Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ) – Four people were arrested at a DUI checkpoint in Palm Springs over the weekend, police announced.

The checkpoint was held Friday night to early Saturday morning at East Tahquitz Canyon Way and South Hermosa Drive. A total of 320 vehicles were contacted, police said.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of a DUI, one person was arrested on felony drug charges, and one person was arrested for driving on a suspended license.

An additional driver was cited for driving without a driver’s license.

Police said DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on reported incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off roads.

The next DUI checkpoint will be held on September 18, 2026.

Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Jesus Reyes

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to his wife’s death earlier this year in Twentynine Palms.

Isaac Matthew Angel pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter last Tuesday, court records show.

Angel was arrested in connection with the death of Jessica Nicole Phillips, 34, who was found dead inside her garage at her home on the 74900 block of Aladdin Drive on March 13.

Authorities were originally called to the home for a vehicle check after a Toyota Tacoma was parked at the location, blocking a gate at the fire department on the 6500 block of Adobe Road. During their investigation, deputies were led to the residence on Aladdin Drive, where two unsupervised children were located.

A search of the house led to the discovery of Phillips, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nearly two hours after the vehicle check, deputies located the children’s father, Angel, walking near the intersection of Sunrise Drive and Araby Avenue.

“Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined Angel was responsible for Phillips’ death, and he was arrested for murder,” reads a news release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in March.

Details on the investigation were not available.

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Gavin Nguyen

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – This Monday, September 7th marks more than just Labor Day; it’s National Beer Lover’s Day, too!

As you relax for the holiday, you might be reaching into your fridge for an ice-cold beer. It’s the world’s most consumed alcoholic drink.

There’s a number of breweries around the valley perfecting their craft beer. To name a few: La Quinta Brewing Company, Luchador Brewing Company, Desert Beer Company, and Coachella Valley Brewing Company.

CV Brewing Co. first opened its doors in 2013. Its main hub is in Thousand Palms, but it also has a Palm Springs restaurant and taproom in downtown Palm Springs.

“For me, every day is a day to celebrate beer,” said manager Wesley Gainey with a chuckle. “If you want to celebrate a beer, go buy local, get adventurous and take some chances.”

Gainey said each batch they brew typically produces 20 barrels. It takes about 700 pounds of grains.

The brewing process takes about three weeks, the bulk of which comes from fermenting. Before that step, though, are several rounds of boiling, mixing, separating, and breaking down grains and sugars. Coachella Valley uses a unique “high-efficiency brewing system” – or H.E.B.S. – which helps the brewery be more sustainable. It says on its website it reduces water use by 60% and uses 65% less grain.

The waste products that are created are given to local farms to be used as animal feed. More information on sustainable brewing can be found here.

Between the various moving parts, Gainey estimated it’s a multi-million dollar undertaking. Still, he called it a labor of love. “When [customers] are out there at the store or deciding where to go, you know, [or they’re] right here chugging along, we’re making good stuff,” he said, pointing at the operation.

He encouraged more people to get out and try more of their local craft breweries.

“Aside from, you know, you’re supporting local, you also tend to get a wider variety of flavors and different opportunities that you can get with with independent beers.”

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — For the first time ever, the U.S. national average price of gas is above $4 on Labor Day. The national average of $4.15 is 33 cents above the previous Labor Day record of $3.82, which was set in 2012.

But in California, gas prices are well above the $4.15 national average. Today, AAA reports the average price per gallon in California is $5.86.

Labor Day is expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the year, so News Channel 3 is speaking with travelers to learn how they’re managing record gas prices.

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Raymond Kalra

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Local restaurant owners who went into Labor Day weekend hoping for a late-summer boost say the holiday crowds showed up, bringing full patios, long restaurant waits and heavy traffic to parts of Palm Springs.

News Channel Three first spoke with several restaurant owners Friday as they prepared for the long weekend. With the holiday now wrapping up, we went back to see whether those expectations matched reality.

At Bongo Johnny’s, owner Mark Hewitt described the weekend as a strong one, saying the restaurant filled its patios and sold out of several menu items.

“It was an amazing feeling to have the boardwalk here lit up with people walking and everyone having a great time,” Hewitt said.

The crowds were noticeable to visitors as well.

Katrina Jefferson traveled from the Los Angeles area with her family for her son’s basketball tournament. She said getting into restaurants during the weekend sometimes required patience.

“Even here at the Broken Yolk, we’re waiting. It’s taking like an hour,” Jefferson said. “Super busy.”

Jefferson said her family also spent time walking around downtown, shopping and eating between basketball games.

Another visitor, Ulu Lani Ohai, came to Palm Springs for a quick getaway with her mother.

“It’s been busy. The traffic has been a lot. But it’s all right,” Ohai said.

She said one restaurant the pair visited was also packed during their stay.

