Category: kesq-local-news

Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – As parade season kicks off in Palm Springs, police are emphasizing safety.

“One of the things to be mindful about is traffic,” Palm Springs Police Lt. Gustavo Araiza said. “Try to get to the event early.”

It comes after Kenney Merenda, Palm Springs Police officer, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a crowd of people during the annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade last year.

Since then, the Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD) said it’s implementing a series of significant safety reforms to prevent similar incidents.

“As we looked at that event and we did our administrative review, one of the things we thought was really important was to get a policy out that staff understands,” Araiza said. “When we work these events and we’re going to have vehicles involved, what the restrictions are going to be.”

Araiza said the department plans to implement those stricter safety policies for upcoming public events.

“Some of those things are avoiding sharp turns, abrupt stops. Also maintaining a speed limit of below 15 miles per hour,” Araiza said. “There are exceptions, however, if there’s an emergency that we must respond to.”

Palm Springs Police said they’re working to ensure nothing like last year’s incident happens again.

“Moving forward we want to make sure the community gets out there and enjoys the event,” Araiza said. “We will provide exemplary service to the community.”

The first major parade of the season, the Palm Springs High School homecoming parade, is scheduled for Wednesday.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Allie Anthony

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley now has its own chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, officially opening in Indio this September.

The chapter was founded by Vietnam War veteran Richard Gauthier, who was awarded the Purple Heart in 1966. Until recently, Gauthier had to travel to San Bernardino to attend meetings.

With the launch of the new Indio chapter, local recipients of the Purple Heart now have a place closer to home to gather, support one another, and continue their mission of service. The chapter currently has 14 members and is looking to grow.

To get involved, email richgauthier@aol.com or call (910) 620 – 9485

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Luis Avila

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Banning is planning to close Opportunity Village, its only transitional shelter for unhoused residents, leaving dozens of people with nowhere to go. The decision has sparked concern and uncertainty among shelter residents, as well as criticism from community members.

Milaiza, a resident at the shelter, says she was notified over the weekend by the city’s Director of Homeless Services that the shelter would be closing in 90 days.

“Several of us have gotten full time jobs, expecting housing and proper placement so we can afford our housing but now we’re being told that’s not the case… I feel deceived.”

Milaiza, Opportunity Village Resident

On Tuesday, a group of community members rallied outside Banning City Hall in support of the shelter, including local residents, volunteers, business owners and former city officials.

Former Banning Mayor Alberto Sanchez attended the gathering and voiced concerns about the closure’s impact.

“It would add a lot more. There’s a lot of people who want to get clean, they want to co-exist with our community, be a part of it, and this program does that.”

Alberto Sanchez, Former Banning Mayor

Sanchez also pointed to what he sees as a lack of understanding among current city leadership.

“Leadership doesn’t understand what’s happening in our community… The problem is I don’t think they’ve come out here to see the problem for themselves.”

Alberto Sanchez, Former Banning Mayor

In a statement to News Channel 3, Mayor Sheri Flynn stated:

“We are doing a gradual shut down over the next 90 days of OPV. The residents have been notified. We did not get the third round of grants from the state to keep the shelter going and it costs the City over $600,000 in employee salaries a year to run it. The cost to success ratio was not productive. We will be transitioning those presently there to local, county , and state services that are available to them.”

As the threat of closure lingers, residents are left wondering what comes next.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 46-year-old man was killed in an off-road vehicle crash in an unincorporated area north of the Salton Sea Saturday evening, the California Highway Patrol confirmed.

The crash was reported just before 7 p.m. on Gas Line Road, west of Summit Road.

According to CHP, Polariz RZR crashed into a chain link fence. The driver fled the scene and has yet to be identified.

The passenger, a Thermal resident, was pronounced dead shortly after the crash. Their identity has not been released as of Tuesday morning.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

CHP ask anyone with information on the crash to contact Officer C. DeLeon at 760-772-5300.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Swaths of people rushed to Palm Desert today as a popular Taiwanese bakery, 85°C Bakery Cafe, opened in Palm Desert.

The cafe is located within the Desert Gateway shopping plaza at the corner of Monterey and Dinah Shore.

During its soft opening period, it will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. After its grand opening in November, it will be open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

Management at the cafe said the soft opening was to help train new employees as they familiarize themselves with the menu and workflow.

They acknowledged that it’s a unique opportunity to provide new, Asian-inspired flavors to the Coachella Valley population.

Nhi Nguyen, one of the corporate trainers working with new hires at the store, said, “We have over 50 varieties of cake, bread, coffee, and teas. [It] brings a little bit of diversity of the Asian culture into the Coachella Valley since it is – I feel like it is a little bit limited on the Asian cuisines and whatnot.”

Customers agree – many of whom waited hours in line to get a taste.

Nguyen noticed some customers camping out as early as three hours before the bakery opened its doors Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m.

“It’s been a very exciting day, extremely busy as well.”

Those customers expressed their desire to try new and more diverse cuisine. Citlaly Zamora, a lifelong Coachella Valley resident, said excitement is growing valley-wide for new foods to try.

