Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

INDIO (CNS) – An injured hiker who suffered moderate injuries was rescued Thursday morning from a remote area in Indio.

The rescue was reported at 8:15 a.m. in the northeastern part of the city, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency stated that arriving crews made contact with the hiker and flew the individual to a ground ambulance, where the hiker was taken to a local hospital. A description of the person was not provided.

The cause of the injuries was not immediately known.

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Raymond Kalra

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – If a major earthquake hit the Coachella Valley tomorrow, emergency officials say residents may need to be more self-reliant than they think.

September is National Preparedness Month, and cities across the valley are reviewing how they would respond if roads, communications and other services were disrupted during a large-scale disaster.

That planning includes an uncomfortable reality: even a well-prepared evacuation route may not be usable once the disaster actually happens.

Daniel Hurtado, a senior management analyst with the City of Palm Desert, said cities have to be ready to adjust their plans in real time if damage blocks a route they expected residents to use.

“You have your evacuation plan ready to go, but if something happens and that area which you had preplanned is no longer available, you need to … create a new plan,” Hurtado said.

Hurtado said transportation is already a major concern because of the limited number of major routes in and out of the Coachella Valley. He said emergency planning also has to happen across city lines because traffic leaving one community can quickly affect neighboring cities.

Palm Springs is currently developing its first focused evacuation plan.

When News Channel 3 spoke with Palm Springs Emergency Manager Daniel DeSelms in August, he said the city had brought together agencies, businesses and other stakeholders to begin working through moderate- and large-scale evacuation scenarios.

DeSelms compared the challenge to the heavy gridlock sometimes seen during hurricane evacuations and said Palm Springs wants to reduce the chances of a similar situation during a local emergency.

Palm Desert is also preparing its own workforce for a major disaster.

Hurtado said all City of Palm Desert employees are designated Disaster Service Workers under state law. The city has more than 160 employees who can be called into the response structure if necessary.

He said the city trains staff through emergency management and incident command programs and conducts exercises that include earthquake scenarios. After a major incident, officials would begin by assessing damage, determining where help is needed most and activating the city’s Emergency Operations Center as necessary.

That does not mean help will immediately reach everyone.

Dave Prieto, a member of the California Fire Foundation’s board of directors, told News Channel 3 that emergency services would likely prioritize the most serious situations first after a major disaster.

“Emergency services are likely going to be tied up with the most severe issues first,” Prieto said. “Resources will be stretched thin.”

Prieto said one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding earthquakes is believing there will be time to figure out what to do once the shaking begins.

Instead, he said families should make those decisions ahead of time, including where they would meet, what supplies they would need and how they would communicate if normal services stopped working.

Hurtado similarly said residents should be prepared to remain self-sufficient for at least several days after a major disaster, particularly if multiple cities or counties are dealing with damage at the same time.

That preparation does not necessarily require building an expensive emergency kit all at once.

Emergency officials recommend starting with basics including food, water, flashlights, batteries, medications and a household communication plan.

Prieto also encouraged families to think about the needs of children, older adults and people with disabilities when preparing supplies.

Palm Desert officials shared one less obvious preparedness tip: freeze some of the water bottles stored for an emergency.

If the power goes out, the frozen bottles can help keep a refrigerator cold longer. As they melt, they can then become part of a household’s drinking-water supply.

The city is also using National Preparedness Month to bring those lessons directly to residents.

Palm Desert will hold an emergency readiness event on Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Palm Desert Community Center. The event is being held in partnership with the Desert Recreation District and Riverside County Emergency Management Department.

Hurtado said more than 30 vendors are expected to attend, along with hands-on training, city information tables and activities aimed at teaching emergency preparedness to both adults and children.

For emergency officials, the larger message is that preparedness is not just about having supplies in a closet.

