Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 41-year-old Palm Springs man was charged with possessing and uploading child pornography.

Matthew David Pettineo was arrested last week along the 800 Block of Village Square North. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team served a search warrant at the address, seizing computers and electronic items, which a computer forensic examiner will examine for further evidence.

On Monday, Pettineo was officially charged with two felony counts, possessing child porn and also trying to upload or sale child porn. He was arraigned in court that afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 12.

Pettineo was arrested back in Aug. 2021 for having images of child exploitation. His arrest was captured in a special I-Team report on the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team.

According to the DA’s office, in that case, Pettineo pleaded guilty to the court in April 2022. He was sentenced to 270 days in jail and granted 2 years of formal probation.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation board will conduct interviews next month to appoint a replacement for Director Arthur Shorr.

Shorr announced his resignation earlier this month, but it officially went into effect on Sunday. The Board has 60 days — until Jan. 29, 2026 — to appoint or call a special election to fill the vacant seat.

Directors voted at their monthly meeting on Nov. 25 in support of the appointee option. They will have a special public Board meeting at 4 p.m. Jan. 8 to conduct interviews and appoint a new Director. The meeting will take place at the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation offices at 1140 N. Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

The new Director must be a resident of the Healthcare District’s zone five, according to California Health & Safety Code Section 32100.

Click here to see zone five’s boundaries, or call the Riverside County Registrar of Voters at 951-486-7200 to determine if you reside within zone 5

Interested residents will have until 5 p.m. Jan. 5 to submit a cover letter and résumé to Desert Healthcare District & Foundation CEO Chris Christensen to be considered for the Board seat. Applications may be submitted by email to info@dhcd.org.

The new Board Director who is appointed in January will serve about 10 months.

On Nov. 3, 2026, the appointee or someone else who decides to run will be elected to serve the remaining two years of Shorr’s four-year term. When the full term is completed in November 2028, a regular election will be held to fill the Board seat for a standard four-year term.

Read the Notice of Vacancy for full details.

Shorr first joined the Board as an appointee in May 2019, replacing Director Jennifer Wortham who resigned. Coachella Valley voters then elected him to serve in 2020 and again in 2024.

Arthur Shorr

“Serving alongside a dedicated staff and elected representatives has been both an honor and privilege,” Shorr said in his resignation letter. “The level of commitment and dedication to the ideal of maximizing the quality of life has been the guiding light that has manifested itself in a wide variety of positive impacts supported by district funding.”

Officials said Shorr’s many contributions to the Board, including terms as Board treasurer, were buoyed by 40+ years of professional experience in the healthcare industry. He served in executive management positions in acute care teaching hospitals, founded and managed an international healthcare consulting firm, and served on hospital governing boards.

“Director Shorr will be missed,” CEO Chris Christensen said. “The District benefited tremendously from the business acumen, pragmatic outlook, and humor he brought to the Board and committees during six years of service. We wish him all the best in his next endeavor.”

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Jesus Reyes

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – The west entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, including the restrooms, will close to inbound and outbound traffic from 6 a.m., Dec. 3 through 6 p.m., Dec. 5, park officials announced.

Park Boulevard will also be closed to vehicle traffic for six miles from the west entrance to Quail Springs Picnic Area. The closure includes the Maze Loop and Bigfoot trailhead parking areas.

Visitors may not drive to or park at these trailheads during the closure. All other park roads are expected to remain open.

Exiting vehicles will be able to turn around at Quail Springs Picnic Area. Entering vehicles will be able to turn around at the current west entrance station, but it is not advised due to an expected backup of traffic.

Visitors may enter or exit the park using the north entrance station in Twentynine Palms or the Cottonwood entrance at the park’s south boundary.

The north entrance station is most accessible for visitors traveling on Highway 62. It is 25 miles east of the west entrance station and adds less than 20 minutes of driving time.

