Category: kesq-local-news

Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A three-decade-old murder case in the Coachella Valley is moving forward in court after investigators used DNA technology to identify a long-haul truck driver as the suspect.

On March 30, 1993, the body of 30-year-old Sherri Herrera, a mother of four from Tulare, was discovered off the eastbound Hayfield Road on-ramp to Interstate 10 in Desert Center.

Prosecutors say she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

For years, the case went unsolved. But in 2022, Riverside County’s Regional Cold Case Homicide Team worked alongside the Texas Rangers, using forensic genetic genealogy to connect the crime to 71-year-old Douglas Thomas, a truck driver already convicted of a separate 1992 murder in Titus County, Texas.

“In 2022, working with the Texas Rangers, we were able to determine this person was the killer,” explained, Supervising Investigator Billy Hester with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. “After three decades, DNA gave us the breakthrough we needed,”

I-Team Special Report: Advanced Forensic Science helping to do away with ‘The Perfect Murder’

Detectives traveled to Texas to interview Thomas before California prosecutors filed charges. He was transferred to Riverside County last month through an interstate detainer process.

Thomas has since pleaded not guilty to Herrera’s murder, along with a special circumstance allegation that the killing happened during the commission of a rape.

Hester said solving cold cases often comes down to timing and persistence.

“One of the most challenging things about cold cases is we’re racing against the clock,” he said. “Memories fade, witnesses die. So when we finally identify a suspect, it feels like we can bring justice for the victims and closure to the families,” he said.

Thomas remains held in Riverside County custody ahead of a felony settlement conference scheduled for December 3 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Tune into News Channel 3 tonight at 5pm and 6pm to hear more on the Riverside DA’s Office’s efforts in the case.

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Angela Chen

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – An alarming report about toxic emissions at the Salton Sea. Many of you have experienced that rotten egg smell.    

Now, reports of more severe medical issues than previously thought from those living in the area.  

This as data proves pollution is worse than what’s being recorded.

“When we speak with the community, we find that they always talk about, obviously, this rotten egg smell that we have kind of known to associate with the Salton Sea. But they also speak about episodes of asthma or having nausea or severe headaches whenever they smell this,” said Alejandra Lopez, Community Scientist & author of UCLA Salton Sea brief.

News Channel 3’s Angela Chen has what you need to know in a special in-depth report.

Click here to check out Angela Chen’s award-winning series on the Salton Sea

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Duran Duran, one of the most iconic and influential bands in music history, will perform live at Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs on Monday, December 30, as part of their highly anticipated Invisible Days Tour.

After igniting stadiums and arenas across Europe this Summer, the exclusive headline show will give fans a chance to experience the magic of Duran Duran live in the US as they ring in 2026.

Amongst their busy live schedule, Duran Duran have also been in the studio together this year working on new material – most recently with Nile Rodgers at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Fans can expect a career-spanning set including timeless hits and selections from their latest album.

Tickets for the Greater Palm Springs show will be available through an Artist VIP presale beginning Wednesday, September 17 at 10:00 AM PT through Thursday, September 18 at 10:00 PM PT.

A local presale will follow on Thursday, September 18 from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM local, with the public on-sale beginning Friday, September 19 at 10:00 AM local time via Ticketmaster.com, the official ticket provider for Acrisure Arena.

For more details, visit Acrisure Arena’s website.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs will host a flag ceremony Friday as a tribute to American service member prisoners of war and those who remain missing in action.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday in front of City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Way.

The city will raise and fly the POW/MIA flag during National POW/MIA Recognition Day.  

Attendees will include Mayor Ron deHarte, several city council members, Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills and Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, R-Indio.

The City Council voted unanimously to display the POW/MIA flag on designated holidays, including Memorial Day, Veterans Day and National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

“We must never forget those who have not returned home and honor their service and sacrifice to our nation,” deHarte said in a statement. “Flying the POW/MIA flag is a powerful reminder of our enduring promise to account for every hero. My personal thanks to US Navy Veteran Amado C. Salinas II for his leadership in seeking city council approval to once again fly the POW/MIA flag and for organizing this flag raising ceremony.”

