Author: KESQ

Athena Jreij

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Tenet nurses at JFK Memorial Hospital say they’re facing inadequate staffing, training and pay, pushing them to the picket line Wednesday.

Wednesday evening, registered nurses with the SEIU 121 union plan to host an informational picket at JFK Memorial Hospital protesting conditions they say have caused low staff morale, with many looking elsewhere for their future careers. To be clear, this is not a strike and there has been no work stoppage.

“Work life balance is an issue with some nurses on call up to 15 days or more. We have a lot of turnover and a lot of our nurses are leaving JFK to go over to desert for higher wages,” Tracy Pryor, an operating nurse of 28 years said.

Some of the union’s concerns are similar to those echoed by CNA nurses at the Tenet-operated Desert Regional Medical Center, who also called for safer staffing and more robust training.

According to Pryor, new college graduates are receiving half the training they did prior to the pandemic, with orientation decreasing from 12 to 6 weeks.

“You know the bookwork when you graduate, you have done some clinical assignments. To pull that into the real work space is what really matters,” Pryor said.

She also believes higher wages at nearby hospitals are increasing turnover among seasoned nurses. Pryor believes JFK Memorial may receive lower wages because it is a level four trauma center, compared to Desert Regional Medical Center’s level one standing.

News Channel 3 reached out to Tenet Health for their side of the story and were provided a statement:

“As always, we are committed to delivering safe, high quality care and an exceptional patient experience for the community we serve, as well as a positive work environment for our employees. We are currently involved in bargaining with the union and will continue to negotiate in good faith in hopes of reaching a successful contract. We are open for all services.”

Union organizers also hope the picket will renew negotiations at the bargaining table.

Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A new chapter for the Best Bookstore in Palm Springs begins as it officially reopens at its new location after weeks of air conditioning issues forced the owners to leave its former space.

Last month, News Channel 3 spoke with Paul Carr, co-owner of the Best Bookstore, when the store’s A/C unit was vandalized. With no repairs made by the landlord, triple-digit heat and impact to business, he decided to relocate.

Carr credits the Palm Springs community for making the transition possible.

“We did like a moving fund where people could get their name on a mural which we’re going to paint in the back of the store… a thousand dollars each so that helped cover some of the costs. The community between that and smaller donations to get t-shirts helped us with that but just the support with folks coming in saying ‘we just want to check out the new place, buy some books.’”

Paul Carr, The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs Co-owner

While the move was challenging, Carr says the new space already feels like home.

“We have a great new landlord. We have a great new location. Amazing foot traffic… It is much cooler.”

Paul Carr, The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs Co-owner

Located at 113 La Plaza, just a few blocks from its original location, the new space offers a much cooler place for customers to browse, discover, and get lost in a good book.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – It’s not just students returning to school, officers are also back — patrolling campuses.

Brittnee Salazar, an Indio police department student resource officer (SRO), said safety is the top priority.

“Security and the SRO’s are constantly working with each other,” Salazar said. “If there’s any new developments or anything like that, we try to roundtable it and make sure that those issues are addressed.”

She said she’s spent 2 years assigned to Indio High School.

“The good thing about being a school resource officer is that most students, when they come into contact with law enforcement, it’s either on a traffic stop or a call for service,” Salazar said. “This allows us to be outside the norm of that, and we are more approachable.”

Emily Luna, student, said she does feel safe with the patrols, but has some concerns.

“I feel like there is a lot of assistance, but it’s not always available,” Luna said. “That’s an issue.”

News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson took this matter to Ephraim Jacobo, Desert Sands Unified School District security manager.

“Last year there was a shortage due to staffing,” Jacobo said. “However, this year we are excited to announce that we are expecting 4 school resource officers on the Indio side and we’re also expecting 4 on the La Quinta and Palm Desert side through the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.”

He said the district has new contracts in place with both the Riverside County Sheriff and Indio Police Department.

“We are expecting more presence at the schools.”

Jacobo said there’s many moving parts that go into the safety and security of the students.

“There’s a lot of drills, a lot of training and extensive personnel. Not just on the district side, but also collaborating with Indio PD, CAL FIRE and RSO,” Jacobo said. “The goal in mind is keeping the campus safe, the students safe and assuring the community and all stakeholders that this is our number one priority.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

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Tori King

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ)– A brand new Chick-fil-A is coming to La Quinta. It’s set to open up in just a few days, and News Channel 3 got an inside look. The new restaurant is located just off Highway 111 and Dune Palms Road.