At La Bonita Mexican Restaurant, owner Aaron Raei said business remained steady through the weekend and was roughly in line with last Labor Day.

Raei said the restaurant also saw larger groups coming in during the holiday weekend, particularly at night.

By Monday, he said another wave of customers arrived as visitors prepared to leave town.

“At the end of long weekends, people come out and they want to eat and then go home,” Raei said.

The weekend’s rain also did not appear to completely deter diners.

Hewitt said Bongo Johnny’s lost some usable patio space during the wet weather, but some customers continued sitting outside in raincoats while enjoying their meals and drinks.

For Hewitt, the stronger holiday weekend is also giving him optimism about what could come next as the Coachella Valley moves closer to its busier tourism season.

“If this is the precursor of our season, it’s looking very good,” Hewitt said. “So now we’re really excited.”

The holiday also came as food remained a major part of Labor Day spending nationwide. Survey data showed 83% of Americans celebrating the holiday expected to purchase food.

For local restaurant owners, the next question is whether the activity seen over Labor Day weekend continues as the valley moves out of the slower summer months and into its traditionally busier season.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As people head home from the Labor Day weekend, drivers across the Coachella Valley can expect increased traffic on I-10.

AAA expects the busiest return-travel period Monday afternoon, particularly between 2 and 5 p.m.

Drivers are encouraged to leave earlier when possible, check road conditions before heading out and allow extra time for their commute.

Meanwhile, a road hazard on eastbound I-10 near Pennsylvania Avenue in Beaumont is impacting multiple vehicles. Witnesses report a large pothole, with several cars pulled to the side of the road.

Drivers are urged to use caution and stay alert as they travel.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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Matthew Pearce

BEAUMONT, Calif. (KESQ) — Recent rain in Southern California led to expansion and creation of dangerous pot holes on roadways. Now, talks about the safety of roads have begun.

This comes after approximately a dozen vehicles suffered damage from a large pothole on eastbound Interstate 10 near Pennsylvania Avenue in Beaumont.

Witnesses at the scene told News Channel 3 the pothole was located in one of the eastbound lanes.

Several vehicles were seen stopped on the side of the freeway, including at least one car with a flat tire.

Drivers were being urged to use caution while traveling through the area.

But how exactly does the weather impact roads and potholes? Cracks in the road can allow for rain water to seep through and accumulate under the pavement surface — eventually eroding the soil beneath roads. When this happens, the roads become less stable and the weight of a vehicle can apply enough pressure to form a hole in the road.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information on the cause and solution for potholes, live tonight at 6.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Olympic medalist and U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame inductee Nancy Kerrigan took to the ice on Sunday to give back to the skating community.

Kerrigan hosted a Ice Dreams Workshop at the Berger Foundation Iceplex at Acrisure Arena, as a part of The Desert Figure Skating Club’s 40th anniversary celebration.

“It’s an honor to, so many years after being in the Olympics, to be asked to do something like this, to be part of skating and to be able to give back to a community of skaters,” Kerrigan said.

The half-day clinic was open to skaters of all ages and skill levels, and features on-ice and off-ice instruction with Kerrigan. The sessions focused on edges, figures, power skating, jumps, spins and artistry.

Kerrigan said the skating community had a large impact on the beginning of her career, and she hopes some skaters found that same community on Sunday. She stressed the importance of supporting the next generation of skaters as they start their careers.

“Hopefully they take a couple nuggets of information to better their skating, to make them feel more confident and more comfortable on the ice so they can push themselves to the next level,” Kerrigan said.

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City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. (City News Service) – A brush fire that burned 50 acres of vegetation in Thermal was fully contained today.

The fire was reported Thursday around 10:25 p.m. in the 86100 block of Airport Boulevard, according to the nonprofit wildfire-information service Watch Duty.

At the initial time of report, the fire was burning a quarter of an acre of vegetation in medium-to-heavy fuels at a moderate rate of spread, and grew to 50 acres by 2 a.m. Friday.

The fire’s forward progress was stopped around 2:30 a.m. Friday, and the fire was fully contained by 6:20 a.m. Sunday.

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport was requested to close temporarily on Thursday by fire personnel, but has since reopened.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and no injuries were reported as of Sunday afternoon.

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KESQ News Team

MIAMI, Fla (KESQ) — At least five people are dead after an Amazon cargo plane ran off the runway while landing Sunday at Miami International Airport, officials said.

The Boeing 767 caught fire after leaving the runway and hit several vehicles on a road near the airport. More than 60 fire units responded to the crash.

Officials said there is no ongoing threat to the public, but crews remain at the scene.

The plane was operated by 21 Air and was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami. Investigators have not said what caused the aircraft to leave the runway.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.

The airport’s ground stop was lifted Sunday afternoon, but delays are expected to continue into Monday because of the disabled aircraft.

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