Category: kesq-local-news

Tauli Anderson

It’s that time of year again, the Living Desert is kicking off one of its most beloved holiday traditions.

Wildlights returns this week, and we’re giving you a first look at the dazzling displays.

The zoo will be transformed into a shimmering winter wonderland with millions of brilliant lights, illuminated photo ops, and a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus himself.   

Expect festive holiday music and entertainment, seasonal treats, and a chance to visit some of the zoo’s animals as well.

“In addition to all of the favorites that everyone loves to see every single year, like our tunnel of lights and our 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, we have some new fun surprises for people. One of it, which is right behind me, we have this lovely santa’s train. So this is. One of many new exhibits that you’re gonna see,” said Jenny Lynn Robinson, the Living Desert’s senior marketing manager.

The event is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on select nights. Click here for tickers and more information.

 

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A 46-year-old man was arrested after a shooting Sunday night in Cathedral City that left a person in critical condition.

The shooting was reported at around 8:40 p.m. on the 35300 block of Corregidor Drive.

Police said a 54-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound.

Officers said they learned the shooting stemmed from a verbal argument. The suspect retrieved a firearm from a vehicle at the scene and fired one round, striking the other man in the stomach.

The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

The victim was rushed to the hospital. Police said he was in critical but stable condition with surgeries pending.

Through their investigation, the Cathedral City Police Investigation Bureau located a possible location for the suspect. Cathedral City Police Detectives, along with the Riverside Gang Impact Team (GIT), conducted surveillance in the area of South Palm Desert.  A few hours later, GIT located the suspect in the area, and he was taken into custody and later booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center.   

If you have information related to this incident or believe you may have information, please contact the Cathedral City Police at (760) 770-0300 / Detective Juan Ramirez at (760) 770-0330; or via the Cathedral City Police Department website at: cathedralcitypolice.com; or email tips@cathedralcity.gov.

You can also report information anonymously through Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers, by calling (760) 341-STOP; or through the WeTip hotline at: 1-(800)-78-CRIME or WWW.WETIP.com . Some tip information may qualify for a cash reward.

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Jesus Reyes

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ) – Ethan Hawke will receive the Career Achievement Award at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival, organizers announced Monday.

The award celebrates Hawke’s impressive body of work, including his most recent project, Blue Moon.

“Ethan Hawke has spent four decades building one of the most adventurous and prolific careers in film, consistently delivering performances defined by depth, intelligence, and fearless originality,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “In Blue Moon, he brings those same qualities to his show-stopping portrayal of Lorenz Hart, capturing the famed lyricist at a moment when his life is unraveling as his former partner Richard Rodgers debuts Oklahoma!. Hawke’s work here stands among the most powerful performances of his career. It is a privilege to present the Career Achievement Award to Ethan Hawke.”

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

Teaming up once again with his frequent collaborator, filmmaker Richard Linklater. Blue Moon sees Hawke stars as legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart. On the evening of March 31, 1943, Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit Oklahoma! By the time this night is over, Hart will have confronted both a world that no longer values his talent and the seeming impossibility of love. The film from Sony Pictures Classics also stars Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott.

Hawke joins this year’s previously announced honorees Michael B. Jordan (Icon Award), Leonardo DiCaprio (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Adam Sandler (Chairman’s Award), Hamnet’s director Chloé Zhao and cast members 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).

Past recipients of the Career Achievement Award include Kevin Costner, Bruce Dern, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Samuel L. Jackson.

Ethan Hawke is an Academy Award-nominated actor whose expansive career includes directing feature films, documentaries and highly acclaimed stage productions; in addition to being a producer, screenwriter, and best-selling author. Hawke’s filmography includes nine collaborations with filmmaker Richard Linklater, including Boyhood (Academy Award®, SAG, Golden Globe®, BAFTA, Choice and Independent Spirit Award nominations), and memorably the Before trilogy (Before Sunrise and its twosequels Before Sunset and Before Midnight), costarring Julie Delpy.

Hawke, Delpy, and Linklater received Academy Award® and Independent Spirit Award nominations for writing the latter two films and were honored with the Louis XIII Genius Award for the trilogy at the 2014 Critics Choice Awards. He received Academy Award® and Screen Actors Guild nominations for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day, opposite Denzel Washington.

He also received career-best notices for Paul Schrader’s First Reformed, for which he won the Independent Spirit Award, the Gotham Award and over 30 critics’ awards (including the New York Film Critics Circle Award and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for ‘Best Actor’).

More recently, he received career-best acclaim for his portrayal of abolitionist John Brown in The Good Lord Bird, the Showtime series he starred in, executive produced and co-wrote, winning a Peabody Award among numerous other accolades, including an AFI ‘TV Program of the Year’, the Gotham Award for Outstanding Performance in a New Series, and SAG Award, Golden Globe, and TCA Award nominations (and a WGA Award and USC Scripter Award nominations for his writing).

