Author: KESQ

Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, CA – (KESQ)- Cinema Diverse, Palm Springs’ annual celebration of LGBTQ+ films and filmmakers, returns this September for its nineteenth edition, bringing a wide-ranging lineup of feature films, documentaries, short films and web series to audiences across two festival weekends.

The 2026 festival opens Thursday, September 17 at 7 p.m. and runs through Sunday, September 20, before taking a short break and returning Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27.

“I am excited about this year’s program,” said Michael C. Green, Cinema Diverse Festival Director and Executive Director of the Palm Springs Cultural Center. “We have a diverse selection of topics, with something for every letter of the LGBTQI+ alphabet.”

Cinema Diverse opens its 2026 program with Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders, a new documentary from Emmy-winning filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz, whose previous films include Vito, I Am Divine and Tab Hunter Confidential.

The documentary takes audiences behind the story of one of cinema’s most controversial films, William Friedkin’s Cruising, examining the real-life murder that inspired the film as well as the fierce protests surrounding its production and release.

Blending film history, true crime and queer activism, Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders explores the complicated legacy of a movie that continues to generate discussion and debate decades after its release.

The festival continues Friday morning, with the first screening scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Morning screenings throughout the festival will feature curated selections of short films, with more than 100 shorts presented over the course of the event.

Afternoon and evening programming expands into feature-length dramas and documentaries, along with a spotlight on the growing world of streaming and web series.

From groundbreaking artists and entertainers to personal stories of identity, history, family, faith and self-discovery, Cinema Diverse 2026 offers audiences a broad look at contemporary LGBTQ+ storytelling alongside films that explore queer history and culture.

With more than 100 short films, feature-length productions, documentaries and episodic programming spread across two September weekends, the nineteenth edition continues Cinema Diverse’s longstanding focus on giving LGBTQ+ filmmakers and stories a prominent place on the Palm Springs cultural calendar.

Cinema Diverse 2026 runs September 17–20 and September 24–27 in Palm Springs. Tickets and passes are now on sale.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Alice B., the Palm Springs restaurant founded by celebrity chef Susan Feniger, will not reopen this fall, bringing an end to the restaurant’s three-year run in the desert.

Feniger and chef Mary Sue Milliken announced the closure in a message posted to Instagram and their website, expressing gratitude to the Palm Springs community and the team behind the restaurant.

“It is with great sadness that we announce Alice B. will not reopen this Fall,” the chefs wrote.

The restaurant, which quickly became a gathering place for locals and visitors, was recently recognized in the 2026 Michelin Guide, an honor the team described as a fitting way to close the chapter.

“This year, we were honored to be included in the Michelin Guide, a reflection of the incredible support you’ve shown us, the dedication of our amazing team, and a fitting note on which to close this chapter,” the statement said.

Alice B. was part of Feniger and Milliken’s longstanding culinary partnership. The chefs are also known for Border Grill, the restaurant and catering business they founded together.

Despite the closure of the restaurant, the chefs said their work in the Coachella Valley will continue. Alice B. and Border Grill Catering will remain available for private events and gatherings throughout the desert cities.

The team also announced plans to offer Thanksgiving dinners for pickup at home, with additional details about pre-orders expected to come.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County topped the $6 mark for the first time since May 26 today, increasing 3.8 cents to $6.026.

The average price has increased 30 consecutive days, rising 50.6 cents, including 3.9 cents Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 20.4 cents more than one week ago, 49.9 cents higher than one month ago and $1.425 greater than one year ago.

The average price has increased $1.475 since the start of the joint U.S./Israel war on Iran on Feb. 28, which sent oil prices higher and drastically accelerated increases at the gas pump.

The national average price rose for the 17th time in 18 days, increasing 7.1 cents to $4.438. It has risen 36.1 cents over the past 18 days, including 3.9 cents Wednesday.

