Category: kesq-local-news

Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Local Democratic U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz (CA-25) will host a Veterans University for the valley’s armed service members on Saturday, December 6, in Indio.

The event aims to provide veterans and their families with important information on healthcare, accessing benefits, and other critical resources.

The program will feature expert presenters offering overviews and guidance on securing the benefits earned through service, along with a veterans’ resource expo featuring agencies that serve veterans. 

Veterans University will begin at 9:00 a.m. To sign up for the event, click here. The event location in Indio will be sent to those who register.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Eisenhower Health, in partnership with the Mizell Center and HARP-PS, hosted a World AIDS Day community gathering to honor those affected by HIV/AIDS on Monday.

The event highlighted the ongoing progress in prevention, treatment, and community support. The program featured remarks from Dr. Jorge Rodríguez, Eisenhower Health’s Medical Director for HIV Services, and included a display of local and national AIDS Memorial Quilts.

Dr. Rodríguez said of the exhibition of quilts, “The AIDS Memorial quilts displayed here today connect us to the stories of loved ones who are no longer with us. They remind us why awareness, compassion and continued progress matters.”

Across the city, other World AIDS Day events also took place. The City of Palm Springs held a groundbreaking for the new Palm Springs AIDS Memorial, and DAP Health hosted its annual candlelight vigil.

Organizers of the community gathering say that together, these events reflect the community’s ongoing commitment to remembrance, awareness, and support for those affected by HIV and AIDS.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cynthia White

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The American Friends of our Armed Forces (AFAF) hosted its 17th Annual Military Appreciation Golf Tournament on Monday, honoring around 75 active-duty Marines from Twentynine Palms, Camp Pendleton, and Miramar.

The Marine golfers represented more than 60,000 service members stationed across Southern California. Civilian and retired golfers joined them for a day of camaraderie, gratitude, and connection at Classic Club in Palm Desert.

Participants enjoyed breakfast, 18 holes of golf, and a buffet luncheon that featured awards for top teams and special contests, including “Closest to the Pin,” “Longest Drive,” and “Straightest Drive.”

American Friends of our Armed Forces President Walt Van Benthuysen said of the event, “It’s a great satisfaction to meet these fine young men and women that are part of the Marine Corps and the Navy also that are here. And we just have a great time. We enjoy it and we look forward to every year. When this year is over, we’ll start thinking about next year.”

During the luncheon, retire Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Alicia Lopez, the mother of fallen Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez, addressed the Marines and guests.

Organizers say the annual event reflects the deep appreciation of the Coachella Valley community for those who serve our nation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Get ready to savor traditional family recipes and creative new flavors at the 33rd annual International Tamale Festival in Downtown Indio this weekend, December 6th and 7th.

The Festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day. Admission is free, with free parking at the Riverside County Fairgrounds and a complimentary shuttle to Miles Avenue Park.

The journey starts at the Chavez Jessup GMC Tamale Trail – the heart of the tamale experience. Every stop along the trail celebrates the rich culture and flavor behind every dish.

Entertainment at the event includes live music, cultural performances, and carnival rides, along with lucha libre Mexican wrestling. Families can visit Santa’s Village for crafts and photo opportunities, and spread cheer at the Holiday Toy Drive by bringing an unwrapped, new gift to Santa’s Workshop.

The festival also features the crowd-favorite Tamale Eating Contest where the goal is to eat the most cheese tamales in two minutes, as well as a juried Best of the Fest Tamale Competition.

You can also kick off the holidays and celebrate community at “Flock the Block,” a festive lane of decorated trees by schools, nonprofits, neighbors, and local businesses.

For more information, visit indiointernationaltamalefestival.com and @IndioTamaleFest on Instagram.

Click here to follow the original article.

Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Dozens gathered at DAP Health Monday night for a candlelight vigil honoring the lives lost to HIV/AIDS and reflecting on the ongoing fight against the epidemic.

David Brinkman, DAP Health CEO, addressed the crowd, alongside community members who shared emotional, personal testimonies about their experiences.

Many described the ceremony as a space for healing, remembrance and solidarity.

After the vigil, attendees moved inside for a viewing of select panels of the historic AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Organizers said it’s a powerful display honoring those who died during the height of the crisis, with around 50,000 panels.

4 original panels from the National AIDS Memorial quilt are on exhibit at DAP Health Sunrise from December 1–5, open daily from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – On Monday – World AIDS Day – the groundbreaking was especially meaningful for the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial at Downtown Park.

Hundreds gathered to witness a major step in finally bringing the Memorial to life. It has been more than a decade in the making, planned for completion in spring of 2026.

The event also included a moving tribute to those lost to HIV and AIDS.

The groundbreaking was the culmination of the 12-year effort to create a lasting place of remembrance, healing, and hope. Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Task Force member Mike Richey said, “It’s going to create awareness about the disease, it’s going to create awareness about the people who helped those who were ill very early on were caregivers for them, it’s going to help those we lost and remember them.”

Monday’s ceremony symbolized more than the start of construction on the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial. For many, it represented the community’s resilience through decades of loss, care, and activism.

Local artist Phillip K. Smith designed the piece, called “The Well of Love,” pro bono. Smith said, “This is a project that’s been talked about for so long, and it’s finally happening.”

Hundreds of donors and residents contributed time, energy, and money toward the $1.2 million fundraising goal, leaving just $275 thousand to go. The Memorial will be gifted to the city and added to its public art installation.

Smith continued, “It’s not in a park somewhere that you have to park and walk to, it’s part of the city, part of the fabric of the city, part of the experience of being in downtown, and that was really important for the whole task force.”

The 11-foot tall stone structure will share three different messages: “Forever Remembered,” Forever Loved,” and Forever Celebrated.” Each vertical glass face holds an oval pool of tears unique to its message.

