Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Road and lane closures will be in effect next month on S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs for gas line installation as part of the South Palm Canyon Bridge Project.  

Southern California Gas company crews will cut and excavate work related to the gas line installation on Jan. 5-6 from 7 a.m. through 3:30 p.m., with one lane to remain open for traffic.

Nighttime road closures will take place from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. Jan. 12-16 on both directions of South Palm Canyon Drive between East Sunny Dunes Road and Mesquite Avenue. Motorists will be detoured to Belardo Road, and the traffic signal at Sunny Dunes Road will operate in flashing mode during the nighttime closures, officials said.   

The gas line installation will not affect nearby residents gas services, and the schedule may change due to weather or field conditions, officials said.

Construction on the bridge will continue through late next year.   

More information on the project can be found at www.SouthPalmCanyonBridge.com.

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City News Service

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people were arrested on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts in public following a public safety enforcement operation at Rancho Mirage Community Park, authorities announced today.  

The suspects, a 45-year-old from Thousand Palms and a 62-year-old from Rancho Mirage, were booked at Benoit Detention Center in Indio, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies and the city’s Problem-Oriented Policing team coordinated with the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force to conduct the operation Wednesday after people complained of “ongoing illegal activity within the park,” located in the 71000 block of San Jacinto Drive, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan Whitley.  

The operation aimed to address of quality-of-life concerns and to make sure the park remained safe and family-friendly, Whitley said.   

Details on the alleged crimes were not immediately available.   

“These enforcement operations are conducted to preserve the quality of life for residents and visitors throughout Rancho Mirage and the greater Coachella Valley,” the department stated.

Anyone with additional information was urged to contact Deputy Nicholas Cazee at 760-836-1600.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Coachella Valley LGBTQ leaders say the community continues to struggle mental health, especially after national and local political discussions.

This week, the Palm Desert City Council held a special meeting to address a request made by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto for the city to rescind a resolution, meaning the city would no longer recognize Pride month with a banner on City Hall.

The request stirred conversations throughout the Valley as many locals were upset with the request, prompting over 50 speakers to share their opposition to the proposal during the special meeting.

While the request was shut down by city council on Tuesday, local leaders say they believe the safe “bubble” for LGBTQ members in the Coachella Valley has been cracked.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials on the state of mental health in the LGBTQ community and what the future looks like.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Residents across the Coachella Valley are expressing concern after videos began circulating online that appear to show immigration enforcement activity in the area.

Reginaldo Lopez, owner of Better Garden, said three of his employees were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Palm Springs on Wednesday.

“Stressful and really sad because when my son got there they were already taken. The vehicle was abandoned at the gas station and then — like nothing… One of them was my brother. The other two are like family to us because we work as a team to try to get things down.”

Reginaldo Lopez, Better Garden Owner

Lopez added that the detentions have had a significant impact on his business.

Local leaders have also responded to the reports. Indio City Council member Oscar Ortiz took to social media to address concerns, noting that there have been multiple reports of detentions across the city.

Check Out: Reports of possible ICE activity raise concerns across Coachella Valley

Ortiz says he’s working with community organizations, including TODEC, to help locate those who have been taken into custody and provide legal support.

“We’re seeing some cases where people are having a hard time tracking family members or friends that are going into detention centers so we’re helping them locate those family members and provide legal services.”

Oscar Ortiz, Indio Council member

He emphasized the importance of staying informed and knowing one’s rights.

Lopez said he has been able to locate his brother, who is currently in custody in Los Angeles, but uncertainty remains regarding the other detained employees.

News Channel 3 has not been able to independently confirm the presence of ICE agents or any official enforcement operations in the area.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As Holiday 2025 shopping ramps up, Coachella Valley consumers are balancing the convenience of big-box retailers with a growing push to shop local, while also keeping a close eye on return policies.

Major retailers like Amazon, Kohl’s, and Macy’s are offering extended return windows through January 31, 2026, for holiday purchases, giving shoppers flexibility after the holidays. Others, including Best Buy and Apple, have shorter deadlines or added restrictions, particularly on electronics and specialty items, underscoring the importance of checking store policies before buying.

At the same time, Shop Local campaigns are gaining momentum, encouraging residents to support community businesses for more meaningful and unique gifts.

Across the Coachella Valley, shoppers are turning to local boutiques, markets, and artisans for handcrafted items, curated collections, and personalized service that big-box stores often cannot match.

Areas like Downtown Palm Springs, Old Town La Quinta, the Uptown Design District, and weekly markets such as the College of the Desert Street Fair offer everything from artisan goods to vintage finds, often without the crowds or shipping delays.

Local business advocates say shopping small has a ripple effect. Dollars spent locally tend to stay in the community, supporting jobs, services, and charitable causes.

While national retailers may win on convenience and extended return options, local shops stand out for their one-of-a-kind gifts, experiential offerings like classes or tastings, and a more personal shopping experience. This holiday season, many Coachella Valley shoppers are mixing both approaches, using big retailers for ease while turning to local businesses for gifts that feel thoughtful, memorable, and rooted in the community.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Miley Cyrus will receive the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Cyrus is being honored for her new song “Dream As One” featured in Avatar: Fire and Ash.

