Category: kesq-local-news

Luis Avila

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A major affordable housing development has been approved in Palm Desert — but the decision came without a city council vote or any opportunity for community input, leaving many residents with mixed reactions.

The 298-unit project, planned for the corner of Cook Street and Frank Sinatra across from the Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert campus, is moving forward under Senate Bill 35, a California law that requires cities falling behind on state housing goals to fast-track qualifying developments. The development will feature three- to four-story apartment buildings and will include units designated for low-income and extremely low-income residents.

Carlos Flores, Palm Desert’s Deputy Director of Development Services, explained that the city has no discretion under SB 35 as long as the project meets existing municipal code requirements.

For nearby residents, news of the project has been met with mixed emotions. Some community members say they should have had a chance to weigh in before the project advanced.

“There should be a little bit of input, but at the same time we really need people to have places to live.”

Josh Israel, Palm Desert Resident

Others feel affordable housing developments have become too frequent and that notice to residents is insufficient. One neighbor, Lulu, shared her frustration after a previous housing project near her home impacted her.

“I think it’s saturated. They’ve built so many and the community doesn’t know until it’s half done. They told us it would be two stories. Now my only sunset view is gone. All I see is windows and people.”

Lulu, Palm Desert Resident

Flores acknowledged concerns about the lack of community input but says residents can push for changes to the city’s development standards if they want a greater say in future projects.

“They can make their voice heard. We can still change the standards within our code — they just have to be objective standards.”

Carlos Flores, Palm Desert Deputy Director of Development Services

Despite concerns, city officials say the project will have a major impact on Palm Desert’s ability to meet state housing requirements. Flores confirmed that once built, the project would help the city fulfill all of its “very low-income” housing obligations and bring it close to meeting its “low-income” goals — putting Palm Desert at about 75% of its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).

Construction on the project could begin as early as the first quarter of next year.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more. 

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Fee increases at the Tahquitz Creek golf course are being reconsidered by the Palm Springs City Council.

In late September, the Palm Springs City Council adopted green fee hikes of up to 73%. Resort course weekday fees were set to spike from $58 to $95 during October to December. December to May, weekend and holiday rates would increase from $70 to $121, according to a document from the September city council meeting.

At a parks and recreation commission meeting in October, golfers expressed their frustration with the price surge. “It’s unacceptable,”  said Jacque Bowman, President of the Tahquitz Women’s Golf Club.

Another community member at the meeting, named Robert, says that because of the fee hike, “[they] may go somewhere else.”

Now, the Palm Springs City Council say they will reconsider the fee increase and put it on pause for now.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Mayor of Palm Springs will soon deliver the annual “State of the City” address, highlighting some of the city’s accomplishments and looking ahead to the future.

The event will take place December 2nd at the Palm Springs Convention Center, where residents will be able to join Mayor Ron deHarte and the City Council members for the “Palm Springs Forward – We Can . . .Plan Smarter, Build Stronger with a City that works for everyone” event.

Mayor deHarte will share updates, recent accomplishments, and new ideas for Palm Springs.

DeHarte says, “We’re going to share some of the highlights, activity, programs, and some of the things city council has approved this year. And set the stage for what’s going to come tomorrow, and what’s coming down the road, and how can we achieve better quality of life.”

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with the Mayor on Monday to get a preview of some of the topics to be discussed.

The event kicks off at 2:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center located 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, starting with a non-profit and City Department fair, followed by the Mayor’s presentation. The community is also invited to come together for an ice cream social in the lobby of the Convention Center afterwards.

The event is free and open to the public – Everyone is invited. Residents who are unable to attend will be able to watch the broadcast on the City’s YouTube channel and on Palm Springs Community Television.

For more information, visit palmspringsca.gov.

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KESQ News Team

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Hundreds of families in the Coachella Valley are getting a little extra help this Thanksgiving.

Monday evening, the Coachella Valley Unified School District hosted a massive turkey and produce giveaway, making sure local families have what they need for the holiday table.

The district partnered with vendors and Aziz Farms to make the event possible.

A thousand turkeys and boxes of fresh produce were handed out at the event, with cars lined up for hours to take part.

CVUSD Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza says, “We’re not only giving a turkey away, we’re also giving a produce box along with the turkey to every car that drives through. . . We’re really happy that we’re able to do this – It helps us connect with the community.”

Organizers say they hope these efforts make the holiday season a little brighter for families across the valley.

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Cynthia White

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Council distributed 2,000 turkeys to ten different organizations across the Coachella Valley on Monday as part of their annual turkey donation.

The effort helps hundreds of local families receive a traditional holiday meal.

Organizations that received turkeys were:

Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs

Food Now

Father’s Heart Ranch

Farmworker Services Coalition of Imperial Valley

American Legion Auxiliary Owen Coffman Unit 519

Olive Crest

Martha’s Village & Kitchen

Riverside County Office of Education

Coachella Valley Rescue Mission

Well in the Desert

Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Margaret Keung says of the donation, “The energy is really high. The kids have been doing arts and crafts, drawing turkeys, coloring turkeys. So last week has been all about turkeys. So we’re really excited about today and having the opportunity to reach out to so many families that are coming in to pick up their gift.” 

