Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A conference providing resources to people who have experienced suicide loss will be held later this week at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“Way too often, we know someone who has attempted to commit suicide or taken their own life,” Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chair V. Manuel Perez said in a statement.

This year’s Suicide Prevention Coalition conference, themed “Postvention: Best Practices for Community Helpers, Fist Responders and Educators to Respond and Support After a Suicide Loss,” will take place from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Thursday at 277 N. Avenida Caballeros.

It will feature breakout sessions, personal stories from those who experienced suicide loss and insights from keynote speaker Dr. David Schonfeld, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and founder of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement.

Officials said the SCP aims to reduce suicide rates by increasing awareness, improving access to resources and collaboration across agencies. The group offers free, evidence-based training and workshops about suicide prevention and loss support throughout the year.

The coalition was established in 2020 by the county’s Board of Supervisors, in partnership with Behavioral Health, Public Health, the county’s Office of Education, law enforcement, community partners and health care organizations, officials said.

Data from the Riverside University Health System’s Epidemiology and Program Evaluation program revealed there were 266 confirmed suicide deaths in Riverside County in 2024.

“Connection is the starting point for healing,” program director Dr. Matthew Chang said. “When professionals and community members come together to share knowledge and support, they open the door for recovery and lasting hope.”

The event will be free and open to the public. Attendees who cannot make it in person can watch it online at Facebook.com/ruhspublichealth/.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A portion of northbound lanes along Indian Canyon Drive will be closed for the next three months due to the Palm Springs sewer project, city officials announced.

Northbound lanes of Indian Canyon Drive will be closed between Corozon Avenue and Sunrise Parkway

The closure starts Wednesday, October 1.

“This closure is necessary for the installation of the new Indian Canyon Drive sewer system and is expected to remain in place for the next three months,” reads a social media post by the city.

During this time, traffic in this section will be managed as follows:

Travel lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

Northbound traffic will be diverted into the existing No. 1 SB lane.

City officials ask drivers to use alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion. Expect delays around the affected areas.

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Jesus Reyes

Joshua Tree, Calif. (KESQ) – Over 200 artists will open their studios for the annual HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours, which kicks off this weekend in the high desert.

The event kicks off with the Art Tours Collective Exhibition at the new Hi-Desert Artists Center in Yucca Valley (October 4–19), features three weekends of self-guided open studio tours (October 4–5, 11–12, and 18–19) and “Art Tours After Dark” live music performances by local bands and musicians on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during each weekend of the Art Tours.

Explore the unique fusion of nature and creativity across nearly 150 studios nestled in the high desert landscapes of the Joshua Tree region. Visitors can engage directly with artists, discover work across a wide range of mediums and styles, and purchase art in the setting where it was created.

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“For over 20 years, the HWY 62 Art Tours has been where the desert’s creative energy meets community,” said Art Tours Coordinator John Henson. “This year’s Collective Exhibition and After Dark concerts deepen that connection, creating new ways for people to experience the art and spirit of the Joshua Tree area.”

Presented by the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council(MBCAC), an organization partly funded by the California Arts Council, the HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours is proudly sponsored by Visit 29 Palms, with the Art Tours Collective Exhibition sponsored by the Town of Yucca Valley. Together, they ensure that all Art Tours events stay free and accessible to everyone in the community.

Art Tours After Dark

Art Tours After Dark will showcase more than 40 live music performances from the thriving local music scene once the artist studios close on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights—during all three weekends of Art Tours. Venues across the Morongo Basin — including Giant Rock Meeting Room, Art Queen, Joshua Tree Saloon, Spaghetti Western, Red Dog Saloon, Grnd Sqrl, Kitchen in the Desert, The Palms Restaurant, and Mojave Gold — will host the free events, offering visitors art by day and music by night.

Art Tours Collective Exhibition

The Art Tours Collective Exhibition offers a preview of the Tour’s participating artists at the new Hi-Desert Artists Center, 55635 29 Palms Hwy in Yucca Valley. Sponsored by the Town of Yucca Valley, the exhibition is on view from October 4–19, 2025. It is an excellent opportunity to see a selection of work before planning studio visits.

Plan Your Visit

Given the size and scope of the Art Tours, visitors are encouraged to plan itineraries in advance of their visit. For information on the free event app, locations to pick up a tour catalog, or to request a mailed catalog, visit hwy62arttours.org. For lodging, see Visit29.org/stay.

Creating Community

HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours is proudly sponsored by Visit 29Palms. The event plays a vital role in fostering community among high desert artists, spotlighting their work, and celebrating creativity in the region’s stunning natural setting — truly embodying the intersection of nature and culture.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Dreaming of a winter wonderland in the desert heat? The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest is just around the corner!

