Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Palm Springs will attempt to break the record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Marilyn Monroe in history to celebrate her 100th birthday.

The city is home to the “Forever Marilyn” statue, which is located in Palm Springs Downtown Park.

Palm Springs Pride will host “Marilyn 100,” a high-glamour centennial fan festival honoring Marilyn’s 100th birthday. From May 29 through June 1, the city will transform into a living tribute culminating in an official Guinness World Record attempt to assemble the largest gathering of people dressed as Marilyn Monroe in history.

On Saturday, May 30, organizers aim to shatter the current record of 254 “Marilyns” by rallying 500 participants in downtown Palm Springs.

To ensure the record is met with style, every registered participant receives a Marilyn Icon Kit, featuring the signature pleated white halter dress, the iconic platinum blonde wig, and a ticket to the official record-setting event and celebration. The $75 registration kit assures our look-alike status. Visit pspride.org to register.

Organizers said Marilyn 100 isn’t just about the look; it’s about the legacy. Proceeds from the event will benefit Palm Springs Pride.

“Marilyn was a trailblazing ally who championed authenticity long before it was fashionable,” said Jasmine Sulivan Waits of Palm Springs Pride. “By stepping into her shoes, our participants are supporting the values of visibility and inclusion that define Palm Springs.”

A massive Marilyn Glam pop-up dressing room and boutique will be set up near Forever Marilyn in Downtown Palm Springs (May 28–30) will also host registration and costume kit pickup.

The festival is also currently extending an Open Call to local restaurants, galleries, and hotels. Businesses are encouraged to host their own Monroe-themed programming and be featured in the Marilyn 100 Online Schedule. Click here to register events.

Marilyn’s connection to Palm Springs dated back to 1949, when she was discovered at the Racquet Club. She frequently visited the area throughout the 1950s, often accompanied by her then-husband, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio.

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Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. — Hundreds of families lined up early Friday morning as FIND Food Bank hosted its Community Mobile Market, providing fresh food and essential household items to residents across the eastern Coachella Valley.

The distribution served an estimated 600 to 900 households in just a few hours, offering fresh produce, dairy products, and staple groceries. FIND officials say the mobile market plays a critical role in addressing food insecurity, particularly in areas where reliable access to nutritious food is limited.

Leaders with FIND say the Indio distribution site has become an important resource for families in the area, allowing residents to access healthy food closer to home. Despite long lines, the event was efficiently organized, with staff and volunteers processing hundreds of vehicles in about two hours.

The mobile market is now hosted directly at FIND’s expanded food security campus, following the recent opening of its new facility. The expansion added 40,000 square feet of space, allowing the organization to store and distribute larger quantities of food, including fresh produce.

In addition to food assistance, FIND also provided CalFresh outreach services during the event. Caseworkers were available to help residents apply for public benefits, offering long-term support beyond immediate food needs.

For many families, the distribution offers essential relief. Residents say the program helps stretch household budgets and provides much-needed support for working families and single parents.

Approximately 25 volunteers helped run the event, assisting with traffic flow, food distribution, and outreach services. FIND officials say volunteers are a key part of ensuring the mobile markets run smoothly and continue to serve large numbers of families.

Looking ahead, FIND says its free Community Mobile Markets will continue every first Friday of the month, offering consistent access to food and resources for residents throughout the Coachella Valley.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – An ex-Riverside County sheriff’s deputy who perpetrated felony and misdemeanor crimes involving his former fiancée and a female volunteer was sentenced today to six years in state prison.   

Alexander Ravy Vanny, 35, of Hemet, was convicted in December of stalking, possession of child pornography, unauthorized use of protected electronic data, maliciously destroying a wireless device, witness intimidation, illicit eavesdropping, using a concealed camera to invade 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.

The Indio jury assigned the case hung 10-2 in favor of convicting Vanny of kidnapping. Prosecutors initially considered retrying Vanny on that count but ultimately decided against it and allowed sentencing proceedings to move forward before Superior Court James Hawkins at the Larson Justice Center Friday.