“I’m happy to share that the west entrance project is in its final phase,” said Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Jane Rodgers. “We appreciate the patience of our neighbors and visitors during construction and look forward to welcoming visitors at the new entrance booths soon.” 

Visitors can access construction updates at https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/management/2025-west-entrance-construction.htm

Park rangers encourage visitors to recreate responsibly in their vehicles by observing posted speed limits and driving only on designated roads. Visitors can prepare for their visit by:

Purchasing an entrance pass ahead of time at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74286 and being prepared to show their pass at the entrance station

Downloading the NPS App for trip planning and park alerts at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm

Checking the park website for current conditions, restrictions, closures, and more at http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Monday is World AIDS Day and organizations in Riverside County will mark today’s 37th annual event highlighting the fight against HIV/AIDS.

DAP Health will commemorate World AIDS Day with a community program and special displays including an AIDS Memorial Quilt Display, which will be exhibited Monday through Friday at DAP Health Sunrise at 1695 North Sunrise Way in Palm Springs, along with a Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Sculpture Model by local artist Phillip K. Smith III.   

A community program and candlelight vigil will also be held Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at DAP Health Sunrise, and a reception will be held at Blackbook at 315 E. Arenas Road in Palm Springs from 7-8 p.m. with complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

On Tuesday, DAP Health will partner with Philadelphia’s Mazzoni Center for a virtual World AIDS Day event via Zoom. Additional information on the events is available at daphealth.org/world-aids-day-at dap-health-december-1-2025/.

Also Tuesday, TruEvolution will host a World AIDS Day Walk in Riverside to honor those affected by HIV, one day after the 37th annual World AIDS Day.

TruEvolution’s walk is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, with attendees expected to gather at 3933 Mission Inn Ave., Suite 102. Following the walk, TruEvolution will host an event on its campus at 3839 Brockton Ave. that will include food, festivities, informative talks and performances.

“Expect a warm, welcoming atmosphere where community members, advocates, and allies gather to raise awareness, share stories, and celebrate resilience,” event organizers said. More information and tickets for the event can be found at eventbrite.com/e/hosted-by-truevolution-world-aids-day-tickets-1975339653077.  

In collaboration with Riverside University Health System, TruEvolution will also be offering free flu & jynneos monkeypox and smallpox vaccines at the Brockton Avenue campus from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday. No appointments are necessary.

TruEvolution is based in Riverside and serves the Inland Empire with HIV care, prevention services, behavioral health, therapy, support groups and more.

World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 United Nations World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programs for AIDS Prevention, which is recognized each year on Dec. 1. Each year, the Joint Nations Program on HIV/AIDS unites the efforts of agencies, governments, nonprofit organizations, community groups and others around the globe to join a campaign around specific themes related to AIDS.  

This year’s campaign is “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”  

Last week, the U.S. State Department directed employees and grant recipients not to use federal dollars to observe World AIDS Day.

“An awareness day is not a strategy. Under the leadership of President Trump, the State Department is working directly with foreign governments to save lives and increase their responsibility and burden sharing,” according to a statement from State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott to the New York Times.  

“This World AIDS Day reminds us that the fight against HIV is far from over,” Terri Ford, chief of global advocacy and policy for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said in a statement. “Millions of people still facebarriers to testing, treatment, and ongoing care, while stigma and high drug prices put lifesaving tools out of reach.”  

“Governments and communities must work together to ensure progress is equitable for everyone living with or affected by HIV,” Ford added.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Amanda Seyfried will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Awards, organizers announced on Monday.

Seyfried is being honored for her performance in The Testament of Ann Lee.

The Film Awards will take place on January 3, 2026, at the Palm Springs  Convention Center, with the festival running January 2-12, 2026. The event will be presented by Kering and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.

Check Out Our Film Festival Section for More Announcements

“In The Testament of Ann Lee, Amanda Seyfried delivers a masterful performance—one that is haunting  in its emotional intensity and profoundly human in its truth,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh  Chandi. “Across her remarkable career, she has continued to evolve, take bold risks, and elevate every  story she inhabits. We are honored to present her with the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress.”

