Category: kesq-local-news

Gavin Nguyen

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – One homeowner in Indio is facing a months-long delay to activate her solar panels.

Murgo first moved to Indio last year, and with the move, her utility company switched to Imperial Irrigation District. “Our bill went from almost $2000 to right around $200. So it was a big jump. So we were really happy to have IID,” Murgo recalled. “But that said, they wanted us to wait 90 to 120 days before we activated our solar panels.”

The home she moved into already had 13 solar panels, but she had to wait through a summer – where temperatures broke all-time records in Palm Springs – without her solar panels activated.

This year, it happened again. In May, Peggy Murgo installed an additional 13 solar panels and a new battery to her home. According to Murgo, the installation itself was smooth, but once again, she is in the midst of a long delay.

“Here we are, it’s almost the end of September and we’re still not activated.”

News Channel 3 reached out to IID about the long wait times, which the utility said was normal.

About the process:

Once the customer or contractor applies for interconnection, the process can generally take 8-12 weeks, depending on a number of factors:

Approximately two to four weeks to process the initial application (this can be prolonged if the application is not fully complete or corrections are required).

Following a completed application, an additional two weeks are needed for the District to perform a site inspection.

Once a site inspection is completed and if no additional corrections are required, an invoice is issued for the meter exchange.

In order for IID to provide a Permission to Operate (PTO), a final inspection release by the governing authority having jurisdiction (city, county, etc.) is required. 

IID typically exchanges the meter the same week in which all requirements are met.

To find the status of your project, customers can check their project via PowerClerk, speak directly with an IID solar representative by calling 1-760-482-3673 or by email, solar@iid.com

Robert Schettler, Public Information Officer, Imperial Irrigation District

However, Renova Energy, a prominent solar panel installer in the desert, said IID’s process involves redundant steps. Renova’s Project Manager and Director, Raul Giles, explained that cities already review and approve installation plans.

“It’s just a delay on their end, you know, processes that it shouldn’t be taking more than 90 days,” said Giles.

“We’re frustrated for the homeowners. You know, like I said, they tend to sign up trying to get the project installed in a timely manner. But when it comes to the utilities, they tend to [take] a couple of steps backwards when [the solar companies are] ready to go.”

Imperial Irrigation District indicated that they are caught up with all inspection work over the past two weeks in the Coachella Valley. Regularly, 40 to 50 inspections are completed each week.

“…we have mobilized additional personnel to keep pace. At present, six employees are dedicated to performing inspections in the region in addition to their regular duties.

While we do have a significant number of applications, we work promptly to review and address each one to ensure timely progress.”

The utility also added, given the regular 8 to 12 week-long wait time, homeowners who want to have solar systems ready by a specific deadline (like the hot summer months), they should plan ahead.

Murgo hoped that her experience serves as a lesson to those considering installing their solar panels ahead of next summer.

“Now to have this solar, we’re so happy to have it. I know it’s taken a while to get it up and running, but we know it’s coming.”

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Timothy Foster

Desert Hot Springs, Calif. (KESQ)  – Heavy flooding swept through Desert Hot Springs this week, leaving homes damaged and residents struggling to recover. Several families reported that water from the storm reached as high as six inches inside their units, soaking carpets, furniture, and personal belongings.

Sal Guzman described returning home to find his apartment in shambles, with the kitchen, living room, and bedroom all affected. His roommate’s electric scooter was also damaged, creating additional challenges for someone with limited mobility and health issues. Residents said the flooding added stress to their daily lives and disrupted sleep and routines.

Many residents expressed frustration with the condition of the property and lack of response from management. Guzman said attempts to contact the landlord and property manager went unanswered, leaving families to handle the cleanup themselves.

Cleanup has been difficult, with soaked carpets removed and personal items salvaged wherever possible. Residents said some of the damage can be repaired or replaced, but other losses are permanent.

The flooding highlights ongoing concerns about drainage and safety in the area. Water pooled in low-lying sections, carrying mud and debris into homes. Residents said that without proper drainage and maintenance, future storms could cause similar or worse damage.

Despite the challenges, neighbors and community volunteers have stepped in to assist with cleanup and provide support to those affected. Residents urge anyone impacted by the floods to seek help and prepare for future storms to reduce the risk of damage and ensure safety.

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Shay Lawson

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ)  – Surf and skate culture is colliding in the desert on Sunday at the inaugural E.A.S.T Festival, hosted at the Palm Springs Surf Club.

The event is backed by Kona Big Wave beer and organized in partnership with STAB, a leading agency in surf culture.

Organizers said the festival is designed to bring together boardsports, music and art in a first-of-its-kind experience for fans.

Attendees will be able to participate by riding exclusive surfboards shaped by some of the best surfboard designers in the world alongside professional surfers, including Mikey February, Harry Bryant, Nathan Fletcher and Mason Ho.

The festival will also showcase never-before-seen board designs and give fans the chance to meet legendary surfboard shapers and top skateboarders such as Curren Caples and Rowan Zorilla.