Deputy District Attorney Jess Walsh told jurors that Vanny was unquestionably guilty, engaging in criminal conduct before being fired by the sheriff’s department.

At the outset of the trial, Walsh recounted the offenses involving the two principal victims, a former sheriff’s Explorer scout, an 18-year-old, and the defendant’s one-time fiancée, a mother of two.

In the latter case, Vanny became obsessive, unable to cope with their split in the summer of 2024.  

After she went out on a date, the then-lawman secretly followed her and the man, whose identity wasn’t disclosed, waiting until they were inside her Menifee residence, then setting up an audio device outside the bedroom window to record the sounds of her and the other man engaging in sex. After waiting a moment or two, Vanny forced his way into the apartment and challenged the man to a fight, according to the prosecution.   

Court papers said when his ex-fiancée attempted to use her mobile phone to call 911, the defendant damaged it.   

Among the most serious allegations was Vanny’s following his ex-fiancee to Chappies Bar in Hemet and demanding that she “leave and come home with him,” the prosecution said. When the woman rejected him, Vanny “forcibly threw her into his truck,” according to court documents.

“The defendant then drove her, without her consent, to his home … some 17 miles and 30 minutes,” the prosecution stated.   

Defense attorney Quintin Swanson presented a different picture, describing his client as the gallant type, rushing to “save” her from drinking and driving after the two of them had a spat.

She filed a restraining order against him, but in defiance of that order, Vanny continued to carry around his personal firearm.   

Walsh said the deputy stuck “tracking devices” onto her car so he could monitor her travels at all times.

The defendant became sexually involved with an 18-year-old, who looked upon him as a mentor, regularly exchanging texts with him, according to the prosecution.

Vanny procured video images of two teenagers engaging in sexual activity during a visit to an Orange County theme park and kept the matter, which was part of an investigation, on his personal mobile phone, intending to share it with the 18-year-old, Walsh said.

He said detectives documented the laundry list of offenses perpetrated by the defendant, including threats against his ex-fiancee, whom he tried to intimidate by telling her, “If you call the police, you go to jail.”

Swanson acknowledged his client “started a stupid relationship with the cadet, who was an adult,” while engaged. The two were living together at the time, and the cheating led to their breakup.   

Despite the separation, the attorney told the jury his client continued to pay some of his ex-fiancee’s expenses, including rent for her apartment.

Vanny was first arrested on June 22, 2024, and booked into the Banning jail but posted a $1 million bond and was released. He was placed on paid administrative leave, but within a few months, he was fired from the department.

While on bail, Vanny was separately charged with a slate of new offenses. He had been a sworn peace officer since he was hired by the sheriff’s department in 2016.

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people were transported to the hospital after a crash on the Cathedral City / Rancho Mirage border Friday afternoon.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at Ramon and Davall Drive just before 12:30 p.m.

Details remain limited, however, Cathedral City Fire Chief Michael Contreras confirmed a person had to be extricated from a vehicle.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Luis Avila

ADELANTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Congressman Raul Ruiz was granted entry into the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Friday.

This visit marks his third attempt to access the facility, after being denied entry on two previous occasions. Ruiz says he wanted to see conditions inside firsthand and speak directly with officials.

News Channel 3 is speaking with Congressman Ruiz about what he observed during his visit and the concerns he raised following the tour.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The 28th annual Tour de Palm Springs will bring possibly thousands of bicyclists to the downtown area this Saturday, prompting numerous street closures.

The event, themed “Honoring Military, First Responders and Veterans,” will span the Coachella Valley with a number of routes available for riders of all levels.

Motorists and residents should plan ahead for “significant street closures and street impacts” on Friday and Saturday, city officials said.   

Street closures will include:   

— South Palm Canyon Drive from Baristo Road to Tahquitz Canyon Way will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday.   

— Arenas Road will be closed on the east and west sides of Palm Canyon Drive for event setup.

— Tahquitz Canyon Way will be closed at 5 a.m. Saturday from Palm Canyon Drive to Indian Canyon Drive for the departure of the riders.   