From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) comes the  extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers. Academy  Award nominee Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker’s irrepressible leader, who preached gender and  social equality and was revered by her followers. The Testament of Ann Lee captures the ecstasy and  agony of her quest to build a utopia, featuring more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined as  rapturous movements with choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall (Vox Lux) and original songs and score by  Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist).

The cast also includes Thomasin Mckenzie, Lewis  Pullman, Stacy Martin, Matthew Beard, Scott Handy, Viola Prettejohn, Jamie Bogyo, David Cale, Tim Blake  Nelson, and Christopher Abbott.

Seyfried received both Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for her portrayal of Marion Davies in David Fincher’s critically acclaimed Mank. Notably, for her portrayal of Elizabeth  Holmes in Hulu’s The Dropout, Seyfried won an Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics’ Choice Award as well as a selection to the TIME 100 list for 2022.

Her other film and TV credits include Seven Veils, Chloe, Long Bright River, The Crowded Room, Things Heard & Seen, A Mouthful of Air, Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, First Reformed, Lovelace, Les Miserables, Dear John, Jennifer’s Body,  While We’re Young, Ted 2, A Millions Ways to Die in the West, In Time, Letters to Juliet, Mean Girls, Nine  Lives, Big Love, and Alpha Dog.

Seyfried will next star in The Housemaid, a psychological thriller from  Lionsgate based on Freida McFadden’s New York Times-bestselling novel. The film is set for release Dec. 19, 2025. 

Seyfried joins this year’s previously announced honorees Michael B. Jordan (Icon Award), Leonardo  DiCaprio (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Ethan Hawke (Career Achievement Award), Adam  Sandler (Chairman’s Award), Hamnet director Chloé Zhao as well as actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal(Vanguard Award) and Sentimental Value cast members Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning (International Star Award).

Last year’s recipient of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress was Angelina Jolie for her performance in Maria. Past honorees also include Emma Stone, Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Marion Cotillard, Viola Davis, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron and Renée Zellweger, who all went on to receive an  Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Cyber Monday is here, and shoppers in the Coachella Valley are in search of deals.

Many are likely shopping for gifts, but popular items made outside of the United States – like certain toys, video game consoles, clothing, and more – are being driven up by tariffs, according to research done by Mastercard’s Economics Institute (MEI).

Most shoppers we spoke with today said they either skipped out on Cyber Monday shopping online or found less deals than they had hoped.

One shopper, Melanie Albanese, said she searched Amazon for deals. “I found a few good deals, not as much as I was hoping for.”

She added that her husband worked for the railroad company and that he has seen unusually low shipping and freight volume, which she said indicated deals were likely not as good as years past.

As prices rise and more consumers look for bigger deals, cybersecurity experts urge caution when you click. They say if the deal is too good to be true, it likely isn’t real. They also urge people to slow down when clicking on what appear to be real emails – but turn out to be fake.

Matt Disher, President of Southwest Networks, is an expert in that field. He urges his clients to slow down, and instead of taking any action (i.e. clicking on links) within the email, head to the source.

For example, a fake Amazon email may ask you to click on a link that will make you input your log-in information onto a fake website.

“A lot of times they’re going to redirect you and then it’ll look just like this website, but it’s a fake one,” he explained. “They’re going to play what’s called man in the middle, so they’re going to intercept any thing you type in. So when you log into your account, your password, the bad guys will actually intercept that that information and then they’ll log in later.”

As holiday spending continues to ramp up (generally from November through January), Disher said these attacks become more common.

“Just always be diligent, always be be on the lookout for things. And again, slow down. Think before you click.”

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Luis Avila

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – As the holiday season ramps up, local authorities are reminding drivers to stay alert and keep their vehicles secure, warning that car thefts tend to rise during this time of year.

Crowded shopping centers and busy parking lots create an environment where thefts can happen quickly and often go unnoticed.

