Category: kesq-local-news

Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The valley’s Jewish population is ushering in a sweeter new year. Rosh Hashanah is the holiday that marks the start of the new year in Judaism.

Faith leaders of Jewish congregations in Palm Springs gave sermons when the holiday began Tuesday, with a smaller number of such services on Wednesday. It’s a part of the Jewish High Holidays – a period that will come to a close with Yom Kippur on the evening of October 1st this year.

Many took the time to reflect on the past year and usher in a “sweeter” new year, though some acknowledged that the holiday takes on added meaning in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

David Bent is the ba’al tekiah at Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs – a role in which he blows the shofar, a horn from a kosher animal like a ram. On Wednesday, he told News Channel 3, “We always keep Israel in our thoughts. You can’t separate the people from the land.”

In reference to the shofar, he continued, “It connects us from generation to generation. It is the same sound heard in every school, every synagogue. And we want every hostage home and we want to make sure that everybody knows. We remember those that have been fought and died.”

The worshipers who gathered at Temple Isaiah said they were using the holiday to reflect. They also hoped others would be able to realize that despite our differences, we’re all human.

The guest rabbi who gave sermons through Rosh Hashanah at Temple Isaiah, Rabbi Marc Rubenstein, offered his thoughts: “The world is upside down right now full of problems, but most of them are caused by man. And we can’t blame God for what’s happening in man’s endeavors.”

He continued, “You can’t fix the world, but you certainly can fix yourself. So in my sermon, I talked about the act of kindness, of being kind to people.”

Rabbi David Lazar, of Or Hamidbar, another congregation based in Palm Springs, also blew the shofar throughout Rosh Hashanah. He regularly finds families with children who don’t want to sit still for an hours-long service, instead offering to visit and entertain the kids with his long, heavy kudu horn.

He said in his sermons through the holiday, he and fellow worshipers adopted new prayers as the conflict continues in Gaza. One prayer is critical of the current Israeli government, while the other urges compassion for Palestinians worldwide.

“This particular moment of stress and tension and violence between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians and those that are of the opinion – the same opinion as myself – believe that there needs to be coexistence,” Rabbi Lazar explained.

He recognized that the country has been shattered by violence in the past year, and the environment has been broken by humans. Despite what he called a shattered state of the world, he offered this hopeful message for Rosh Hashanah: “My message this year to the community was we need to look at ourselves, how we are broken human beings and how we may even be shattered. But there is the potential of coming back together.”

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Two young men accused of killing a 13-year-old Cathedral City boy in a gang-related drive-by shooting pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in court on Wednesday.

James Ian Carter, 19, and Christian Arturo Milward Ildefonso, 18, were arrested last month following a Cathedral City Police Department investigation into the slaying of Alan Martinez.

Along with murder, both defendants are charged with criminal street gang activity, special circumstance allegations of perpetrating a murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang and shooting a victim from a moving vehicle, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

Each man is being held without bail — Carter at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, and Ildefonso at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio.  They are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 17.

According to police, the attack happened just after 8 p.m. on Aug. 13 at the intersection of Whispering Palms and Mission Indian trails.   

Alan was walking with two friends on Whispering Palms when the defendants pulled alongside in a dark-colored sedan and engaged them, according to police Commander Jon Enos, who further said that within seconds, gunfire erupted from the vehicle, and Alan was hit and collapsed onto the street. His companions escaped injury, running away.

The car sped off as witnesses called 911, according to Enos.   

Paramedics arrived minutes later and attempted resuscitative measures, but Alan perished at the scene.

In the ensuing days, homicide detectives garnered sufficient evidence to identify the defendants as the alleged perpetrators. They were tracked to a residence on Genesee Cove in San Diego, where they were taken into custody without incident on Aug. 18.

Neither man has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County adult court.

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City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert campus announced the establishment of a presidential fellows program today honoring former President Gerald Ford, becoming the first California university to join the program.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program aims to provide students with advanced leadership and mentorship opportunities, and will seek applicants who embody the values of the 38th president of the United States, who called Rancho Mirage home after he left office. Officials said those values included civic engagement, ethical leadership and bipartisan cooperation.   

The program is open to any major at any level of education. Applicants must join a student organization registered with the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement, and will need to accrue 10 points during the candidacy semester in three categories of participation: regular meeting attendance, event attendance and service.

Step two is becoming a fellow and maintaining that status, including accruing seven additional points every semester and networking with the program’s community, according to organizers.

Those selected will engage in leadership training workshops, public service projects in the Coachella Valley, training in civil dialogue and bipartisan cooperation, one-on-one mentorship from community leaders, seminars, lectures and hands-on experiences with diverse communities, officials said.

