.

Check Regal Rancho Mirage listings for specific showtimes and tickets.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, CA (KESQ) – The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will return for its 38th annual edition January 7–18, 2027, bringing international cinema, independent films and documentaries to Palm Springs.

The Palm Springs International Film Awards, presented by Kering, will kick off the festival on Thursday, January 7, at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The awards have become a notable stop on the awards-season calendar, with nearly all of the 2026 honorees later earning Academy Award nominations. The festival also screened all five nominees for Best International Feature Film.

The festival’s Opening Night is set for Friday, January 8, followed by Closing Night on Sunday, January 17, and Best of the Fest screenings on Monday, January 18.

Additional programming will include Talking Pictures, Books to Screen and Best International Feature Film panels, offering audiences conversations with filmmakers and cultural changemakers.

PSIFF will also continue its commitment to the Coachella Valley community with the return of Family Day and an expanded Student Screening Day for local high school students.

For tickets and additional information, visit psfilmfest.org

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) Well in the Desert is moving out of its longtime home at 181 N. Indian Canyon Drive, and the nonprofit says its Saturday food bank serving 250 families will shut down starting Saturday because it has nowhere to distribute the food.

Board president Matt Naylor walked News Channel 3 through the building Wednesday for what he said was his last time inside. The city is acquiring the property as part of the site for a new fire station.

“The Well in the Desert has been kicked out of so many places that I look at this as just a stepping stone to a new location where we’ll never be kicked out again,” Naylor said.

The nonprofit has moved its food, including 12 refrigerators and freezers, to a space on Radio Road after a landlord there agreed to rent to the organization for storage, Naylor said. Three other property owners refused to rent to the Well for food storage alone, he said, even after the nonprofit offered to pay six months’ rent in advance. One told him the rent would double if the Well moved in, he said.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Naylor said. “I’m really shocked that we have that part of our community that, for a food bank, not allowing us to go and store food.”

The Radio Road space is storage only and cannot accommodate the Saturday distribution, Naylor said, when families, many of whom have homes and vehicles, line up for groceries. Weekday meals for people experiencing homelessness will continue through partner churches and Oscar’s Palm Springs, he said.

“That’s a sad story that we won’t be able to feed those families right now,” Naylor said. He said he does not know how long the pause will last, and the Well will try to direct families to other food banks in the meantime.

“My phone rings off the hook for families looking for food,” he said, estimating 15 to 20 calls a day. Naylor said more families have sought help after losing SNAP benefits.

As News Channel 3 previously reported, the property’s owner, Grit Development, gave the Well notice to vacate this spring as the city moved to buy land at Andreas Road and North Indian Canyon Drive for a new Fire Station 1. The City Council approved a $4 million purchase in June.

Also in June, an anonymous donor gave the Well $1 million to launch a campaign for a permanent home, with a goal of raising a matching $1 million. Naylor said Wednesday the capital fund has grown since and the organization will soon share plans with the city and the public for a new property, with construction he hopes to begin late this year or early next. He did not say where.

“It’s going to be incredible,” Naylor said, describing “a space where the community can gather to help.”

Naylor also pushed back on what he called a stigma tying the Well only to homelessness. The nonprofit, which he said has operated for 30 years, gives out bicycles and food to families facing food insecurity, not only people living on the street.

“Many thought that we would just leave or falter, but we’re here for a reason, and that’s to help our community, help our families,” he said.

The organization said earlier this year it served nearly 98,000 meals in 2025 and supports more than 250 families a week through its food bank.

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Matthew Pearce

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) — UPDATE 9/4/2026- The Riverside County Environmental Health Department is continuing to support the Coachella Container Park and its vendors by providing guidance on permits, food safety, and compliance with health regulations, says Supervisor V. Manuel Perez in a statement released today.

Supervisor Perez and Container Park owner Nick Meza emphasized the department’s collaborative approach in helping local small businesses operate safely while supporting the well-being of the community.

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez released the following statement: “As the Supervisor for the 4th district, infrastructure, public safety, social services, and Economic Development are critical in building a healthy environment. The same goes true for Environmental Health as it supports small businesses with permits, food security, and the overall the well-being of our constituents. This includes small businesses that sell meals, drinks, and snacks such as Container Parks and their vendors throughout our county.