Despite these risks, Indio has seen a significant reduction in vehicle thefts compared to last year. Between January and October 2024, the city reported 208 stolen vehicles. This year, the number dropped to 107.

During a ride-along with Sergeant Abe Plata, he highlighted how quickly a car can become a target.

“There’s no one back here. Popping a window to smash and grab is not going to be heard all the way in the front, so it only takes a few seconds to smash a window and steal a purse or any other valuables. You want to avoid leaving valuables in your car.”

Sgt. Abraham Plata, Indio Police Department

To combat potential thefts, Indio Police are increasing patrols around busy shopping areas.

“We try to be more visible in shopping centers where there’s more activity right now during the season.”

Sgt. Abraham Plata, Indio Police Department

If your vehicle is stolen, police recommend reporting it immediately and having a recent photo of your car and license plate ready.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Daniella Lake

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A Cathedral City resident set up a makeshift food pantry outside her home in hopes of supporting the community during the holidays. After posting about it on the Nextdoor app, it received 14,000 views.

“People shouldn’t be going hungry,” Kristina Bruno says. She’s seen people of all ages stop by her pantry, “and to see people with small kids coming by, it was heartbreaking.”

The community has stepped up to help out, with complete strangers, like Cyndie Barone, stopping by with donations. She says that she was inspired to donate because she knows what it’s like to not have the essentials. 

“I didn’t have a job and I had, you know, you have rent and it’s cold in Massachusetts, so your heating bill is high. I just didn’t have the money.And you have to find where you can cut things. So I thought being hungry at the time was better than freezing,” Barone says. 

Kristina’s pantry is set up near Cathedral City’s Century Park. She says she hopes she can keep it going as long as possible. 

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Timothy Foster

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KESQ) – Millions of Americans are hitting the road to head home after the Thanksgiving holiday, and this year’s travel rush is proving to be the busiest on record. According to AAA, more than 73 million people nationwide are expected to drive during the holiday travel period, part of a record 81.8 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving.

Traffic congestion was clearly visible across Southern California on Sunday, especially along Interstate 10 near Whitewater in the Coachella Valley, where drivers experienced slow, heavy traffic as the holiday weekend came to a close.

At a rest stop along I-10 West, travelers described long delays and the need for patience on the road.

Lottie Henry, who was traveling back to Orange County after spending Thanksgiving in the desert, said she anticipated traffic but came prepared. Henry and her family drove their electric vehicle and took advantage of hands-free driving technology to ease the stress of stop-and-go traffic. She encouraged other drivers to remain patient as everyone works their way home.

Other drivers faced longer-than-expected delays. Olive Martinez, returning to Los Angeles after a multi-state road trip that included the Grand Canyon, Phoenix, and Monument Valley, said her estimated arrival time had been pushed back by more than an hour and a half. Martinez said while she expected congestion, the extent of the slowdown was surprising. She urged drivers to stay calm and look out for one another, noting how dangerous impatience on the road can be.

Joshua Lee, who was traveling back to Corona after spending time in the desert with friends, said heavy traffic is simply part of life in Southern California, especially during holidays. Lee encouraged drivers not to rush and to follow the rules of the road, stressing that arriving safely is far more important than arriving quickly.

AAA reports that overall Thanksgiving travel is up more than 1.6 million people compared to last year, making this the busiest holiday travel period on record. Sunday is expected to remain the most congested travel day, with heavy traffic continuing into the evening.

Drivers are urged to allow extra time, stay patient, and use caution as they make their way home from the holiday weekend.

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Daniella Lake

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Today is the final day of the Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians’ 42nd annual Powwow. The three day event kicked off on Friday with bird singing and dancing. The celebration features all kinds of activities focused on keeping Native American tradition alive.

This morning, the gates open at 11 a.m. at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. The grand entry starts at noon. The event is free.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is located at 84-245 Indio Springs Pkwy, Indio, CA 92203.

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