Well in the Desert President Matt Naylor says, “Typically we feed 250 meals a day in Palm Springs, and we feed 120 families on Saturdays. And so the turkeys really go a long way for feeding those with major food insecurities that we have here in our desert. . . I’d like to thank the tribe for the continued support of us for many years, for over 20 years, and the food does go to a good cause of feeding people. And it’s amazing how many people need food, and the tribe is such a big player that it helps so much, and we are very thankful that they’re here to be a partner with us.”

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KESQ News Team

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Help local families this holiday season – It all starts this Thursday with the News Channel 3 and SunLine Transit Agency “Fill the Bus” event.

We need your help to fill buses with non-perishable food items and hygiene products that will go to local families for the holidays.

You can drop off your donations at the Walmart on Monterey in Palm Desert, or at the Ralph’s at Smoke Tree Village in Palm Springs.

Join News Channel 3 and SunLine Transit this Thursday, from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. – to help us Fill the Bus.

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Shay Lawson

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)  – It’s a scam where buyers distract you, slip oil into the hood of your car to make the engine look “blown,” then pressure you to sell your car for a fraction of what it’s worth.

Mark Haye, Palm Desert part-time resident, said 2 men tried it on him — but he caught on before they could cost him thousands.

“I didn’t fall for it,” Haye said. “Came home and we Googled it and sure enough, found out that it was a legitimate scam that was going on around the world.”

Haye, a retired security professional, said he listed his Mercedes for sale on Craigslist and quickly heard from a prospective buyer who claimed he was from Bosnia and wanted the car for his wife.

“I met him at a public space,” Haye said. “They ended up being 40 minutes late. Turns out that was intentional. Because they wanted my car to cool down.”

He said they met on Sunday, in the Sprouts parking lot in Indian Wells.

The buyer and another man — who claimed to be a Mercedes mechanic — began the inspection.

“They asked me to pop the hood,” Haye said. “The buyer takes me down the other side of the car and he wants to look in the trunk. While we were in the back of the car, his buddy comes back up here, squirts oil on the engine and takes the cap off of the coolant and puts some oil in that, shuts the hood and then says let’s take it for a ride.”

That’s when Haye got behind the wheel for a short test drive.

“By the time we’re pulling back into the public market area, the car is smoking,” Haye said.

He said the buyers then insisted the engine was “blown” and claimed the car was now only worth a few thousand dollars.

“Instead of paying me $13,500 for the car, they say they’ll buy it for 4 because the buddy can put the new engine in,” Haye said.

But something didn’t sit right with Haye.

When he checked the coolant himself, he said he realized the oil was only floating on top.

“I just said no, I’m not selling it,” Haye said.

Leslie, Haye’s wife, said she later searched online and found identical scams in videos.

“It just blew our minds,” she said.

A spokesperson from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said they’re “unaware of any increase in scams related to car buying/selling in the Coachella Valley.”

They provided safety advice for those thinking about buying/selling a vehicle:

Meet in public places when possible.

Have a friend or family member assist in keeping watch while you are distracted with the potential buyer.

Always get a vehicle history report.  There are various services available that can provide you with history on the vehicle, including accidents, Title issues, Odometer discrepancies and number of owners.

Inspect the vehicle in daylight and good weather. Look for paint inconsistencies, rust, uneven tire wear and leaks beneath the vehicle.

Take a thorough test drive and check for acceleration and braking issues, transmission behavior and strange noises or vibrations. Test electronic components in the vehicle, such as the air conditioning, infotainment system, windows, lights, wipers, etc.

Have the vehicle inspected by a licensed mechanic. Their expertise will often help reveal problems that are not obvious.

Haye said he’s relieved he caught the scam before turning over the title — and hopes speaking out prevents someone else from losing money.

“I hate to see people getting ripped off,” Haye said. “I’m glad it happened to me and not somebody else.”

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A jury was seated today for the trial of an ex-Riverside County sheriff’s deputy accused of harassing and abducting a former girlfriend, as well as possessing child pornography.

Alexander Ravy Vanny, 34, of Hemet, was arrested last year following an investigation by the sheriff’s department’s Special Victims Unit.   

Vanny is charged with kidnapping, stalking, possession of child porn, unauthorized use of protected electronic data, maliciously destroying a wireless device, witness intimidation, illicit eavesdropping, using a concealed camera to invade a person’s privacy, illegal use of a tracking device, interference with a traffic control device and possession of a firearm in violation of a protective order, with a sentence-enhancing allegation of perpetrating a felony while on bail.

Jury selection spanned a week at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, where Superior Court Judge James Hawkins swore in a panel on Monday. He directed the prosecution and defense to present opening statements Tuesday morning.  

Vanny is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.   