The national average price increased five consecutive days, dropped two-tenths of a cent Sept. 5 and resumed rising Sept. 6. It is 16.1 cents more than one week ago, 37.5 cents higher than one month ago and $1.238 greater than one year ago.

The national average has increased $1.456 since the attack on Iran.

The national average price is at its highest amount this late in the calendar year, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations.

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Kiera McKinney

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ)— Finding a job can be a challenge, even as employers continue to post openings across the region.

The latest federal data shows the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area had an unemployment rate of 5.7% in July, with about 125,000 people unemployed. Overall nonfarm employment was up 0.8% compared to a year earlier, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and California’s Employment Development Department (EDD).

But the job market looks very different depending on the industry.

Construction employment was down 5.4% from a year earlier, while other sectors have continued to grow.

News Channel 3 is speaking with a local staffing company SEEK Personnel Staffing about what employers are looking for, what job seekers are experiencing and how the hiring process has changed.

SEEK helps connect workers with temporary, temp-to-hire and permanent positions throughout the Coachella Valley.

Staffing experts say some job seekers are submitting multiple applications before landing an interview, while employers can also be more selective about experience and qualifications.

OneFuture Coachella Valley hosted its Regional Coachella Valley College & Career Fair Thursday at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage. The event brought students and families together with colleges, universities, career and technical education programs, employers, military representatives and other organizations.

Organizers say the event has drawn as many as 4,000 students and family members in previous years.

Students spoke directly with representatives about college programs, financial aid, career opportunities and different options available after high school.

There are at least two other local job fairs coming up at the end of the month:

Palm Springs International Airport Job Fair – Sept. 23 at the Palm Springs Convention Valley-Wide Employment Expo – Sept. 30 at Fantasy Springs in Indio Click here to follow the original article.

Raymond Kalra

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — One of Indio’s largest proposed developments remains on hold after a marathon City Council meeting ended without an approval or denial, leaving the developer to determine what changes could bring the project back before city leaders.

The Oasis at Indio proposal includes housing, retail, commercial uses and approximately 1.8 million square feet of light industrial space.

It was that industrial component that emerged as one of the biggest sticking points during Wednesday night’s meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Waymond Fermon told News Channel 3 the council ultimately decided to continue the item rather than approve or deny it because members want to see changes to the proposal.

“The general consensus from the council was we did not approve of 1.8 million square feet of light industrial warehouses,” Fermon said. “That’s not our city. We’re the City of Festivals.”

Residents raise concerns over traffic, air quality

Public comment stretched late into the night, with residents raising concerns about truck traffic, noise, air quality and the project’s potential impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

One speaker told the council residents would be the ones living with those impacts.

“We will live with the trucks. We will live with the noise and we will breathe that air,” the speaker said. “We understand Indio is growing, but we have the opportunity to decide what kind of city we want Indio to become.”

Other speakers stressed they were not necessarily opposed to development itself, but questioned whether the proposed industrial component was the right fit for the area.

Community organizer and candidate for District 4 City Council in Indio, Jonathan Becerra was among those calling for the council to reject the proposal outright.

“I really wish we just denied it like the community wanted,” Becerra told News Channel 3 following the meeting. “And now we have to kind of keep fighting and keep fighting for our environment and keep fighting for our local industry, but we’ll still keep coming back.”

Becerra said the size of the industrial component remains one of his biggest concerns, while housing and other potential uses included in the proposal are not the primary focus of his opposition.

Developer presented potential jobs and community benefits

Representatives for the project spent part of Wednesday night’s meeting making the case for the broader development.

During their presentation, representatives said the project could create construction and permanent jobs while bringing additional housing, commercial development and other community benefits to Indio.

The presentation also included potential infrastructure improvements and land for park space, as well as space that could potentially be used for health care and a police presence in North Indio.

Project representatives argued they had already made changes in response to concerns raised during the planning process, including reducing proposed industrial building heights, increasing setbacks and adding landscaping.

They also emphasized that the specific plan would establish a broader framework for future development rather than determine every individual project that would ultimately be built on the property.