“Becoming the only California chapter of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellows Program underscores our commitment to preparing the next generation of ethical leaders and engaged citizens,” said Kevin Grisham, professor of global studies and faculty advisor of the program on campus.

Other education institutions involved in the program include the University of Michigan, Hope College in Michigan and Middle Tennessee State University. Ford was originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“Grand Rapids and the Coachella Valley are bounded together by President Ford’s legacy of hard work, public service, personal integrity, bipartisan cooperation and courageous action,” officials said.

As of Wednesday, the program was going through the chartering process. It was not immediately clear when it will start or what the deadline will be to apply.

More information can be obtained by contacting kgrisham@csusb.edu, or 909-537-8276.

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Athena Jreij

BLYTHE, Calif. (KESQ) – On the “brink of collapse,” that’s how officials from Blythe and those locally describe the condition of Palo Verde Hospital.

They say the hospital is now looking at filing Chapter 9 bankruptcy and has just days of cash flow on hand, after years of mishaps with their billing system. Since May, the hospital has suspended intake of patients and surgeries, with only an ER left.

Those in Blythe say this means residents can’t get care near them, and are having to travel nearly 2 hours and over 100 miles to the Coachella Valley to seek care at hospitals like JFK Memorial Hospital or Eisenhower Health.

“Medically, people will die if it closes. They won’t be able to get emergency treatment, it won’t be available there,” Vice Mayor Johnny Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez says patients are being medically airlifted almost daily.

Palo Verde is now asking for forgiveness on an $8.5 million distressed hospital loan, with state legislators like Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez asking for an additional $4 million in emergency funding.

Now, La Quinta City Councilman Steve Sanchez, who also serves on the LAFCO commission, worries what this means for our local hospitals.

“We have our own strains we’re already having in the Coachella Valley. If you start adding 20,000 people, even if it’s you know 10% of them have to use the hospital, that is a lot of people. They have to come to Indio or Rancho Mirage or Palm Springs,” Sanchez said.

LAFCO is now looking at other options for Palo Verde, like the dissolving of their board, another health district taking over, or even the county and city of Blythe stepping in to oversee it.

“The goal for every elected official involved in this is to ensure that the residents of Blythe have hospital services. The secondary is we need to protect our hospital districts out here and not strain an already strained hospital in the Coachella Valley,” Sanchez said.

News Channel 3 reached out to local providers like Eisenhower Health and JFK Memorial, who told us it’s not uncommon for residents of Blythe to receive care in the Valley for extreme cases. However, if the hospital’s ER closed, which already provides stabilizing treatment, that would lead to an increase in patients.

It’s a consequence Rodriguez says his residents are already feeling the burden of.

“One man they couldn’t provide the services that he needed here at the hospital, so in the middle of the night they had to go to Eisenhower. It was about 2:00 a.m. when they got there. His wife texted our mayor and said, you got to fix this.”

On Thursday, the Riverside County LAFCO will decide the next steps for the hospital, and examine if dissolving the board into a local healthcare district is possible.

In a statement to News Channel 3, Palo Verde officials said.

“Chapter 9 is the last tool left while we work to fix the financial management challenges that haveso drastically impacted the hospital during the past two years. Our community deserves a functioning hospital. We are doing everything we can to keep it open. Monday night’s board action was an important step since getting the news that we would not be receiving emergency funding from the state of California, the County of Riverside or the City of Blythe. One of the advantages of filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy is that we can continue to operate the hospital and clinic while continuing to negotiate with our creditors.”

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

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Kendall Flynn

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Fritz Burns Park is set to receive nearly $10 million in improvements, from a shaded plaza, to an expanded playground and new pool additions. 

The project will be conducted in phases, with the first phase starting just last week. The project is set to last through February 2026. During the current phase, the playground, the dog park, the large grass area and parts of the parking lot will be closed.

The first phase is the largest and includes many new amenities. It will add a new plaza with public art activities, drinking fountains, a restroom building and seating and shade. The improvements will also create an expanded playground with new equipment and a tree-lined area with picnic tables.

Starting November 3, the Fritz Burn Park community pool will also close for six to seven month for construction and pool equipment improvements. The closure has been a large topic throughout the construction process as the City of La Quinta debated what to do with its programs.

The pool hosts numerous programs by the Desert Recreation District, including a Senior Splash class. Many attendees were concerns their program would be canceled as the city debated whether or not to move their program to the Pawley Pool in Indio.

Council members worried many participants would stop attending the class at another pool, and that the low numbers would not be worth the cost of using Pawley Pool.

After hearing the concerns from La Quinta, 58 class members signed a paper to say they will attend the Pawley Pool classes.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from city officials, the Desert Recreation District and Senior Splash attendees on the project and the move.

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City News Service

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people suspected of stealing two electric scooters from a business in Rancho Mirage were behind bars today.   