Kicking off October 1, the contest continues until the first measurable inch of snow falls at the Tramway’s Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet.

The first ten guests to accurately select the date of snowfall will win four regular Tram admission tickets, plus a special Tram gift. If there are more than ten correct entries, winners will be chosen by the earliest postmark date.

To submit an entry, write your best-guess date on a postcard and mail it to: Snow Guessing Contest, 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Please note that only one date per postcard will be accepted. For more information and contest rules, visit https://pstramway.com/snow-guessing-2025.

Last year’s contest didn’t have a winner until January 7, 2025. There were four winners out of 878 entries.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Firebirds are set to miss a key player before the season even gets underway. Forward Max McCormick, team captain, will undergo hip surgery and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season. 

Firebirds will be without star forward and captain Max McCormick this season due to hip surgery. Obviously a big blow for the Birds but something they will have to overcome with other players filling the leadership role. @KESQ @KenjiitoKESQ @kendallkesq @Tarp1969 @pwilliamsAHL pic.twitter.com/lQtZQ8Gbfk

— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) October 1, 2025

McCormick, 33, is the franchise’s all-time leader in points (140) and goals (67) and has played in the second-most games in team history (158).

The Green Bay, WI native collected an additional 38 points (22 goals, 16 assists) in 44 postseason games with Coachella Valley, helping lead the team to back-to-back Western Conference Championships. McCormick also holds the Firebirds’ single-season records for most goals (32) and most points (67). 

Before heading to the NCAA with Ohio State University, McCormick was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators (171st overall). Following a successful collegiate career, McCormick appeared in 62 games during his rookie season for the Senators’ then-AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, notching 20 points. 

McCormick made his NHL debut with Ottawa on October 25th, 2015, against the Arizona Coyotes. Between the Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, and Seattle Kraken, McCormick skated in 94 career NHL games over his 11-year professional career. 

In over 540 AHL games, McCormick logged 337 points (159 goals, 178 assists), suiting up for the Belleville/Binghamton Senators, Charlotte Checkers, Colorado Eagles, and Coachella Valley Firebirds. McCormick is a two-time AHL All-Star, earning a nod in 2023 and 2024. 

McCormick re-signed with the Seattle Kraken on a two-year, two-way NHL contract on June 29th, 2024. 

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Gavin Nguyen

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. (KESQ) – “Joshua Tree is a tourist town. We rely on tourism for our income here.”

Merilee Kuchon is the owner of Roadrunner Grab and Go, positioned right next to the Joshua Tree Visitor Center along Park Boulevard. Visitors pass in and out of the store – getting busier as the high season approaches.

But with that seasonal uptick expected within weeks, Kuchon is now growing worried that a government shutdown will throw a wrench into her business’s bottom line.

“It is dismaying to me coming out of a very slow summer season, moving into what is supposed to be our busy season starting in about a week,” she explained.

Other businesses in Joshua Tree, though, pointed to a resilient community that would slow – or completely mitigate – any negative impacts of slower traffic if the national park were to draw fewer visitors.

One business owner who did not want to appear on camera told News Channel 3 that High Desert businesses are becoming less reliant on tourism to stay afloat.

Meanwhile, Edo Brizio, the owner of a trailer parked near the Visitor Center, said more park visitors could be on their way if the shutdown happens.

“Are you a little bit worried [that] maybe not as many people would come through?” reporter Gavin Nguyen asked.

Brizio replied, “That doesn’t worry me as much. If anything, knowing that the park is open at no charge. I’m thinking we might see even more people.”

Local nonprofits are concerned about the negative impacts government shutdowns could bring to Joshua Tree National Park, especially after a shutdown in late 2018 brought vandals and filthy conditions to the area.

“I would go and scrub toilets every day,” recalled Susan Burnett, the owner of Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree. She explained a local volunteer corps emerged to clean up and manage the park during the last shutdown; if another one does occur, she said she is committed to keeping the park in good condition again, and is hopeful that the local community will rally again to do the same.

“We will do our part to volunteer and help the people that are still coming to visit and help keep our park clean and safe.”

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Luis Avila

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City is taking stronger action to address growing complaints over cannabis odors, after months of pressure from residents living near facilities. Last week, the city council approved a new ordinance aimed at curbing the persistent smell, particularly from one facility that has been at the center of community frustration.

Residents at Outdoor Resorts say the odor coming from Cat City Cannabis Company has become unbearable. The issue has reached a tipping point, prompting the city to introduce new regulations.