City staff explained during the meeting that individual developments would still need to return for additional approvals depending on what is eventually proposed.

Traffic numbers become part of the debate

Traffic was another major point of discussion.

During the presentation, project representatives said the proposed specific plan was estimated to generate 31,505 daily trips across its various uses.

The presentation identified 343 trucks associated with the industrial uses. For traffic-analysis purposes, those trucks were calculated as the equivalent of 1,720 passenger-car trips because of factors including their size and slower movement.

Residents questioned how additional development and truck traffic would affect already-busy roads and nearby communities.

Council members also questioned some of the assumptions used to compare the project’s estimated traffic and environmental impacts with what could theoretically be developed under existing land-use plans.

What happens next?

The project is not dead; instead, the council voted to continue the discussion, giving the developer an opportunity to work with city staff and potentially return with a revised proposal.

Fermon said the council wants the light industrial component reduced.

“We welcome growth, we’re working on our infrastructure,” Fermon said. “We’re working on our energy infrastructure to support that growth. But we need smart growth for our city.”

How significantly the proposal changes could also affect the path it takes back to the City Council.

During Wednesday’s meeting, city officials discussed whether certain changes could be handled before returning directly to the council or whether more substantial changes would require another review by the Indio Planning Commission.

There is currently no final decision on Oasis at Indio and no date has been announced for when the proposal will return before the City Council.

News Channel 3 will continue following the project as the developer and city determine what comes next.

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Dakota Makinen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.(KESQ) — Coachella Valley students and families can explore college and career opportunities today at the Regional College and Career Fair.

The event brings colleges, universities, career and technical education programs, employers and community organizations together to help students plan for life after high school.

Students can also learn about financial aid, career opportunities and other resources.

The event runs 4 to 7 p.m. at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, located at 32-250 Bob Hope Drive.

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Raymond Kalra

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City’s long-running LGBT+ Days will have a new name and new dates in 2027 after the City Council unanimously approved changes Wednesday night following an extended discussion about the event’s future, public funding and economic impact.

The event will be renamed Cathedral City Pride beginning in 2027. The council also approved moving next year’s celebration from its previously scheduled March 5-7 weekend to March 12-14, 2027, along with an amendment to the city’s existing agreement with event producer Montage Agency reflecting the changes.

City officials said the rebranding is intended to make the event easier to identify and market to visitors. During the presentation, organizers pointed to search data showing “Pride” is used far more frequently by people looking online for LGBTQ+ events and argued the new name could improve the event’s regional and national visibility.

The change comes after more than a decade of the city holding its annual LGBT+ celebration.

Event producer Michael Westman told the council the 2026 event drew an estimated combined attendance of more than 12,000 people over the weekend, which organizers described as the largest in the event’s history. According to figures presented to the council, about 60% of attendees were from the Coachella Valley, while others came from regional markets, out of state and internationally.

Public spending becomes part of discussion

While the council was considering changes to the event’s name and dates, questions surrounding the public money supporting the celebration also became a significant part of Wednesday’s discussion.

City staff said Cathedral City allocated $85,000 in taxpayer funds for the 2026 event, with the city’s contribution increasing to $90,000 for 2027. Officials described the increase as consistent with adjustments made for the city’s other signature events.

Staff said the $85,000 was the city’s cap for the 2026 event and that the total cost of producing it exceeded $125,000. According to the city, costs beyond its contribution were covered through private investment and sponsorships.

The city’s existing agreement with Montage Agency allows for compensation of up to $85,000 for the 2026 event and $90,000 for 2027. The agreement also allows the producer to secure additional sponsors, with sponsorships intended primarily to offset event costs and excess sponsorship revenue permitted as additional non-city compensation to the provider.

The spending had drawn questions ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, including from Cathedral City political candidate Sunshine Herrera, who publicly called for greater transparency surrounding the contract and sponsorship revenue.

During the council discussion, city officials defended the investment as part of a broader public-private partnership and said events such as Pride are also intended to generate economic activity for local businesses.