It is about having a plan for what happens when the systems people normally rely on — roads, phones, utilities and emergency responders — are no longer immediately available.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Palm Springs swore in Kyle Stjerne as its new Chief of Police during Wednesday’s meeting.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to continue serving the people of Palm Springs and this city as its next police chief,” Stjerne said. “My mother taught us very early that actions speak louder than words. So I’m not going to tell you about all the great things the Palm Springs Police Department is going to do for this city and these people moving forward. We’re going to prove it to you, we’re going to show you every single day. That is my commitment.”

Stjerne, a 24-year veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department, has served as deputy chief since January 2026, helping lead the department’s day-to-day operations and oversee its $46 million budget.

Last Monday, the city announced its decision to select Stjerne to replace then-Chief Andy Mills, referring to him as an “outstanding leader, a seasoned problem solver, and a trusted public servant.”

Check Out Our Interview with Chief Stjerne

In his time with PSPD, he has also served in a range of leadership positions, including detective sergeant, SWAT team leader and commander, internal affairs sergeant, lieutenant, and captain.

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Raymond Kalra

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Kitten season is far from over in the Coachella Valley, and local animal rescues say they are seeing the effects of a significant increase in cats entering shelters this year.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services data shows cat intake from January through July 2026 increased by more than 46% compared to the same period last year, amounting to more than 2,500 additional cats.

The overwhelming majority of that increase came from some of the most vulnerable animals shelters handle. About 85% of the increase consisted of stray kittens younger than eight weeks old brought in by members of the public.

“We have a lot of kittens this year. It has been just a crazy kitten season for everybody,” said Maren Ledesma, rescue coordinator for the Adoption Alliance program through Animal Samaritans.

Kitten season can continue into the fall

While people may associate kitten season with the spring and early summer, rescuers say Southern California’s warmer climate can extend the breeding season much longer.

Deborah Felin-Magaldi, a volunteer and board member with Helen Sanders CatPAWS, said the largest influx typically begins in the spring and can continue through roughly November.

In Southern California’s temperate climate, however, kitten births can occur during much of the year.

Cats can also begin reproducing surprisingly young.

Felin-Magaldi said female kittens can become pregnant at roughly four months old. With a gestation period of just over two months, a cat can potentially give birth when she is only about six months old.

That rapid reproductive cycle means one generation of kittens can quickly contribute to another without spay and neuter intervention.

Local groups work to expand spay and neuter efforts

Ledesma said Animal Samaritans is now working to strengthen its trap-neuter-return, or TNR, program while increasing access to spay and neuter services.

TNR programs allow community cats to be humanely trapped, sterilized and vaccinated before being returned to the area where they were found. The goal is to prevent additional litters while allowing existing community cat populations to decline over time.

Ledesma said Animal Samaritans had been working to catch up after limited veterinary staffing and appointment availability made it more difficult to conduct large numbers of spay and neuter procedures.

High-volume sterilization programs require veterinarians capable of performing dozens of procedures in a single day, she said.

Animal Samaritans now offers TNR services every Tuesday and also allows people to schedule appointments. The organization can also provide traps and information to residents who want to participate.

Ledesma said access to those services across the Coachella Valley has recently begun improving as multiple animal organizations expand their spay and neuter programs and work together.

Animal Samaritans also recently received a $100,000 grant that the organization says will help expand spay and neuter efforts in communities across the valley, including services for owned pets.

What should you do if you find kittens?

Rescuers also warn that finding kittens outside does not necessarily mean they have been abandoned.

Both Animal Samaritans and Helen Sanders CatPAWS recommend watching healthy kittens for a period of time before immediately removing them.

Their mother may simply be away looking for food and could return.

“If they are healthy and they seem like they are doing well, especially if they are a kitten, leave them where they are,” Ledesma said. “We do not want to take kittens from moms.”

Felin-Magaldi similarly recommends monitoring the kittens and looking for signs that a mother cat is still caring for them.

If the kittens appear clean, well-fed and relatively calm, that can be an indication their mother is nearby. Very young kittens require frequent feeding and specialized care if their mother does not return.

