Author: KESQ

City News Service

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – One motorist was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, while four vehicles were towed and four citations were issued during a DUI checkpoint over the weekend in Desert Hot Springs, police said today.

The crackdown occurred from 7 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday on North Indian Canyon Drive at the intersection of 19th Avenue, according to the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can face $13,500 in fines and penalties, along with a suspended license, police said.   

Funding for the DUI enforcement program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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Luis Avila

RIBBONWOOD, Calif. (KESQ) – The damage from the Rosa Fire is still clearly visible along Pine View Drive — blackened trees, scorched soil, and trails layered with ash. But now, there are boots on the ground, as local groups begin the long road to recovery.

Friends of the Desert Mountains, along with local partners, are leading the effort to bring the land back to life — focusing their work on the Palm Canyon Trailhead, where firefighters had to act fast to contain the blaze.

“There has been equipment damage that had to be done to fight this fire. I’m a big proponent of the firefighters but we are going to have to get some of the areas to a more natural state.”

Bob Berriman, Friends of the Desert Mountains Board Member

Tammy Martin, executive director at Friends of the Desert Mountains, says the burn scar is vulnerable.

Recovery efforts are focusing on erosion control and habitat recovery.

“Moving forward we need some rain. We need to come down and protect this hillside a bit. Also, looking where we need to put some rain bars in to protect this trail.”

Tammy Martin, Friends of the Desert Mountains Executive Director

The public, meanwhile, is being asked to give the land space to heal.

“You’re all curious just like everybody but please stay off the trail. We’re trying to protect the trial so we can get you back on it.”

Tammy Martin, Friends of the Desert Mountains Executive Director

The restoration process won’t be quick — officials say it will take months, with the trail possibly reopening next fall. Still, there’s a sense of optimism that nature will bounce back.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Crews are conducting recovery efforts after a drowning incident at a canal in Indio, police said Thursday afternoon.

The incident was first reported just before 11:30 a.m. near Avenue 44, west of Dillon Road.

“The Riverside County Sheriff’s Dive Team is on scene to recover the body,” reads a post by the Indio Police Department.

Crews were able to pull a body out of the canal at around 6:30 p.m.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. The coroner is at the scene.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Two men accused in the deadly shooting of a 13-year-old boy last week in Cathedral City have been officially charged with murder.

James Ian Carter, 19, and Christian Arturo Milward Idelfonso, 18, were arrested in connection with the shooting on Tuesday in San Diego, police said.

Both suspects were charged Thursday with murder and gang enhancements.

Carter and Milward were originally scheduled to be arraigned today at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. The arraignment was pushed back to Sept. 24.

The shooting happened Wednesday night on Whispering Palms Trail and Mission Indian Trail.

Police said a group of teens in that area had a confrontation with some people in a vehicle, and someone in the vehicle shot at the victim, identified as 13-year-old Alan Martinez, also known as Reuben.

A vigil was held in his honor last week at the scene of the shooting.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for funeral expenses.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Update: Desert Sands Unified School District sent News Channel 3 a message saying, “Our provider has restored phone services. Incoming and outgoing calls are now fully operational.”

News Channel 3 has asked for an update from Coachella Valley Unified School District but has not heard back as of Thursday night.

Previous story:

The Coachella Valley and Desert Sands unified school districts are working to fix phone line issues.

District officials said it is currently experiencing issues with incoming and outgoing calls. For urgent needs, email your child’s school directly.

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Athena Jreij

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) — The California State Assembly and Senate have greenlit Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan.

On Thursday, the majority-Democrat Assembly approved the plan 57-20, sending it to the Senate where it then passed 30-8.

Among the no votes were District 36 Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, District 47 Assemblyman Greg Wallis and District 19 Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh.

Gov. Newsom proposed the move after the Texas House announced plans to redraw their maps. Opponents say the move by Texas was politically motivated, and could cost House Democrats five seats.