The suspects were booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of grand theft, petty theft with priors and conspiracy to commit crime, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Both suspects were held without bail.   

Deputies responded at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 to the 40000 block of Monterey Avenue regarding a report of grand theft, according to the sheriff’s department. They learned that two e-scooters were stolen from the front of the business, Sgt. Jeff Cryder said.

After reviewing surveillance footage, authorities identified two suspects: a 27-year-old man, described as a transient out of Beaumont, and a 47-year-old man, from Banning.

According to Cryder, Beaumont police officers found the 27-year-old and detained him without incident on Monday.   

A search warrant was served at a residence in the 5100 block of West Hoffer Street in Banning the following day, where authorities arrested the 47-yera-old without incident.

Anyone with additional information about the crime was urged to contact 760-836-1600.

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Roads are back open in Cathedral City following a gas leak Wednesday morning.

Cathedral Canyon was closed between Ramon Road and Corral Road. The road was reopened by 11:30 a.m.

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Cynthia White

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Democrat Lucas Piñon of Palm Desert announced Tuesday he is throwing his hat into the ring to run for the 47th Assembly District, challenging incumbent Greg Wallis.

Piñon currently serves as Director of Special Projects for Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA).

Raised in Palm Desert, Piñon also served in Afghanistan with the U.S. Air Force Security Forces. He says he is running for State Assembly “because our communities deserve a fighter in Sacramento who will put people ahead of politics and corporate special interests and deliver results for a change.”

In an interview with Hernán Quintas of Telemundo 15, News Channel 3’s sister station, Piñon adds, “Service has been at the heart of who I am. I’ve served the United States Air Force, and I learned early on experience of leadership and discipline and service before self. And now, as a husband and father, I understand the challenges that face our communities, the cost of living and the cost of housing, cost of rent – Overall, it’s very hard for our families to succeed.”

Piñon will be representing the Democratic party, and says he is entering the race with the support of community leaders including Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) and Congressman Juan Vargas (D-51).

He and his wife live in Palm Desert with their two children.

Republican Greg Wallis is running for a third term as assemblyman in District 47.

In a statement to News Channel 3, Wallis says of Piñon’s announcement for candidacy, “I welcome anyone who wishes to run – Our democracy is stronger when more voices step up. I’m proud of my record delivering for our district. From tackling affordability to strengthening public safety I’m focused on building a stronger, more sustainable future for our community.”

The California statewide primary election will be held on June 2, 2026.

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Shay Lawson

SKY VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Water District tabled a decision that would have shifted water service responsibility in unincorporated areas east of Desert Hot Springs to Mission Springs Water District.

During Tuesday’s meeting, CVWD boardmembers made it clear this process isn’t being driven by them.

CVWD Statement:

The CVWD Board of Directors appreciates the public’s constructive input as we begin exploring complex issues that affect multiple municipalities and our shared community.

The Board voted at today’s public meeting to revisit the item regarding an application to the Riverside County LAFCO for review of the potential divestiture of water and sewer services, and the concurrent annexation of a portion of CVWD’s boundaries to Mission Springs Water District. This item will be revisited at a future meeting, following Mission Springs Water District’s discussion and potential vote to initiate a financial and feasibility analysis of the proposed acquisition.

CVWD is committed to working with the community and to operating efficiently and responsibly as we evaluate the course of action that best serves the interests of its customers and the broader community.

Statement from MSWD:

Today’s meeting does not alter our primary focus or our commitment to the residents of Desert Hot Springs and the surrounding communities. Before our board can take any action, MSWD must gather additional information and conduct the necessary due diligence to determine the best path forward for our customer base. 

At the staff level, we will continue to support the City of Desert Hot Springs’ economic development efforts while working with the CVWD team to develop a mutually beneficial path forward, whether this results in a service agreement between the agencies or a transfer of service to take part or all of the ID-8 area remains to be determined.

The CVWD board also discussed looking at other options to get water to that area — but again, nothing will move ahead unless MSWD takes action.

Last week, News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson spoke with Sky Valley and Desert Edge residents who pushed back on the proposal, citing increasing costs.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Peter Daut

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – FIND Food Bank will soon hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new, 80 thousand square foot Food Security Campus in Indio.

The organization says it had outgrown its current facility, exceeding its storage capacity by 80 percent.

The new, expanded facility will also provide several services, including workforce development and financial literacy courses.

FIND Food Bank President and CEO Debbie Espinosa says the outreach services offered help others by “Looking at the root causes of hunger, and identifying what we can do to help people become truly independent from not receiving food in the future, but being able to self-feed because they’ve tackled those root causes.”

The grand opening will be this Friday, and the public is invited to tour the new facility starting next week.

For more information, visit findfoodbank.org.

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