Once kittens are old enough to be weaned, rescuers say spaying and neutering both the mother and kittens becomes an important step in preventing another litter.

Foster homes still needed

Preventing future births does not solve the immediate challenge for kittens already in shelters and rescues.

Animal Samaritans says it continues to need foster and adoptive homes as organizations work through the ongoing influx.

“We need foster homes. We need adoptive homes. We just need places for these animals to go,” Ledesma said.

Ledesma said fostering does not necessarily require a large home or a major long-term commitment. Even a spare bathroom can provide kittens with a quieter and more comfortable temporary space while also freeing up room at a shelter for another animal in need.

Animal Samaritans says it will continue expanding its spay and neuter efforts across the Coachella Valley as local organizations work to reduce the number of unwanted litters entering shelters in the future.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) — The Coachella City Council unanimously approved an anti-nepotism policy Wednesday night that limits who elected officials can appoint to city commissions and committees.

The policy prevents council members from appointing relatives to those positions. It also prevents one councilmember from nominating or appointing a relative of another councilmember.

The rules go beyond immediate family and include relatives such as aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins and grandparents.

The policy also applies to people who are not related but live in the same household as an elected official.

Councilmember Denise Delgado led the effort.

“I think it’s much needed in the city and it’s unfortunate we have to address it because of some of the stuff that’s happened in our city’s history,” said Delgado. “This is policy that I asked for in 2023. It did not come forward. It did not have the support.”

The policy received support from residents who spoke during Wednesday night’s meeting.

One resident said the policy could help address concerns about family members serving on city commissions.

“This is important because the community at large has made their own assumptions and we can’t fuel any assumptions by allowing our family to take commission positions regardless if they are the most qualified.”

But some residents said they want additional transparency when potential conflicts of interest involve city contracts or other financial interests.

The city attorney said existing conflict-of-interest rules still apply to commission and committee members.

“Just as with any of you if there is any potential conflict of interest, that applies to all committees. They would have to recuse themselves.”

Overall, residents who spoke at the meeting said they were optimistic about the new policy and the potential for more people to get involved in city government.

California also has conflict-of-interest laws for public officials. However, those laws do not automatically prohibit every type of relative from seeking or holding public office.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

BLYTHE (CNS) – A ban on the sale of kratom products to those under 21 years of age takes effect tomorrow in Blythe.

The Blythe City Council approved the prohibition on Aug. 11, mirroring a Riverside County ordinance passed in October 2025. The Blythe law prohibits the sale and distribution of kratom products.

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia that contains compounds of mitragynine and 7-hyrdroxymitragynine, otherwise known as 7-OH. Some energy drinks, gummies and pills containing 7-OH are synthesized, which means they contain alkaloids that produce a much stronger result.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any products containing the chemical as an added ingredient or at enhanced levels due to its opioid-like effects. The agency said products with 7-OH, which can be found in gas stations, online, smoke shops and other retail stores, should be avoided at all costs as they could lead to addiction, serious harm or overdose.

According to a staff report, on July 2025 the FDA issued warning letters to companies for illegally marketing products with 7-OH and recommended that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration add 7-OH products to the nationwide list of controlled substances.

Under the Blythe ordinance, those over 21 with a valid ID will still be able to purchase the products. Those found guilty of selling kratom products to people under 21 will be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

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KESQ News Team

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) A 12-foot steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center is now in place at Miles Avenue Park, and on Friday, the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Indio will dedicate the memorial built around it.

The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the park, 82540 Miles Ave., next to the Coachella Valley History Museum. Mayor Pro Tem Waymond Fermon said the artist and the full City Council are expected to attend. The city has invited residents, neighboring communities and local public safety agencies.

“This is a moment now where our country could pause, really come together and forget our differences and remember the innocent lives that were lost,” Fermon told News Channel 3 at the site Wednesday. “And so that’s what the city of Indio is doing.”