Speaking with News Channel 3 shortly after the vote, Assm. Gonzalez expressed concern that the redistricting fight wasted legislative time and resources.

“We have homeless veterans. We have a lot of things going on in Imperial County. We have a 20% unemployment rate. We should be focused on the most important things, and that’s taking care of our community first versus this partisan distraction.” Gonzalez said.

Assm. Wallis also expressed concern that the method legislators used to create the map was unfair. Since state voters elected an independent redistricting commission in 2010, those members have created maps each decade based off current census figures.

“If we abandon the independent redistricting process that Californians created, we don’t just lose a tool, we lose trust,” Wallis said.

However, Governor Gavin Newsom has defended the move, saying it’s necessary to protect democracy against Texas’s redistricting.

“They fired the first shot, Texas. We wouldn’t be here if Texas had not done what they just did,” Newsom said in a presser Thursday.

If the new maps yield Democratic votes, the party would pick up five seats lost in Texas. Assm. Gonzalez disagrees with the approach.

“They said, forget the rules. Throw out the rules. We’re going to do it this way. The excuses. Well, Texas is doing it and Trump is doing it. So we’re going to do it. That’s no excuse.”

Governor Newsom signed the plan into action, which will now send it to a special election vote on November 4th where voters can weigh in on the new maps.

“No other governor in U.S. history has ever signed a bill that will put the maps in front of the voters,” Newsom said.

Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow the redistricting fight.

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Allie Anthony

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – As students across the Coachella Valley head back to school, local doctors are reminding parents that a healthy start is key to a successful academic year.

Dr. Rebecca Ward from the Desert Regional Medical Center’s Family Medicine Center emphasizes the importance of scheduling annual physicals and making sure children’s immunizations are up to date. She also highlighted the role of proper nutrition and sleep, noting that well rested, well nourished children tend to perform better in the classroom.

Some resources that could help you keep your child in great health this year are MyPlate.gov and HealthyChildren.org

Stay with News Channel 3 for more details on how to keep your student healthy this school year.

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City News Service

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – A fire broke out today in a vacant two-story building in Mecca.  

The non-injury blaze was reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. Friday in the 99000 block of Corvina Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency stated that crews will remain at the scene for about two hours.   

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

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María García

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) — With book bans on the rise, over 10,000 instances in public schools during the 2023–24 school year according to PEN America — the battle for access to diverse literature is intensifying.

While libraries in Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Diego are joining the nationwide Books Unbanned movement to provide free digital library cards for teens, one organization is taking the fight to the streets — literally.

The organization founded by sisters, Anais and Mirabelle Lee, have donated over 1,000 books to those in need. Since it’s launch, it has expanded to four chapters across the country.

“We mainly focus on donating diverse books to schools, homeless shelters and libraries to make sure that these kids are able to have access to more diverse literature,” said Mirabelle Lee, co-founder of the organization.

The Lee sisters are teaming up with several organizations to raise awareness about book bans, even in states like California, where protections are stronger.

“Last year, we worked with the Huntington Beach Library and they were having an issue where a board was being placed that was going to increase the number of book bans and it could remove a lot of books from the shelves,” said Anais Lee, co-founder of the organization.

Stay with News Channel 3 for coverage on the organization’s efforts to fight book bans.

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Isaiah Mora

Update 5:40 p.m. (8/22/25)

The California Highway Patrol said the suspected DUI driver died in the hospital.

Original Report 7:30 a.m. (8/22/25)

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Three people were injured after a car crash in Coachella on Thursday night.

It happened near the intersection of Calhoun Street and Avenue 52. A White Toyota Corolla ran a stop sign and crashed into a power pole. The vehicle also hit a Nissan Frontier that was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash.

The collision pushed the Nissan into a nearby Taco Truck that was occupied by a man and a woman. Officials say both of the victims sustained minor injuries.

The driver of the Toyota sustained major injuries from the crash and was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment. The driver was also arrested for a DUI.

Stay with us for any further updates.

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