This franchise will become the second Chick-fil-A location to open up in the Coachella Valley, with the only other one being in Palm Desert. Tuesday morning, local officials and the owner of the restaurant hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the big occasion.

La Quinta City Council Member Steve Sanchez attended the event, saying the city of La Quinta is pro-business, and constantly growing. He also says the council always looks forward to bringing in more opportunities and revenue to the area.”For months now, I’ve had friends and just random people asking when will it open up,” said Sanchez. “It’s really great not just for the community who loves Chick-fil-A, but great for commerce and great for the area. We’re grateful that Chick-fil-A chose La Quinta. It’s the gem of the desert for a reason. We welcome businesses. We work together. It’s a partnership. It is a family, our residents and our businesses and our visitors. It’s all a family.”This new location is also creating dozens of jobs for local residwnts. As of Tuesday morning, the company has hired over 100 employees, and they expect to hire even more in the coming days.The official grand opening is set for Thursday at 6:30 a.m.

If you dress up as a cow, you can also get a free meal, which is all part of their ‘Cows Eat Free’ event for the grand opening.

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Tori King

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ)– The City of Rancho Mirage is warning its residents about a concerning new report of aggressive solicitors in the area. News Channel 3’s Tori King reached out to the city about these incidents, Rancho Mirage official released this statement:

“Rancho Mirage is a safe and welcoming community, and while these recent solicitor reports are unusual, they’re happening across the valley, not just here. We take them seriously and urge residents to stay alert…by working together, we can help keep our community safe.”

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, there has been a recent influx of residents experiencing these incidents. Authorities also say some people are being dropped off at night especially in the Magnesia Falls Cove neighborhood, and they’ve been seen entering people’s back yards and refusing to leave the property when asked. There have also been some reports of residents being threatened.

News Channel 3 spoke with RSO, who had tips for residents on how to stay safe. Here are some practical tips on what to do if someone encounters an aggressive solicitor:

1. Stay Calm: Remain composed and avoid escalating the situation. Take deep breaths and try to keep your tone calm.

2. Assess the Situation: Determine if the solicitor is being overly aggressive or if their approach is simply persistent.

3. Set Boundaries: Politely but firmly let the solicitor know that you are not interested. You can say something like, “Thank you, but I’m not interested in what you’re offering.”

4. Avoid Engagement: If the solicitor continues to press, avoid engaging further. Walk away or close the door if you’re indoors.

5. Document the Encounter: Take note of any details about the solicitor, including their appearance, the nature of their solicitation, and any aggressive behavior. This can be useful if you need to report the incident later.

6. Inform Neighbors: Share your experience with neighbors or local community groups to raise awareness about aggressive solicitors in the area.

7. Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with local laws regarding solicitation, as there may be regulations that protect residents from aggressive sales tactics.

8. Use Community Resources: Encourage residents to reach out to local community organizations or neighborhood watch groups if they feel threatened or need advice.

9. Trust Your Instincts: Always trust your gut feelings. If a situation feels wrong, prioritize your safety and remove yourself from it.

10. Report Suspicious Activity: For non-emergency situations, contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department dispatch line at 760-836-3215. In any situation involving an immediate threat, call 911 without delay.

When reporting, provide dispatch with a detailed description of the individuals involved and any associated vehicles, including license plate numbers if available. Accurate and timely information helps law enforcement respond effectively and strengthens ongoing investigations.

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Allie Anthony

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is hosting its annual Backpack Bonanza this Thursday.

According to the National Retail Federation, back-to-school costs are projected to average $875 per student. To help ease the burden for low-income families, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is giving stuffed backpacks to local students. The event will begin at 6:30 AM on Thursday.

Backpacks and supplies can also be dropped off at the CVRM located at 47470 Van Buren St. in Indio.

Backpacks, spiral notebooks, yellow highlighters, pencil sharpeners, lined paper, and all other related supplies are needed. Donations of backpacks and supplies are welcome until August 13. Children must be present to receive a backpack.