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Beginning Wednesday, Riverside County residents who call 911 with medical needs that may not warrant a trip to the hospital will be directed to healthcare professionals available 24 hours a day for phone consultations intended to reduce the burden on ambulance services countywide.

The “911 Nurse Navigation” program is slated to go live, with round-the-clock availability, under the supervision of the county’s Emergency Management Department.   

“As the county’s Emergency Medical Services Agency, we continually strive toward improving access to care and ensuring a robust EMS system,” agency spokesman Dan Bates said. “Launching the 911 Nurse Navigation service ensures our residents receive the most appropriate level of service, while helping offset some of the emergency response call volume that may not be life-threatening.”  

The Board of Supervisors in January 2022 established a committee to examine options for reducing the strain on ambulance services, mostly in reaction to worsening “patient offload” times at then overwhelmed medical center emergency rooms. The following year, the county entered into a contract with Pasadena-based Tele911 Inc. to develop protocols for managing sub-acute patients who may not merit emergency medical treatment, but rather benefit from virtual consultations or other alternate treatment regimens.  

The 911 Nurse Navigation program is the latest option, resulting from a partnership between the county and Global Medical Response, owner of American Medical Response, or AMR, which dispatches ambulances under a county contract.   

“EMS dispatch agencies who utilize 911 Nurse Navigation will … (guide) callers to the appropriate level of care (so) we can minimize unnecessary ER visits, shorten wait times and offer better healthcare optionsfor low-acuity 911 calls,” Bates said. “This initiative will enhance the efficiency of our emergency services and ensure that residents obtain timely and appropriate medical attention.”  

Similar programs are active in more than 30 communities across 14 states, according to the EMD.

The system relies on a screening process utilized by trained Riverside County Fire Department 911 dispatchers, who determine when callers may be routed to “nurse navigators (following) physician protocols to ensure callers receive direction to the most appropriate level of care,” the EMD stated.

“The screening system directs callers to the right care at the right time … enhancing outcomes while optimizing costs,” the agency said. “Depending on the caller’s unique needs, a nurse navigator may schedule an appointment at an appropriate health center, or facilitate a real-time virtual consult with a physician.”  

The main goal is to free up fire paramedics and ambulance crews, preserving them for “high-priority emergencies,” instead of tying them up with “calls that don’t need an emergency medical services response,” the EMD said.   

Estimates showed communities relying on 911 Nurse Navigation last year collectively saved $21 million by reducing deployments of emergency medical resources.

No draw on General Fund dollars was identified under the new program, about which more information is available at https://rivcoready.org/911Nurse.

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Gavin Nguyen

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Some Coachella Valley communities are seeing the wealth of its residents change in big ways.

The Los Angeles Times published a new report on Monday, which showed some Coachella Valley communities taking the top spots in the state for income growth of its residents between 2017 and 2022:

Thousand Palms: 250% increase ($12,734 in 2017 to $44,893 in 2022)

Indian Wells: 85% increase ($138,653 in 2017 to $255,899 in 2022)

Indio, however, was on the opposite side of the spectrum, and ranked in the bottom five in the state – showing a decrease in average AGI:

Indio: 22% decrease ($48,135 in 2017 to $37,676 in 2022)

The Times found on average, income increased by 36% in that same five-year span across the state.

Chris Casas, a local realtor based in Indio, told News Channel 3 that the trends that he sees in the housing market corroborate the Times’ findings.

According to a report Casas created at the end of August, sales this year have been slower. In August, 40 fewer units sold compared to the yearly average. Despite the slower sales, the dollar amount has remained at $450 million compared to one year ago – a trend that Casas said indicates an influx of wealthy residents ready to pounce on bigger price tags.

News Channel 3 is breaking down the numbers tonight. Stay with KESQ for the latest.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A false bomb threat in downtown Palm Springs on Sunday triggered evacuations and street closures, stirring worrisome memories for local business owners still recovering from a car bombing outside a fertility clinic just four months ago.

While no device was ultimately found, the emotional toll was very real for those who lived through the May explosion.