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Gavin Nguyen

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KESQ) – Recent rain and weather conditions have eased fire risk across Southern California over the past couple of weeks.

As locals and visitors alike take advantage of this pleasant weather, they will now have more places to recreate in Riverside County.

Officials with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire announced the reopening of six hiking areas that typically have high fire risk, including Whitewater Canyon north of the I-10.

“We are pleased to announce the re-opening of Riverside County’s scenic hiking trails and outdoor recreation areas. We welcome residents and visitors back to enjoy these natural spaces and remind everyone to remain vigilant and responsible, as wildland fire risks persist.”

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser

The full list of reopened recreation areas include:

Eagle Canyon/Tin Mine (east of Corona)

Steel Peak (north of Lake Elsinore)

Bautista Canyon (southeast of Hemet)

North Mountain (south of Banning, north of San Jacinto)

Whitewater Canyon (east of Cabazon)

Ramona Bowl (south of Hemet)

These closures happen regularly, typically as spring turns to summer and much drier and hotter weather arrives, fueling critical fire weather.

“The chief closes the hiking areas in order to not only keep the area safe, but to keep the hikers safe as well. If there were to be a fire up there, we would want to make sure there was nobody hiking,” explained Maggie Cline de la Rosa, a public safety information specialist with CAL FIRE’s Riverside Unit.

According to Cline de la Rosa, this is the typical period when these restrictions are lifted. Despite the easing of fire risk, she still urges caution from hikers.

“Even though the suspension has been lifted, for example, we’re expecting some warmer temperatures and Santa Ana winds this coming week. So, you know, we always just want people to remain vigilant.”

The closure through Whitewater Canyon did not affect the Whitewater Preserve, which is managed by The Wildlands Conservancy. Visitors passing through the canyon to get to the preserve had to stay on the road, as no public off-roading access was allowed during the closure.

Staff with the preserve provided the following statement about fire risk in the area:

“Fire season and the summer months are always a time of vigilance for our team as we remove invasive weeds that create fire fuels and practice our fire safety protocols. This past season was not as severe immediately to Whitewater as previous years, but it was across California and the nearby mountain communities. While we have modified our visitor access, requiring reservations for summer weekends to prevent overcrowding impacts, we are happy to provide free and safe access to the beauty and biodiversity of Whitewater Preserve year round for picnicking, hiking, water access, camping, and more! Free access to all of The Wildlands Conservancy’s preserves is made possible by visitor donations.”Lucas Wilgers, Preserve Manager at the Whitewater Preserve

Fire officials said despite the year-round nature of fire season in our region, this year has presented more mild fire conditions than years past.

“Are the conditions now better than what they have been in past years?” we asked Cline de la Rosa. “Yes, the conditions now are better,” she said. “We did receive more rain. We also had more of a mild fire season for the summer, [but] we do anticipate having probably the usual fire season that we have in December/ January, when we get those Santa Ana winds that come in.”

In the meantime, hikers in the area, like Jeff Peyton, who visited the Whitewater Preserve with his grandson, are excited to enjoy the outdoors.

“We’re going to take advantage of it and let’s hope that we get more rain. It’s good for the environment!”

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Turkey’s tend to take up the most cost when it comes to a Thanksgiving meal. Now experts said turkey prices are low this year, but there are some stores selling them for better prices than others.

Over the years, the price of turkey has accounted for 43% of the total dinner cost according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. This year, AFBF is reporting a shift as a 15-pound turkey is only accounting for 39% of the meal for 10 people.

The average price for a whole frozen turkey is also reported to be between $1.48 and $1.63 per pound as of November, according to USDA. However, many say the price can be cheaper if you pick the right store. In the Valley, it’s reported WinCo is giving out free turkeys to customers who reach a $125 threshold in one transaction.

Here are some prices at East Valley stores at last check:

WinCo

$1.88 per lb. for a non-premium turkey

$2.18 per lb. whole bone-in premium turkey

Food 4 Less

$1.79 per lb. “sale price” for non-premium turkey

$2.49 per lb. premium “Butterball” turkey

Walmart

84¢ per lb.

97¢ per lb. premium whole turkey

Stater Brothers

79¢ per lb.

$1.99 premium “Butterball” turkey

Stay with News Channel 3 as we travel to different stores and see which ones have the best value for a turkey.

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María García

UPDATE 11/24/2025 – The Riverside County Coroner has identified the woman killed in the crash as 58-year-old Maria Moreno de Hernandez of Mecca.

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) — A woman was killed Monday following a two-vehicle collision involving a pickup truck and a farm tractor, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred just before 6 a.m. near 70th Avenue and Wheeler Street.

