Category: kesq-local-news

Athena Jreij

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As monsoonal moisture brings muggy conditions to the desert, local landscapers say plants should be watered less.

Experts say many will typically water their plants more during the drier summer months, but with higher humidity it takes longer for soil and plants to dry out.

Without proper maintenance and preparation, it can be easy to over water plants.

“If the humidity stays in place consistently for two weeks, you might want to turn your water down, but not by much. Remember to come back and turn it up to 100% when the sun comes out and the temperature goes back to normal,” local landscaper Spencer Knight said.

Knight says as temperatures rise, to make sure your irrigation systems are working properly to prevent plants from drying out, should a sprinkler fail.

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Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As temperatures continue climbing into the triple digits, local fire officials and mechanics are reminding drivers that extreme heat can put added stress on vehicles, increasing the risk of breakdowns and even fires.

Vehicle fires are a common emergency response during the summer months. According to CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, crews respond to hundreds of vehicle fires across Riverside County each year, with many incidents occurring along Interstate 10 and other major roadways.

Mechanics say the desert’s extreme heat places additional strain on cooling systems, batteries, belts, hoses and tires. Problems that might otherwise be minor can quickly become more serious during prolonged periods of extreme heat, making routine vehicle maintenance especially important.

The risk is even greater for big rigs traveling through the Coachella Valley. Interstate 10 is one of Southern California’s busiest freight corridors, with thousands of commercial trucks traveling through the region each day. Heavy loads, extended driving hours and scorching pavement temperatures can place added stress on engines, brakes and tires, increasing the likelihood of mechanical failures.

When a commercial truck catches fire, the consequences can be significant. These incidents often result in freeway lane closures, lengthy traffic delays and extensive cleanup efforts while emergency crews extinguish the fire and remove damaged vehicles.

Fire officials recommend drivers inspect their vehicles before heading out on long trips by checking coolant levels, engine oil, tire pressure and looking for fluid leaks. Motorists are also encouraged to pay attention to warning signs such as smoke, unusual odors or rising engine temperatures.

If a vehicle begins to overheat or catches fire, officials advise drivers to pull over to a safe location, turn off the engine, move everyone away from the vehicle and call 911. They also warn drivers not to open the hood if flames are visible, as introducing oxygen can cause the fire to spread more rapidly.

With more triple-digit temperatures expected across the Coachella Valley this summer, experts say regular preventative maintenance can help reduce the risk of vehicle fires and keep drivers safe on the road.

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Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Cultural Center is reopening its Historic Camelot Theatre this Saturday, just two weeks after a fire forced the building to temporarily close.

The fire broke out on the evening of June 27 in the kitchen area of the Cultural Center on East Baristo Road. According to the Palm Springs Fire Department, 31 firefighters responded to the scene and safely evacuated about 30 people. The fire was quickly contained, and no injuries were reported.

The blaze damaged the kitchen and caused smoke and water damage in parts of the building. The café remains closed while cleanup and restoration work continues. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Despite ongoing repairs in other areas of the building, the Historic Camelot Theatre is ready to welcome moviegoers back. The theater will reopen Saturday evening with a screening of Jaws.

Cultural Center officials thanked the community for its support during the cleanup and said they are excited to welcome audiences back while restoration efforts continue.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – A Coachella man was arrested Friday on suspicion of selling various illicit substances, targeting minors throughout the Coachella Valley.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies began their investigation.

The suspect, 19, was located on Friday, driving his vehicle in Cathedral City in the area of Dinah Shore Avenue and Date Palm Drive. He was taken into custody without incident.

A search warrant was served at a home on the 86000 block of Calle Geranio in Coachella with the assistance of the La Quinta Traffic Team, La Quinta Special Enforcement Team, La Quinta Business District Team, and the Coachella Community Action Team.

Deputies said they seized several marijuana vape pens, psychedelic mushrooms, approximately 25,000 in US currency, and a firearm with an altered serial number.

The suspect was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for furnishing marijuana to a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, and willful harm to a child.

This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this or similar incidents is encouraged to contact Deputy Olivares at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at (760) 863-8990.

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Jesus Reyes

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Two women were arrested on Thursday after a burglary at a La Quinta business. Investigators later connected the pair to additional thefts in Indio, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Beaumont, resulting in a total loss of about $16,000 in merchandise.

The investigation started on June 17 when authorities launched an investigation into a grand theft that occurred at a business located at the 78000 block of Highway 111.

The suspects were identified as a 33-year-old Van Nuys woman and a 32-year-old North Hollywood woman.

Police said the suspects returned to the same La Quinta business on Thursday, where they were taken into custody.

The business reported that the suspects have stolen more than $70,000 in merchandise from stores throughout Southern California.