— Indian Canyon Drive northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane of vehicle traffic and one lane of riders heading northbound.   

La Quinta officials said a portion of the CV Link pathway will be temporary closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday from Fred Waring Drive to Airport Boulevard.

The event has raised nearly $5 million for more than 150 local nonprofit organizations in the Coachella Valley since 1998, officials said.   

Honorary guests will be Frankie Andreu — a retired professional cyclist who has competed in nine Tour de France races — and Bill and Deanna Young, who has served as board members for the Salvation Army since 2005.   

Tour de Palm Springs will start at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, with the final group of walkers set to depart at 10 a.m. The event will be held through 5 p.m. Saturday.

More information on the routes and schedule can be found at tourdepalmsprings.com.

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Jesus Reyes

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A generational donation. Vicky’s of Santa Fe gifted its historic Baldwin 9-foot concert grand piano to Painted Hills Middle School. The piano has been a centerpiece of live music at the iconic restaurant for more than 37 years.

“It was such a joyful experience for me to sit down at a piano of this, like a 9 ft grand. The strings are so long and the tone is so rich and vibrant. It’s just a joyous instrument and it was. You know, ah, what a glorious, glorious thing,” said Slim Man, an award-winning Jazz vocalist who performs at Vicky’s.

It reflects Vicky’s long-standing commitment to music education and community engagement

“This is an absolutely amazing instrument. I believe there’s not a middle school program that has an instrument of this caliber. This is a world-class instrument played by world-class musicians, and so it leveled up our program,” said Dr. Brian McDaniel, the school’s director of bands and choirs.

The Baldwin Concert Grand was originally purchased from the Los Angeles Unified School District nearly four decades ago. Now, in a full circle moment, it’s making its return to education.

The restaurant’s owners hope that the piano will inspire students for many years to come.

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Jesus Reyes

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – The search continues for a teenage girl from Hemet who went missing in December.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) along with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, are urgently asking for the public’s help to locate missing 17-year-old T’Neya Tovar.

Tovar was last seen on December 1 heading to Thermal. Authorities believe she may still be in the Thermal area. 

Investigators have since confirmed that later that day, she traveled more than 70 miles to Thermal and believe that she left to possibly meet up with an adult male.

Her mother says that she always shared her location with her mother and kept in contact with friends and that stopped the day she went missing.

Charro hopes T’Neya will see this message:

“T’Neya, we all love and miss you so much. We are thinking about you every day and will not stop searching until you are found safe. I need you to come back home to me.”

She is described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 129 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo on her left hand.

If you have any information about T’Neya or her disappearance, contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office at (951) 684-0911.

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Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Recognizing people who bring inclusion and change to the Coachella Valley. Today, Desert Arc held its 8th annual Champions of Change awards luncheon. News Channel 3’s Patrick Evans emceed the event.

Several dignitaries from across the valley were on hand. Palm Springs City Council member Jeffrey Bernstein received the Champion of the Year award. Direct support volunteers were also recognized for their work.

“This is my home away from home. My clients, they appreciate things. It makes me feel good knowing when they’re smiling I’ve done something right for that day,” said

Desert Arc focuses on enhancing the quality of life and creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Click here for more on Desert Arc

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif, (KESQ) – Police are searching for potential witness to question on a fire at a Prescott Preserve in Palm Springs over the weekend, Chief Andy Mills wrote on social media.

The fire burned 3.5 acres and nearly 100 palm trees Sunday afternoon in the area of Ramon Road and Farrell Drive. It’s being investigated as a potential case of arson, according to the Oswit Land Trust, who operates the Prescott Preserve.

Mills said a woman was seen about 20 minutes prior to the fire, who may have seen something. She was identified as a White Female Adult, 5’8” with blonde hair who was walking a small dog.  

He said she is not a suspect, but detectives would like to interview her.

Anyone with information is asked to call PSPD at (760) 323-8116.

If you’d like to help Oswit’s rebuilding efforts, visit: http://www.oswitlandtrust.org/donate

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