Council members also asked for more information moving forward that could quantify that impact — including hotel stays, spending at local businesses and the overall return associated with taxpayer investment in city events.

City staff acknowledged there is room to improve that measurement and said officials are working on ways to better track media reach and economic return.

Community members weigh in

The discussion drew community members to City Hall, including people who spoke in support of the Pride event and the proposed name change.

Stephen Golden, who volunteered at the 2026 event, said he believes the new name sends a clearer message.

“It’s short and easy and it sends a wonderful, inclusive message that everyone belongs here in Cathedral City.”

Brian O’Connor, who identified himself as a volunteer leader and representative of the Human Rights Campaign, said showing up at the meeting was important to ensure the LGBTQ+ community was represented in the discussion.

“Anytime we can show up and speak on behalf of the importance of us being recognized, of us being seen and heard by our city officials and our leaders, it’s very important for us.”

Randy Economy, a Palm Springs resident and former Cathedral City resident, focused on the broader public debate surrounding the issue. He said people should be able to question government and disagree while respecting opposing views.

“We can all disagree, but we don’t have to necessarily be disagreeable,” Economy said.

Why the dates are changing

City officials said the decision to move the 2027 event back one week was prompted by a scheduling conflict involving another LGBTQ+ event expected to attract a similar audience during the originally planned weekend.

Staff told council members they did not want the events competing for the same audience and instead hope to create opportunities for cross-promotion. Officials said the city would like to establish more consistent dates in future years, although the event has shifted weekends before.

Despite the one-week move, officials said Cathedral City still expects its celebration to be among California’s first Pride events of the year.

After the presentation, council discussion and public comment, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the changes.

The first event under the Cathedral City Pride name is now scheduled for March 12-14, 2027.

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Jesus Reyes

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – UPDATE 9/18 – San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies say they used Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology to track a missing 81 year old’s vehicle, issuing an alert to surrounding agencies, before locating him.

Ray Elliott was reported missing around 5 p.m. Sept. 16. Authorities said he was experiencing hyperglycemia and dementia, raising concerns for his safety. He was eventually located nearly 70 miles from home after authorities issued a Silver Alert.

Around 11 p.m., Riverside County sheriff’s deputies received an ALPR alert in the Indio area and located Elliott. He was safely transported home.

The department says the incident highlights the role of ALPR technology, Silver Alerts and coordination between law enforcement agencies in locating vulnerable missing persons.

UPDATE 9/17 : An 81-year-old who had been reported missing in the Yucca Valley area of San Bernardino County and prompted the issuance of a Silver Alert in Los Angeles County and two other counties was located today.

Ray Elliott went missing Wednesday afternoon. Information on where Elliott was found was not immediately available.

The CHP activates a Silver Alert when an elderly or developmentally or cognitively impaired person goes missing and is determined to be at-risk to help them be recovered more quickly.

Original Report

Police are asking for the public’s help in locating an 81-year-old Yucca Valley man who went missing Wednesday afternoon.

Ray Elliot was last seen at approximately 2:30 p.m. in Yucca Valley. He is believed to be driving a white 2013 Ford E150 Econoline Van with California License Plate #77489F2 and was last seen traveling westbound near Camino Del Cielo.

Screenshot

Elliott is reported by family to have early stages of dementia and is diabetic, authorities said.

Elliot is described as five feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds, with brown hair, slicked back ponytail, green. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with brown and blue design, black pants, black shoes, and reading glasses.

If seen, you are asked to call 9-1-1.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-956-5001 or the Morongo Basin station at 760-366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call or text “REPORT “ to We-Tip at

844–909–3006. Online reporting is also available at https://mobile.catapultems.com/sbcsd/sites

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs International Airport is set to host its 6th annual PSP Job Fair, offering job seekers the opportunity to connect directly with hiring teams and explore openings across a variety of airport services.

The job fair will be held on Wednesday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Click here to RSVP.