Vincent Corrales, who has lost friends to AIDS, said, “This memorial here is something that will help us to remember all our friends who have passed and the work ahead to find a cure for HIV.”

Members of the Memorial Task Force say the project will do more than honor the past – It will ensure the history of the AIDS crisis in Palm Springs is never forgotten.

Task Force member Dan Spencer said of choosing World Aids Day for the groundbreaking, “It is an important day because of awareness, and because of the memories we have of so many we lost. And because people are still living with HIV and AIDS and so the community provides a lot of support.”

A digital component will also accompany the physical Memorial, including a QR code to share the Memorial’s concept and to highlight the timeline of HIV and AIDS in Palm Springs.

Click here to follow the original article.

City News Service

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Coachella will celebrate the holiday season with two free events this week in the downtown area.   

“The holiday season is one of my favorite times in Coachella,” Councilman Frank Figueroa said. “This is when our downtown comes alive with magic, we honor residents who have made an impact in the community, and we all come together to share in the excitement and spirit of the season.”

The city’s annual Christmas tree lighting event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in front of City Hall on Sixth Street.   

The day will feature photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, special holiday treats and giveaways.  

“The Enchanted Holiday Parade” will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, with Grand Marshal Lee Espinoza and hosted by Coachella Valley Unified School District Superintendent Frances Esparza.

The event will include Santa’s Bounce House Village, a scavenger hunt, face painting, and balloon twisting.   

Both events will be livestreamed on the city’s social media pages.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Indio will host a free holiday concert in the downtown area next week to celebrate the season.  

The all-ages event, “Center Stage Presents: Holiday Concert,” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13 at Center Stage, 82881 Miles Ave.   

“We are excited to bring the community together in downtown Indio for a joyful and memorable holiday celebration,” according to a statement by city officials. “Activating Center Stage remains one of our top priorities and offering free monthly concerts is a wonderful way to create fun community experiences and keep our downtown vibrant.”   

The concert will feature a performance by Radio Ready. Guests can pick up Indio-branded Santa hats while supplies last, and the first 100 attendees will receive a complimentary Papa Headz burger.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring their own chairs.   

More information can be found at the city’s website, www.indio.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – To commemorate 100 years of service, the Palm Springs Public Library will host an event this weekend at its temporary location in Rimrock Plaza.

The free celebration will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 4721 E. Palm Canyon Drive.  

“This is quite a milestone,” Director of Library Services Jeannie Kays said in a statement. “We are proud of the library’s legacy and it impact on the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.”  

The event will feature a selfie booth, a historical photo display, special commemorative giveaways, music and cake.   

Officials listed a few of the library’s accomplishments, including helping establish several libraries in the Coachella Valley, being instrumental in the formation of the Historical Society and Channel 17 community television. It was also the first public library in the nation to serve as a passport acceptance agency.  

The facility began as a small library known as Alliene’s Library that moved to different locations before it received a land donation from the son of Welwood Murray. The Welwood Murray Memorial Library, which opened in 1941, served as the city’s main library until a new, larger facility designed by architect William Cody opened in Sunrise Park on Dec. 7, 1975.   

More information about the library can be found at www.pslibrary.org, or by calling 760-322-7323.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KESQ) – Congressman Ken Calvert introduced the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act, or H.R. 5935, on Monday.

According to Calvert’s office, the legislation facilitates the execution of the water settlement agreement reached by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Tribe), Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), and Desert Water Agency (DWA).

“One of the many ways we recognize and protect the tribal sovereignty of tribes, like the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, is to protect and honor their water rights. I want to thank the Tribe as well as the Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency for reaching this water settlement. I look forward to working with them and the Department of Interior to pass this bill and fully execute the settlement,” said Rep. Calvert.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act ratifies that the Tribe has a federally reserved water right up to 20,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater from the Indio Subbasin that is held in trust by the U.S. for the Tribe and individual allottees.

The Tribe would also have surface water rights in Tahquitz Creek, Andreas Creek, and Whitewater Ranch, held in trust by the U.S.

The bill would establish a $500 million “Agua Caliente Settlement Trust Fund” in the U.S. Treasury to be administered by the Department of Interior. The fund would include accounts for Development Projects, Groundwater Augmentation, Water Management, and Operation, Maintenance and Replacement Costs. The bill would transfer 2,742 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to the Tribe, with gaming prohibited on the transferred land.

“The historic Agua Caliente water rights settlement affirms the Tribe’s right to manage, regulate, and govern the use of the Tribal Water Rights and at the same time improves the sustainability of water supplies for the entire Coachella Valley. The Tribe is grateful for Congressman Calvert’s leadership in authoring this bill and for his longstanding dedication to both tribal sovereignty and smart water management. We urge Congress to move this legislation forward quickly,” said Chairman Reid Milanovich, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Under the terms of the agreement, domestic water service would not stop or switch to a tribal utility. Instead, CVWD and DWA would continue to supply households and businesses on the Reservation.

“The introduction of this legislation is an important step in implementing the settlement agreement. It provides a clear framework for honoring Tribal water rights and builds upon our long-term water management strategies that have served the Coachella Valley for over a century. By moving this agreement forward through Congress, we are reinforcing a collaborative approach that benefits the entire region,” said John Powell Jr., CVWD Board President.

“Desert Water Agency supports the legislation needed to move this settlement agreement forward and appreciates Congressman Calvert’s role in introducing the bill. This agreement reflects the shared commitment of all three parties to protect our aquifer and ensure a sustainable water future for the Coachella Valley. DWA customers can continue to count on the same high-quality water and dedicated service they have always received,” said Paul Ortega, Desert Water Agency Board President.

Click here to follow the original article.