“Before, I had to go all the way to L.A. to find, like, good ramen places, good coffee, or just kind of that, you know, Asian type of food,” Zamora explained. “Hopefully [we’re] going to get some more places so we can, you know, just have that variety and culture differences here in the valley.”

Sabrina Eanes and Juan Agredano emerged from the store with two boxes full of pastries. Eanes, a local baker from Desert Hot Springs, said she wanted to support the new local bakery. And for Agredano, he said, “To have something like this come in [is exciting] because the desert is not that big and everybody’s probably been everywhere already.”

This 85°C location is the first in California to feature a drive-thru – although the drive-thru remains closed for now.

Management teased that the grand opening will include giveaways of T-shirts, bucket hats, and discount vouchers.

We’ll have updates on this new bakery already drawing significant attention right here on KESQ. Stay with us for the latest.

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Court documents revealed new information about the deadly hit-and-run crash that led to the arrest of Silvercrest CEO William Rodriguez.

The crash happened on Oct. 11, 2024, in Cathedral City. Rodriguez is accused of hitting a woman riding a scooter late that night, dragging the vehicle for several blocks, before fleeing the scene. The woman, Christina Barrington, 60, was pronounced dead the next day in the hospital.

According to the bail increase request, Rodriguez was allegedly out drinking hours before, even seen on surveillance video stumbling out of a Palm Springs bar approximately 10 minutes before the deadly crash.

Police said Rodriguez was driving 65 MPH in a 45 MPH zone when he swerved out of his lane and hit a moped traveling at a significantly slower speed. The moped driver, identifed as Barrington, was ejected and killed. Rodriguez continued dragging the moped for about 1,400 feet before making a sudden turn and disloging the scooter.

He then reportedly drove home at a high rate of speed. The next day, Rodriguez left town.

“…Rodriguez left town and spent the weekend in Las Vegas, where he was seen on surveillance with what appear to be alcoholic drinks, including a glass of champagne he appears to be toasting with,” reads the court document.

Police said Rodriguez never reported the crash, he told co-workers that his car was stolen and wrecked.

Court documents also revealed that Rodriguez had a suspended license from a 2013 DUI conviction out of Los Angeles County.

Rodriguez was arrested Monday afternoon in Palm Springs. He has been charged with murder, hit-and-run leading to death, and driving with a suspended license. He is being held in lieu of bail at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on this case.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A fire that erupted today in a garbage truck on the south end of Banning consumed part of the vehicle and extended into vegetation before crews got it under control.

The non-injury blaze was reported at 11:28 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Longhorn Road and Roadrunner Trail, at the foot of the San Bernardino National Forest, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.   

The agency said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames raging in the front half of the refuse truck, with surrounding bushes and dry grass catching fire.

Windy conditions were reported due to intense rain cells to the west of Banning at the time.  

Firefighters quickly extinguished the burning vegetation and concentrated on the truck, fully containing the blaze at 11:55 a.m., according to reports from the scene.

The cab and about half of the trash load was impacted by the fire, which also caused the vehicle’s fuel bladders to rupture, spilling an estimated 50 gallons of diesel onto the ground, officials said.

The county Department of Environmental Health was requested to inspect the hazard and determine whether a cleanup operation was required.   

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Over 30,000 health care workers are set to protest and strike against Kaiser Permanente Tuesday morning through Sunday morning. They’re asking for fair wages, better staffing and improved patient care. It’s a cause local health care workers are now joining.

Over 60 workers gathered outside the Kaiser Permanent clinic in Palm Desert, on the corner of Gerald Ford Drive and Cook Street. They shouted with signs and pom pom’s, and asked cars driving by to honk in support.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates as the health care workers plan to protest until 5 p.m. each day.

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City News Service

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A 78-year-old man suspected of brandishing a gun at his son at a Cathedral City residence was out on bail today.   

The Cathedral City resident was arrested and booked into Benoit Detention Center in Indio Wednesday night on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

He was released Thursday on $25,000 bail.   

Police officers responded to a report of a family disturbance about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on Durango Road, according to the Cathedral City Police Department.

The son, whose name was not revealed, told authorities that his father had “brandished a firearm at him in the residence” and that the victim left the home shortly after calling 911, police said.

Upon arrival, officers established a perimeter around the home and conducted a “surround and call-out” tactic.   

Tavarez exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.   

Police safely recovered a firearm during the investigation.   

The circumstances behind the alleged assault were not immediately known.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – After three days of negotiations in Egypt, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan. The agreement includes an Israeli military pullback to 53% of the Gaza Strip, the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Humanitarian aid is also expected to begin flowing into Gaza within 24 hours of the ceasefire’s activation.

In the Coachella Valley, Jewish faith leaders responded with cautious optimism. Meanwhile, local human rights advocates offered a more critical view. Members of CODEPINK’s Coachella Valley chapter, who have staged protests against Israel in recent months, welcomed the humanitarian provisions but stressed the need for long-term justice and rebuilding.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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