“PSP is a unique place to work, with opportunities across many different parts of the airport,” said Victoria Carpenter, Interim Executive Director of Aviation. “Our airport job fair gives people a chance to meet employers directly, learn more about the jobs available and potentially take the next step in their career that same day.”

Participating employers and airport partners include:

AGI City of Palm Springs CLEAR Coachella Duty Free Enterprise GO Rentals Paradies Lagardère Sixt Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Unifi United Ground Express WHSmith/Marshall Retail Group

Attendees are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume and arrive ready to speak with employers and interview.

For more information, visit flypsp.com/business/careers.

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City News Service

MURRIETA, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury selection is slated to get underway tomorrow in the trial of a convicted DUI offender accused of causing a multi-vehicle wreck while intoxicated in Coachella that killed a young man and seriously injured his brother.

Antonio Tellez Leon, 41, of Coachella is charged with second-degree murder, four counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and one count of driving on a suspended driver’s license for the 2023 collision that claimed the life of 21-year-old Jacob Snellings, also of Coachella.

Pretrial motions began Thursday after the case was transferred from the Larson Justice Center in Indio to the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, where Riverside County Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson is scheduled Thursday morning to summon several panels of prospective jurors for screening as to their availability and qualifications.

Leon is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center.

According to a trial brief filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Leon pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI in March 2023 and was admonished by the court regarding the dangers of driving under the influence before he was formally placed on probation for causing a hit-and-run collision in Palm Desert six months earlier.

Roughly nine weeks after his plea, Leon allegedly joined his girlfriend, identified in court records only as “Dalila,” at her residence for an afternoon of drinking wine on June 6, 2023, according to the brief.

The defendant additionally consumed methamphetamine, court papers alleged. He left the woman’s home and headed for his own shortly after 8 p.m. According to the prosecution, Leon accelerated to speeds beyond the posted limit along Avenue 51 in Coachella, resorting to driving in the center median when he encountered a line of traffic ahead of him.

A sheriff’s community services officer happened to be driving westbound as the defendant sped by her eastbound in his BMW 325, and she stopped to turn around to follow him, but before she could complete the turn, “a cloud of dust” on Avenue 51 at Chiapas Drive appeared amid the sounds of a crash, the brief said.

The officer immediately requested assistance, bringing several patrol units to the location, as well as fire department paramedics.

They found Leon sitting on the curb, unable to hold his head up and slurring his speech, complaining that he’d had a “long bad day and wanted to sleep at home … and that he could be taken to jail in the morning,” the brief stated.

The defendant’s BMW had smashed into the passenger side of a Toyota Camry driven by 19-year-old David L. Snellings of Coachella, prosecutors said. The motorist had suffered significant injuries and was taken in stable condition to nearby Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment. His older brother, Jacob, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Jeep Cherokee and Honda Civic sustained minor to moderate damage in the wreck, but the vehicles’ occupants did not require hospitalization, according to the brief.

“The defendant (acknowledged to deputies at the scene) he just barely received a DUI conviction and was not supposed to be driving,” the narrative said. “The defendant incorrectly placed his location he was standing in. He also claimed he `(expletive) up’ and that he knew he would be in trouble for the traffic collision and should not have been driving.”

Leon suffered a minor leg injury and was taken to Desert Regional for treatment and an examination.

Deputies wrote in their reports that he was giving off a “strong odor of alcohol” and admitted finishing off a bottle of wine with his girlfriend that day, the brief said.

Blood and breathalyzer screenings indicated that he had a blood alcohol concentration of .89, court papers alleged. The legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in California is .08. Tests further revealed “amphetamines in his system,” the brief said.

Leon told deputies during questioning that he couldn’t recall anything about the collision, except that a “blue car had stopped in front of him,” according to the document.

“The defendant also stated he was distracted during the collision because he was on his cell phone with Dalila,” the brief said.

David Snellings ultimately recovered from his injuries.

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