Both women were booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for burglary and organized retail theft.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to contact Corporal Molina or Deputy Ebersole of the Thermal Station’s La Quinta Business District Team at (760) 863–8990.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Palm Springs will host a series of community meetings to gather public input on the future of the mayoral position.

News Channel 3 has reported that the city council is considering whether to let residents directly elect a mayor to serve a four-year term. That’s instead of continuing the current system where council members rotate in the mayor’s seat for one year.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut is speaking with Councilmember Grace Garner about the upcoming meetings and the conversation as a whole.

The community meetings will be held throughout the city, with the first set to take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 22 at Mizell Center, at 480 S. Sunrise Way. The full list of meetings dates is available below:

The schedule can be found at Mayoral Position Working Group & California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) Archive | City of Palm Springs.

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City News Service

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – Mosquito samples in the communities of North Shore and Mecca tested positive for West Nile virus, the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District announced today.

The North Shore sample was collected in the area of Avenue 72 and Cleveland Street, while the other samples were collected in the areas of Avenue 70 and Johnson Street and Avenue 71 and Grant Street in Mecca.

West Nile virus spreads to people when a female mosquito bites an infected bird and becomes a carrier. If a person becomes infected, few experience mild or no symptoms, while others may develop serious illness and adults over the age of 50 are at greater risk for sever complications, vector officials said.

The district urged Coachella Valley residents to take the following precautions as mosquito activity increases during the warmer months: — Dump and drain standing water around homes, including flowerpots, buckets and tires; — Wear insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients when outdoors; — Wear long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, and — Report neglected pools or significant mosquito activity to the district.

The district performed periodic control treatments using truck-mounted equipment throughout the month of June in the cities of Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs and North Shore. The next “Wide Area Larvicide” treatments will take place from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Sept. 12, 19, 26 and Oct. 3.

The agency said the treatments will target mosquitoes in standing water to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes. The products are EPA-registered that are considered safe for people, pets, wildlife and honeybees.

Maps of the spraying operations can be seen at https://www.cvmosquito.org/wide-area-larvicide-treatments-summer-2026.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — One person was injured Friday after an accidental firearm discharge at the Palm Springs Gun Club, according to fire officials, the club’s president, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

CAL FIRE confirmed crews responded to the incident at approximately 11:33 a.m. near Rio Del Sol Road and Vista Chino Drive in Thousand Palms, following reports of an accidental firearm discharge.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at 11:28 a.m. to the 72000 block of North Shore Street following a report of a shooting. When deputies arrived, they located a person suffering from injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. The individual was transported to a local hospital in stable condition, and no other injuries were reported.

Palm Springs Gun Club President Daryl Silverstein confirmed to News Channel 3 by phone that an accidental shooting occurred at the club. Silverstein said the injured individual was being treated by medical personnel at the scene before being transported to a local hospital.

The Palm Springs Gun Club is a private, members-only shooting range that hosts organized shooting matches and firearm safety events throughout the year.

The Sheriff’s Office said there is no evidence of foul play at this time, though the investigation remains ongoing. No additional details have been released.

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Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The first monsoon storms of the season are expected to move into the Coachella Valley next week, bringing the possibility of heavy rain, strong winds, blowing dust, and flash flooding.

Emergency officials are reminding residents to prepare ahead of the storms, as desert weather can change quickly and create dangerous conditions.

Even if rain is not falling in one area, storms miles away can send water rushing through washes and low-lying roadways. Officials recommend securing outdoor items, staying updated with the latest forecast, enabling emergency alerts on phones, and avoiding flooded streets.

Palm Desert resident Emily Vogt says she learned firsthand how unpredictable monsoon storms can be after a microburst hit her neighborhood.

“My experience is, it’s very unpredictable,” Vogt said. “We weren’t expecting a big storm. It was just going to be a regular monsoon storm… but monsoons have microbursts… and we happened to have a microburst right over our block.”

Vogt says the storm brought heavy rain, hail, and flooding to her neighborhood, even though nearby areas saw much less impact.

Officials remind residents that just a few inches of fast-moving water can be dangerous and can sweep away vehicles. The message during monsoon season remains: if you come across a flooded roadway, turn around, don’t drown.

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Tommy Gallegos

BERMUDA DUNES, Calif. — A pedestrian was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle Friday morning in Bermuda Dunes.

The collision occurred at 10:57 a.m. near the intersection of Washington Street and Harris Lane.

According to information from California Highway Patrol, the vehicle was turning from Harris Lane onto northbound Washington Street, when it struck a pedestrian who was standing in the roadway. The circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported the pedestrian to a local hospital in critical condition.

Both the California Highway Patrol and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the incident and were present at the scene following the accident. The roadway is back open after a temporary closure of two-lanes.

No additional information has been released regarding the identity of the pedestrian or the driver. The driver remained on scene and cooperated with authorities before being allowed to leave.

This is a developing story. Stay with News Channel 3 for updates as more information becomes available.

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