The ordinance introduces stricter odor control measures, including:

Mandatory odor control plans that cannabis businesses must submit for city approval

New spacing requirements between cannabis facilities and residential areas

Stronger enforcement protocols, including potential fines or misdemeanor charges for ongoing violations

“Should we receive a complaint about cannabis odor, we’re giving a business an opportunity to correct the issue before we ever get to an enforcement action and we certainly want to be supportive of the businesses in that sense.”

Andy Firestine, Cathedral City Director of Community & Economic Development

However, not everyone is on board with the changes. David Bernard, CEO of Cat City Cannabis, expressed concerns about the ordinance during the council meeting, saying the new rules are vague and could open the door to targeted opposition.

“I think the things that are concerning are some recent additions to the ordinance that are somewhat vague and provide an opportunity for people that are somewhat aggressive to the business, to put pressure on city council. We don’t see the framework within the ordinance to provide stability to our employees, for our business.” 

David Bernard, Cat City Cannabis Co. CEO

In response, city leaders emphasized that the ordinance is designed not to punish businesses, but to ensure compliance with existing odor standards.

“This is a mechanism to verify and ensure businesses are doing what has always been required to do to mitigate odor. In that sense, not much has changed. This is an additional process, yes, but we’re looking at how we can make that as clear and predictable to the industry without imposing too many other additional requirements.”

Andy Firestine, Cathedral City Director of Community & Economic Development

The ordinance will take effect in late November if the council approves it on Oct. 22.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Peter Daut

The nonprofit “Friends of Joshua Tree” is concerned that if a government shutdown happens this week, it would negatively impact the park, similar to what happened the last time there was a shutdown. So, if there is another shutdown, the organization is now urging officials to keep the gates of the park locked.

“The parks are like giant museums, and you wouldn’t leave the Smithsonian open or your local museum in your local community open. You would want to lock that up and secure it,” Friends of Joshua Tree president John Lauretig said.

He pointed to the last government shutdown, from December 2018 to January 2019. He said the park had filthy bathrooms, overflowing trashcans, and vandalized plants and buildings. Human waste was also left outside of restrooms, with no one there to clean.

Right now, Democrats and Republicans still appear far apart on making a deal. Democratic leaders in Congress are demanding Republicans reverse Medicaid cuts made earlier this year in President Trump’s signature tax and spending bill. In response, the Trump Administration has floated firing federal workers en masse if the shutdown happens.

There are about 150,000 federal employees in California, which does not include military service members who would also go without pay during a shutown.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest.

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Shay Lawson

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)  – Music legend Sir Paul McCartney took the stage tonight.

The iconic Beatle kicked off his “Got Back” USA tour at Acrisure Arena.

McCartney played everything from The Beatles classics to Wings to solo hits.

The doors opened at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 8:00 p.m.

This isn’t McCartney’s first trip to the Coachella Valley. In 2009, the former Beatle headlined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio. He returned to the Empire Polo Club in 2016 for Desert Trip.

With concert and hockey season starting up — Acrisure Arena officials said it’s a very exciting time.

The rock band, “The Who,” a preseason Laker game and the Coachella Valley Firebirds home opener are all coming to the arena in days.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from fans attending the sold out show.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The recent deadly attack at a Latter-day Saints (LDS) church in Michigan has sent shockwaves across the country, including here in the Coachella Valley, where local faith communities are expressing growing concern over safety in religious spaces.

The attack — which involved a gunman driving into a church building, opening fire, and setting it ablaze — left at least four people dead and eight others injured. The violent act is prompting urgent calls for action from religious leaders throughout the valley.

Rabbi Steven Rosenberg says this latest tragedy highlights a grim reality faith communities have been grappling with for years — particularly in the Jewish community, which has been the target of multiple hate-driven attacks nationwide.

“Churches are going to have o unfortunately look at security from a more robust and realistic point of view… The days of having doors open to anyone who wishes to come in are pretty much over.”

Rabbi Steven Rosenburg, Congregation Beit Haverim

Rosenberg emphasized that religious violence transcends faith lines, and combating it will require collaboration across denominations.

“Inter-religious, interdenominational groups are important. When you have colleagues from different faiths coming together and sharing their knowledge and experience and the steps we can take — we can learn from each other. Regardless of what religion we are, it’s still the same threat.”

Rabbi Steven Rosenburg, Congregation Beit Haverim

News Channel 3 reached out to local LDS congregations for comment, but none were available. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement that read, in part:

“In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ… Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer, and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

As local congregants gather in the wake of this tragedy, some are uniting in both grief and determination — working toward healing while taking serious steps to ensure places of worship remain spaces of refuge and peace.

Stay with New Channel 3 for more.

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