Police said a pickup truck crashed into the rear of a tractor hauling a flatbed trailer. The driver of the pickup truck, a 58-year-old woman from Mecca, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not been released.

The driver of the tractor did not report any injuries.

Officers are still working to determine what led to the collision, but have confirmed that they do not believe drugs and/or alcohol were a factor. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding the crash, is encouraged to call Officer R. Perez, at (760) 772-5300.

Stay with News Channel 3 for new updates.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Over 800 customers are without power Sunday evening in Palm Desert, according to Southern California Edison.

SCE is reports the outage began shortly after 8 p.m. in the area of Shadow Mountain Drive and surrounding blocks.

A repair crew is on the way according to the company’s website.

Power is estimated to be restored by 6 a.m. Monday.

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Timothy Foster

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ)  – Families across the Coachella Valley came together Sunday at The River in Rancho Mirage for a Thanksgiving Giveback Event. Local barbers, stylists, students, and nonprofit organizations offered free haircuts, resources, and raffles to help community members prepare for the holiday.

The event was organized by Resurrecting Hope and Hands On Deck to bring the community together and provide support to families. Students from the International School of Beauty joined professional barbers and local business partners, all donating their time and services.

Juan Wong, founder of Resurrecting Hope, said the event aimed to connect the community through free haircuts and styling services while giving local businesses a chance to participate. Volunteer barber Ernesto Vargas noted that offering free haircuts during the holiday season helps people feel fresh and confident as they gather with family.

Teen participant Javier Martinez said the event made him feel good and provided a fun way to get ready for the holidays, while local resident Gloria Hernandez described the event as a meaningful opportunity to give and receive support within the community.

Hands On Deck mobile barber Robert Villarreal reported that dozens of volunteers provided more than 50 haircuts in a few hours, with the goal of reaching over 100 by the end of the event.

In addition to free haircuts, the event featured raffles and resources from local nonprofits. Organizers said they plan to continue the Thanksgiving Giveback Event in future years to support families across the Coachella Valley.

The event ran from noon to 4 p.m. at The River, across from the Cheesecake Factory, highlighting the spirit of giving and community in the valley.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Udo Kier, the legendary German actor and cult film icon, has died at 81, his partner, artist Delbert McBride, confirmed to Variety.

According to multiple reports, Kier died Sunday morning in Palm Springs.

Kier worked with some of the biggest names in art and film, from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier to Madonna. He appeared in over 200 films, but he’s best known for his work with Warhol, starring in 1973’s “Flesh for Frankenstein” and 1974’s “Blood for Dracula.”

He later gained fame across Europe working with filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder and began a long collaboration with Lars von Trier, appearing in films including “Breaking the Waves,” “Dancer in the Dark,” “Dogville,” and “Melancholia.”

Kier also appeared in Hollywood films like “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “Armageddon,” and “Blade.” His most recent film was “The Secret Agent,” which earned Wagner Moura the best actor award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

He most recently appeared earlier this year for his work in the film ‘Schindler Space Architect.’

Born Udo Kierspe in Cologne, Germany, Kier eventually settled in Los Angeles and Palm Springs.

In Palm Springs, he became a well-known and beloved local figure. He cultivated his passion for art, architecture, and collecting, often attending gallery openings and cultural events in the area.

Kier was a regular at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where he was warmly received by fans and fellow filmmakers, and he embraced the community’s creative and vibrant spirit.

Joint statement from Lili Rodriguez, PSIFF Artistic Director and Alissa Simon, PSIFF Chief of Programming.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Udo Kier, a singular and unforgettable presence in world cinema and a beloved friend of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Udo was one of those artists whose presence at the festival made other filmmakers light up. He was truly magnetic.

This year, we were planning to welcome Udo back for Bad Painter in our German Focus, as well as for his Gateway Cinema selection, Lars Von Trier’s Medea, a film he chose with real excitement to share with our audience, and with The Secret Agent. Director Kleber Mendonça Filho first met Udo at our FIlm Awards Gala, and it sparked a wonderful creative collaboration.

We will miss him deeply and are grateful for every moment he shared with us, on the screen and at the festival.”

Kier’s cause of death is unknown at this time.

He is survived by his partner, artist Delbert McBride.

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Athena Jreij

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) — Balloons are up Saturday night in Cathedral City, and are ready to glow for residents.

With storms through the Coachella Valley, all Friday events and a balloon launch this morning were canceled.

Organizers say the balloons cannot fly in windy conditions or with a single drop of rain for safety purposes.

The festival hosted it’s balloon glow night Saturday, with residents saying they look forward to the event each year.

Sunday is the last day of the International Hot Air Balloon Festival, starting at 6 a.m. with a balloon launch at the Westin Rancho Mirage.

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