“Right away you get anxiety, wondering like what’s happening — is it true, how large is the bomb, how many people are involved, what location, how many people is it going to affect — you just don’t know. You go through all those emotions.”

David Rios, The Velvet Rope Hotel Owner

Though the threat turned out to be unfounded, the psychological scars from May’s explosion remain. Business owners are still grappling with its aftermath—both emotionally and financially.

“Unfortunately, we had four days of rain. We didn’t have enough financial funds to fix the roof so we just got done last week fixing all the rooms again, fixing the ceilings to get those repaired.”

David Rios, The Velvet Rope Hotel Owner

The city has largely moved forward, but for those directly affected, Sunday’s scare was a harsh reminder of how fragile their sense of safety can be.

“I do feel safe but I don’t think I would be that excited to go to an event that had large crowds. It’s made me think differently… If something like this is happening in Palm Springs, a small city, a safe city, I feel like it can happen anywhere.”

Jill Regan, The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five Business Owner

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Timothy Foster

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – More than a hundred people gathered this evening at Palm Desert Civic Center Park for a candlelight prayer vigil honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Attendees held candles and signs as they reflected on Kirk’s work and the impact he had on many young conservatives. Throughout the evening, residents embraced one another, sharing how his message had inspired them to become more active in politics and within their churches.

For many, the vigil was both a time of mourning and a call for unity. Community members said they wanted to not only celebrate Kirk’s influence, but also stand together during a time of national division.

Organizers described the event as a moment of remembrance, reflection, and solidarity, showing how deeply Kirk’s work resonated with people across the community.

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KESQ News Team

Update 9/15/25:

A 54-year-old Cathedral City man suspected of making a phony bomb threat in Palm Springs was released on $5,000 bail on Monday.

Jail records show he is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 20.

Update 9/14/25 – 4:44 pm: Palm Springs Police are clearing the scene after police dogs did not detect explosives. Suspect vehicle being removed from the scene.

Update 9/14/25: Palm Springs Police have confirmed a suspect is in custody. The area remains closed.

Original Report:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Roads have been closed as police investigate a possible bomb threat outside a business in Downtown Palm Springs.

North Palm Canyon from Tahquitz Canyon to Arenas Road, and North Indian Canyon from La Plaza to Belardo Road have been shut down by police.

Witness reports suggest a man drove up to a restaurant, and claimed the vehicle contained a bomb.

Our cameras have captured a suspect vehicle parked in the middle of Palm Canyon Drive, outside of Jimmy B’s Palm Springs and the Sonny Bono Statue, being checked by police and dogs.

We have reached out to the Palm Springs Police Department for more information, including whether or not any suspects have been taken into custody as a result of that threat.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates in this breaking story.

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Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15 as a time to honor and recognize the many contributions, diverse cultures, and rich histories of the Latino community in the United States. The month begins on September 15, marking the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile also commemorating their independence during this period.

In the Coachella Valley, the month has traditionally been honored with a large-scale community celebration in partnership with the City of Coachella: Fiestas Patrias – El Grito, which has drawn more than 15,000 attendees at Rancho Las Flores Park in past years.

However, due to recent immigration activity in the area and out of an abundance of caution, organizers say they have chosen not to hold a major in-person gathering this year. Instead, the focus will shift to a series of smaller, more personal events, alongside a broadcast celebration of El Grito on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. The ceremony will be aired live on Telemundo 15 from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.

“We want to prioritize the safety of our community and avoid drawing unwanted attention,” organizers shared in a statement.

In addition to the televised event, the celebration will highlight inspiring stories from local community members and encourage residents to support local businesses throughout the month.

Residents can still take part in the tradition by attending the “Noches de Fuego” celebration at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino or by tuning into Telemundo 15 to watch the El Grito broadcast live.

Gulf California Broadcast stations, including KUNA Telemundo 15, La Poderosa 96.7 FM, KESQ-ABC, KPSP-CBS, KDFX-FOX, and KCWQ-CW, will also provide coverage and updates throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

Even though this year’s celebration looks different, organizers say the spirit remains the same: honoring heritage and celebrating together as a community.

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