The memorial is the work of artist James Dinh, who submitted his design in 2023. The beam stands in front of a large curved steel wall engraved with “09 11 01” and punched with thousands of tiny holes. Illuminated at night, the holes are meant to look like a constellation of stars, Dinh has said.

“We obtained this piece and we really made it into a circle where we could come together and recognize humanity,” Fermon said.

The project took years to reach this point. The city issued a call for artists in March 2023, describing the centerpiece as a 12-foot steel artifact with a spiral curve from the former World Trade Center, to be used as-is without alterations. On Aug. 16, 2023, the City Council awarded Dinh a $130,000 contract to fabricate and install the sculpture.

The memorial was first planned for the northeast corner of Jackson Street and Dr. Carreon Boulevard, within the city’s Public Safety Campus. The council later directed staff to find a site that could better accommodate public gatherings, and Miles Avenue Park was chosen. A city staff report warned the move might require the artist to rework the design, including the lighting, and estimated the added cost at $20,000 or more beyond the approved $130,000 budget. A final project cost was not immediately available.

Ground was broken on Sept. 11, 2025. At the time, the city said it had been entrusted with the beam four to five years earlier. Details of the transfer were not immediately available.

“I think it’s been in the planning phases for a while,” Fermon said. “We just didn’t have the right time and moment to do it. But we came together as a council and a community to put it in this location where folks could come, go to the park, see this piece of history.”

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks in New York, at the Pentagon and in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Twenty-five years later, the toll is still rising. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York says more people have now died of Sept. 11-related illnesses than were killed in the attacks, and that about 8,000 people enrolled in the federal World Trade Center Health Program have died, though not every death is tied to a certified 9/11 condition. This year the museum is adding a seventh moment of silence to its ceremony for those who died from health effects of the attacks and their aftermath. As of June 30, the health program was caring for 145,275 responders and survivors, according to its quarterly report.

Fermon said the memorial should speak for them, too.

“All these years later, communities are still suffering from the tragic 9/11 events, and we have to come together and speak for those folks and support them,” he said.

He said the memorial reflects how the city responds when things go wrong, pointing to Tropical Storm Hilary and to earthquakes.

“Indio is a community, it’s a neighborhood, and we always come together at times of tragedy,” Fermon said. “The city of Indio will come together and we will take care of our neighbors.”

The 9/11 memorial will soon have company. Across the park, crews are building a veterans memorial the council approved in April with a $500,000 budget. It will feature seven pillars representing the branches of the U.S. armed forces. City staff said a dedication is planned for November, around Veterans Day.

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John White

CALEXICO, CA (KESQ) – A report by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General indicates that the federal government’s focus on immigration investigations may have resulted in fewer resources allocated to fentanyl investigations. The report also found that 90% of interdicted fentanyl entering the United States is stopped directly at designated ports of entry.

The findings come as border officials manage heavy commercial and passenger traffic at two major ports of entry in Calexico, located just over two hours South of the Coachella Valley. Federal agents at these crossings are tasked with inspecting rail and vehicular cargo while maintaining the flow of trade between the United States and Mexico.

I-Team: Check Out Part 2 of John White’s Report – Changes over the past 18 months

At the Calexico ports of entry, border officials rely on specialized non-intrusive inspection technology to scan incoming cargo and vehicles for illegal narcotics and security threats. Bonnie Arellano, Assistant Port Director in Calexico, outlined how new portals help manage the flow of traffic crossing the border. “These are called MEPs. That’s multi-energy portals, basically non-intrusive inspection equipment that is set to make the process coming in from Mexico into the United States a lot smoother,” Arellano said.

The two Calexico crossings accommodate billions of dollars in trade, including rail and automobile transport, while processing an average of 20,000 vehicles, carrying 40,000 to 50,000 people daily.

The travelers represent a major economic driver for local businesses and U.S. commerce, with visitors traveling into the country for heavy shopping and tourism destinations. Vehicles selected for secondary inspection undergo comprehensive searches, which can include undercarriage checks and canine sweeps. In one recent secondary inspection, agents uncovered more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside a vehicle’s dashboard.