The Film Awards will take place on January 3, 2026, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running January 2-12, 2026. The event will be presented by Kering and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight. We’ll be live from the red carpet of the Film Awards starting at 5:00 p.m. on CBS Local 2.

“A musician who needs no introduction, Miley Cyrus is a force in everything she does. Her song ‘Dream as One’ from Avatar: Fire and Ash is already a triumph, resonating with audiences around the globe,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “It is with tremendous excitement that we welcome Miley Cyrus to Palm Springs and present her with the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award.”

In Avatar: Fire and Ash, legendary filmmaker James Cameron transports audiences back to the breathtaking world of Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family returning. The film also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans, Jr., and Kate Winslet.

Featured song “Dream as One” is performed by Miley Cyrus, with music and lyrics by Cyrus, Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson, and Simon Franglen. The ballad appears in the end credits and is featured on the film’s original soundtrack as well. The 20th Century Studios film releases in theaters nationwide this weekend.

Miley Cyrus is a GRAMMY Award®-winning, multi-platinum artist. At the 2024 GRAMMYs, she performed “Flowers,” 2023’s top-selling single, winning Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year. In 2025, her collaboration with Beyoncé won the Grammy for Best Country Duo Performance. Her eighth album, “Endless Summer Vacation,” dominated the charts, and her visual album “Something Beautiful” released in spring 2025.

As part of her multimedia infiltration, she appeared in one of the most popular episodes of Netflix’s Black Mirror as Ashley O, performing Nine Inch Nails re-imaginings and transfixing viewers.

Miley introduced her 501(c)3, Happy Hippie Foundation, in 2014. It has raised millions to support youth suffering from homelessness, especially those identifying as LGBTQ+. In 2024, she announced the launch of The Miley Cyrus Foundation, an extension of her philanthropic work focusing on supporting mothers in all their diversity.

Cyrus joins this year’s previously announced honorees:

Timothée Chalamet (Spotlight Actor of the Year Award)

Michael B. Jordan (Icon Award, Actor)

Rose Byrne (Breakthrough Performance Award)

Leonardo DiCaprio (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor)

Ethan Hawke (Career Achievement Award)

Kate Hudson (Icon Award, Actress)

Adam Sandler (Chairman’s Award)

Amanda Seyfried (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress)

Frankenstein director Guillermo del Toro and actors Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth (Visionary Award)

Hamnet director Chloé Zhao as well as actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal (Vanguard Award)

Sentimental Value cast members Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning (International Star Award)

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Isaiah Mora

ANZA, Calif. (KESQ) – A 3.4 magnitude earthquake shook things up near Anza on Friday morning.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake took place just before 7 a.m. on Friday morning, just 12 miles east of southeast Anza. The earthquake was reported to have a depth of 13.2 kilometers.

According to responses from the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was also felt across the Coachella Valley including in Cathedral City, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Indio, and Palm Desert.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates on this story.

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City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – A customs broker who siphoned more than $5 million from businesses that ship goods into the U.S. and who dodged paying at least $1 million in taxes was sentenced today to four years and three months in federal prison.

Frank Noah, 64, of Corona, was sentenced Thursday in downtown Los Angeles and also ordered to pay $7.57 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of tax evasion and two counts of wire fraud.   

Noah owned Comis International Inc., a logistics and supply-chain company headquartered in Cerritos. Comis worked as a customs import broker for the national Daiso chain — a Japan-based variety and value store with outlets in Southern California — from 2007 through 2019.

Noah admitted inflating customs import duty fees he paid while billing Daiso, resulting in the company overpaying Noah nearly $3.4 million.   

After Noah was indicted for defrauding Daiso in 2022, he continued to defraud other clients out of more than $2 million using a different scheme, according to his plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court.   

Noah also acknowledged causing a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $2.4 million by cheating on his taxes from 2008 to 2010, making partial payments for what he owed while using his income to make large payments on mortgages he put in the name of his girlfriend for properties in Corona and Rancho Mirage.

After agreeing with the Internal Revenue Service that he owed more than $1 million in taxes in 2014, Noah still avoided IRS attempts to collect the amount owed, and instead spent thousands of dollars on country club memberships, travel and golf purchases, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Act now to reserve your St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway ticket on Friday, December 19th and you’ll be eligible to win the house AND ALL of the additional prizes! That’s more ways to win while helping St. Jude!

Call 800-535-6748 to reserve your ticket for only $100 and help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® continue its life-saving work.

The home is being built by GHA Companies in the Silver Spur Ranch community in south Palm Desert right by The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. It’s a single-story, 2,600 square foot home. It will have three bedrooms, three and a half baths, a flex room, and a three-car garage. The home also includes an open concept layout, an upgraded kitchen with a large island, and a walk-in pantry.

Get your ticket now to be eligible to win the $2,500 VISA gift card courtesy of The Law Offices of Jeffrey Weaver, a Michael Phelps Legend Series LSX 900 hot tub with cover courtesy of Master Spas and fuel for a year valued at $3,000.

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Peter Daut

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – News Channel 3 has been investigating concerns about mold in an elementary school in Thermal.

It’s a story that we were first to break. Now the Coachella Valley Unified School District has released new details about mold findings and cleanup after parents publicly complained they were denied copies of reports and forced to sign confidentiality agreements.

I-Team investigator Peter Daut takes a closer look at the issue.

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