According to a post-preliminary hearing summary filed after the defendant was held to answer in May, Vanny was obsessed with an ex-girlfriend and allegedly engaged in a series of criminal acts last year while trying to get her back and prevent her from seeing other men.

The woman had been residing with the defendant at his Menifee home but moved out when she deemed the relationship no longer workable, according to court papers.

Among the most serious alleged offenses was his following her in the summer of 2024 to Chappies Bar in Hemet and demanding that she “leave and come home with him,” the prosecution said.

When she declined, Vanny “forcibly threw her into his truck,” according to documents.

“The defendant then drove her, without her consent, to his home … some 17 miles and 30 minutes,” the prosecution stated. “All this travel was after forcing her into his truck and doing so without her consent and without her permission.”

The victim was ultimately able to get away from him uninjured.   

The woman further alleged instances in which Vanny forced his way in her Hemet apartment, challenging men she was dating to fights and chasing them away, according to the prosecution.

Investigators discovered that Vanny had installed “tracker devices” on her vehicle to keep constant tabs on where she was day and night, prosecutors alleged. After he sneaked into her apartment one night, the ex-girlfriend became irate, “telling him she was calling 911,” according to documents.

“The defendant took her phone from her, preventing her from calling law enforcement,” according to the narrative, adding that he damaged the device.

There were instances of Vanny allegedly using the FLOCK law enforcement camera system deployed by the sheriff’s department and other agencies to procure license plate information from vehicles belonging to men visiting the victim, prosecutors said.

“On Nov. 29, 2024, the defendant secretly recorded the sounds of [the ex-girlfriend] being intimate with another man through her bedroom window,” court papers alleged.

Vanny’s alleged encounters with a sheriff’s volunteer landed him in trouble prior to the conflicts with his ex-girlfriend. In one visit with the volunteer in the spring of 2024, the defendant allegedly showed her a porn video involving underage victims, telling her “he would like her to participate in those activities with him,” according to the prosecution.   

Vanny was first arrested on June 22, 2024.   

He was booked into the Banning jail but posted a $1 million bond and was released. He was initially placed on paid administrative leave, but within a few months, he was fired from the department, according to sheriff’s officials.

While he was on bail, Vanny was separately charged in connection with the alleged offenses against the ex-girlfriend.  

He had been a sworn peace officer since he was hired by the sheriff’s department in 2016.

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City News Service

INDIO (KESQ) – The Empire Polo Club in Indio will transform into a drive-through holiday light display for the fourth annual “Magic of Lights” beginning Tuesday.

The event, sponsored by PNC Bank and produced by Family Entertainment Holdings, will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays starting Nov. 18 through Dec. 31 at 81-800 51st Ave.

“Magic of Lights has become a beloved holiday tradition for families right here in the Coachella Valley,” CEO of Family Entertainment Live Ken Hudgens said in a statement. “We’re proud to return to the Empire Polo Club and continue spreading the joy, wonder and togetherness that make this season so special in our community.”  

Attendees will be able to experience numerous holiday-themed displays, including the debut of a 750-foot palm tree tunnel, Toyland, Winter Wonderland, 12 Days of Christmas, festive Elves, a 32-foot-tall animated Christmas Barbie and the 200-foot Enchanting Tunnel of Lights.

In addition, Imperial Irrigation District will power Holiday Village, a walk-though attraction filled with holiday activities.   

“IID is please to be a new sponsor of the Coachella Valley’s dazzling Magic of Lights holiday tradition, where we will proudly be powering up the special Holiday Village that follows the wonderful drive through light display,” said Gina Dockstader, IID Board Chairwoman.

“Magic of Lights” will feature more than 2 million lights, 12.6 miles of light cord and 10 miles of LED lighting.   

“We’re thrilled to once again host the Coachella Valley’s beloved holiday tradition, Magic of Lights,” said Mark Girton, VP/GM of Empire Polo Club/Empire Grand Oasis. “Each holiday season, Magic of Lights brings joy and wonder to the community, and we’re proud to be part of a tradition that hasbecome a must-see (and do!) on everyone’s list.”

To learn more, or to purchase tickets visit https://magicoflights.com/locations/coachella-valley-ca/.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) One of the biggest gatherings in the nation for long-term care professionals has taken over the Palm Springs Convention Center this week.

The California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF) is marking a major mileston with its 75th annual convention and expo. The convention draws top caregivers, facility leaders and industry experts from across the country.

On Monday, State Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh stopped by to present CAHF with a Senate resolution honoring the organization’s 75 years of work supporting some of California’s most vulnerable residents.

The association represents nearly 1,300 skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities statewide.

Hundreds of attendees are cycling through packed educational sessions on the biggest issues facing long-term care right now, from workforce challenges to quality improvement and new regulations.

On the expo floor, more than 185 vendors are showing off the latest tools, technology and services aimed at improving care for residents and patients.

The convention runs through Wednesday, you can find more information on the CAHF Annual Convention and Expo by visiting this link.

You can find out more about the Palm Springs Convention Center and future events at this link.

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