The Container Park and its vendors within the City of Coachella have been supported by the Environmental Health Department. It has assisted and will continue to assist the owner and vendors of the Coachella Container Park.

Nick Meza, owner of the Coachella Container Park adds, “Throughout this process, Riverside County Environmental Health has worked collaboratively with the Coachella Container Park and its vendors to help us understand and meet health and safety requirements. We appreciate their continued guidance and willingness to work with us toward solutions that allow our vendors to operate safely and remain in compliance.”

ORIGINAL REPORT

The City of Coachella is working with the operator of the Container Park to establish a pathway toward regulatory compliance after the popular food vendor and community hub had its permits expire in March. To prevent an immediate shutdown, municipal officials are issuing temporary special event permits that allow vendors to continue operating through this weekend.

For residents of Coachella, the Container Park has grown to be more than a place to dine. Residents say it’s grown into a place for the community to gather, according to its petition page.

The compliance issues prompted the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health to issue a cease-and-desist letter to the facility. City officials stated they are actively guiding the operator through the entitlement and permitting process while providing temporary event authorizations to maintain operations.

A Facebook post from the city of Coachella stated that the city continues to work with the operator toward compliance.

In response, representatives for the Container Park noted their special event permit remains active and is being utilized by the city to authorize events planned for this weekend. The statement also claimed that the county’s cease-and-desist order has been lifted for the currently authorized temporary event.

Despite the temporary permits, local small business owners who rely on the hub report ongoing concerns about their future. Rosy Gonzales, co-owner of the food vendor El Comal, emphasized the importance of the gathering place for regular clientele and income.

“We have a lot of customers that go back very often,” Gonzales said. “Knowing that we might lose that opportunity, it’s been really difficult.”

Gonzales noted that the potential closure affects not only business owners, but also their employees and families. While El Comal operates as a mobile setup, other vendors face greater limitations.

“We’re pretty much a restaurant on wheels so we can move around, right? But not everybody has that opportunity,” Gonzales said. “For example, the canopies, once we close down the canopies, where are they going to go? They can’t just go and set up at a on a sidewalk or anything and we can.”

Additionally, vendors expressed concerns about what might come with a solution, noting hour changes would impact these small business drastically. However, they continue to keep their spirits high.

“I really hope that the City Council, the city has our back and we can work things out,” Gonzales said.

City officials and park operators will continue coordinating scheduled events ahead of a Coachella City Council meeting scheduled for Sept. 9.

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Kiera McKinney

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — A new Riverside County Office of Education facility officially opened its doors in Indio Wednesday, giving students, educators and community organizations in the Coachella Valley a new place for training, conferences and events closer to home.

The 33,000-square-foot Indio Administration Building and Conference Center celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house.

County education officials say the facility is designed to address a longstanding challenge for desert-area students and educators, who have traveled thousands of miles each year to attend trainings, competitions, meetings and conferences held more than 50 miles away in western Riverside County.

“We’re just excited to welcome our school districts, our educational community and the broader community to programs here,” said Elizabeth F. Romero of the Riverside County Board of Education. “So that they can have opportunities for childcare, for training, workforce development, career technical education.”

The center is located at 83625 Dr. Carreon Boulevard, adjacent to the existing Riverside County Office of Education facility in Indio.

For local school districts, the new space means educators and families can access more county resources without making the trip to Riverside. Educators say the investment could also send a broader message to students and families about the county’s commitment to the region.

“What families and students can take away by having a resource like this in their community, is that the county is investing in their community,” said Dr. Frances Esparza of Coachella Valley Unified School District.

The facility is also expected to provide space for community organizations that have struggled to find suitable places to gather.

Daisy Castaneda, co-founder and vice president of the United for Autism and Abilities Foundation, said the organization has often relied on public spaces such as coffee shops and libraries for gatherings.

“Opening this place up is such an amazing opportunity for us,” Castaneda said.

The conference center is expected to host teacher trainings, student recognition events, educational conferences, competitions and community programs. Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez said the facility is intended to be a resource for the entire region.

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