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Spencer Blum

It’s another hot day here in the Coachella Valley. It was a humid start to the day, but moisture levels have fallen somewhat throughout the afternoon. The persistent area of high pressure continues ot dominate the weather pattern over the western US. This is giving us the extreme heat, but also mostly clear skies. That makes for great viewing conditions for the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks this evening. However, the moon is fairly bright, so that may impact how well we can see any meteors. The best time to view the meteor shower will be between 12 & 4 AM.

The aforementioned ridge of high pressure will slowly begin to weaken in the days ahead. By Thursday, a trough of low pressure will move into the western US. This will finally allow for some gradual cooling into the weekend. As we track these changes, we may see some slightly elevated evening breezes, but nothing too far out of the normal. The cooling will continue into the weekend. We should also note that the Extreme Heat Warning has been extended into tomorrow, but the First Alert Weather Alert will expire this evening.

Temperatures will gradually cool over the next few days. This weekend, highs may even dip below the seasonal average! We do begin to trend back upwards heading into next week though.

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City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Three hikers were rescued by helicopter today, with one suffering moderate injuries in a trail near Thermal.   

The incident was reported shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday near Painted Canyon Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The agency said the hikers suffered heat-related ailments at Painted Canyon Trail, with one medically treated and the two others refusing medical treatment at the scene.

A Riverside County Sheriff’s Rescue 9 helicopter hoisted the three hikers out of the area and transported the victim to a hospital by ground ambulance.

Identifying information on the individuals was not immediately available.

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City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The Shops at Palm Desert, in partnership with the YMCA and the Academy of Musical Performance, will host its inaugural nonprofit fair later this month aimed at connecting the community with numerous organizations throughout the Coachella Valley.   

The free, all-ages event will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Aug. 29 at 72840 CA-111.  

It will feature live music from 3-5:30 p.m. by the Academy, a kids craft zone hosted by the YMCA, a giveaway with prizes and a chance to win a $300 gift card pack.

Several nonprofit organizations at the event will include resources in animal welfare, health, food access, family support, environmental care and youth services.

More information can be found at shopsatpalmdesert.com/event/nonprofit-fair-at-the-shops/.

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Garrett Hottle

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) The Perseids meteor shower, one of the year’s most anticipated night-sky events, peaks Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning and skywatchers across the Coachella Valley, Twentynine Palms, and Joshua Tree are preparing for the show.

The shower runs from mid-July through late August, but this year’s peak lands just three days after the full Sturgeon Moon. Unfortunately, the bright – waning gibbous will wash out all but the brightest streaks.

Under dark, moonless skies the Perseids can produce up to 100 meteors an hour, but NASA and the American Meteor Society say this year’s rates will be closer to 10–20 per hour locally, with occasional fireballs still possible.

When is the best time to watch? 

Predicted max: 12–1 a.m. PDT Wednesday (Aug. 13), when the radiant in the constellation Perseus is high in the sky.

The American Meteor Society recommends finding a dark location away from lights, using terrain to block the moon, and giving your eyes 30 minutes to adjust.

Moonrise in Palm Springs is around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, earlier in the night you may have a chance to catch rare “earthgrazers” low on the horizon.

Top local viewing spots include Joshua Tree National Park’s Cap Rock, Ryan Mountain, Hidden Valley, and Quail Springs, which are all part of the park’s International Dark Sky designation.

An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect through Tuesday at 8 p.m. Officials urge visitors to hydrate, avoid hiking to remote spots at night, and pull fully off roadways if stopping. Red lights are preferred over flashlights to preserve night vision.

More on the Perseids: The meteors are fragments from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle burning up in Earth’s atmosphere, known for their speed and bright fireballs. Even in challenging moonlight, local astronomers say the Perseids are worth catching and this week’s sky show is just the start.

Later this week, Twentynine Palms hosts the AREA 29: Galactic Gathering from Aug. 14–17, a citywide celebration of UFOs, sci-fi, and stargazing, including a special “Alien Probe” stargazing night at the 29 Palms Inn.

Also on Aug. 16 the Sky’s the Limit Observatory in Twentynine Palms will host Dr. Eric Mamajek who will explore “How many planets like earth might there be?” The program starts at 8:30pm and includes telescope stargazing. Tickets are $20 and must be reserved in advance.

Share your sky-watching photos with KESQ News Channel 3 by emailing us at share@kesq.com

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