The event will feature live music, art installations and an early preview of a 2025 content series starring pro surfer Mikey February.

Organizers say the festival is meant to celebrate creativity and community while giving fans a hands-on experience that goes beyond watching from the sidelines.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Palm Springs Fire responded to several trees on fire Saturday afternoon due to a lightning strike.

The fire began around 4:30 p.m. near East Palm Canyon Drive and Farrell Street. Despite the rain, the strike caught 3 trees on fire.

PS Fire quickly responded with multiple engines and contained the fire before it spread to nearby buildings.

Terry Ryan, who lives in the area, saw the moment lightning struck and said, “Well, when it first happened, I thought it was going to hit my trees because I’m across the street and it was right off my balcony. I went out and I looked, and the skies lit up and I’m like, oh my goodness, we got hit, and I looked and it, I ran to the window and I saw it was across the street.”

No injuries were reported.

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Athena Jreij

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — One man is dead after being struck by a pickup truck near the I-10 freeway in Indio Saturday afternoon.

Officials say the victim was hit by oncoming traffic, while crossing the westbound on-ramp at Monroe Street. 

Deputies say the truck’s left front struck the man causing multiple injuries.

The victim died on scene despite life-saving measures.

The crash remains under investigation. No word yet if drugs or alcohol were a factor. 

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Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department is gearing up for Battle in the Desert, which will return to the Valley Oct. 11.

The boxing showcase has been growing in popularity through the Coachella Valley for nearly 10 years. Something organizer, Jesus Gonzalez is proud to see.

“It started pretty small in the festival line of Cathedral City,” Gonzalez said. “We’re now at the amphitheater and we’re attracting fighters from Houston, Northern California, Southern California, from all over the place.”

Gonzalez is also a detective with PSPD, and has helped secure three officers up for the boxing challenge. One of them is Detective Jose Barragan who will be facing off against Michael Carongcong of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

While Barragan does not have a lot of prior experience, he’s ready for the challenge and has been training when he can.

“It’s just one of those thing’s where I just kind of worked up the courage to go ahead and do it,” Barragan said. “I feel like I’ve put enough work in, I mean you never know, it’s a boxing match at the end of the day, so hoping for the best.” 

The full competition will feature 14 “competitive bouts” with boxers from law enforcement, military and public safety agencies across the country, according to PSPD. The competition is set up for Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the first bout at 7 p.m.

Palm Springs Police Department Bouts

PSPD’s Jose Barragan vs. Michael Carongcong of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

PSPD’s Gil Alcaraz vs. Carlos Trejo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

PSPD’s Johnathan Mosley vs. Robert Espinoza of the Santa Ana Police Department

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials about this boxing event and what it means to them.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — Over 300 customers are without power in a Palm Desert neighborhood Saturday afternoon due to equipment issues.

Southern California Edison reported the outage around 12:30 p.m. this afternoon near the Silver Sands Racquet Club by Country Club Drive and Portola Avenue.

Officials say 326 customers are experiencing the outage. Crews are conducting repairs according to the website, with power expected to return by midnight tonight.

For more information on the outage visit: https://www.sce.com/outages-safety/outage-center/check-outage-status.

Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story.

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Isaiah Mora

Update:

On Sunday morning, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that an investigation in Thousand Palms was connected to Saturday’s shooting in Rancho Mirage.

Investigators closed off the area between Robert Road and Varner Road on Sunday afternoon, around 3:00 p.m., for a follow-up investigation for that same incident. News Channel 3’s crew at the scene reported seeing deputies picking up bullet castings in the area.

As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting, and the investigation remained ongoing. Stay with us for the latest on this story.

Original Report:

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – One man was in critical condition after an overnight shooting in Rancho Mirage.

Just before one on Saturday morning, deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon near Bob Hope Drive and Country Club Drive. Deputies say a caller reported that a driver of a vehicle was shot at that location.

When deputies arrived, they located a man suffering from a gunshot wound and had him taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

No arrests have been made at this time as the investigation is still ongoing. Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates on this story.

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Isaiah Mora

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – One man is dead after a crash in Palm Springs Friday night.

Around 9:34 p.m., Palm Springs Police officers were dispatched to the area of Palm Canyon Drive and Via Las Palmas regarding a vehicle versus pedestrian collision.

Police confirm the crash happened in a marked crosswalk near a restaurant. The crosswalk is equipped with a lighting system used to alert drivers of pedestrians. However, police say it was not used at the time of the incident.

A preliminary investigation found that the man, who was visiting from out of state, was crossing eastbound when he was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators tell News Channel 3 that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this collision. Stay with us for any updates on this story.

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KESQ News Team

The family of a local man who died tragically while on vacation in Colombia is speaking out.  

Fernando Martinez died on Thursday.  

We are hearing from his family, desperately trying to get his body back to the Coachella Valley. 

His family says he and several friends were drugged by a group of women while on a boys’ trip to celebrate a friend’s birthday in Medellín, Colombia.   

On a GoFundMe page, they are working to get his body back to the U.S.  

The family says he was a devoted father and selfless son.  

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