Vehicles seized during drug interdictions are thoroughly inspected and dismantled before being sent to public auctions. “I refer to every car as a soap opera for the 23-plus years that I’ve been into this effort,” Arellano said. “If I take all those inspections that way, then I get a chance to get to the bottom of it every single time and that’s what we talk about here with the officers.”

Pedestrian inspection lanes are also monitored by officers who inspect documentation for every traveler walking across the border. Arellano emphasized the necessity of strict operational oversight at the physical ports of entry. “It’s to control the chaos, right?” Arellano said. “Because if you if you don’t have control of the area, then you’re in a situation where you get overrun and we can’t have that.”

Travelers utilizing the Calexico West port of entry face an average wait time of 58 minutes, though delays can exceed 2 hours during busy periods.

Check Out: Wait Times at Calexico Ports of Entry

Border officials state that wait times at Calexico border crossings are expected to increase in the coming weeks as the regional agricultural season gets underway, bringing an influx of cross-border workers between Mexico and the United States.

See Part Two of John White’s I-Team investigation, “Return to the Border,” Thursday at 6pm on News Channel 3.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Palm Springs High School was placed on a brief lockdown Wednesday, just before 11:30 a.m., while law enforcement investigated a reported safety concern on campus, according to Palm Springs Unified School District.

PSUSD said students and staff were safe and that there was no evacuation.

PSUSD announced that law enforcement had completed its investigation and cleared the campus.

“There is no verified threat to students or staff,” the district said. School operations have returned to normal, and all students and staff are safe.

During the investigation, investigators identified and located a minor suspected of making the threat. The minor was detained on suspicion of making a false report of a bomb, police said.

Police emphasized that there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the school community.

Palm Springs Unified School District released the following statement to News Channel 3:

“We are pleased to share that law enforcement has completed its investigation of the reported safety concern in campus. The campus has been cleared, and there is no verified threat to students or staff. School operations have returned to normal, all students and staff are safe. We appreciate the quick response and support of law enforcement. We understand that situations like this can be concerning, and we thank you for your patience and cooperation as we worked to ensure the safety of our school community. The safety and well-being of our students and staff will always remain our highest priority.”

News Channel 3 originally held off on reporting this on air due to our policy on promoting unfounded threats. We are now reporting to illustrate the consequences of threats.

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — In a news conference yesterday, Steve Hilton announced a plan to abolish the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

“This is step one in our plan to cut the cost of living for Californians,” Hilton said.

The proposal aims to simplify vehicle services and reduce registration costs across California. In addition to shifting routine transactions away from the state agency, the campaign plan calls for repurposing existing DMV buildings to expand educational facilities for children.

Under Hilton’s proposal, DMV services such as routine title, registration, license-plate and renewal transactions would move to county offices and certified local service centers.

Hilton also wants to replace the current vehicle-registration fee formula, which can cost hundreds of dollars, with a flat $73 fee.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from local drivers concerning state revenue and overall logistics. Matt Vogel, a Palm Desert resident, expressed interest in the lower cost while noting potential budget impacts.

“It certainly would make it easier in my pocket book, but I’m sure they have to consider how they’re going to make up the lost revenue,” Vogel said.

Some drivers expressed concern that closing DMV offices could add to the area’s vacant commercial buildings, while supporters argue that consolidating services could improve administrative efficiency.

This is not the first time a Republican California governor candidate has made DMV and vehicle-registration fees a campaign issue. In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigned on repealing Gov. Gray Davis’ tripling of the vehicle license fee, which had become a major issue in the recall election. After taking office, Schwarzenegger rescinded the increase.

Hilton and competitor Xavier Becerra are set to face off in a candidate debate scheduled for Sept. 30. Becerra has not yet issued a response regarding Hilton’s proposal to eliminate the DMV.

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